SUTTONS BAY — The Inland Seas Education Association has announced that Leo Creek Preserve, a nine-acre nature preserve and botanical garden, has been gifted to them for educational programming.
According to a Jan. 7 news release, the donation will allow ISEA to provide shoreside watershed-focused educational experiences while continuing to keep the property open to the public.
Leo Creek Preserve is a nine-acre outdoor learning laboratory, nature preserve, and botanical garden located south of Suttons Bay along the Leelanau Trail.
It features over 1,000 feet of waterfront along Leo Creek, a groundwater stream that feeds into Grand Traverse Bay. The stream itself serves as an important habitat for fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians, while the surrounding forest is an ideal habitat for deer, mink, otters, and turkeys.
“This piece of property has long been beloved by people of all ages as a place to escape everyday life and reconnect with the natural wonders of Northern Michigan,” ISEA Executive Director Fred Sitkins said. “We are honored to continue the stewardship of Leo Creek Preserve, ensuring that it remains a jewel of Suttons Bay for students and the public. As ISEA continues to expand our year-round educational programs, Leo Creek, just a mile from our Suttons Bay campus, will play a large role in making our Watershed Exploration programs come to life for the students we serve.”
Leo Creek Preserve has been stewarded by Kate Thornhill since its purchase in 2016. The land was placed under a conservation easement with the Leelanau Conservancy to preserve its natural beauty for generations.
Over the years, Thornhill and her team of volunteers developed the gardens to include a wide variety of native flowers and created educational stations to teach visitors about the importance of native species and biodiversity. During this time of transition, Thornhill will continue to lead efforts in caring for the preserve and work with ISEA to create a sustainable maintenance plan for the future.
Since 2021, ISEA has utilized Leo Creek as a natural classroom to facilitate its Watershed Exploration programs and they are thrilled by the many exciting opportunities the preserve will provide to program participants and the community of Suttons Bay. If you are interested in continuing Thornhill’s legacy of caring for and maintaining this land, please contact Fred Sitkins.
Inland Seas Education Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Suttons Bay, Michigan dedicated to STEM education on the Great Lakes. ISEA offers programs to schools, groups, and the public. For further information, contact the Inland Seas Education Association at -231-271-3077 or on the web at schoolship.org.