Ithaca College Natural Lands Grant Proposal

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More than just open space
Caleb Grant, Environmental Studies ‘16
Kyle James, Sport Studies & Integrated Marketing Communications ‘16
Karen Klosson, Writing ‘16
Nicole Maturo, Cinema & Photography ‘15
Spring 2015

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Table of Contents
Internal Documents
Literature Review…………………………………………………………………………4
Organizational SWOT Analysis…………………………………………………………11
Project Funding Plan…………………………………………………………………….15
Funding Goals
Plan of Action
Project Funding Search……………………………………………………………….....18
External Documents
Letter of Inquiry………………………………………………………………………….21
Cover Letter………………………………………………………………………….......23
Cover Sheet……………………………………………………………………………...24
Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………..25
Organizational History………………………………………………………………......27
Proposed Initiative Statement…………………………………………………………...30
Statement of Need/Opportunity………………………………………………………....31
Plan of Action…………………………………………………………………………..33
Goals and Objectives
Methods: Timeline and Impact Statement
Key Personnel & Staffing
Evaluation Plan
Dissemination Plan
Future Funding Statement
Conclusion.…………………………………………………………………………...40
Budget Summary……………………………………………………………………..41
Budget Narrative……………………………………………………………………..42
Addendum Material
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………...46

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Literature Review
Ithaca College Natural lands (ICNL) is committed to “Preservation, Education, Research, Production, and
Recreation” within the 560 acres of land for both students and the greater Ithaca community. Managed by
students and faculty, this organization has compiled all of their relevant information into a management
plan for Ithaca College, but approximately half of the recommendations put forth by ICNL in the 2011
Management Plan have not been met. With this literature review, an examination of the global
environmental trends is completed while seeking a model of preservation and sustainability for ICNL.
The Importance of Land Preservation
Globally, a startling amount of land has been disturbed, mined for resources, or otherwise harmed by
over-use. In the Amazon basin, one of the most renowned natural areas in the world, 14 percent has been
altered by human, mostly through deforestation.1
This sort of land use has continued historically
throughout the world and in North America, it can be seen in Massachusetts where “less than 30 percent
of the original forest cover existed by the mid-1800s.”2
Part of the Ithaca College Natural Lands
commitment is combating this trend of land alteration by humans. Sitting next to a growing college and
bustling town, the potential for the lands to be cleared, damaged and fragmented is high. Land
fragmentation offers serious consequences for the ecosystems currently harbored on South Hill, as well as
in the other two preserves. The phrase “habitat fragmentation” refers to division of land through use and
change in pieces.3
While habitat fragmentation has come to encompass a wide array of human-induced
activities, one of the most important is isolation. By breaking up a landscape, pieces of an ecosystem can
be isolated from one another creating resource-deprived areas. This can lead to a decline in species, local
extinctions, and ecosystem health degradation.4
While Ithaca College will want to expand their campus at
some, ICNL was established to prevent the use of the surrounding lands in that manner. Preservation of
the ecosystem surrounding the college protects species from facing the challenges of habitat
fragmentation and general overuse. Today more than ever, this is necessary, with reports of a 52 percent
species decline from 1970 to 2010.5
ICNL offers a unique approach: preserving land while using it to
educate students – the younger generation that will be taking a role in how land is treated in coming years.
Sustainability
Climate change on a global scale is more serious than ever, with little action being taken in the United
States government despite calls for more environmentally friendly practices by ecological professionals
and scientists. ICNL fits into this sustainable vision, as told by Ithaca College’s guiding principle, “We
commit to the responsible and sustainable management of natural, human, and financial resources.”
Throughout the years many efforts have been made to create an environmentally supportive campus –
with green roofs, LEED certified buildings, and advances in environmental monitoring technology. The
campus has also committed to the carefully designed Ithaca College Climate Action Plan, which kicks off
a 40-year program to be carbon-neutral by the year 2050.6
ICNL is a shining example of a sustainable
program that has a positive impact for both the community and the environment, which other colleges can
model. While students enjoy and learn from the vast range of woods both on and off campus, the tracts of
1
David B Lindenmayer and Joem Fischer, Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change: An Ecological and Conservation
Synthesis (Washington, DC: Island Press, 2006), 15.
2
Lindenmayer Fischer, Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change: An Ecological and Conservation Synthesis, 22.
3
Sharon K Collinge, and Richard T. Forman, Ecology of Fragmented Landscapes (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press,
2009), 3.
4
Lindenmayer Fischer, Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change: An Ecological and Conservation Synthesis, 3.
5
Richard McLellan, "Living Planet Report 2014," WWF. World Wide Fund For Nature, 30 Dec. 2014. 8.
6
"History of Sustainability at Ithaca." Ithaca College. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.

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land keep the area largely untouched from major use. Lands such as this have a multitude of benefits for
the environment.
One of these benefits is the control of carbon dioxide, a major driver of climate change, which is
sequestered in the trees, plants, and soil. As the human population grows, urban areas increase at a rapid
rate, which decreases natural space –7
now nearly 83 percent of the US population lives in urban areas.8
By protecting land, ICNL provides an area where soil and plant biomass is largely undisturbed. Initially,
the lands were supposed to be logged, and the establishment of ICNL reverted this potential loss of forest.
Natural environments, such as ICNL, provide benefits for the earth, including cleaning the air and water,
maintaining water levels, and promoting healthy soil. These are all services that are important not just to
ecosystems and the organisms living in them – but to us. They help us support ourselves, our friends and
family, and our loved ones.
Natural Land – A Human Benefactor
What is it about “untouched land” or “wilderness” that humans love so much? The natural environment
plays a bigger role in our lives than we might expect. Being in nature doesn’t just improve people
physically, it also has important psychological benefits. Time spent among nature and green areas has the
power to reduce stress and worry, provide therapeutic relief for ADHD afflicted children, and even help
people recover from difficult experiences or emotional trauma.9
At its core, having natural land to
immerse oneself in has lasting positive effects on well-being. The benefit of ICNL is its proximity to the
town as well as the Ithaca College campus. For students, it’s a short walk away and it provides a place to
interact and enjoy the natural landscape, helping to decrease the high levels of stress many college
students experience in a time of such compressed change. The wide array of trail systems throughout
make it easy and accessible for anyone to experience the land. Because the natural lands are so close to
the city, they create an opportunity for people living downtown to escape the more urban environment to
a nearby, natural environment. With proper accessibility, ICNL could be sharing their environment and
have a large positive impact on the lives of members of the greater Ithaca community. When people have
a positive experience in nature, it often increases conservation habits and awareness in those people.10
In
the end, ICNL has the potential to be beneficial for both the community and the environment.
Best Practices in Higher Education and Land Preservation
Many higher education institutions have sustainability and land preservation issues. When universities
were first built, many ecosystems were destroyed without a second thought. Now an increasing number of
universities and colleges are working on sustainable practices, and this includes preserving the land and
areas surrounding their institutions. For Ithaca College, this is ICNL.
There are two institutions in particular which offer models in the practices of preserving natural lands.
Binghamton University and Cornell University, both located in central New York, have aspects to learn
from. Binghamton University has about 900 acres of land directly adjacent to their campus, which is
home to many diverse species. It is used as “a valuable resource for teaching and learning, ecology, arts,
7
Kefeli, Valentin, and Blum, Winfried, Mechanisms of Landscape Rehabilitation and Sustainability (UAE: Bentham Science
Publishers, 2011), 1-2.
8
Meg Calkins, Sustainable Sites Handbook : A Complete Guide to the Principles, Strategies, and Best Practices for Sustainable
Landscapes (NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2011), 1.
9
Elizabeth Nisbet, John Zelenski, and Steven Murphy, "Happiness Is In Our Nature: Exploring Nature Relatedness As A
Contributor To Subjective Well-Being." Journal Of Happiness Studies 12.2 (2011): 303-322. 304-306.
10
Calkins, Sustainable Sites Handbook : A Complete Guide to the Principles, Strategies, and Best Practices for Sustainable
Landscapes, 10.

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literature, and outdoor recreation.”11
It has an organization, the “Friends of the Nature Preserve” which is
made up of faculty, staff, students, and community members to help fund the preserve.
Some of Cornell University’s natural lands are adjacent to the Ithaca College Natural Lands. These lands
are encompassed in the larger entity of Cornell Plantations, which focuses on the mantra “Cultivation,
Preservation, Education.”12
Their goals can be seen in extensive community education opportunities;
ranging from food and flavor cooking classes, outdoor photography, gardening, and guided tours and
walks. These courses cost money for community members, as do the youth programs they provide:
garden programs, and teen education programs such as Plantations Environmental Education Program for
Sustainability. As an Ivy League university with a large pool of resources, Cornell Plantations has full
time staff devoted to program planning, membership organization, and stewardship. Cornell Plantations
supplements their costs with membership fees.
A primary goal of ICNL is to “reduce the financial reliance on the IC administration.”13
ICNL can learn
from other higher education institutions with a similar dedication to sustainability. Ultimately, the best
ways to reduce reliance on the college are to develop a “friends of” or membership organization to
financially support ICNL, create more inviting community outreach programs or opportunities to bridge
the gap between Ithaca College and the greater Ithaca Community, and most importantly, maintain a full
time permanent staff to focus on the issues at hand.
Practices of Other Tompkins County Parks and Trails
A total of 11 complete or partially complete trails, 4 planned trails, 7 parks, and several other identified
“nature walks” are in the geographic makeup of the greater Ithaca community.14
These trails provide
residents access to nature and also act as alternative routes of transportation for the many walkers,
joggers, and bicyclists in the Tompkins county area. While these trails provide some key insights on how
trails are built, managed, and funded, they also act as direct competitors to the ICNL.
The Black Diamond Trail, a trail spanning from Taughannock Falls State Park to Treman State Park, is
one of the largest construction projects in recent Tompkins county trail history. The trail had been funded
by local and state sources prior to the completion of its Master Plan in 2007.15
By looking at the Master
Plan for the Black Diamond Trail, a few things can be taken away from how the trial is constructed.
The funding for the trail mainly comes through grants and donations from interested parties, an approach
that will be similar to what ICNL intends to accomplish. These grants largely come from government
sources, on both a state and national level. Not all of the grants apply to ICNL but several, such as the
Environmental Protection Fund of New York State, State Legislative Initiatives from the New York State
Legislature, and the Federal Recreational Trails Program do.
The Master Plan also outlines a few partners that could be potentially useful for ICNL such as the City of
Ithaca, the Town of Ithaca, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, and the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation. Following the practice of thinking of additional external
partners based on location and a sense of involvement, ICNL should also consider partnerships with the
Town of Newfield, Whitman Partners LLC (urban planners developing lands around the natural lands),
11
“Nature Preserve,” Binghamton University accessed February 25, 2015 http://www.binghamton.edu/nature-preserve/
12
“Cornell Plantations,” Cornell University accessed February 25, 2015 http://www.cornellplantations.org/
13
Amber Zadrozny and Jake Brenner, Ithaca College Natural Lands Management Plan (Ithaca: 2011)
http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/docs/Management_Plan.pdf
14
“Hiking in Tomkpins County” CNY Hiking accessed February 27 2015, http://www.cnyhiking.com/TompkinsCounty.htm
15
Black Diamond Trail Master Plan

