2024 IMPACT REPORT
For the past fifty years, Smokey House Center has been guided by its mission to maintaining a working landscape that promotes sustainable agricultural and forestry practices while engaging people in meaningful ways.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Reid Bryant, Treasurer
Caitlin Canty
Laura Cronin
Martha Dale
Joseph Orefice
Curtis Rand, Chair
Els Van Woert
Constance West, Secretary
OUR STAFF
Scott Alves
Property & Operations Manager
Walker Cammack
Program Director
Shared Leadership Team
Mara Hearst
Finance & Administration Director
Shared Leadership Team
Ben Holmes Advisor
Lauren Kelly
Youth Education Coordinator
Ken Smith
Maple & Blueberry Specialist
John Smith
Custodial Support
Danielle Zimmerman
Development & Communications Director
Shared Leadership Team
SMOKEY HOUSE CENTER
www.smokeyhouse.org
802-293-2300
426 Danby Mountain Road Danby, Vermont 05739
Dear Friends,
2024 was a big year for Smokey House Center. We celebrated 50 years of realizing a mission to maintaining a working landscape that promotes sustainable agricultural and forestry practices while engaging people in meaningful ways. Throughout the year, we reminisced by digging into the archives, sharing throwback images on social media, and hosting a summer alumni event (see pages 3-4). It’s almost unimaginable how many people have walked the land of Smokey House Center in the last 50 years and left changed, inspired, educated, and reverent.
When we stepped into our roles as Co-Directors last April we were committed to strengthening Smokey House Center’s role as a regional hub for youth education while expanding our keystone program, the Living Lab. Now in its third year, the Living Lab is establishing Smokey House as a leader in applied research in farming and forestry.
Among our successes, we continued our free public Explore Smokey House Center series (see pages 5-6), held the inaugural Northeast Forest Farming Conference (see pages 7-8), employed six summer interns (see pages 11-12), deepened our relationships with local schools through our spring and fall educational programs (see pages 13-14), and in addition to many other generous gifts, secured three pivotal grants: the VOREC Planning Grant (Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative), USDA Acer Access and Development Grant, and a joint NBRC (Northern Border Regional Commission) Grant with Vermont State University.
We are deeply grateful for your support as we continue into the next 50 years. At its core, Smokey House is a place where collaboration and community make change possible. As Wendell Berry reminds us, “The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy responsibility.” This work cannot happen in isolation. It is the collective effort of friends, partnerships, and supporters like you that makes it possible for Smokey House Center to thrive.
Thank you for being part of our story—past, present, and future.
With grateful hearts,
Danielle Zimmerman Development & Comms Director
Shared Leadership Team
Mara Hearst Finance & Administration Director Shared Leadership Team
Walker Cammack Program Director
Shared Leadership Team
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
A Note from Our Board Chair
As we mark 50 years of Smokey House Center, I am reminded of the vision that brought this place to life—a vision of land stewardship, hands-on education, and strong community connections. Over the decades, Smokey House has evolved, adapting to new challenges and opportunities, but its core values remain the same. We continue to provide transformative opportunities for young people, advance sustainable farming and forestry, and protect this incredible landscape for future generations.
This milestone is not just a celebration of our past but a commitment to our future. The impact of Smokey House extends far beyond its 5,000 acres—it reaches the students who plant seeds here, the farmers and foresters who trial new methods, and the communities that benefit from our work. The research and education happening here are helping to shape a more sustainable and resilient future for Vermont and beyond.
None of this would be possible without the dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters who believe in the work we do. Whether you’ve visited for an event, partnered with us on research, volunteered your time, or contributed in other ways, you are part of Smokey House’s legacy. Your support ensures that the next generation will continue to learn from this land, care for it, and carry forward the values that have guided us for the past five decades.
Thank you to all who have been part of this journey. Here’s to the next 50 years of learning, growing and stewarding this land together.
With gratitude,
Curtis Rand Board Chair Smokey House Center
Smokey House Center 50 year staff reunion, summer 2024.
PROGRAMS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
2024 was a year of growth, collaboration, and deepened community engagement at Smokey House Center. Our programs continue to bridge youth empowerment, economic development, and conservation, strengthening our role as a regional leader in applied research and hands-on learning. This year, we expanded our impact by securing key grants, hosting transformative events, and building meaningful partnerships with schools and regional stakeholders. Below are some highlights of our programming and community engagement efforts:
• Recieved a VOREC (Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative) Planning Grant to develop a community-science program while revitalizing Smokey House Center’s trail system and planning of a new visitor center.
