A Legacy of Land Stewardship
By Dr. Evan Coulson
We are excited to share that our first year of implementing Camp Ondessonk’s 10-Year Forest Management Plan has been successful! Our goal has been simple: to keep our nearly 1,000-acre property healthy, diverse, and beautiful for generations to come. Our main priorities included mitigating invasive species, restoring historic sandstone glades, and strategic forest improvements aimed at enhancing habitat and promoting native hardwood trees. Our efforts have already shown real progress toward creating vital niches for unique birds and wildlife while also restoring rare plant communities.
This past year, we conducted our very first prescribed burn along Pakentuck Road, initiated the removal of invasive plant species near Pine Lake, and engaged campers in meaningful ecological restoration work on an historic glade near Durbin’s Barn. Most recently, professional cutting was completed between Goupil, Lalemant, and Kane Lake. This work wasn’t just clearing; it was strategic forestry. We thinned species like cedar and elm that were taking over the historic glade above Chabanel and thinned out shade-tolerant trees to promote the regeneration of oaks in the surrounding forest.
Why do we focus on oaks? They are a cornerstone of the ecosystem, supporting the most wildlife. Historically, oaks thrived thanks to natural disturbances like fire, which created sunlight-rich gaps in the forest canopy. Today, without those gaps, shade-loving trees dominate, making it impossible for young oaks to grow, a process called “Mesophication.” To reverse this, we use intentional cutting to mimic natural disturbance. These carefully placed canopy gaps allow the necessary 50% sunlight to reach the ground, giving the next generation of oaks and hickories a chance to thrive.
Our forest management work has received a great deal of support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Shawnee Resource Conservation & Development, Inc. (RC&D) this year. These partners view Ondessonk as a high-priority investment. Why? Because our land retains a remarkably intact natural heritage compared to surrounding properties. Our legacy of prioritizing recreation, rather than resource extraction, protected our forest from ecological disruption that is common across the region. The resilient state of our forest provides rich evidence that using land for enjoyment can be an effective model for conservation. This resilience, combined with our large scale, adjacency to US Forest Service land, and commitment to education and service-learning, means we offer a greater return on conservation investment for our partners.
We are proud to steward our forest and are committed to continuing to enhance its biodiversity and to ensuring a vital habitat for all who call Camp Ondessonk ‘home.’
Click here to learn more about Camp Ondessonk’s 10-Year Forest Management Plan.