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the Ithaca College Honors Program, the Ithaca College Park Scholars program, and the parks, trails, and
natural areas that surround ICNL, including the Cornell Plantations.
Although detailed Master Plans such as the Black Diamond Trail Master Plan are hard to find for other
trails in this area, it can be inferred that the Master Plans for the other trails, parks, and natural areas are
similar in nature and composition. Should any specific questions arise about specific features of these
plans, a more focused literature review will be conducted on these selected areas.
Educational Benefits and Uses of the IC Natural Lands
One of the main benefits of ICNL is that the lands act as an outdoor classroom for many professors,
students, and researchers. Through many initiatives and partnerships with Ithaca College, the City of
Ithaca, and the greater Tompkins County area, ICNL acts as a resource for many different people with a
variety of different uses.16
One of the main relationships Ithaca College has with education is the Finger Lakes Project (FLP). The
FLP is a cohort of educators that is dedicated to incorporating sustainability practices into all aspects of
education. The FLP uses ICNL as a resource for sustainability education and practice. Ithaca College
partners with the EcoVillage of Ithaca to fund this project and to provide different types of sustainability
education in a hodgepodge of different settings.
Stemming from a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Committed to Change Program (C2C)
at Ithaca College is dedicated to teaching sustainability within the classroom and applying what is learned
through partnerships in the Ithaca Community. The current community partners are the Ithaca EcoVillage
and the Building Bridges program in Ithaca. ICNL also supports the Finger Lakes Land Trust and their
Emerald Necklace Initiative.
Research is also being done in ICNL, and a database is currently being compiled of all of the projects that
have been conducted, or are currently being conducted, in ICNL. This research has an international effect
as the results of these studies are being shared with scientists in the environmental science industry all
over the world. As a result of this research done in ICNL, Ithaca College has gained recognition as a
leading institution in environmental research and will continue to establish itself as more research projects
are completed. In addition to these research projects, at least 12 Ithaca College classes use ICNL
regularly.
ICNL serves as a vehicle to connect Ithaca College to other communities, ranging from local to global,
due to their innovative partnerships and groundbreaking research. The land allows students to become
ready to enter the world of environmental science by fostering hands-on experience that is difficult to get
elsewhere. By doing so, Ithaca College is becoming a model for other institutions to replicate and is
viewed as leader in its field.
Getting to Know the Community
Inviting Ithaca’s residents to explore the Natural Lands will promote a positive relationship upon which
ICNL can begin to strategically build upon. Since the college privately owns ICNL, they can draw on
personal relationships to assess the priorities of Ithacans as a whole rather than relying on assumption.
In a similar effort, the Department of Parks and Recreation of Seminole County, Florida, mapped out their
intended community outreach techniques that reflect an easily executed plan to break down priorities and
16
Ithaca College – Sustainability at Ithaca

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interests. Seminole County’s Trails Master Plan17
integrated an Online Citizen Survey which could be
accessed by the general public. Though the idea of a survey is rather basic, it does define where the
program is not meeting the needs of the community and where the organization could improve.
Another component takes into account the concerns of the stakeholders. Stakeholder interviews confirm
or refute the speculations community leaders and associations might have. For ICNL, this strategy can be
applied to the community leaders of Ithaca and possibly the Ithaca City School District whom we share an
academic atmosphere with on South Hill. Though they are not our sponsors, these leaders do represent the
larger Ithaca community.
Volunteer Opportunities
In addition to the Retirees in Service to the Environment (RISE) program, the Stewards program and
Primitive Pursuits engages and expands ICNLs interaction with the Ithaca community. Creating more
volunteer opportunities and implementing extensive training programs is both an effective and resourceful
way to make use of the pre-existing volunteer platforms.
As a model, the Wild Basin Creative Research Center in Austin, Texas, provides Trail Guide Training18
through their Creative Research Center. Considering the content of some Environmental Studies courses
offered at IC, it would be beneficial for the students to get a hands on experience as trail guides and
teachers while attending IC without the constraints of having an internship. Farming the Forest19
is an
example of one really effective course that instructs students on how to produce non-timber forest
products, such as honey, maple syrup, and edible mushrooms. To further this skill, students could apply
their knowledge through training exercises with local non-timber enthusiasts interested in picking up the
craft.
Conclusion
Ithaca College Natural Lands has effectively established itself as a branch of Ithaca College’s
sustainability initiative, but its full potential has yet to be realized. The values of ICNL run deep in the
organization’s roots, and there are many passionate students, faculty, and staff to show for it. The
research, current programs, and courses are the mere buds to the developing canopy that ICNL is aspiring
to. With this process still in motion, the organization anticipates further support from both the
surrounding community and Ithaca College.
By creating specialized, positive and meaningful experiences in nature, ICNL contributes to the
livelihood of students and community members. Communication and affiliation between privately
managed land and the locality assures that shared goals are met and efficient organizational brainstorming
is implemented. Initiating that relationship and maintaining harmonization will drive ICNL in the
direction of its long-term goals and ultimately represent a stable model for land preservation as a whole.
17
Seminole County Parks + Recreation + Natural Lands + Trails, Community Needs and Priorities, Executive Summary (Wild
Basin Creative Research Center, St. Edward’s: 2013)
18
“Community Outreach”, (Wild Basin Creative Research Center, St. Edward’s University)
http://think.stedwards.edu/wildbasin/community-outreach-0, accessed February 24, 2015.
19
"Priorities & Projects." Ithaca College. Accessed 27 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/management_priorities/education/>.

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Works Cited
Brenner, Jake, and Amber Zadrozny. Ithaca College Natural Lands Management Plan (2011). Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
"Cornell Plantations." Cornell Plantations. Cornell University, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
"History of Sustainability at Ithaca." Ithaca College. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.
“Ithaca College - Finger Lakes Project,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,
http://www.ithaca.edu/fingerlakes_project/.
“Ithaca College - Committed to Change Program,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,
http://www.ithaca.edu/committedtochange/.
“Ithaca College – Natural Lands,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,
http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/
“Ithaca College - Sustainability at Ithaca,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,
http://www.ithaca.edu/sustainability/.
“Ithaca/Tompkins County (NY) Hiking Site,” John Pool, accessed March 1, 2015.
http://www.johnpool.net/hiking/tcmap.html.
“Map of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor,” National Parks Service, accessed March 1,
2015, http://www.nps.gov/erie/planyourvisit/upload/ERCA_brochure_large_2007.pdf.
"Nature Preserve." Binghamton University. Binghamton University, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Priorities & Projects." Ithaca College: Natural Lands. Ithaca College, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/management_priorities/education/>.
Calkins, Meg. Sustainable Sites Handbook : A Complete Guide to the Principles, Strategies, and
Best Practices for Sustainable Landscapes. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons,
2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 28 February 2015.
Collinge, Sharon K., and Forman, Richard T. T.. Ecology of Fragmented Landscapes. Baltimore,
MD, USA: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 28 February
2015.
Community Needs and Priorities, Executive Summary, Seminole County Parks + Recreation +
Natural Lands + Trails. AECOM Technical Services, 2013. PDF File.
Community Outreach, Wild Basin Creative Research Center, St. Edward’s
Kefeli, Valentin, and Blum, Winfried. Mechanisms of Landscape Rehabilitation and
Sustainability. Sharjah, UAE: Bentham Science Publishers, 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web.
28 February 2015.
Kjellgren, Anette, and Hanne Buhrkall. "A Comparison Of The Restorative Effect Of A Natural
Environment With That Of A Simulated Natural Environment." Journal Of
Environmental Psychology 30.4 (2010): 464-472. PsycINFO. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.
Lindenmayer, David B., and Fischer, Joem. Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change : An
Ecological and Conservation Synthesis. Washington, DC, USA: Island Press, 2006. ProQuest ebrary. Web.
28 February 2015.

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McLellan, Richard. "Living Planet Report 2014." WWF. World Wide Fund For Nature, 30 Dec.
2014. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
Nisbet, Elizabeth, John Zelenski, and Steven Murphy. "Happiness Is In Our Nature: Exploring
Nature Relatedness As A Contributor To Subjective Well-Being." Journal Of Happiness
Studies 12.2 (2011): 303-322. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.
Paterson, David and Carol Ash, Black Diamond Trail Final Master Plan and Final
Environmental Impact Statement (2008), V-103 - V-111.
University, http://think.stedwards.edu/wildbasin/community-outreach-0, accessed February 24,
2015.

