About Flanders Nature Center

Our Mission

Flanders’ mission is to provide opportunities to appreciate nature’s wonders and preserve land, inspiring lifelong learning about our natural world.

Our Vision

Flanders Vision is to be a leading resource and destination of choice for environmental and outdoor education, research, land preservation and stewardship, farm experiences, and arts activities, reflecting the needs of our changing and inclusive communities and evolving partnerships.

Preserves and Sanctuaries

Flanders holds in trust more than 2,400 acres of open space in Woodbury, Bethlehem, Southbury and Middlebury, CT.
Holdings include seven nature preserves and sanctuaries
Stewards more than 50 open space properties, managing and monitoring the properties to preserve their natural beauty and care for the system through astute land-use practices
Organization plays active role with municipal regulatory committees and regional and state organizations to identify opportunities for preserving more land in future

Van Vleck Farm and Nature Sanctuary

Original location of Van Vleck Farm at corner of Flanders and Church Hill Roads, Woodbury
Serves as nature sanctuary and teaching campus of Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust, which hosts educational programs for children, adults and school groups
Buildings include a farmhouse, studio, trail house, sugar house and barns
Landscape includes stone walls, fields, meadows, forests, wetlands, marshes, streams and ponds
Network of well-marked and maintained hiking trails.

Manville Kettle

Original location of Van Vleck Farm at corner of Flanders and Church Hill Roads, Woodbury
Serves as nature sanctuary and teaching campus of Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust, which hosts educational programs for children, adults and school groups
Buildings include a farmhouse, studio, trail house, sugar house and barns
Landscape includes stone walls, fields, meadows, forests, wetlands, marshes, streams and ponds
Network of well-marked and maintained hiking trails.

Whittemore Sanctuary

686 acres located off Route 64 in Woodbury
8-mile trail system open to the public
Ecological habitats include woodlands, streams, ponds, a large bog and abutting lake.

Fredrick W. Marzahl Memorial Refuge

Located to east and west of Route 132 in Woodbury
Encompasses stream, waterfall, forestland and semi-open fields

Hetzel Refuge

686 acres located off Route 64 in Woodbury
8-mile trail system open to the public
Ecological habitats include woodlands, streams, ponds, a large bog and abutting lake.

Leavenworth Preserve

126 acres adjacent to a residential development in Woodbury
Wildlife habitat with low-impact trail system
Located across from Pilgrim Trail and Plumb Brook cul-de-sac

Fleming Preserve

28.5 acres, fronting on Cowles Road in Woodbury
Site of Flanders’ historic Sap House overlook and Sugar Bush
Landscape is forests, meadows, trails, apple orchard, stone walls and an overlook

Board of Directors

President: Michael Audette

Vice President: Larry Smotroff

Secretary: Priscilla L. Kerbin-Price

Treasurer: Thomas McMackin

Ex-Officio Officer: Jodi Wasserstein

Life Trustee: Virginia Hart

Directors:

Suzanne Campbell
George Frantzis III
Guy Gabrielson
Josie Hamer
Josh Harwood
Peter Jacoby
Cheryl Korowotny
Don Maki
Thomas McMackin

Dana Moreira
Barbara Perkinson
Jeffrey Sherman
John Trainor
Tim Upson

Our Staff

Executive Director – Vincent D. LaFontan, MHA
Director of Finance / Business Manager – Venisa Riebe
Education & Camp Director – Julia Meurice
Educator/Office Administrator – Amber McDonald
Dir of Sustainability & Conservation – Hailey Horan

NGSS Coordinator – Eileen Reed
Program / Volunteer Coordinator – Ana Jordan
Fundraising & Development – Jeannette Purdy
Curator – Marc Chabot
Farm & Land Manager – Heather Kokinchak
Land Steward – Alex Thomson

Accreditation Renewal

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is proud to share that we are applying for renewal of our national land trust accreditation. Accreditation is awarded to land conservation organizations that meet the highest standards for excellence, ethics, and long‑term stewardship of conserved lands.

As part of the renewal process, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission is opening a public comment period. Community members are invited to submit signed, written comments related to how Flanders meets national quality standards for responsible governance, accountability, and the permanent protection of natural lands.

How to Submit a Comment

To learn more about the accreditation program or to provide input, please visit: www.landtrustaccreditation.org/why-accreditation-matters/comment

Comments may also be emailed to info@landtrustaccreditation.org or mailed to: Land Trust Accreditation Commission Attn: Public Comments 36 Phila Street, Suite 2 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Comments regarding Flanders’ application will be most helpful if submitted by January 1, 2027.