• Awarded a Joint NBRC (Northern Border Regional Commission) Grant with Vermont State University to bring together a coalition of regional stakeholders across the construction, housing, and forestry sectors to research and design innovative intern housing structures here at Smokey House Center while helping identify paths forward for regional housing and forest product industries.
• Awarded a USDA Acer Access and Development Grant to launch a long-term Climate Adaptive Maple Program that explores how to build climate resilience into maple syrup production through different silviculture and sap extraction practices.
• Employed Six Summer Interns and engaged them in diverse activities in support of the Living Lab including blueberry production and health study, researching the indigenous history of our little valley, organizing and planning the inaugural Northeast Forest Farming Conference, and inventorying and mapping two sugar maple stands that will support our future Climate Adaptive Maple Program.
• Collaborated with Ten Area Schools from elementary to college on several long term, multi generational projects, including the Ramp Stewardship and Wild Apple Studies.
1,500+
total participants in 2024 programming
7 Explore Smokey House Center series ranging from birding and spring ephemerals to herpetology and geology
15 miles of trails assessed for revitalization through the VOREC grant
400 gallons of Smokey House Center maple syrup produced
30
formal project partners and collaborators
PEOPLE & THE LAND
The Northeast Forest Farming Conference Recap
In September, Smokey House Center proudly hosted the inaugural Northeast Forest Farming Conference, bringing together over 150 attendees from 9 states to explore the future of agroforestry and forest farming. This gathering of farmers, foresters, researchers, and land stewards highlighted the growing interest in integrating the forest economy and food production in working forests.
Over two days, attendees participated in hands-on workshops, expertled discussions, and field-based learning experiences covering a variety of topics, including ramp stewardship and seed harvesting techniques, seed collection and propagation for at-risk woodland botanicals, wild-simulated ginseng cultivation and best practices for ethical production, and mushroom log inoculation and economic potential of forest-grown fungi. In addition to hands-on workshops and field-based learning, the conference featured a thought-provoking speaker panel on the theme of reciprocity in forest farming.
Participants visited active forest farming research sites at Smokey House Center, exchanged knowledge with experienced practitioners, and engaged in discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing forest-based agriculture. Feedback from attendees reflected an overwhelmingly positive experience, with over 90% of survey respondents reporting that they gained new skills and knowledge they could apply to their own land-based work.
The success of last year’s conference sparked excitement for future gatherings, reinforcing the importance of building a regional network of forest farmers and practitioners. At Smokey House Center, we remain committed to fostering these connections and advancing farming and forestry.
BY THE NUMBERS
150+ attendees
9 presentations & field sessions
600+ meals cooked utilizing local produce from farmers
1 night of dancing with music from Ida Mae Specker
I loved the emphasis on giving back to the land and having a mutual connection with it.
“ ”
2024 Northeast Forest Farmers Conference Attendee
2024 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
SOURCES OF INCOME
$876,004
$835,315
Smokey House Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. These are unaudited numbers. A copy of Smokey House Center’s 990 tax form is available upon request by emailing info@smokeyhouse.org.
THANK YOU
And thank you to the many individuals who supported our work in 2024 through donations, volunteeering and in-kind gifts.
To the generous support of these foundations & businesses
A Safe Place Self Storage
Alcyon Foundation
Antheia Charitable Fund
Arlington Garden Club
Bennington Garden Club
Christopher Reynolds Foundation
The Collaborative
Cronin Family Fund
The Cunningham-Gardiner Foundation
Green Mountain Girls Association
H.N. Williams
Jim Doran Roofing
Lintilhac Foundation
Magner, Linehan, & Koss Family Foundation
Marjorie L. Risk Charitable Fund
Mary Mitchell Miller Real Estate
McChesney Real Estate
Michael White Construction
Patagonia
The Perkins Charitable Foundation
The Richards Group
The Right Track Foundation
RK Miles
Sacharuna Foundation
Salem Farm Supply
Seattle Foundation
TD Charitable Foundation
Tracking Club of Vermont
Truettner Family Foundation
Vermont Community Foundation
Vermont Transco, LLC
The Weiss Family Charitable Fund
“ ”
Smokey House Center preserves the land, supports farmers, and educates young people—all things we believe in. We’re proud to contribute to their mission.
