Shelburne Farms

INSPIRING AND CULTIVATING LEARNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

SHELBURNE FARMS IS AN EDUCATION NONPROFIT ON A MISSION TO INSPIRE AND CULTIVATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. IT OFFERS TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE GROUNDED IN PLACE AND ENRICHED BY NATURE TO HELP EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS CREATE A MORE THRIVING WORLD. ITS HOME CAMPUS IS A 1,400-ACRE DIVERSIFIED WORKING FARM LOCATED ON ABENAKI LAND. THE ENTIRE HISTORIC CAMPUS IS A LIVING CLASSROOM THAT INVITES PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, VISITORS, AND OVERNIGHT GUESTS TO LEARN, GROW, AND BE INSPIRED. SHELBURNE FARMS REALIZES ITS EDUCATION MISSION THROUGH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY. OUR WORK SEEKS TO CREATE THE SPACE, SPARK THE CONVERSATIONS, AND SHARE THE STORIES TO INSPIRE EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND LEARNERS OF ALL AGES TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE. THROUGH A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, SHELBURNE FARMS: - ENGAGES YOUTH AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE THEM TO BUILD DIVERSE, RESILIENT, CARING COMMUNITIES; - PRACTICES STEWARDSHIP AND EMBODIES VALUES OF PLACE AND COMMUNITY THROUGH CARING FOR AND SHARING OUR NATURAL, AGRICULTURAL, CULTURAL, AND HUMAN RESOURCES; AND - COLLABORATES WITH EDUCATORS AND OTHER LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY WORLDWIDE. SHELBURNE FARMS IS TYPICALLY SUPPORTED BY CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, TUITION, FEES AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM ITS MISSION ADVANCING ENTERPRISES, INCLUDING A GRASS-BASED DAIRY AND AWARD-WINNING FARMSTEAD CHEESE MAKING OPERATION, AN ORGANIC MARKET GARDEN, MAPLE SUGARING AND SUSTAINABLE LUMBER OPERATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, YEAR-ROUND GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS, AND FARM-TO-TABLE FOOD SERVICES. FOLLOWING THE TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFT OF THE PROPERTY TO THE NONPROFIT IN 1984, IMPROVING THE HISTORIC PROPERTY TO BUILD AN INSPIRING CAMPUS FOR LEARNING HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ENDEAVOR. IN 2021, THE FARM RECEIVED RECORD CHARITABLE SUPPORT FROM 4,408 INDIVIDUAL DONORS FROM 50 STATES AND 8 COUNTRIES. WHILE LIMITED ON-SITE PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED IN 2021, THE FARM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT ON-LINE PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS AROUND THE WORLD AND SERVE AS A REFUGE FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. WELCOME CENTER GATE ATTENDANCE FOR THE WALKING TRAILS WAS ESTIMATED AT 104,000. MORE THAN 3,000 EDUCATORS TOOK PART IN SHELBURNE FARMS ON-LINE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS IN 2021, INCLUDING PARTICIPANTS FROM 44 STATES AND 16 COUNTRIES. EVERY EDUCATOR IS SEEN AS A LIFE-LONG PARTNER JOINING IN INCREASING THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY. ULTIMATELY THE SUCCESS OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SHELBURNE FARMS IS MEASURED BY DEEPENING TEACHER PRACTICE AND STUDENT LEARNING, LEADING TO IMPROVEMENTS IN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. IN LATE 2021, SHELBURNE FARMS FORMED THE INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS, A HUB FOR ALL ITS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMMING. TWO INNOVATIVE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS WERE ANNOUNCED TO BE OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT IN 2022. THIS PAST YEAR, SHELBURNE FARMS ALSO CONTINUED TO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR ITS EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS. GIFTS AND GRANTS PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR THE FARM-BASED EDUCATION NETWORK, VERMONT FEED (FOOD EDUCATION EVERYDAY) IN COLLABORATION WITH NOFA-VT, AND OUR PLACE BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND FOR OUR CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. SPECIAL GRANT FUNDING ALSO MADE POSSIBLE CONTINUING HIGH PRIORITY CAMPUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS CHIMNEY REPAIRS AND LIGHTNING PROTECTION INSTALLED AT THE INN, AND LIGHTNING PROTECTION AT THE FARM BARN. SHELBURNE FARMS WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF A NATIONAL PARK SERVICES SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURES MATCHING CHALLENGE GRANT TO COMPLETE THE EXTERIOR STABILIZATION OF THE BREEDING BARN, AS A FUTURE GATHERING HALL FOR EDUCATIONAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. SHELBURNE FARMS' VISION IS A HEALTHY AND JUST WORLD ROOTED IN STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW SHELBURNE FARMS IS WORKING TO INSPIRE AN EMERGING GENERATION OF CHANGE MAKERS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.SHELBURNEFARMS.ORG.