A Letter from the President Ryan London, President and CEO, Lake Forest Open Lands Association
Dear Friends in Conservation, This past year has reaffirmed my belief that when people and nature connect, both flourish. Each trail walked, prairie burned, easement monitored, and child inspired represents a seed of stewardship—planted by a community that cares deeply and acts boldly. We opened Carruthers Nature Preserve to the public and moved forward on transformative restoration efforts at Skokie River Nature Preserve, Mello’s Preserve at Westfork Savanna, Greene Nature Preserve, and West Skokie Nature Preserve. We also welcomed a meaningful new conservation easement in Lake Bluff and honored our history with our newest purchase: Hawk Meadow, a long-sought gem on the Middlefork, home to rare savanna and meadow species. It was a privilege to witness the protection of another conservation dream in the Middlefork. Behind these milestones are stories: of our Indigenous partners collaborating on the next phase of restoring coastal bluffs, of students exploring the Arctic watershed through our Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL) program, of neighbors
discovering vernal pools for the first time, and of volunteers whose steady hands ensure our preserves remain wild and welcoming. These stories are not just a celebration of our progress—they are a call to keep going. We believe experiences with nature transform hearts and minds, and ultimately shape stewards for a lifetime. Lake Forest Open Lands’ legacy is rooted in action and relationships. We continue to grow our community conservation approach: advising local homeowners on native landscapes, expanding accessible trails and ecological literacy, and deepening partnerships across generations and geographies. Our new welcoming website and the soon-to-come expanded community center reflect our belief that conservation is not something we protect from people, but with them. Nature’s resilience is echoed in your support. Whether planting trees with us in Waukegan, attending Bagpipes & Bonfire , or contributing to our capital effort, you help us live out our founding promise, to preserve and pass forward the wild and special places that define our region.
As I look ahead, I carry with me each moment of awe, each conversation, each act of care for the land. Together, we are not just managing landscapes. We are building a culture of hope and belonging. I often say that our wild and special places are not merely where we go, but part of who we are. This year reaffirmed that truth in every way. Thank you for walking beside us, for trusting in this work, and for sharing in the belief of a brighter future—one rooted in soil and sustained by community. With gratitude and anticipation,
Ryan G. London
The Searle Family Fishing Pier at Carruthers Nature Preserve.
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