Green Mountain Girls
Association
POINT OF VIEW
From the Field: A Summer Intern’s Perspective
“ ”
I’ve realized that our future is something to look forward to, not to fear.
I walk outside to dewy grass and warm sunshine. I hear calls of a house wren that has made a home of the old farm house I’m staying in this summer. As I walk along the gravel road toward the office, I take in the cool summer morning air and bask in the glorious view of the valley ridges I am surrounded by. It’s cool now, and I’m comfortable in my work pants, a t-shirt, and a newly procured Smokey House Center hat. I know that in about 30 minutes I’m going to be soaked in sweat as I hike halfway up Dorset peak which looms beautifully in front of me as I walk. Perhaps some people would loathe this thought, but I’m excited to get out in the woods. After two years of education, this summer I’m actually doing meaningful forestry work, and no amount of sweat and sore calves could stop me from enjoying it.
I arrive at the office and say good morning to my bosses. I have never seen an office as beautiful as this one, they have a perfect view of the luscious green mountain I’m about to go hike into. Zack and I talk to Walker about our plans for the day, informing him that we are hoping to finish up our variable radius inventory plots for the stand today. He informs us that tomorrow we will be having a staff lunch around noon. Danielle, who coordinates these staff lunches asks us if we’re okay with sushi. Of course we are, we’ve been eating PB&J’s in the woods for the past two weeks. We tell Walker that we’ll be staying inside doing GIS and Excel calculations tomorrow to figure out our next steps for this project. We are responsible for setting up permanent sampling plots that will be used for a climate adaptive maple program research project. I could chat forever about this program, but there’s already a page for it on the Smokey House website, so I’ll spare you the time.
Zack and I collect the safety equipment and measurement tools we need. For these plots all we needed was an angle gauge and a DBH tape, which are both practically brand new, in stark contrast to the tools I’ve used in my labs at school. Once we’ve gathered everything we need, we briefly discuss where we’re going today, looking at the maps of plots we made and uploaded to Avenza. I open my Excel sheet for taking data, as I might not be able to once we’re in the mountains without service. Now it’s time to start our work day.
It’s 1 pm now, Zack and I are covered in sweat and we decide to break for lunch. We’ve finished eight of the 15 plots we have left and we both need to refuel. We find a pillow in the topography to sit on and eat our PB&J’s and ritz crackers. This bland lunch might not be enjoyable in a school cafeteria but out in the woods it’s delectable. We’re sitting 1,800 feet above sea level, surrounded by an evenaged forest dominated by sugar maple. This forest looks like it’s been managed to be a sugarbush for decades, but in reality, it naturally regenerated this way after the hurricane of 1938 knocked down almost every tree on the mountainside. I marvel at this natural beauty and bask in the enjoyment of this knowledge I received only yesterday.
Suddenly, we hear an owl calling. Zack, an avid birder, perks up and runs off with his camera to try to get a picture. I’m too tired to follow him, but soon he returns excited and shows me the pictures he got. He managed to get pictures of this barred owl turning and looking directly into the camera. It was a rather magical moment. Later that day, we would learn from our friend Elton that owls are a spiritual icon in many Indigenous American cultures, adding to the magic of this moment.
After we finish our lunch and the rest of our plots, we head down the mountain and back to the office where Zack excitedly shows everyone the pictures of the owl he got. As we walk home, I feel immensely fulfilled. I feel deeply connected to the valley I’m living and working in. I’m learning more everyday and get to experience the joy of applying what I’ve learned in a real world setting. A feeling I’ve rarely felt overwhelms me and I realize that I am right where I am supposed to be. For once in my life I feel that I’m on the right track, in position to make the world a little better in my lifetime, and I am excited for where my future will take me. More than that, my cynicism about the future of mankind has slowly melted away from the relentless optimism and hopeful work being done at Smokey House. I’ve realized that if people work to heal land, systems, and each other with the passion of those at Smokey House, our future is something to look forward to, not to fear.
Aidan Brown 2024 Summer Intern
EMPOWERING YOUTH
2024 was rich with youth engagement at Smokey House Center. Through immersive hands-on programs, students of all ages participated in real-world conservation, agriculture, and forestry research, actively contributing to Smokey House Center’s mission.
• Maple Internship: We kicked off the year with a five-week internship for local high school students, where they learned to install sensors, repair maple lines, and boil and can syrup.
