Two young students stand in an autumn forest holding and looking at a piece of paper

During foliage season in Vermont, it's all about the trees and forests, and the canvas of color they create. At Shelburne Farms, our woodlands are more than a beautiful backdrop (although they're looking great right now!). They're filled with activities that bring people into the forest to learn about mushrooms, horse-drawn tree harvesting, forest bathing, the effects of climate on our woodlands, where to find salamanders, and lots more. Read about our forest as a classroom.

A teacher holds the lid open of a simmer pot of chai as a student spoons in loose herbs and spices

EDUCATION



Food, Stories & Identity in the Classroom

Everyone eats, and food, like storytelling, connects us all. Vermont Teacher of the Year Aziza Malik collaborated with storytelling expert Ferene Paris Meyer to combine authentic personal narratives and food systems learning.

Watch Aziza's story
Sam, Gus, and Peter Dixon standing in a pasture together, with a cow trying to lick Sam's hand.

INTERVIEW



A Farming Family: Say Cheese!

Two generations of the Dixon family have shaped farming and cheesemaking at Shelburne Farms. They share their mutual dedication to the land, to hand-crafted farm food, and to one another in this interview.

Read the interview
Right Here cover

NEW FREE RESOURCE



The Urgent Need for Climate Change Education

Our climate change education specialist Joan Haley has co-written Right Here! An Educator's Guide for Equitable Climate Action in the Upper Valley and Beyond. Find ideas, tools, and hopeful stories from educators doing this work in our region.

Read more & download
A table top covered with an assortment of cheddars and accompaniments

FARM PRODUCTS



Sneak Peek: Our Holiday Catalog

The season of gift giving is nearly upon us, and we're sharing this year's catalog to help you find a delicious present for friends and family near and far. Shop our cheddar and maple syrup, and share the mission they support.

Shop the catalog

Upcoming Programs


Saturday, October 28, 9:00AM–12:00PM: Orienteering

Sunday, November 5, 10:00AM–12:00PM: Bread & Butter Making

Monday, November 6, 5–6:30PM: Winter Wellness Preparations with Spoonful Herbals

Saturday, November 11, 1–3:00PM:

Pride Hike with Audubon Vermont & Pride Center of Vermont

Saturday, November 11, 9:00AM–12:00PM: Forest Bathing with Nature Connection Guide

Saturday, November 11, 10:00AM–1:00PM: Hawks, Owls & Falcons!

Saturday, December 9, 9:30–11:30AM & 12:30–2:30PM: Winter Gifts & Craft Making

Institute for Sustainable Schools logo

Upcoming Programs for Educators


Monday, October 30:

2023 Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network Annual Gathering

Wednesday, November 1, 5:30PM: EFS Graduate Certificates Virtual Info Session

Thursday, November 2, 5:30–6:30PM:

Tried & True Food Systems Lessons in the Early Childhood Classroom Webinar

Monday, November 6, 6:30–7:30PM:

Food Storytelling Through Harvest of the Month Webinar

Wednesday, November 8, 6:30–7:30PM:

Cafeteria Success Stories from School Nutrition Professionals Webinar

What We're Following


WCAX followed along on our recent family mushroom program with local children’s author and foraging enthusiast Melany Kahn.

Our longtime partner, NOFA-VT, supported an important project connecting local dairy farms to school cafeterias. Watch the story on WCAX.

New Jersey requires climate change education. A year in, NPR shares how it's going.

States (like Vermont) want to put more local food on school lunch trays. Modern Farmer looks into what it takes to make that happen.

VT Digger highlights local food on the menu in Woodstock-area schools.

Shelburne Farms is an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future through its programs, place, and products.


We offer transformative learning experiences to help educators, students, overnight guests, and visitors create a more thriving world. Home to the Institute for Sustainable Schools, our historic campus is a 1,400-acre diversified farm located on the homelands of the Winooskik band of the Abenaki.

Make a gift today
Instagram  Facebook  Twitter  

View as Webpage