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IC Natural Lands:
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Strengths
The Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL) are a unique feature of the college, as well as the town of
Ithaca. The lands are an excellent example of how a college or university can manage a piece of land and
preserve it, while getting students and the greater Ithaca community involved in creating diverse
educational and recreational opportunities. There are many aspects of ICNL that make it a strong
organization and one worth supporting.
A Wide Area of Learning
ICNL is no small land area; currently the college owns over 500 acres of land, in 4 separate reserves:
South Hill East and West, Bob-Robinson, and Newfield. In the South Hill lands (the 365 acres which are
directly adjacent to campus), there are five miles of public access trails. Ithaca College is not only
preserving a large area of land from environmentally unsustainable practices, but also providing a place
for students, faculty, staff and community members to easily engage in the outdoors and learn new
valuable survival and environmental skills and information.
Learning While Preserving
One of the greatest strengths of ICNL is the number of opportunities it provides for students, faculty,
staff, and the Ithaca community as a whole. The lands are often described as an “outdoor classroom” or an
“educational working landscape.” It’s a place where students and the greater community can learn
together. Currently, the lands are being utilized by an on campus group called Non Timber Forest
Products. What can only be described as part learning, part business, this group learns how to make
products such as maple syrup using resources found in the natural lands. They then sell their products at
Ithaca College and in other areas in town. Primitive Pursuits, a group that teaches young children essential
survival skills, is another engaged example of community use of the natural lands.
Passionate Members
Those who run ICNL have very clear and tangible expectations for use of any additional funding. They
know what they want to do to improve the lands, and have their priorities already sorted out. Furthermore,
they are very driven to bring new opportunities and ideas to the natural lands, because they believe
strongly in the value of the natural environment. All the people working on the team are well organized
and excited about what they are doing, creating a strong support system for moving forward with funding
a proposal.
Student Management
Part of what makes the natural lands so unique is the level of student involvement in both its use and
management. ICNL depends as much on the students as it does on the faculty to manage the land. During
the summer an intern is hired to do extensive management and upkeep work. An intern is also hired to
help the faculty manager during the academic year. Throughout the academic year many students act as
stewards, maintaining areas of land throughout the reserves. For class credit, students can also be trained
to be an intern, taking the lead on projects such as Chestnut Reintroduction, Event Planning, and Invasive
Species Cleanup. The lands are also used by faculty (especially in the Environmental Studies department)

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as a teaching lab. This collaborative use facilitates real job experience for students, and those involved in
programs with the natural lands are incredibly passionate about what they’re doing.
As a whole, ICNL is a unique program that has many benefits for the Ithaca College and greater Ithaca
community. It has a strong mission, and many passionate people backing it.
Weaknesses
Gaps in Funding
The $5,000 in funding ICNL receives from H&S has some debilitating strings attached. Programs funded
by the school must be within the educational programming and development guidelines, which leaves a
lot of very real, and unattended issues such as ADA accessibility, and general upkeep.
Staffing Support
The ICNL management team comprises both Ithaca College students and faculty. Currently, there aren’t
any full-time ICNL staff members. Introducing paid full-time staff members would increase the
organization’s credibility and potential and lessen the workload on the current team, which is primarily
volunteer-oriented.
Accessibility
Unfortunately community-wide participation has been limited due to the accessibility of the trails, or lack
thereof. The funding ICNL currently receives does not attend to the needs of disabled retirees, let alone
provide adequate accessibility for community members in respect to hiking trails such as the Backcountry
Rim Trail. One of the community outreach partnerships ICNL has is with the Gerontology Institute, in
which the Retirees in Service to the Environment (RISE) program was inaugurated. This program invites
retired members of the Ithaca community to learn about environmental challenges, and connect with the
Natural Lands through training exercises/nature walks. It is particularly difficult for the retirees to make
full use of the natural lands after they have hiked up to the natural lands from the visitors parking lot.
Recognizability
Students are initially introduced to the Natural Lands through the First Year Experience program, but
there isn’t much encouragement to explore what the Natural Lands can offer after this first trek into the
woods. ICNL competes with a number of other programs to be included in IC 20/20: the initiative to
transform and influence student experiences within Ithaca College. What students, faculty and greater
Ithaca community aren’t aware of is all of the specialized learning experiences just a little ways up into
the woods, which can entirely transform their view of the campus they live on from a concrete jungle to a
beautiful sanctuary on the hill. ICNL would benefit from a marketing campaign to spread awareness of
the organization.
Community Outreach and Integration
There are mainly three programs that engage the community with Ithaca College through the Natural
Lands. The RISE Program, the Stewards Program, and Primitive Pursuits invite community members of
all ages to explore the Natural Lands and learn about what it has to offer. ICNL also has a strong
educational relationship with the Finger Lakes Project (FLP). FLP is a group of teachers that are
committed to bringing sustainability into all parts of education. FLP uses ICNL as a place to practice
sustainable education. Though these programs have a lot of value, they are relatively exclusive and tied to

13
the private institution of Ithaca College. What needs to be addressed is what makes ICNL unique from the
surrounding natural lands like NYS Parks & Recreation or Cornell’s Plantations.
Opportunities
The ICNL Vision
This is a unique opportunity for Ithaca College Natural Lands to become the premiere model for colleges
with natural lands. Since incorporating ICNL into Ithaca College’s core curriculum (part of the IC 20/20),
there are many opportunities for students to use the natural lands as a classroom. They can also intern
over the summer, or volunteer to help maintain the trails in our Steward Program. ICNL has been
extremely successful in utilizing the natural lands as an educational space, but the land could be more
effectively used for community involvement.
General and American Disabilities Act Accessibility
A factor that prohibits the general Ithaca community from taking advantage of ICNL is
accessibility. With a small parking lot, the trails could be easily accessible to broader Ithaca community.
Another related opportunity is ICNL’s commitment to ADA accessibility, since some of our visitors are
elderly it is important that we make as many of the trails ADA accessible. We’d like to see even more of
the elderly population use the trails, which can only be realized if this trail is built. By inviting a more
diverse population to visit the natural lands, we are increasing our involvement in the greater Ithaca
community. ICNL believes that this is a place for all of Tompkins County to enjoy, and it all begins with
making the lands easy to access for all.
South Hill Forest Products
South Hill Forest Products is a student-run business dedicated to providing high quality, all natural non-
timber forest products. Ithaca College students enrolled in several of the environmental science
department courses make up this entrepreneurial team. What if marketing and public relations, and
photography students also collaborated to help build this business? They could potentially accumulate a
little more income, perhaps even enough to cover the cost of a kiosk.
Ropes Course, Balancing Risk and Opportunity
The Office of Risk Management at Ithaca College recently approved a ropes course in ICNL; now it’s
time to consider where to place the course and what the environmental impact of the construction and
maintenance of the ropes course would be on the lands. The main advantage of having a ropes course on
ICNL is that which is vital to any college town: student and community building. Here students and
community members can access a ropes course, exercise, and interact in a space built and maintained by
ICNL.
Threats
Current Funding on Shaky Ground
Currently, the school of Humanities and Sciences gives ICNL $5,000 to use for educational programming
in the Natural Lands. While this money has been given consistently every year, there is some sign that
this may be changing. There has been much discussion, both this semester and last, about whether or not

14
the Resource and Environmental Management Program (REMP) interns, who are funded similarly to
ICNL, will be funded in the upcoming academic year. The impending result does not seem positive for
REMP, and the fallout effect could mean that ICNL may lose part or all of its funding in the near future.
Contingency plans and strong justification will be required, should ICNL not want to lose any of its
current funding.
Maintenance and Accessibility Issues Associated with Growth
If the use of ICNL continues to grow, questions will emerge as to who is responsible for the maintenance
of the land. Currently the Office of Facilities at Ithaca College, along with the ICNL Stewards program,
monitors the trails and performs “light maintenance.” If the trails continue to grow, the ICNL may grow
out of the “light maintenance” phase and become dependent on a more constant maintenance schedule to
remain accessible to students and those with physical disabilities throughout all times of the year. Should
our grant fund grow, a plan should be made for how maintenance will be improved.
Ithaca is Gorges, but so is all of Central New York
Being located in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, there are many beautiful parks, trails, and
natural areas that are available for residents and visitors alike. These areas all require funding for
improvement and maintenance and will likely be requesting funds from many of the same sources that we
do. In order to be competitive and justify why the ICNL deserves the funding, we will have to find our
unique selling points and make sure they are explicitly stressed in our documents.
Proving Worthiness
With existing yearly funding and no clear “desperate need” for immediate additional funding, the ICNL’s
justification for many of the grants that they will apply for may fall short when juxtaposed against
proposals that have a more dire situation. To give ICNL a chance to be awarded these grants, the cases
that are built must be data-driven and, most of all, convincing. This is not to say ICNL isn’t a strong
candidate. The funding ICNL receives yearly is not large, and as a whole the organization and lands have
an enormous opportunity in front of them. ICNL has the chance to bridge the gap between the college and
the community, teach and increase awareness of sustainable practices, and serve as a model for
colleges/institutions. Without properly conveying this, it may be harder to obtain grants.
Mission Statement
For eleven years Ithaca College Natural Lands has worked towards promoting environmental
awareness and student engagement across the Ithaca College (IC) campus. The organization has
successfully developed a Stewards Program and serves as an outdoor classroom across disciplines.
ICNL’s mission of Bridging the Relationship between the Environment, Education, and Community
aims to enhance this relationship by providing better public access to the trails, programming
community outreach projects, increasing student engagement via internships, and hiring full-time
staff. This project strives to rebuild the essential connection between nature and the human psyche
while fostering an educational environment that encourages sustainability and preservation.
Assessment of Project Funding Needs
The lands are an excellent example of how a college or university can manage a piece of land and
preserve it, while getting students involved and creating educational opportunities. There are many

