Martell Forest

• Institute of Digital Forestry
• Institute for a Sustainable Future
• Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
• Center for Global Soundscapes
  • Each of these use Martell Forest on the daily to complete their ongoing research or as a base for their personal research
• Indiana State Climate Office – Purdue Mesonet Data Hub collects air temperature, soil temperature, and wind speed at Martell Forest
  • Collaboration of Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future and the Indiana State Climate office

• John L. Van Camp Arboretum
  • Collection of 100 native trees to Indiana provided to the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources as a gift from the family of former faculty member, John L. Van Camp.

• 2018-2019 Indian Creek Stabilization funded by the IDNR Lake and River Enhancement grants of $108,000
  • Improved stream habitat, resolved the wash out occurring on the access road, and rejuvenated the pedestrian bridge over the creek
  • ADD SOME OF THESE PHOTOS UNDER THIS SECTION:
    • Reshaping the bank using backhoe. Photo by Brian Beheler.
      
    • Deep pools were created to slow water runoff and control erosion. Photo by Brian Beheler.
      
    • 2017 view. Photo by Brian Beheler.
      
    • 2019 view. Photo by Brian Beheler.
      
  • Land demographics:
    • 70% forested
    • 21% plantation
    • 12 acres of prairie
    • 4 acres of open water
    • 6 miles of stream
    • 5 miles of road
  • 2010 invasive plant assessment suggested 144 acres in high priority and requiring immediate action to control the invasive species
  • 2020 invasive plant assessment suggested 21 acres needing follow-up and 9 acres needing more aggressive efforts of control
    • Work for this project has been completed by staff, interns, workshops with the public, and FNR class labs
  • • 2,000 square feet of greenhouse space
    • 1,500 square feet of molecular genetics seed quality field lab3,500 square feet of greenhouses is located on property
    • FNR Greenhouse Facilities

Martell Forest is home to the John L. Van Camp Arboretum, a collection of 100 trees native to Indiana provided to the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources as a gift from the family of former faculty member John L. Van Camp.

About the Arboretum

John Lloyd Van Camp (1898-1999) was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on June 9, 1898. He received a B.S. in Forestry and a M.S. in Botany, both from the University of Toronto. Van Camp held various forestry-related jobs throughout Canada until coming to the United States in 1932, when he accepted a position as Instructor in Forestry at Michigan State University.

Van Camp began his career at Purdue University when he was appointed Assistant Extension Forester in 1936, when Forestry Extension in Indiana was in its infancy. Professor Van Camp, known affectionately as “Van” by his colleagues, was instrumental in expanding 4-H and other youth programs, particularly those in forestry and wildlife. He eventually became State Extension Forester and served in that capacity until his resignation in July 1949, when he accepted the position of Secretary of the Canadian Forestry Association in Montreal.

One of his Purdue extension publications 50 Trees of Indiana, coauthored by T.E. Shaw, continues to be a very popular educational bulletin, and is used by school teachers and 4-H educators across the state for tree identification exercises. It is currently being revised in CD format to include not only updated material, but also educational exercises.

In recognition of Van Camp’s life-long dedication to forestry and education, his family and friends created an endowment in 1998 and presented it as a 100th birthday present to him. The endowment helped to establish and will perpetuate an arboretum originally designed to showcase 50 common native trees of Indiana.

The Van Camp Arboretum currently contains 75 native tree and 12 native shrub species and will likely continue to grow as new species are added. It is located at Martell Forest in Tippecanoe County, 8 miles west of Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. The native trees and shrubs of the arboretum are grouped so as to reflect the natural forest communities that occur in Indiana.

In photos below you will find the J.L. Van camp plaque and rock that it sits on along with J.L. Van Camp's daughter Boo Wuestenfeld, her husband Bill Wuestenfeld and their daughter Pam Sebrey at the Van Camp Arboretum.

In photos below you will find the finished gazebo for the Van Camp Arboretum, maintenance done for foot bridge to enter the Arboretum and J.L. Van Camp's daughter, Boo Wuestenfeld, and granddaughter, Pam Sebrey, visiting the Arboretum.

• John S. Wright Forestry Center used for classroom work, conferences, and learning lab for students and extension events
  • 22 class labs from 7 departments
  • 45% of FNR field extension events occur here
  • https://ag.purdue.edu/department/fnr/research/facilities/wright-center.html
• Invasive species management workshops for the public
• 2019 Midwestern Foresters’ Conclave at Purdue University

Please contact the property manager for a copy of this property’s management plan.

Property Manager:
Brian Beheler
Martell Forest
Phone: 765-496-5015
Fax: 765-583-3512
Email: behelerb@purdue.edu

• Directions
• Topo Map
• Plot Map
• Trail Map
• Aerial Photo