nature inspires.

Being in nature has always been a source of joy for Margot and Jeff. For them, a sense of wonder is sparked, whether it be while looking at the nighttime sky or marveling at the beauty of a springtime wildflower. Margot grew up outside of Buffalo, NY, surrounded by acres of rolling hills. She notes, “My happiest days were spent riding my pony, Lady, to explore streams, open fields, and woods. I loved the birds and other wildlife I encountered and treasured the unexpected. Ever since then I have felt drawn to natural spaces and always feel more peaceful when I am in them.”

Since his youth, Jeff has been captivated by the rugged beauty of the Maine coast. His many summers spent exploring the outdoors there left an indelible mark and laid the path for his career as a science teacher. In their retirement, Margot and Jeff are active citizen scientists: as Creek Watchers they monitor the health of a local stream, and through Project Feeder Watch they record bird sightings at their feeders each month. They’re grateful Natural Lands has saved so much land in such a densely populated region and have supported the organization for 20-plus years. “Now that we’re grandparents, land preservation feels more important than ever. Including a gift in our will is just another way to help ensure others can also experience the same joy in nature.”

A gift in your will, called a bequest, is one of the most popular ways to support Natural Lands.

The Benjamins love immersing themselves in “big landscapes” whether it be exploring the Pinelands of New Jersey or strolling the trails at Natural Lands’ ChesLen Preserve. Jessie once owned a habitat restoration consulting business and has always been drawn to the land, first through her upbringing on a Chester County horse farm and then later, when she discovered her love for plants. It was on return from a rain forest trip to Peru, Jessie had her epiphany. “I suddenly saw the familiar landscape at home through dramatically different eyes.” It was then that she refocused her business on habitat restoration.

When Jessie and Richard updated their wills, they decided to factor their philanthropic interests into their planning and directed that the eventual proceeds from the sale of their home be directed to Natural Lands. When asked why Natural Lands, Richard commented that preserving land is “a way of giving back for all the wonderful times we have had hiking in Natural Lands preserves.” Jessie notes that estate planning is “a lot more fun when you include philanthropy. It resonates with us and changed the tenor of writing a will.”

There are several creative ways that gifts of real estate can further Natural Lands mission and even provide you with benefits.

When it came time to celebrate Eileen’s birthday, she used the occasion to share her love of Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary with friends and family. In lieu of personal gifts, she asked guests to bring items to auction off so funds could be raised for her favorite local preserve.

Eileen and Bob have always been drawn to the tranquility and beauty of Mariton, located along the Delaware River in Easton, PA. “I like to say that I worship at the church of the outdoors. I find inspiration and peace from being out in nature,” Eileen noted. Since Ike, their dog, entered their lives, early morning trail walks are a part of the Schmidt’s daily routine. The solace and beauty of the woodland and meadow trails often inspire Eileen to write haikus.

Eileen and Bob are quick to note that their fondness for Mariton is anchored in their friendship and respect for Preserve Manager Tim Burris. “Tim is competent and professional in every sense of those words. He’s authentic, easy-going, and always happy to see us. He makes time to say hello. You just can’t NOT like Tim.” Eileen added, “Tim’s wife, Maureen, is equally as welcoming and generous with her time as a volunteer. Together they have built a vibrant community that supports the preserve and enjoys potlucks, movie nights, and sharing the beauty of Mariton with others.”

When they updated their wills, Eileen and Bob found yet another way to reinforce their commitment to saving land: making Natural Lands a beneficiary.

“We want more outdoors, not less! Land conservation is the number one most important thing to us, and we want to be a part of Mariton and Natural Lands. By putting a gift to Natural Lands in our wills, we become a part of what we care most about. After all, nothing happens on its’ own. Everything takes money. We hope others will join us in making a difference.”

A gift in your will, called a bequest, is one of the most popular ways to support Natural Lands.

The words “quiet” and “reserved” were those used most often to describe Eileen McDonnell, a longtime volunteer and 25-year member of Natural Lands, who passed away in 2016. But if you asked her about the birds and butterflies she captured so artfully in her photographs, she effervesced.

“Every time I think of Eileen, I am reminded of an excerpt from a Mary Oliver poem called ‘Instructions for Living a Life,'” said Suzanne Barton, Natural Lands’ director of planned giving and Eileen’s friend: “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

Eileen and her brother Bob—also a longtime Natural Lands member—were raised to work hard and save. Their father, a mechanic who built his own auto repair business, and their mother, who worked for decades as a secretary in a clothing factory, were thoughtful about putting away their earnings.

Eileen had the opportunity to attend Allegheny College and Syracuse University, where she obtained a degree in education that underpinned her career as a public school hearing and speech therapist. She never married and her teacher’s pension was more than enough to provide for her retirement—most of which she dedicated to being a voice for conservation, leading nature walks, and volunteering for Natural Lands.

Eileen’s conservation-loving friends were out in force when a Natural Lands gathering convened at Gwynedd Preserve—Eileen’s home away from home—on a warm summer day to share memories and dedicate a bench in her honor. Butterflies flitted across the meadows under a vast, cloud-streaked sky. It was a perfect and fitting tribute.

But it was Eileen who payed the most extraordinary compliment as she turned the lens outward one last time and left Natural Lands the majority of her savings—a bequest of close to $3.7 million, the single largest planned gift in our history. Her extraordinary gift will be applied to the care of Natural Land preserves, which she loved… and loved to share.

“She might have been shy and unassuming,” noted Molly Morrison, Natural Lands’ then president. “But Eileen left a mighty and indelible mark on our region’s natural world.”

Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. It is Natural Lands’ privilege, Eileen.

A gift in your will, called a bequest, is one of the most popular ways to support Natural Lands.

“Our family spends a lot of time outdoors walking through preserved woodlands and open fields. We visit Gwynedd Preserve on a regular basis. We love it there! We enjoy the open space, peace, and quiet. Our local area is starting to lose its rural character. We need places like Gwynedd to remember how things once were.

I believe strongly in Natural Lands’ mission. My wife and I are each leaving money to our church. In addition, I’m leaving money to Natural Lands. Open space should be cherished, preserved, and enjoyed.”

A gift in your will, called a bequest, is one of the most popular ways to support Natural Lands.