Greencastle woman wins Honda Hybrid in Nature Conservancy's 'Natural Treasures' promotion

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Back in late September, Julie Norlin picked up a two-month-old article from the Banner Graphic she had kept next to her computer.

The article was about The Nature Conservancy's Natural Treasures sweepstakes, which invited Hoosiers to submit photos of themselves taken at amazing natural areas for a chance to win a new 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid.

A week later, The Nature Conservancy emailed Julie, letting her know that a picture of her taken at the Conservancy's Big Walnut Nature Preserve in Putnam County had won the contest.

Julie Norlin is joined at the Big Walnut Nature Preserve near Bainbridge Tuesday afternoon by Chip Sutton of The Nature Conservancy as the Greencastle woman is presented with her new 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid.

Unfortunately, Julie's husband deleted that email.

Her husband Bill thought the email was spam. But the conservancy persevered and a few days later a second email was sent. This time Bill opened the email, and had great news for Julie when she arrived home.

"I knew I would win! I knew I would win!" screamed Julie, laughing as she jumped up and down. "I had told my two sons and daughter that they could enter, but it wouldn't make any difference because I was going to win the car."

This summer, The Nature Conservancy and Honda teamed up for a sweepstakes that challenged locals to explore natural sites. Targeted at residents in Honda manufacturing states of Indiana, Alabama and Ohio, the "Natural Treasures" partnership program highlights beloved natural areas.

To enter the contest, Hoosiers could visit one or more of nine Indiana natural areas and record their visit by taking a photo of themselves, then upload the photo to the Natural Treasures website.

More than 1,300 enthusiasts submitted photo entries in the sweepstakes, which ran from Aug. 1-Sept. 30. Julie's entry was randomly selected to win the 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid.

"Honda is very happy to present the grand prize for this sweepstakes, a very fuel-efficient and enjoyable Honda Civic vehicle, to Julie," Bob Nelson, president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, said. "Our hope is that her enthusiasm spurs others to visit these natural areas which enhance our quality of life."

Norlin was awarded her new Honda Civic Hybrid Tuesday afternoon at Honda's Indiana manufacturing facility in Greensburg.

"Natural Treasures was a great way to introduce Indiana's amazing natural areas to new audiences," Mary McConnell, state director for The Nature Conservancy's Indiana Chapter, explained. "The goal of the contest was to get folks outside and enjoy nature, and it succeeded."

Was McConnell pleased that a Hoosier won the sweepstakes?

"Oh, yes," she said.

Julie and her family had never been to the Big Walnut Nature Preserve in Putnam County before, but chose to venture there one 90-degree August afternoon.

She said her family really enjoyed the trails and appreciated the set of wooden steps to help them return to the trailhead. The Norlins enjoyed seeing many types of fungus growing on trees and out of the ground.

As Julie recalls, "It was quiet and the trees canopied over the trails, making a lot of cool shade for our hike that day."

Ironically, after taking the contest photo on a scorching August afternoon, she returned to the Big Walnut Preserve with her new car for publicity photos on Tuesday, the coldest day of the season (low of 8 degrees) and chilliest Nov. 18 in 55 years.

The Nature Conservancy, a leading conservation organization working to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people, has been responsible for the protection of more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide.

In Indiana, the conservancy has worked for 50 years at more than 195 sites to protect more than 80,000 acres by working. With eight offices across the state, the conservancy works with local communities on issues including the quality and quantity of Indiana's freshwater.

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