The Milestone Center
A home for the next generation of conservation on Nantucket
Introducing NCF's New Home
For over 60 years, NCF has cared for the land that makes Nantucket special. Thousands of acres across the island are entrusted to us, protected by scientists, land managers, and educators who live and work here year-round.
The Milestone Center brings our teams together in one location for the first time, connecting research, land management, and education under one roof. The result is conservation that is more connected and more impactful for Nantucket.
Ecological research lab and greenhouse
Environmental education spaces
Housing for six year-round employees
The map below shows where The Milestone Center will be located at 220 Milestone Road
Workspace and Staff Housing
A Site Chosen With Care
Stewardship means making thoughtful decisions about every acre. The same care went into choosing the Milestone Center site. Already disturbed by centuries of agricultural use, it has existing buildings and almost no native vegetation. Nearby trails and open spaces remain exactly as they are, free and open to the community.
Tucked into an existing hillside, out of view from Milestone Road
One and a half stories tall, designed to sit within the existing treeline
Built to Dark Skies standards to limit light impact on the night sky
Site restoration planned using native plant species throughout
Current conditions at the site of the The Milestone Center
Protecting One-Third of Nantucket
NCF scientists spend their days in the field, collecting water and soil samples, tracking wildlife, and monitoring the health of Nantucket's ecosystems. Right now, that work comes back to shared offices and folding tables. The Milestone Center gives our scientists what they need to do their best work for our island.
Research lab for on-site analysis, including water and soil testing
Greenhouse for growing native plants, for our land and yours
Permanent archive of Nantucket's plant life, built over decades, that guides restoration work
Shared home base for our scientists and land managers, working side by side
Conservation You Can Be Part Of
NCF offers free programming year-round, including guided walks, ecological workshops, and school excursions. Today, our programming happens outdoors across our properties, with no dedicated indoor space. The Milestone Center gives us a home for learning, in every season and any weather.
Indoor classroom for environmental education workshops with local schools
Hands-on learning alongside working scientists and land managers
Native plant gardens and a small constructed wetland as living demonstrations
Programming for students, families, and islanders of all ages
Stable Housing, Sustainable Work
More than half of our year-round staff face housing instability in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. Our 25 year-round scientists, land managers, and educators who protect over 9,000 acres of Nantucket's land need a stable place to call home on the island they care for. The Milestone Center will ensure that six more of them have exactly that.
Three modest, Nantucket-style, twofamily homes
Stable housing for six existing year-round, full-time employees
A meaningful step toward meeting a need that affects the majority of our team
For The Nantucket You Love
From Sanford Farm to the Middle Moors to Squam, Coatue, and beyond, NCF has spent 60 years making sure those places endure the places that brought you here, and keep you coming back. The Milestone Center gives our team what they need to keep caring for Nantucket’s open spaces.
Nearly one-third of Nantucket's land, protected and cared for year-round
Scientists, land managers, and educators with the facilities their work has always deserved
Stable housing for the people who care for this island every day
All of it, in service of the Nantucket you love
