Where You Go To Grow

Wreath Making Workshops at Flanders

Join us for our festive wreath workshops, where you’ll learn to design and decorate your own beautiful holiday wreath from scratch. ► LEARN MORE

Interested in private wreath making or decorating parties? ► LEARN MORE

Interested in community wreath workshops at your location? ►LEARN MORE

Artisan Marketplace

Start your holiday shopping at the Flanders Holiday Artisan Marketplace, opening Saturday, November 7, at the historic Van Vleck House in Woodbury. Featuring the work of more than 70 local artisans, the Marketplace offers a unique selection of handcrafted gifts, jewelry, pottery, fiber arts, holiday décor, soaps, fine art, local honey and maple syrup, and more.

All Events

Become A Climate Champion

A 12‑session climate-science centered after school program to empower youth action and environmental courage, while engaging in fun activities and projects to learn the science behind our rapidly changing planet

Invasive Plant Management Work Days

Sun, Nov 1 & Sat, Dec 5 - Join our land stewardship team for scheduled workdays focused on removing invasive plants and restoring native plant communities

Adventure Days

Tues, Nov 3 & Wed, Nov 11, Mon, Jan 18 - Flanders offers a camp-like day of adventures. Enrich time out of school with nature-based learning!

Maple Syrup Training & Certification Course – Become a Certified Master Maple Syrup Maker

Tues, Nov 3 - Discover the magic of maple season at Flanders. In this self paced training program, participants learn every step of the sugaring process

What is Permaculture?

Wed, Nov 4 & Dec 9 - Explore the foundations of permaculture, a holistic and sustainable design system rooted in ecology, community resilience, and regenerative land stewardship

Environmental Research Symposium

Thurs, Nov 5 - Gain a greater understanding about what is changing in our natural environment here in Connecticut

Art

Art at Flanders is more than something to admire — it’s part of how visitors experience the land. Our trails, farms, and forests have inspired generations of local artists, and their work helps guests see the landscape with fresh eyes. Inside the Van Vleck House, three gallery rooms and the Welcome Center Gift Shop showcase paintings, photography, and mixed‑media pieces that interpret the beauty of our preserves. These works deepen connection, celebrate local ecology, and honor Natalie Van Vleck’s artistic legacy. ► LEARN MORE

Farm

The farm at the Van Vleck Farm & Nature Sanctuary is one of the most charming, historically rich parts of Flanders—where New England heritage and hands-on learning come together. At its heart is the 19th-century North Barn, a hub for agricultural education and home to our beloved farm animals. Here, visitors of all ages can gather eggs, walk goats, learn beginner veterinarian skills, and experience the timeless rhythms of real farm life. ► LEARN MORE

Education

Central to our mission is to provide opportunities to learn about the natural world–Flanders is devoted to provide high quality NGSS-aligned field trip programs, enriching summer camp, certificate-level adult learning programs as well as casual in-person and virtual lectures and demos for all ages. ► LEARN MORE

Nature

As an accredited land trust, Flanders stewards and manages 56 properties which are designated to be forever “open space” in the towns of Woodbury, Middlebury, Southbury and Bethlehem. Its 7 preserves have walking trails open to the public dawn to dusk, year-round. ► LEARN MORE

Flanders Welcome Center & Gift Shop

Open Year Round at the Van Vleck House!

Stop by and pick up some nature products, our very own maple syrup, honey or a hiking map!
Hours: Thurs – Sat | 10AM – 2 PM or as otherwise posted and/or by appointment