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aspects of Ithaca College Natural Lands that make it a strong organization and one worth backing.
Even as a young organization, ICNL has rooted itself in its values and successfully worked towards
developing a network consisting of students, faculty, and volunteers. But like any budding
organization, there is a need for upgrades and improvements. ICNL cultivates a learning environment
by: offering hands-on experience with sustainable non-timber forest products; providing the option of
self-guided nature trails; and protecting endangered species and medicinal and edible plants.
Encouraging exploration atop a quiet and peaceful hill that is “not just open space” is not an easy
task, but ICNL is determined to reach out into the community and accommodate physical limitations
so everybody can enjoy the natural lands. ICNL is a space that provides a personalized experience,
where joggers, runners, birdwatchers and the like can immerse themselves in a carefree environment.
Additional funding will make the trails easier to navigate and more inviting for people who come to
visit ICNL.
ICNL currently receives $5,000 from Ithaca College’s School of Humanities and Sciences, but this
annual budget has guidelines that restrict some of the pertinent costs of land management,
community outreach, and organizational support. One drawback of the natural lands is the difficulty
of getting there, and this is especially true for local community members who have to park far away
from trail entrances. Building adequate parking near the trails would cost around $3,000 to install
and would bring visitors directly in front of the Boothroyd Trailhead or Terraces Trailhead.
Accessibility should not end here – people of all ages and abilities to be able to use the lands there
must be ADA accessibility. This would require a structural transformation along the Towers Rim
Trail and cost $65,820.00 for a boardwalk and labor. ICNL does not believe that any one person
should be prevented from appreciating nature. Furthermore, caring for and learning from the
environment is everyone’s responsibility and right.
Delineating a relationship between ICNL and the greater Ithaca community has proven to be a
challenge for the organization in the past. Retirees in Service to the Environment (RISE), and the
Stewards Program are two outreach programs ICNL has developed. One of which, the RISE
program, has been operating for only two seasons and is organized by Ithaca College’s Gerontology
Institute and Department of Environmental Sciences. There is potential in initiating a “Friends of
ICNL” program and marketing an unaffiliated with Ithaca College program that extends an invitation
of engagement to community members who may be interested in learning the recreational
opportunities mentioned earlier. The program would be vital to sustaining ICNL by working to
secure donations for the organization. Strategic and dedicated planning for community involvement
requires funding for full time staff and paid interns, a budget requiring roughly $62,000 per year.
Overall, ICNL’s program needs outside funding, separate from IC, to support the plan to strengthen a
bond between the community, the natural lands, and the student body. While the ADA accessible
trail, community outreach programs, and staffing support are important, there are also components
within the general upkeep and management of the land that require short-term funding and
immediate attention. ICNL would like to build two new kiosks, one at the Boothroyd trailhead and
the other at the East entrance behind the Tower’s parking lot. These kiosks would display useful
information, maps, brochures and sign-in sheets for guests. Each kiosk would cost around $5,000 to
construct. An additional five to twenty-five signs along the Boothroyd Woods for general signage
and educational purposes would cost $900. Two larger, museum-grade signs located at the Raponi
Wetlands and the Terraces Turn-Around can help people identify their location and the direction they
want to choose next. These two signs combined would amount to $4,000. One of the most important
characteristics of the trails is the material used for trail surfacing. Wood-chips are necessary to keep

16
the trail bed raised and accessible even during muddy months, costing $500. Finally, the Towers Rim
trail entrance is remarkably steep without steps, and only a single chain serves as a railing up the hill.
During winter months this entrance is extremely dangerous, and in the spring the hill turns into a big
mudslide whenever there is rain. Constructing stairs out of stone which can withstand all conditions
not only ensures safety but also convenience. For $31,537 this trailhead would be another enhanced
access point for students hiking up from campus.
Collectively, these improvements would make the natural lands more inviting and user-friendly
throughout the seasons. Some of the larger funds mentioned above are one-time expenditures that
will have a positive influence on the usage of the trails for people of the greater Ithaca community.
Project Funding Goals and Objectives
ICNL is situated in a strong position because the organization knows what it wants and what
improvements will be most beneficial for the lands and greater Ithaca community. In order for these
projects to be funded through grants, it’s important that the organization is active and engaged in
requesting funding. Below, goals outline when grants should be applied for to ensure funding is secured
and projects are completed.
Goal 1: To receive funding from private foundations for one or all of the structural upgrade projects.
Projected Cost: $10,400 for two kiosks, signage, and wood-chips.
Objectives:
● In the fall of 2015, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal to secure funding for
$10,400 for the kiosks, signage, and wood-chips.
Goal 2: To receive funding from private foundations for one or all of the accessibility projects. Projected
Cost: $100,357 for an ADA boardwalk trail, parking, and stone steps.
Objectives:
Seeking funding in separate phases will increase the likelihood of receiving grants.
● In the fall of 2015, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal to secure funding for
$33,500 to start working on the ADA trail and parking spaces.
● By the winter of 2015, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal for $33,500 to
start working on the stone steps.
● By the spring of 2016, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal for the last
$33,357 to finish work on the stone steps.
Goal 3: Receive funding from private foundations for personnel positions. Project Cost: $62,000
Objectives:
● In the fall 2015, ICNL will resubmit a letter of inquiry/proposal for $62,000 to secure funding for
the intern and staff positions.
Goal 4: If funding for personnel is not secured from private foundations, then ICNL will look to receive
funding from national foundations for one or all of the personnel positions. If funding is secured, attain
additional funds for another one-year cycle of personnel. Projected Cost: $62,000 for full-time staff and
intern positions.
Objectives:

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● In the fall of 2016, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal for $62,000 to secure
funding for an intern and the staff position.
Funding Action Plan
Objective 1: ICNL is seeking $78,820 for non-personnel costs from the John Ben Snow Foundation.
This financial assistance will fund the expansion and increased accessibility of ICNL by the end of
fall 2016.
Outcome: With the addition of an ADA accessible trail the IC Natural Lands will take a
significant step in making the project accessible to all parties.
Outcome: By building a parking lot and drive entrance to ICNL, people with physical disabilities
will be able to access the lands more easily. This contributes to the overall accessibility of the
trail and allows more Tompkins county residents and visitors to access it.
Outcome: By making a part of the natural lands ADA compliant, ICNL is committed to making
the area available for everyone to use. It’s commonly said that there is something for everyone in
nature, and now ICNL would allow those previously unable to access it.
Objective 2: ICNL is requesting $26,537 in grant funding from the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins
County for non-personnel costs. These funds will permit the expansion and increased accessibility
of ICNL by the end of fall 2016.
Outcome: By supplying ICNL with the funds needed for kiosks, information about how to best
enjoy the lands and use them safely will be placed at each trailhead, increasing the overall
community experience.
Outcome: The marketing initiative of ICNL will be further strengthened through these material
costs, and will increase support and usage of the lands.
Outcome: The current chain entrance to the Towers trailhead is hazardous, providing money for
stone stairs is a safe and sustainable solution.
Outcome: By funding these two projects, there will be a significant increase in both the safety
and overall enjoyment when using the lands.
Objective 3: ICNL is requesting $5,400 in grant funding from The Community Foundation of
Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. to establish further-reaching signage for the ICNL trail
system and provide wood chips for the trails. In doing so, the lands will benefit immediately
beginning in the fall of 2014.
Outcome: Through the funding of this critical signage, people will be able to navigate the trails
within the lands and learn more about the ecosystems they are experiencing.
Outcome: By allotting funds for wood chips, people will be able to walk on trails that are safe
and not covered in mud, puddles, ditches, and other potential tripping hazards. Wood chips also
help prevent the erosion of the trails.
Objective 4: ICNL is soliciting $62,000 from the Park Foundation to fund a ICNL land manager
($52,000) and student interns ($10,000). Funding this personnel cost will boost ICNL’s ability to
grow the natural lands with increased staff support and skill by the end of fall 2016.

18
Outcome: By funding a full time land manager, ICNL will be able to provide increased
maintenance to the lands while developing more programs for the Tompkins County community.
Outcome: By providing funds for interns, students at Ithaca College will be able to learn in the
outdoor classroom the natural lands provide while preparing for their future.
Outcome: The existing ICNL staff, the requested land manager, and interns will be able offer the
most sustainable growth internally, while offering the best programs regarding sustainability to
the community.
Evaluation of Funding Objectives
There are several methods in place to monitor and evaluate ICNL’s funding objectives. One approach is
to create an expenditure document that lists all items purchased in an itemized order. Adaptation of this
monitoring system will allow ICNL’s financial expenditures to be monitored and recorded, should an
audit be requested. Because ICNL is a branch of Ithaca College, the lands should be able to receive
sufficient support from the college in creating this recording system.
Another tool that we intend to use is the existing budget management system in place at Ithaca College.
As a private university of higher education and a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Ithaca College already has a
budget management and monitoring system in place. Should ICNL not currently use that system, we
recommend they begin the necessary conversations about how to implement it or adapt their current
system to be in compliance with the college’s system.

