The Pavilion Project: Our Capital Campaign
The Nature Museum is thrilled to announce the launch of the Pavilion Project, our capital campaign for constructing a new outdoor teaching space.
With a goal of $200,000, this initiative will fund the construction of a timber frame pavilion, accessible parking, walkways, and landscaping.
We love our historic museum building. It has character and charm, yet it lacks a critical element: a gathering space and classroom facilities. Currently, we run programs year-round under pop-up tents. This new pavilion offers the perfect solution as our programs continue to grow — it allows us to keep our activities outdoors while providing a sheltered teaching and gathering space.
Our incredible staff has improvised admirably over the years, but fundamentally, we're a nature center in need of essential infrastructure.
The new pavilion will be situated behind our current museum, adjacent to the pollinator gardens and Chapman Meadow, where native species are being reintroduced around a small wetland.
Designed by Artisan Timberframe LLC of Chester, Vermont, the pavilion will be a timber frame structure fully accessible to all, providing covered program space that will benefit our campers, visitors, and local families who frequent the grounds and enjoy the Magic Forest natural playscape.
Following a year-long feasibility study and extensive discussions with local residents and donors, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback about our pavilion plans.
We deeply appreciate the support of our dedicated and passionate backers, who recognize our urgent need for additional teaching space as we expand our impact. In the quiet phase of our campaign, donors have already pledged over half of our $200,000 goal. We have a way to go, but we're off to a strong start.
We are immensely grateful to be a part of the Grafton community, and this project ensures that we can continue serving local families and schools across the region with hands-on, impactful nature education for years to come.
