NorthWoods Stewardship Center

What NorthWoods Stewardship Center does

NorthWoods Stewardship Center is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 (originally as the Vermont Leadership Center, renamed in 2004) and headquartered on a 1,500-acre campus in East Charleston, Vermont. The organization delivers four interconnected program areas: the Conservation Corps (hands-on conservation employment and training for youth ages 14-20 and adults, deploying crews across six New England states and contributing over 10,000 hours of environmental education and conservation training annually), Conservation Science (including the Riparian Lands Program for watershed restoration, tree planting, and native seed propagation initiated in 2020), the Forest Stewardship Institute (sustainable forestry consulting for private landowners and the Sustainable Forestry Internship on the 1,475-acre Lydia Spitzer Demonstration Forest), and Education (day, overnight, mountain bike, and winter camps for children ages 5-18, plus group education programs).

The organization generates revenue through a hybrid mix of program fees (camps priced $300-$750, Game of Logging workshops at $250, NEK Mountain Trail Guide at $25, suggested $5 trail donations), fee-for-service forestry consulting, charitable grants (including Rural Business Enterprise Grants via Vermont Community Loan Fund from USDA Rural Development, VT Community Foundation, VT Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and Great Lakes Fisheries Commission), and AmeriCorps cost-share arrangements (Lyndon Economic Opportunity AmeriCorps Program and Vermont ECO AmeriCorps). Customer segments span youth and adult conservation participants, families seeking outdoor education, private landowners, and federal/state agencies including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

NorthWoods operates as an implementation partner within a broader conservation ecosystem anchored by Vermont Land Trust (which holds conservation easements on nearly all its land base), The Nature Conservancy, Green Mountain Club, Memphisremagog Watershed Association, Burke Mountain, and Kingdom Trails. The organization has no significant proprietary technology; its competitive position rests on accumulated physical assets (1,500 conserved acres, 30+ km of campus trails, 20-mile Kingdom Heritage Trail), three decades of operational data and relationships, and a small dedicated staff of approximately 15-20 led by Executive Director Maria Young and functional directors covering Education, Forestry, Conservation Science, Conservation Corps, and Communications.

Name

NorthWoods Stewardship Center

Legal name

NorthWoods Stewardship Center

Website

https://northwoodscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NorthWoods Stewardship Center is a Vermont 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating from a 1,500-acre East Charleston campus, delivering conservation corps training, environmental education camps, forestry consulting, and riparian restoration across six New England states in partnership with federal and state agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation and Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland Operations Planning & Contractor Management (AFAMAKAE), Replanting, Infilling & Stand Rehabilitation (AFAMACAI)

Keywords

• Conservation education programs
• Youth conservation corps
• Forestry consulting services
• Environmental stewardship
• Outdoor youth camps

Headquarters

HQ city

East Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged for summer camps, mountain bike camps, and educational programs. Camps range from $300-$750 per session.
2. Fee-for-Service Consulting: Forest Stewardship Institute provides consulting services to landowners including property visits, land management plans, timber harvests, and invasive plant control.
3. Grants and Donations: Organization receives funding from grants (Rural Business Enterprise Grant through Vermont Community Loan Fund from USDA Rural Development mentioned) and charitable donations to support conservation and education programs.
4. AmeriCorps Partnership: Host site for Lyndon Economic Opportunity AmeriCorps Program (LEAP) and State of Vermont ECO AmeriCorps Program, providing volunteer staffing in exchange for program support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NorthWoods Stewardship Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization delivering hands-on conservation, environmental education, and sustainable forestry services. Its core offerings include Conservation Corps programs for youth and adults, the Forest Stewardship Institute providing paid forestry consulting to private landowners, Conservation Science research and watershed restoration, and fee-based summer/winter/mountain bike camps for children.

Product overview

NorthWoods Stewardship Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering interconnected conservation, education, and recreation programs rather than a unified software product. The core portfolio includes four main programs: Conservation Corps (hands-on conservation work and employment for youth and adults), Conservation Science (ecological research including the Riparian Lands Program), Forest Stewardship Institute (sustainable forestry education and consulting), and Education (summer camps, mountain bike camps, and group education programs). Supporting offerings include trail networks like the Kingdom Heritage Trail and campus trails, facility rentals at the East Charleston campus, the NEK Mountain Trail Guide publication, and various trail challenges. The organization operates primarily in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, serving communities through science-based conservation action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Corps Hands-on conservation-based education and employment program for youth ages 14-20 and adults, fielding crews annually across six New England states. Includes Youth Conservation Corps Crews at National Wildlife Refuges, Adult Backcountry Trail Crew, Women's+ Conservation Crew, and Backcountry Youth Crew, providing over 10,000 hours of environmental education and conservation training per year.
• Conservation Science Scientific research and implementation program focused on ecological health, habitat enhancement, water quality, and environmental stewardship. Includes the Riparian Lands Program conducting native seed collection, tree planting, invasive species removal, and beaver dam analog construction for watershed restoration.
• Forest Stewardship Institute (FSI) Program dedicated to advancing sustainable land management through science, demonstration forestry, education, and consulting services for landowners in northern Vermont. Anchored by the 1,475-acre Lydia Spitzer Demonstration Forest used for sustainable timber production, experimental silviculture research, and habitat preservation.
• Summer Camps Overnight and day camps for youth ages 5-18 including Woods & Waters Day Camp ($400), WILD Sciences Camp ($450), Kingdom Backpack Expedition ($300), Canoe Camp, Backcountry Olympics Camp, and Kits & Cubs Day Camp, offering activities such as swimming, paddling, hiking, and nature exploration from the East Charleston campus.
• Mountain Bike Camps Mountain biking camps operated in partnership with Burke Mountain and Kingdom Trails, including Mountain Bike Adventure Camp ($750) and Singletrack Sisters Mountain Bike Camp for kids who love two-wheeled adventures.
• Winter Camps Seasonal winter programming for youth offered during colder months from the East Charleston campus, including cross-country skiing and snowshoeing activities.
• Landowner Services Fee-based forestry consulting services for private landowners in northern Vermont with holdings ranging from 4 to 800 acres. Includes property visits, land management plans, Current Use program enrollment, timber harvest setup and administration, invasive plant control, and low-impact logging using Game of Logging techniques ($250 per level).
• NEK Mountain Trail Guide Comprehensive guidebook with detailed trail descriptions, accurate maps, and colorful photos covering the natural and cultural history of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, available as a softcover publication for $25.
• Sustainable Forestry Internship Hands-on internship focused on forest management with emphasis on pre-commercial thinning, low-impact tractor logging, trailwork, forest inventories, and GIS/GPS mapping, primarily in the Lydia Spitzer Demonstration Forest.
• Lodge and Facilities Rental Conference building with kitchen, dining, and meeting areas available for private events, plus a 16-bed Bunkhouse for overnight groups and ropes courses for team-building activities at the East Charleston campus.
• Group Education Programs Group-based outdoor education programs covering Natural History, Wilderness Survival, and Challenge Programs (ropes courses and team-building), delivered on-site at the East Charleston campus for schools, youth groups, and private organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10,000 hours of environmental education and conservation training provided annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Memphremagog Watershed AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Key partner in riparian restoration projects since 2021. MWA handles public outreach and project development while NorthWoods focuses on implementation through Riparian Lands Crew. Collaboration on beaver dam analog construction and process-based stream restoration.
• Vermont Fish & Wildlife DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for conservation work including Riparian Lands Program collaboration begun in 2020. