named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Educational Events
Seasonal programs for children and families including story time, bird of prey presentations, and nature crafts.
Fairy Garden
Interactive nature space where children build fairy houses and miniature gardens using natural materials like moss, bark, and stones.
Outdoor Classroom / Woodland Amphitheater
Natural amphitheater in the Woodland Walk used for educational programming and quiet reflection in a forest setting.
Self-Guided Tours
Visitors explore four main areas—West Meadow, Woodland Walk, East Meadow, and Spruce Glen—each featuring distinct plant collections, wildlife, and geological features.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Delivering educational programming and experiential learning opportunitiesConducts public lectures, workshops, seasonal programs for children and families (such as fairy terrarium creation and bird of prey presentations), and uses an outdoor classroom (woodland amphitheater) for sensory engagement and experiential forest learning. Also supports imaginative nature-based play through the Fairy Garden where children build structures using natural materials like birch bark, moss, and stones.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Engaging in conservation and sustainable land stewardshipImplements responsible land management practices including stormwater control via rain gardens, irrigation using a historic pump house, wet meadow boardwalk maintenance, and support for natural spruce regeneration in nursery areas with moist, sheltered conditions. These efforts align with a mission to conserve, enhance, and celebrate a Catskill sanctuary through sustainable horticulture and ecological stewardship.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Operating a 200-acre public arboretum with diverse ecosystems and plant collectionsMaintains and provides public access to a 200-acre arboretum encompassing gardens, meadows, wetlands, forests, and Devonian bedrock, featuring curated plantings such as swamp milkweed in rain gardens, Slender Mountain Mint for pollinators, monkey flower in wetland areas, American Chestnut trees in the Woodland Walk, dwarf conifers in berm plantings, and native ferns on the Fern Trail. The site includes specialized habitats like Bird Cove, a bird-friendly area supporting over 60 species, and a spiral labyrinth planted with deer-resistant and pollinator-supportive vegetation.
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Strategic Planning and Organizational Development 1 activity
- Producing organizational reporting and strategic planningPrepares an annual report highlighting key accomplishments and developed a strategic plan through two years of collaborative work by the Board and Staff.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Providing year-round public access and visitor amenitiesOffers daily public access to gardens and trails from dawn to dusk, operates an Education Center open Tuesday through Saturday (9am–4pm), and maintains public restrooms open daily from 8am to 6pm. Also provides an interactive GIS map displaying trail details including length, difficulty, elevation change, and points of interest across the 200-acre property.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Publishing educational resources and research materialsProduces original research and educational content, including the publication of "Twenty-One Trees," a book connecting tree species used in the Education Center to their presence in the Arboretum forest.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.05M
Contributions & grants$884K84%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$169K16%
Other revenue$449
expenses
Total expenses$625K
Program expenses48%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising30%
Salaries & benefits$326K
Grants paid out$10K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.09M
Cash$646K
Investments$2.35M
Liabilities$8K
Net assets$5.09M
Liquid reserves57.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +61.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER HEMMERLEIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $102K |
board members · 16
- ABBY COFFIN — CHAIR
- ANDREA AYRES — DIRECTOR
- BILL LOGAN — DIRECTOR
- BRUCE K RIGGS — DIRECTOR
- DEVERNE RIST — DIRECTOR
- HENRIETTA PERTUZ — DIRECTOR
- JEANNETTE PRICE — VICE PRESIDENT
- JOSEPH PEPE — DIRECTOR
- KAREN TAGGART — SECRETARY
- LARRY MCCAFFREY — DIRECTOR
- MARY TYNES — DIRECTOR
- MERMER BLAKESLEE — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL REYNAL — DIRECTOR
- PIERCE SIOUSSAT — TREASURER
- ROBERT KERNS — PRESIDENT
- SYDNEY FRAZIER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Carla Rhodes Partner — Provided wildlife photography for the Arboretum's Annual Report.
- Fiber Craft Studio Partner — Development and Outreach Coordinator Claudia Nagy supported this organization with branding, outreach, and grant management.
- Friends of Clermont State Historic Site Partner — Former employer of Executive Director Jennifer Hemmerlein, where she developed educational and public programming.
- Guide to Animal Tracks Partner — Provides a guide to animal tracks as an educational resource for visitors.
- Longwood Gardens Partner — Horticulturist Sammy Winderman completed a two-year professional horticulture training program at Longwood Gardens.
- Maude Adams Road Partner — Access route to East Meadow and Spruce Glen areas of the arboretum
- Threefold Community Farm Partner — Claudia Nagy assisted this organization with aesthetics, branding, outreach, and grant management.
- University of Vermont Graduate College Partner — Collaborated with the organization through a graduate student to develop an interactive GIS map of the arboretum.
- Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism Partner — Claudia Nagy supported this organization with communications, marketing, and grant management.
- Virginia Tech Partner — Sammy Winderman worked at Virginia Tech on a project to grow native Piedmont grassland plants for seed collection and restoration use.
- donors Partner — Provided input and support during the strategic planning process.
- info@mtarboretum.org Partner — Primary contact email for volunteer inquiries and coordination
- local and regional organizations Partner — Collaborates with local and regional organizations to support the Arboretum's work.
- members Partner — Provided input and support during the strategic planning process.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Integrated Land Stewardship and Educationmethodology: integrated_land_stewardshipBy combining sustainable horticulture, responsible land management, and innovative education, the arboretum conserves a distinctive ecosystem while deepening public understanding, because integrating practice and learning strengthens both conservation and community engagement.
- Native Ecotype Conservation and Knowledge Transfermethodology: native_ecotype_conservationBy developing growing practices for native plant species and sharing knowledge with farmers and producers, the arboretum increases the availability of local ecotype seeds for restoration, because scalable conservation requires bridging research with practical application in regional land management.
- Scientific Stewardship for Plant Conservationmethodology: scientific_stewardshipBy applying a scientific research approach to tree study and plant conservation, informed by medical research rigor, the arboretum advances knowledge of hardiness and sustainable horticulture, because empirical methods enhance conservation outcomes and educational credibility.