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Project Funding Search
Local Funding
The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc.
Name of Grant: Grants for the Environment
Description: This environmentally focused grant is awarded to nonprofits, “dedicated to
protecting the physical environment of the region.” The awards range from $2,000 to $20,000,
and the average grant is $7,500. Although we lie outside the four identified counties of emphasis
(Chemung, Southeast Steuben, Schuyler and Yates) they have given to organizations in Elmira,
Corning, and Horseheads.
Website: www.communityfund.org
Application Due Date(s): “The Foundation accepts applications twice per year.
Organizations submitting a proposal for $5,000 or more in funding must submit a letter
explaining the program to be funded and the amount requested – a letter of intent –
four weeks before the application deadline. The letter of intent is found within our
online grant application system.”
Contact: Randi Hewit (President)
Sara Palmer (Director of Grants and Communications)
Phone: (607) 739-3900
Fax: (607) 739-3971
Email: rlh@communityfund.org
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County
Description: This foundations limits its giving to the Tompkins County, NY, area for
organizations that promote the “arts, education, environment, and human services.” Past
recipients include Friends of Stewart Park (2013) for “the construction of the Stewart Park
Trailhead.”
Website: www.tclegacy.org
Application Due Date(s): Apr. 15 and Sept. 15
Contact: Janet Hewitt (Recreational Secretary)
Email: jhewitt@tompkinsfinancial.com
Regional Funding
John Ben Snow Foundation, Inc.
Description: With areas of focus education, disabilities, and the environment, the John Ben Snow
Foundation has a “general policy to give preference to proposals seeking funds for new or
enhanced programs, one-time, short-term grants to sustain a program until funding is stabilized.”
ICNL fits nicely into the foundation’s mission: to enhance the quality of life in Central New
York.
Website: www.johnbensnow.com/jbsf
Application Due Date(s): Jan. 1 for letters of inquiry; submit inquiry preferably from
July through Dec.; submit application by Apr. 1; submit either a final report after project
is completed by Mar. 1 or a progress report by Mar. 1

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Contact: Jonathan L. Snow (President)
Phone: (315) 471-5256
Email: johnbensnow@verizon.net
Park Foundation, Inc.
Description: Housed in Ithaca, the Park Foundation’s giving is “limited to the eastern
U.S., primarily in central NY…” In 2015, they gave Ithaca College $163,000 for
Greening the Core: Integrating Media Literacy into Sustainability Education. What
makes the Park Foundation a perfect sponsor for ICNL is that it “supports efforts to
help Tompkins County become a fully sustainable community – environmentally,
socially and economically. Priority is given to projects that incorporate a collaborative
approach to reaching sustainability goals. Priority is also given to projects that utilize
inclusive approaches to address racial, economic and other forms of inequality.”
Through overcoming accessibility issues and providing a space for the greater Ithaca
community to gather and learn about a more sustainable lifestyle, ICNL could be an
integral part of a more sustainable Tompkins County.
Website: www.parkfoundation.org
Application Due Date(s): Quarterly: Jan. 5, Mar. 27, July 6 and Sept. 25
Contact: Jon Jensen (Executive Director)
Fax: (607) 272-6057
Email: info@parkfoundation.org
National Funding
Natural Resources Conservation Service (United States Department of Agriculture)
Name of Grant: Conservation Innovation Grants
Description: These grants are “intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative
conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental
enhancement and protection.”
Website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/
Application Due Date(s): Feb 24 (preproposal), and Apr 30, 2015 (full proposal
applications)
Contact: nrcscig@wdc.usda.gov

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LETTER OF INQUIRY COVER SHEET
Organization: Ithaca College Natural Lands
(As specified on the IRS determination letter.) (See next page for fiscally sponsored projects.)
Mailing Address: 953 Danby Rd, Ithaca College
City/State/Zip: Ithaca, NY, 14850
Street Address (if different):
Phone: 607-274-3967 Website: http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/
Chief Executive Officer's Name/Title: Jake Brenner, Faculty Manager
CEO E-mail Address: jbrenner@ithaca.edu Phone: 607-274-3967
Total Organizational Budget: $141,609 For Year: Academic Year 2014-2015
Endowment: $0 As of: May 2015
Primary Contact for Proposal/Title: Jake Brenner, Faculty Manager
Primary Contact E-mail Address: jbrenner@ithaca.edu Phone: 607-274-3967
Project Title: Bridging the Relationship between the Local Environment, Experiential Learning, and the Greater
Ithaca Community
Amount Requested: $62,000 Duration: 1 year Project Budget: $172,757.00
Brief organizational background including the organization’s history, mission, programs and services:
For eleven years Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL) has worked towards promoting environmental awareness and
student engagement across the Ithaca College campus. Originally started to prevent the adjacent natural areas from
being logged, the organization has grown into a necesary educational and recreational tool for the community to
utilize nature. ICNL has successfully developed a Stewards Program and serves as an outdoor classroom across
disciplines, promoting the natural experiential learning revolution across campus and community alike.
Brief Summary of Proposal (100 words or less):
Bridging the Relationship between the Environment, Learning, and the Community
Ithaca College Natural Lands aims to provide improved public access to the trails, programmed community outreach
projects, increased student engagement via internships to create a more sustainable Ithaca. This project strives to
rebuild the essential connection between nature and the human psyche while fostering an educational environment

23
that encourages sustainability and preservation within the greater community. Specific areas that ICNL seeks
funding for are: 1) ADA accessibility 2) trail maintenance 3) signage and the construction of two additional kiosks
4) one student intern and one full-time staff member.
Mail materials to: Jon M. Jensen, Executive Director, Park Foundation, PO Box 550, Ithaca, NY 14851. Our
street address is 140 Seneca Way, Suite 100, Ithaca, NY 14850. If you have questions, please visit
www.parkfoundation.org or call us at (607) 272-9124.
Include with proposal only if applicable.
FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECT/ORGANIZATION:
If the organization is acting as a fiscal sponsor for a project or organization, please complete this section
regarding the program being sponsored.
Name of Project or Organization Being Sponsored: Ithaca College
Primary Contact Name: Warren Calderone, Corporate and Foundation Relations Director
Project/Organization Mailing Address: 953 Danby Rd
City/State/Zip: Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone Number: 607-274-7351 Fax Number: n/a
E-mail Address: wcalderone@ithaca.edu Website: www.ithaca.edu
Brief organizational background including the organization’s history, mission, programs and services:
Ithaca College (IC), located in one of the most environmentally-conscious cities in the U.S., was founded in 1892 as
a music conservatory. With over 6,000 students in five different schools (both graduate and undergraduate) Ithaca
College provides amenities and services both to those enrolled and the greater Ithaca Community. One of IC’s core
values is sustainability. It’s commitment to “the responsible and sustainable management of natural, human, and
financial resources” can be seen in their continued development of organizations such as ICNL, programs like RISE
(Retirees in Service to the Environment), and their outstanding Environmental Science and Biology departments.
Total Organization Budget: $5,000 For Year: Academic Year 2014-2015
May 7, 2015
Jon Jensen
Executive Director
Park Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 550
Ithaca, NY 14851
Re: Cover Letter

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Dear Mr. Jensen:
On behalf of the Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL), I am honored to submit this proposal to the Park
Foundation. With this request, we ask that you consider making a grant of $62,000 to support ICNL.
These funds will allow ICNL to hire a full-time staff manager for the lands as well as an intern that will
gain valuable educational experience while servicing the lands.
We at ICNL highly respect the efforts the Park Foundation has put into creating a sustainable community
in Ithaca. The lands of ICNL play a role in these efforts in educating both the Ithaca College, and greater
Ithaca, communities about how to become more sustainable and cohabitate with natural lands within the
community. We wholeheartedly believe that a well-educated community is a strong one, and are making
conscious efforts to ramp up programming within the natural lands and make it a more accessible place
for everyone.
ICNL is currently seeking staffing to support this endeavor. ICNL provides people a place to escape and
reconnect with nature in an outdoor classroom adjacent to a place of higher education. Your support
would not only allow for better upkeep, but would also assist programming and educational efforts within
the lands through the roles of the full-time staff manager and the intern. This would, in turn, increase the
reach felt by the educational efforts and move Ithaca one more step closer to becoming a completely
sustainable community.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 607-274-3967 or at jbrenner@ithaca.edu.
Thank you so much for your consideration of this proposal.
Sincerely,
Jacob C. Brenner
Faculty Land Manager of ICNL
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Studies and Science
Ithaca College

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Ithaca College Natural Lands: Bridging the Relationship between the Local
Environment, Experiential Learning, and the Greater Ithaca Community
Fall 2015- Fall 2017

26
Executive Summary
Ithaca College Natural Lands
The Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL) is a preserved natural space adjacent to the Ithaca College
Campus. Several parts within the space are referred to as “Outdoor Classrooms,” for exactly the reason
you might expect. A wide range of classes frequently use the space to teach their students real
applications of what they are learning. However, the space is much more than a preserved area or
classroom. A wide range of trails stretch throughout the South Hill lands, including a self-guided nature
trail which people can use to learn more about the environment they spend time in. Many students and
faculty use the lands recreationally to run, walk, film, or even mountain-bike!
The ICNL organization was formed in 2004 with the creation of a management plan, to protect the lands
from logging that was destined for the space. The organization came into being largely through the
support of students and faculty outraged over the logging plans. Today, ICNL champions over 500 acres
of land, in 4 separate reserves: South Hill East and West, Bob-Robinson, and Newfield. The organization
is mainly run by the students – with the assistance of faculty. From creating trails to managing upkeep,
the students put in the most time into the area, making it a unique space where students can gain new
skills.
Brief Statement of Need
Often higher institutions set aside land for expected expansion, and even when they escape their fate of
construction, the land is underutilized and lacks necessary protections. ICNL seeks to change this trend by
safeguarding land from expansion and promoting sustainable use that is beneficial for the community, as
well as the land.
ICNL has a great many benefits for the community, offering research opportunities, recreation, education,
and increasing general well-being. Despite all it has to offer, there is a disconnect between ICNL and the
greater Ithaca community. The small amount of funding from the Humanities and Sciences School of the
college covers overhead costs, but is not sufficient for implementing the larger projects necessary to
bridge the gap into the community.
With your partnership, ICNL has the chance to become the most comprehensive educational lands
management organization in the Northeast United States. By providing the essential space and
programming for students and the greater Ithaca community to reconnect with nature, ICNL plays a vital
role in enhancing the community.
Solution: Making a Natural Place More Accessible
ICNL’s biggest weakness is its accessibility. With no parking spots or easy way to get to the lands, the
organization has not been able to reach out to the greater community to get them involved. To combat
this, the organization plans to increase accessibility. It would carry this out building 2 new kiosks by
summer 2016. To allow anyone to use the trail systems, ICNL will also create an ADA boardwalk by the
end of summer 2017, on the towers rim trail. To make the trails easier to access, two parking spaces will
be put in by the end of summer 2016, at the Terraces entrance and Boothroyd entrance. Lastly, by the end
of summer 2017 the dirt hill and chain into the natural lands from the Towers entrance will be replaced by
stone steps and a metal handrail. All these changes will make the natural lands a better place to spend
time in, and allow people from all walks of life to take part.
In order to improve the natural lands’ recognition in the public eye, the organization seeks to increase
public interaction with ICNL. They will do this through yearly surveys to students and community,
continue partnerships with current programs and establish new ones starting in the summer of 2016, fund