• Sustainable Ramp Harvesting Initiative: In the spring, students from eight K-12 schools helped set up our long-term ramp harvesting research project.
• Blueberry Health Study Internship: Summer brought opportunities for youth interns to monitor the effects of netting and pest control on blueberry production, contributing to agricultural research.
• All About Wild Apples Research Project: In the fall, ten schools participated in collecting, studying, and testing wild apple varieties to identify traits that support climate resilience.
• Seasonal Youth Visits: Throughout the year, we welcomed students for pumpkin picking, blueberry harvesting, and youth service days—ensuring that hands-on, place-based education remained accessible year round.
These experiences equip young people with valuable skills, scientific knowledge, and a deeper connection to the land, preparing them to be the next generation of land stewards and environmental leaders.
BY THE NUMBERS
500+
14
local school partnerships across three counties
youth participants in our 2024 programming $0 cost for schools to participate in fall and spring programming
The program was able to educate and enhance a sense of wonder and scientific exploration.
PARTNER FARMERS
Yoder Farm & Dorset Peak Sheep & Cattle Co.
Smokey House Center is proud to collaborate with Yoder Farm and Dorset Peak Sheep and Cattle Co., two dedicated farming partners who steward the land at Smokey House Center while running agricultural businesses. In August, both farms welcomed the public for Open Farm Week, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their operations and sustainable practices. In the fall, Yoder Farm partnered with us on our All About Wild Apples youth program, engaging students in hands-on research.
Looking ahead to 2025, both farms will launch new Living Lab projects with Smokey House Center, exploring agroforestry and innovative farming techniques that support climate resilience.
BY THE NUMBERS
Yoder Farm
900 gallons of vinegar produced using apples collected on Smokey House Center and neighboring areas
600 meat chickens raised, fed clover crop and organic grain
Dorset Peak Sheep & Cattle Co.
337
lambs raised and a breeding flock of 350 sheep
200 acres rotational grazed and made over 600 round bales of hay to feed sheep & cows
Ali Kosiba, Extension Assistant Professor of Forestry, University of Vermont
Burr and Burton Academy
Celebrate LAND Project
Chamber of Economic Development of the Rutland Region
City Market
Come Alive Outside
Currier Memorial Elementary School
Dorset Peak Sheep & Cattle Co.
Dorset School
Flood Brook School
Glenn Goodrich of Goodrich Maple Farm
Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design
Helen Mango, Professor, Castleton University
Jim Andrews, Vermont Reptile & Amphibian Atlas
Joe Orefice, Director, Yale Forest, Yale School of the Environment
Kerry Monahan, Hand Wing Solutions, LLC
Kroka Expeditions
Lee Allen, Emeritus C.A. Schenck
Distinguished Professor of Forestry and Emeritus Director of Forest Productivity Cooperative, North Carolina State University
Long Trail School
Manchester Elementary Middle School
Maple Street School
Mettawee Community School
New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition (NFFC)
Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
New Frameworks
Northshire Day School
Peter Smallidge from Cornell’s Arnot Forest
Yale School of the Environment
Yoder Farm
Red Fox Community School
Rose West
Sinuosity
Strength Perspectives, LLC
Sunderland Elementary
Tony D’Amato, Director of Forestry Program, University of Vermont
University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Enviroment and Natural Resources
UVM Extension
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
Vermont Green Builders Network
Vermont State University
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
Upcoming Events
BIRDING WITH LEE ALLEN Mulitple Spring Dates - see website
Join us for a guided birding walk led by local birder and forester Lee Allen as we explore the diverse habitats of Smokey House Center. Learn to identify local and migratory bird species, discuss habitat conservation, and discover how our land management practices support biodiversity. Whether you’re an experienced birder or just getting started, this walk is a great opportunity to connect with nature and deepen your appreciation for Vermont’s bird populations. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from us!
READING THE FORESTED LANDSCAPE: AN INTERPRETIVE WALK WITH TOM WESSELS Friday, May 30
Join renowned ecologist and author Tom Wessels for walk through the forests of Smokey House Center. This guided tour will delve into the fascinating world of forest ecology, unraveling the histories of the trees, exploring plant adaptations, and uncovering the unique coevolved forest interrelationships.
Check our website for more events all year long:
www.smokeyhouse.org
Smokey House Center 426 Danby Mountain Road Danby, Vermont 05739
802-293-2300
All photos by Smokey House Center staff unless otherwise noted.
Impact Report 2024
