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Where You Go To Grow

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.  

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Farm

Unusual for most nature centers, Flanders owns and operates a traditional New England small animal farm, and displays a collection of antique farm tools and equipment. Our animals are cared for by our farm manager and a group of dedicated volunteers.

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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. 

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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. 

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Fall Family Fun Day – Saturday, Oct 3

8 AM – 4 PM Tag Sale.  Come treasure hunt at our Harvest Hauls Tag Sale and support the Colonial Flanders Capital Campaign!

12 – 4 PM Fall Family Fun Day!  Bring the whole family to enjoy a day full of laughter and fun fall activities!  Admission is Free!

  • Pumpkin Patch & Carving ($10 per pumpkin)
  • Apple Cider Making Demos
  • Live Show by Riverside Reptiles at 2 PM
  • Local Artist Exhibition
Fri, Oct 9 - Explore how moss grows, why it’s far tougher than it looks, and the important role it plays in keeping ecosystems healthy
Sat, Oct 10 - Learn how to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home in this hands‑on workshop
Sat, Oct 10 & Sun Oct 11 - Join us this fall for hands-on community puppet building workshops where participants will design and construct life size and over life size puppets
Sun, Nov 1 & Sat, Dec 5 - Join our land stewardship team for scheduled workdays focused on removing invasive plants and restoring native plant communities
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
Thurs, Nov 5 - Gain a greater understanding about what is changing in our natural environment here in Connecticut

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
or a hiking map!
Hours: M – F | 10AM – 4 PM  & Saturday | 10AM – 2PM | Closed Sunday

Thank you to our generous sponsors!