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full time staff and interns, form a “Friends Of” organization, and actively partner with 5-additional
partners by 2020. Current faculty head Jake Brenner and interns will ensure these projects are carried out
and completed.
Funding Requirements
The projects planned for ICNL will have a large, long-lasting impact on the lands and will greatly
improve the ability of the organization to connect the lands to the greater Ithaca community. Our mission
is to secure funding for these projects, so they can be completed. The organization is also looking to
secure funding to continually maintain the lands, by establish a “Friends Of” organization.
Many of the projects planned are single time costs that will last for many years to come, and improve the
natural lands. ICNL requests $172,757.00 for personnel costs, accessibility upgrades, and maintenance
funds. These funds will not only make ICNL a more impressive natural area and model for land
preservation, but allow the organization to increase outreach and involve the community. For many years
ICNL has been tailored for the students, and as faculty head Jake Brenner would put it, it’s time to move
out of that vision, and into a new one where the community is actively a part of the lands. Through
partnership with you, we can achieve these goals.

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Organizational History
When some look at natural lands, they see wilderness. Others see resources. At Ithaca College, the Ithaca
College Natural Lands (ICNL) organization sees natural lands as educational opportunities. ICNL was
born in 2004 out of a meeting between faculty from the Biology Department and College Administration,
where they developed a progressive and well-outlined management plan for the natural resources of the
land owned on South Hill and in Newfield. A spark of interest arose in students and faculty after the local
school newspaper, The Ithacan, published a story on the imminent logging plans for South Hill. The
Ithaca College Natural Areas Stewardship Committee (NASC) was created, lead by Biology faculty
member, Jason Hamilton, and Associate Vice President of Facilities, Rick Couture. The committee now
consists of a Faculty Manager, Associate Vice President of Facilities, Ecological Consultant, Education
Coordinator, and a Student Intern. They were tasked with managing the lands, as well as promoting
teaching, research, and other uses. The next year NASC was reorganized into what is now referred to as
“Ithaca College Natural Lands,” or as many call it, ICNL.
Not Just Open Space
The passion that arose in students and faculty alike in response to the logging has carried into present day,
with a large array of people involved with the lands on an every-day basis. The organization’s mission
from the beginning has been “to maintain the educational value and ecosystem services of the college’s
natural areas, to support co-curricular activities, and to guide compatible economic and recreational
development.” For the ICNL committee of faculty and staff that oversees the preserved lands, that
mission breaks down into five categories – preservation, education, research, recreation, and
production. These ideas all come together to support an area of land that can be used effectively from
students making maple syrup to children learning survival skills, while maintaining its environmental
integrity. Today, the college owns over 500 acres of land, in 4 separate reserves: South Hill East and
West, Bob-Robinson, and Newfield. In the South Hill lands (the 365 acres which are contiguous to
campus), five miles of public access trails sprawl throughout, creating space for anyone to use and enjoy.
Strong Staff, Strong Students
In ICNL, using “faculty” and “students” to describe the organization is a bit superfluous. At Ithaca
College, the natural lands are managed as much by students as by Ithaca College faculty and staff who
claim the lands are run by students. Currently two student interns exist, both equally qualified and driven.
While current ICNL faculty manager, Professor Jake Brenner of Environmental Studies manages much of
the ongoings with the natural lands, students are behind the scenes taking part in many management
positions. Stewards oversee sections of the natural areas on campus. In the Student Intern Training (SIT)
program, students organize and lead everything from campus events to creating new trails. Volunteers
take time to help out wherever is needed.
Part of what makes the natural lands so unique is that students are heavily involved in both its use and
management. This collaborative use facilitates real job experience for students, fostering a deeper
understanding of the environment and sustainability in the younger generation who will be taking the lead
on issues like climate change in the future.
An Outdoor Learning Space
The mission that those first few faculty members set out to achieve has been realized – ICNL has become
not just a protected area, but a place for sustainable use and learning. The lands are often described as an
“outdoor classroom” or an “educational working landscape.” It’s a place where students and the greater

29
community can learn in a shared space. One on campus group that currently utilizes the lands is called
South Hill Forest Products. What can only be described as part learning, part business, this group learns
how to make products such as maple syrup using resources found in the natural lands. They then sell
these products at Ithaca College and other shops in the town. Everything done in the class/business is run
and carried out by the students, which many students have cited as being an invaluable experience.
Primitive Pursuits, a group that teaches young children essential survival skills is another example of
community use and learning opportunities in the natural lands. ICNL gives students at Ithaca College an
opportunity to not only enjoy natural environments, but to learn from them in ways that will serve them as
emerging professionals and engaged community members. Music majors to business students have been
positively impacted by the space, and have gained useful skills that they will carry on with them. Or as a
student notes about South Hill Forest Products, “The fact that you’re learning this craft that people don’t
really recognize but is still integral to society is definitely the best part.”
This learning is not limited just to students of Ithaca College. Like Primitive Pursuits, the RISE (Retirees
in Service to the Environment) program of Ithaca has partnered with ICNL in collaboration with the IC
Gerontology Institute. This program has, for the past two years, brought retired citizens of Tompkins
County to the natural lands, offering opportunities to learn about the environment and carry out
stewardship tasks. These programs characterize one of ICNL’s biggest goals – to engage the outside
community in the land many care so deeply about and that has served us in many ways. The lack of
accessibility through parking areas obstructs this goal, and as such the community has not been able to be
involved as much as ICNL would like, which the proposal plans to address and fix.
More Than School Lands
Yes, the Ithaca College Natural Lands are inextricably linked with the college the name comes from.
However, they are so much more than land tied to a school. The people who devote countless hours a
week to the protection, use, and maintenance of the lands are students and faculty who want to preserve a
rich natural area for others. They want to show the state, even the country, how a group of people can
transform an environment into a space that both provides for, and benefits from those using it. ICNL has
not been able to share this engagement and learning with the greater community, and the ability to do so
would be incredibly valuable for an environmentally conscious community like Tompkins County.
Ongoing Partnerships
ICNL has already allied itself with a few strategic partnerships on both local and national levels.
Stemming from a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Committed to Change Program (C2C)
at Ithaca College is dedicated to teaching sustainability within the classroom and applying what is learned
through partnerships in the Ithaca Community. The current Ithaca community partners are the Ithaca
EcoVillage and the Building Bridges program. Another strong educational partner is the Finger Lakes
Project (FLP). The FLP is a cohort of educators that is dedicated to incorporating sustainability practices
into all aspects of education. The FLP uses ICNL as a resource for sustainability education and practice.
Ithaca College uses its community partnership with the EcoVillage of Ithaca to fund this project and to
provide multiple different types of sustainability education in a myriad of settings.
Current Funding Status
Each year, ICNL receives $5,000 dollars from the School of Humanities and Sciences at Ithaca College to
provide educational funding. This funding ICNL receives from H&S has been very beneficial to the
organization and lands, but it has not been enough for a lot of ICNL’s goals to be fully realized. Programs
funded by the school must be within the educational programming and development guidelines, which
leaves a lot of unattended issues such as American Disabilities Act accessibility, and general upkeep.

30
Many larger projects that would have lasting positive impacts on the natural lands require a larger budget
without educational programming restrictions, and with assistance, implementation can begin.
An Organization Worth Supporting
Ithaca College Natural Lands has effectively established itself as a branch of Ithaca College’s
sustainability initiative, but its full potential has yet to be achieved. The values of ICNL run deep in the
organization’s roots, and there are many passionate students, faculty, and staff who support those
principles. The research, current programs and courses are the mere buds to the developing canopy that
ICNL is aspiring to. With this process still in motion, the organization anticipates further support from
both the surrounding community and Ithaca College.
By creating specialized, positive and meaningful experiences in nature, ICNL contributes to the
livelihood of students and community members. The natural lands are important in its ability to preserve,
educate, and inspire the human reconnection with nature . Communication between privately managed
land and the locality assures that shared goals do exist and are being met. Initiating that relationship and
maintaining harmonization will drive ICNL in the direction of its long-term goals and ultimately represent
a stable model for land preservation as a whole.

31
Proposed Initiative Statement
The Ithaca College Natural Lands is seeking $172,757 for the construction of an ADA compliant trail,
new kiosks, trail upkeep, full-time staff and paid interns, as well as educational programming. This will
benefit and create easy access to the natural lands for the 6500 students of Ithaca College and 30,000 city
of Ithaca residents.

