We have raised over $117,000 of the $200,000 goal to fund an outdoor teaching pavilion for our programs and the Grafton community.

Plants from the Pollinator Garden were moved to a holding bed or to new homes in the Chapman Meadow, a foundation was poured, and the timber frame carefully installed over the course of several weeks.

The space behind The Nature Museum is transforming! Last fall, Artisan Timberframe LLC of Chester, VT began construction of a timber frame pavilion that will be the home base for our summer camp programs, the Fairy House Festival, and many other workshops, events, and community gatherings.

When it’s complete, it will provide 960 square feet of outdoor classroom space and storage. We’re working closely with landscape architecture firm Terrigenous to redesign the Pollinator Garden and create more accessible pathways between the museum, the Chapman Meadow, and the teaching pavilion.

Donate to The Pavilion Project

Our incredible staff has improvised admirably over the years, and we love our historic grange building; however, we are a nature center in need of essential infrastructure. The new pavilion offers the perfect solution as our programs continue to grow, allowing us to keep our activities outdoors while providing a sheltered teaching and gathering space.

Environmental education is needed now more than ever as we face a changing climate, struggle to find welcoming and accessible outdoor spaces for personal and family wellness, and recognize the importance of connecting to local and regional communities.

To better serve you, The Nature Museum is changing – and we can’t do it without your support!

Your gift of any size will help us finish construction on the Pavilion, re-imagine our Pollinator Garden and create more outdoor spaces for families to gather and learn, and design accessible pathways so visitors of all abilities can access nature education.

If you’d like more information about the Pavilion Project, our future plans, or would like a tour of the construction, don’t hesitate to contact Nikolas Katrick, Executive Director at nikolas@nature-museum.org.