If you have been to the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington, VT, there is a good chance you have seen or visited our Education Program Barn located on Sherman Hollow Road. This Barn, estimated to be at least 100 years old, is a beloved building on the property, full of character and rustic charm. In 2020 and 2021, the Barn underwent an 18-month renovation project that included replacing the roof, windows, doors and siding and fully insulating the building. The interior of the building also received a paint job, upgraded wiring and lighting, new wood floors and a beautiful, Vermont stone hearth under the woodstove. In addition, we purchased much needed modern classroom furniture. The renovation transformed an old, drafty Barn into a new, welcoming meeting space for our program participants and the community to enjoy. We celebrated the transformation with a community-wide Bird and Barn festival in the fall of 2021.

Since the Barn renovation took place, our staff has grown and the Green Mountain Audubon Center has seen an uptick in the number of people visiting year-round. Our program enrollment numbers have been going up and our Education Program Barn has become a popular rental space for local businesses partners and community groups. With the increase in visitation and rentals at the Center, we have been experiencing growing pains. Most notably, we often have overflowing parking areas, which can become dangerous when people park along the roadsides. In addition, we need to increase the number of restrooms we have to accommodate our program participants and guests.  To address these issues, we are excited to embark on a second phase of renovations to the Education Program Barn and the adjacent parking area. Thanks to generous financial gifts from a longtime supporter of Audubon and the Green Mountain Audubon Society chapter, Audubon Vermont is in the early stages of developing plans to build an addition on the Barn that will include restrooms, a small kitchen and storage space. We will also install a drilled well, a new septic system and we will expand of the parking area adjacent to the Barn. These renovations will increase accessibility and safety at our Center. We look forward to sharing updates as the renovation progresses.

The Green Mountain Audubon Center is a place to connect with nature. With over 5 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas and a variety of habitats to explore, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Center is free and open to the public daily from dawn until dusk. It is always a good time to visit Audubon. We look forward to seeing you.

Please help support the Green Mountain Audubon Center by making a donation here.