32
Statement of Need
The poet William Wordsworth wrote, “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your
teacher.” But first, let ICNL help get you there.
Most higher education institutions have extra land due to the anticipated need for expansion, but once
cleared from the fate of construction these natural lands are often unprotected and underutilized. Ithaca
College and ICNL are completely disrupting the current trend of expansion and unsustainable land use.
By reserving land initially earmarked for future development of the college for environmental use, Ithaca
College made a strong stance for sustainability. In creating ICNL and its governing body, they made a
commitment to leading the way in natural land preservation.
There are 560 acres of land that are still underutilized despite the research and educational opportunities,
outside long term research projects and students using the land to produce non-timber forest products.
ICNL has several self-guided nature trails available to the public, but it’s “more than open space.” It’s a
natural place for all ages to gather and use the land for education, recreation, research, production, and
preservation.
Natural Land – A Human Benefactor
What is it about “wilderness” that humans love so much? The natural environment plays a bigger role in
peoples’ lives than one might expect. Being in nature doesn’t just improve people physically, it also has
important psychological benefits. Time spent among nature and green areas has the power to reduce stress
and worry, provide therapeutic relief for ADHD afflicted children, and even help people recover from
difficult experiences or emotional trauma. At its core, having natural land to immerse oneself in has
lasting positive effects on well-being. The benefit of ICNL is its proximity to the town as well as the
Ithaca College campus. For students, it’s a short walk away and it provides a place to interact and enjoy
the natural landscape, helping to decrease the high levels of stress many college students experience in a
time of such compressed change. The wide array of trail systems throughout make it easy and accessible
for anyone to experience the land. Because the natural lands are so close to the city, they create an
opportunity for people living downtown to escape the more urban environment to a nearby natural
environment. With proper accessibility, ICNL could be sharing their environment and have a large
positive impact on the lives of members of the greater community. When people have a positive
experience in nature, it often increases conservation habits and awareness in those people. In the end,
ICNL has the potential to be beneficial for both the community and the environment.
The ICNL Vision: A Best Practice Model
ICNL’s role within the college and the greater Ithaca community position it as an opportunity to become a
model for other higher education institutions. Balancing the natural lands, community involvement, and
educational opportunities may seem like too much for a mid-sized college but Ithaca is the perfect place
to start the Natural Experiential Learning Revolution. The community is already recognized as
environmentally friendly which saves ICNL from having to convince the community about the
importance of sustainability. Although there is a disconnect between Ithaca College students and the
greater Ithaca community, ICNL’s past programs, such as Retiree In Service to the Environment, are a
way to combat that disconnect and bring us closer as a community. With a small amount of guaranteed
funding from Ithaca College, ICNL’s overhead costs, such as pamphlets and tools for trail-blazing, are
covered. The City of Ithaca also harbors Cornell University and Cornell Plantations, which conducts a lot
of research that ICNL can learn from and incorporate into their curriculum and outreach projects.

33
Research and Education: The Bedrock of ICNL
Between the 12+ classes and the countless research projects that use ICNL, the area has proven to be vital
for furthering higher education at Ithaca College. ICNL provides students, faculty, staff, and members
of the Ithaca College community convenient opportunities for study in conservation, sustainability,
and other ecological matters that they otherwise would struggle to have without ICNL. The results
of these inquiries extends globally, as the research done at Ithaca College has been proven to reach people
on an international scale. With proper additions to ICNL, along with subsequent marketing campaigns,
ICNL can attract even more members of the Ithaca community and the reach of the education can extend
to additional community members. This education will promote conservation and sustainability practices
in the Ithaca Community and will have an effect on climate change in the Ithaca area, as well as globally,
as students take these practices with them.
The Future of ICNL: Community Collaboration & Integration
Ithaca College has bound itself to active learning through a select number of settings that most
importantly includes community. Exceeding the number of community programs ICNL currently
implements can have a significant impact on the development of ICNL as an educational, community-
backed organization. Sharing the fundamental experience, research and skills that ICNL has fostered with
the Ithaca community is an essential step towards strengthening the environmental protection and
preservation that spurred the creation of ICNL. Volunteer opportunities that the RISE, Primitive Pursuits,
and Stewards programs currently offer is just the beginning.
ICNL is in the unique position of providing access to nature – thanks to the institutional support it
receives from Ithaca College and the partnership opportunities with the greater Ithaca community.
With your partnership, ICNL has the chance to become the most comprehensive educational lands
management organization in the Northeast United States. By providing the essential space and
programming for students and the greater Ithaca community to reconnect with nature, ICNL plays a vital
role in enhancing the community.

34
Plan of Action
Statement of Goals, Objectives and Outcomes
Unlocking the Natural World: Making ICNL a Model for Accessibility
Although ICNL is a leader in school-run natural lands, the growth of the lands has been limited by a few
reasons. Accessibility, staffing, and support issues currently stunt the ability of the lands to reach their full
potential. The goals stated below will help ICNL achieve its vision a more environmentally engaged
community.
Goal: Make the Natural Lands More Accessible
• Objective: Build 2 new kiosks at ICNL’s Boothroyd and East entrances by the end of summer
2016.
• Outcome: The new kiosks at the entrances to ICNL will create a visual gateway to the
natural lands. These kiosks will provide information to users of the natural lands that will
enhance their experiences, inform them, and increase their engagement with ICNL.
• Objective: Create a boardwalk on the Towers Rim Trail by the end of summer 2017.
• Outcome: Through the creation of this boardwalk, ICNL will be a step closer to being
American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. The boardwalk will be built on a section of
the Towers Rim Trail that is the easiest to access from the road.
• Objective: Create a “drive-up and park” entrance to ICNL by the end of summer 2016.
• Outcome: A parking lot will be created close to the lands at the Terraces entrance. The
parking lot will allow people with physical disabilities and those of a seasoned age to
access ICNL, and the eventual ADA compliant boardwalk, with magnified ease. The
placement of the parking lot in this location will also take up minimal natural space.
• Objective: Put wood chips down on the trails within the lands every season starting in summer of
2016.
• Outcome: The trails will hold up better in the weather and prevent degradation. This will
allow them to remain accessible to people in the natural lands longer, and more often
throughout the year. The wood chips will also help alleviate some of the unavoidable
erosion damage that happened during the creation of the trails.
• Objective: Replace the dirt hill and wooden rail into ICNL near the East Entrance with concrete
steps and a metal rail by the end of summer 2017.
• Outcome: The steps will replace a steep dirt hill that currently exists in this area. The hill
currently is a safety hazard when dry, and totally inaccessible when wet. The wooden and
chain handrail currently provides some stability to those walking up and down, however a
full metal handrail would be much more stable and would weather better.
Goal: Increase Public Interaction with ICNL
• Objective: Reach out to students and greater Ithaca community yearly with surveys to establish
public and student interest starting in fall of 2015 and continuing every fall semester.
• Outcome: Through reaching out to public and students with yearly surveys, awareness of
ICNL will be created. ICNL will also be able to create a baseline for its current
awareness and then see how marketing efforts affect the awareness of ICNL in both
groups.
• Objective: Continue the partnership with current programs (such as RISE and Primitive Pursuits)
and spur the development of new programs and events in the natural lands starting summer of
2016 and continuing every season.

35
• Outcome: Through the continued partnership with current programs and the creation of
new programs and events, more people will be coming up the hill and using the natural
lands. This will both spur goodwill for the lands and increase the number of people using
and interacting with ICNL.
• Objective: Create a sustainable marketing plan with recommendations on implementation
practices. While current marketing efforts are being revamped, a sustainable plan is needed to
ensure continued success with outreach. This will start in summer of 2016 and continue on
consistently.
• Outcome: Through creating a marketing, advertising, PR, and media strategy, a focused
action plan can be implemented that will give ICNL the exposure it needs amongst its
identified target groups. A sustainability plan will also be implemented and all actions
will be documented so that future students in these roles can know what has and hasn’t
worked in the past. Recommendations will also be made for future collaborators when
implementing plans in the future (Project Look Sharp, Megaphone Media Productions,
IMC/Marketing Programs, Park Design House, etc.)
Goal: Create Stronger Support System for ICNL
• Objective: Fun 1 full-time staff and 1 paid intern of ICNL. These people are integral to ICNL’s
future and will be the ones doing the majority of work with lands. This will start in summer of
2016 and continue on consistently.
• Outcome: As the lands both grow and age, the amount of work that needs to be done
within them grows as well. While the Office of Facilities and dedicated students have
taken care of the lands thus far, each year it becomes increasingly harder to do so, and
valuable IC time and resources are used. Through having full-time staff and paid interns
on hands, IC can better budget its facilities’ crew time, which will ultimately support the
college’s bundling efforts.
• Objective: Found a “Friends of ICNL” support organization. This organization will contribute to
the financial success of ICNL and serve as a sounding board for its future development. The
organization will be founded in the fall of 2016.
• Outcome: By creating a “Friends of ICNL” organization, there will be former students
who will become stronger brand advocates to ICNL, and they will be able to assist in
advising ICNL faculty head chair Jake Brenner on how to proceed. The organization can
also assist in raising much-needed funds for ICNL.
• Objective: Actively partner with 5 additional non-IC organizations by the year 2020 starting in
the summer of 2016 and continue on consistently.
• Outcome: The saying “safety in numbers” proves true in ICNL. By aligning ICNL with
outside organizations, ICNL will create a web of support and learn from other
organizations mistakes. The partners also increase the credibility of the organizations and
make it a stronger candidate for grants.

36
Methods
Unlocking the Natural World: Making ICNL a Model for Accessibility
Timeline
Activity Fall
2015/
Spring
2016
Summer
2016
Fall
2016
Spring
2017
Summer
2017
Fall
2017
Build 2 New Kiosks X
Create Boardwalk
on the
Towers Rim Trail
X X X
Create Drive & Park Entrance to
ICNL
X
Put Wood Chips on Trails in the
Natural Lands
X X X X X
Ongoing
Build Steps & Rail near
East Entrance
X
Reach out to Public & Students
with Surveys
X X X
Ongoing
Develop Current Programs &
New Programs
X X X X X
Ongoing
Create & Implement Marketing
Plan
X X X X X
Ongoing
Fund Full-Time Staff & Interns
of ICNL
X X X X X
Ongoing
Found a “Friends of ICNL
Organization”
X
Partner with 5 Additional
External Organizations
X X X X X
Ongoing

37
Impact Statement
This initiative is a unique opportunity to blend an academic community and local community through
natural lands available adjacent to Ithaca College. The effort to increase accessibility of ICNL will allow
more people in the greater Ithaca area to use the natural lands and benefit from its wide range of offerings.
The project will create change within ICNL by allowing more people to access the natural lands, which
will increase the number and variety of natural areas accessible by Ithacans in the greater Tompkins
county area. This will encourage citizens and students alike to connect them with a natural environment
where learning, preservation and well-being can be fostered.
Key Personnel/Staffing Statement
ICNL is overseen by a faculty land manager, currently Environmental Studies and Sciences professor,
Jake Brenner, who makes most of the decisions related to the natural lands, oversees educational
programming, and is the direct supervisor to the interns of ICNL. He will be the staff member working
full-time to complete the projects specified in the proposal. Professor Brenner has led similar projects
before, stemming from a grant he recently secured from the National Science Foundation. Because he has
his Doctorate in Geography, he is able to map out the future plans for the natural lands and ensure they
are on the path to success.
The current support positions are:
Faculty Manager: Leading committee meetings, budgeting, supervising interns, developing projects,
working with other committee members, and other general administrative responsibilities.
Associate Vice President of Facilities: Leading committee meetings, budgeting and approval, managing
people and projects with the IC Office of Facilities, and reporting to upper-level administrators.
Ecological Consultant: Working with environmental consultants outside of the organization, managing
all ecology related research and projects, and serving as an internal expert consultant for the ICNL
committee.
Education Coordinator: Managing educational programming for students and greater Ithaca community,
as well as developing learning opportunities.
Student Intern: Carrying out tasks and projects delegated by the Faculty Manager, as well as helping
manage the Student Intern Training program. The Resource and Environmental Management Program of
the Office of Facilities funds this position.
The ICNL interns also assist the faculty land manager in taking care of the lands. The interns conduct
research on the lands and design projects such as working to preserve native species of plants and
wildlife. They additionally take part in making sure the trails throughout the natural lands are safe for use.
These interns will likely be working part time on the goals specified in the proposal.
The ICNL Stewards program creates stewards that are each responsible for their own plot of land. These
volunteers each take an acre of land and check on it once a month. They are responsible for reporting
anything “out of the ordinary” with the lands and for general upkeep. These stewards will likely work
part-time during the construction aspects of the proposal, to make sure construction sites are not being
vandalized or destroyed.

38
The Office of Facilities currently performs specialized maintenance as needed in the natural lands.
However, bigger construction projects are out of the question due to budgetary constraints. Although
these employees already work for the college, they are often backlogged with work that needs to be done
on campus buildings and are unable to respond to ICNL’s requests quickly. As a result the trails are not
always well kept and have the potential to be dangerous at times.
Management Plan
ICNL is managed and maintained by Ithaca College, or more specifically, the Environmental Studies and
Sciences department of the School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S). The organization is run by a
faculty manager, as well as a team of devoted interns with Ithaca College serving as the broader fiscal
agent to be responsible for its success. Professor Brenner and ICNL have agreed to act as the grant
applicant for this project.
Accessibility of Resources
ICNL’s partnership with the Office of Facilities provides routine maintenance, an essential part to the
management of the lands. $5,000 is currently given to ICNL at the beginning of each school year by the
H&S Dean’s Office for the purpose of educational programming. Unfortunately current funding for ICNL
interns will not be supported by the budget.
Diversity/Nondiscrimination Policy for Hiring
The Ithaca College nondiscrimination statement states that “discrimination on the grounds of age,
disability, marital status, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, or military status will not exist in any activity, area, or operation of the College.”
Evaluation Plan
Refining public access to ICNL is important to the organization's mission. Determining the effectiveness
of ICNL’s objectives, such as improving accessibility, requires long-term evaluation of overall usage of
the trails and general upkeep. The success of the physical upgrades can be clearly evaluated through their
completion.
A marketing plan is important to the goal of increasing awareness and use of the natural lands. In order to
determine the effectiveness of the implemented marketing, we will consult with a third party organization
about return on engagement. The sign-in sheets will also serve to show whether more people from the
community are engaging in the lands.
A sign-in sheet at all trail entrances, a common practice in land management, is an interactive way of
establishing a relationship with ICNL’s visitors. Not only is this a simple way to quantify the number of
people who come to the trails, but allows for users to leave contact information to maintain lasting
relationships.
Through the creation of a “Friends of ICNL Organization” a consistent connection with both the greater
Ithaca and alumni communities will be achieved. The success of this organization will be determined by
the amount of positions filled within the organization and the overall interaction of the organization with
ICNL as a whole.
Simply by partnering with external organizations, such as Cornell Plantations or the Cayuga Nature
Center, ICNL will have completed its goal of connecting with like-minded organizations and building its

39
credibility. Information sharing will exist through the partnerships, and best practices will help all parties
involved thrive. These organizations may also serve as key evaluators for our efforts and offer critical
feedback about what works.
Surveys will also provide solid data and ongoing feedback directly from the people who visit ICNL.
These surveys will include: preference on trail materials (i.e. stones, wood chips), usefulness of signage,
parking availability, and overall experience via testimonials. Full-time staff and interns will conduct these
surveys, and then process the results into useable data. Surveying will be conducted before ICNL begins
project development, mid-way through, and after the projects are completed.
Certifying that the technical standards of making the natural lands completely accessible for everyone are
met, an outside organization will evaluate the trails. Turning to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as a
reliable inspector of the implementation of parking areas and the ADA accessible trail will validate and
verify the ways ICNL is attempting to accommodate limitations of individuals with physical disabilities.
Ensuring ICNL is a safe and enjoyable place is the ultimate goal of the organization, and will also serve to
measure its success. Unfortunately quantifying the general experience of the hikers and visitors is
challenging because there are a lot of variables out of ICNL’s control. Variables like weather, erosion,
and drainage can affect a user’s experience and have to be managed and dealt with over time. Evaluation
will be integral to ensuring that the natural lands are accessible and utilized by the greater Ithaca
Community.
Dissemination Plan
The results found from the evaluation process of ICNL’s improvements and organizational alterations
will be shared and dispersed amongst academic and local communities. It is important that ICNL shares
these results because only those who use the natural lands can determine the use and success of the trails.
In the academic world the preservation and use of natural areas through colleges is largely unrepresented
ICNL intends to develop this niche.
Social Media Outreach
Students and community members who are already following ICNL on Facebook will receive
notifications announcing updates on the creation of an ADA accessible trail, conveniently close parking
lot to the trail entrances, and new kiosks with updated information. This announcement will be posted
after the preliminary SAS evaluation. Inviting ICNL’s followers to explore the newly updated natural
lands will encourage their exploration of and reconnection with nature.
Spreading the Word
Every little bit of shared information helps. Announcements on community boards as well as on campus
publications will immensely help inform students and Ithaca residents about ICNL’s upgrades. ICNL
already invites students and faculty to their outdoor events via Ithaca College Facebook accounts,
Intercom (online IC community information board), and posters; these announcements advertise how easy
it is for anyone to attend the events in the lands regardless of their physical limitations.
Emails will be sent out to partners and the “Friends of ICNL” organization. These emails will foster
interaction and encourage participation from the members of these groups.

40
Higher Education Academic Journals
Research has already been done in the natural lands, and with the extension of the internship program and
academic programs, there will be more information to share. So far, there have not been any academic
journals or publications about the preservation and development of privately owned natural lands. ICNL
is in the rare and fortunate position of being the trailblazers in bridging a relationship between the
environment, education, and community development. Producing a step-by-step informational guide for
other institutions with similar values as Ithaca College will further position ICNL as a leader. The
research conducted and information reported will be innovative and original—and even more importantly,
expand environmental initiatives to other colleges and universities.
Future Funding
The process of improving the natural lands and making it more accessible to the greater Ithaca community
is an ongoing task. Although this grant will help the natural lands progress forward even after the grant
period ends, continued support will be crucial to establishing better internal and external funding
opportunities.
The key long-term impact of current grants is that they allow for full time staff to be put in place to
manage the new features (such as kiosks, ADA trails, and parking spots) and maintain them after the
initial funding period is over.
After the funding period ends, there will be an ongoing need to pay the staff, interns, and provide general
upkeep and expansion of the natural lands.The creation of “Friends of ICNL” and partnerships with like-
minded organizations in the greater Ithaca area will seek to offset some of these expenses. As these costs
arise, the organization will seek additional grants to fund the new expenditures.
ICNL will also seek funding through Ithaca College alumni connections. The organization will inform
the Ithaca College alumni of the value and rich biological significance of the natural lands, and remind
them of the importance of ecological preservation.
Most importantly, current funding will better establish the mission of ICNL, and make it more attractive
for future funding. This ensures that ICNL will continue to connect the Ithaca community to nature and
foster learning and preservation.

41
Conclusion
ICNL is seeking $172,757.00 of funding over the next three years to make impactful changes to the trails,
entrances, signage, boardwalk, staff, and educational aspects of the natural lands. The organization wants
to be beneficial to more than just Ithaca College students, faculty, and staff in the near future. As faculty
manager Jake Brenner says, “For the last ten years we served the college; now it’s time to serve the
community.”
ICNL believes nature (and the diverse educational opportunities that coincide within this space) should be
available for anyone who seeks it. By bridging the accessibility gap between the community and the
natural lands, ICNL provides the essential tools for humans to stay in touch with nature.
“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.”
-Mahatma Gandhi

Ithaca College Natural Lands Grant Proposal

Ithaca College Natural Lands Grant Proposal

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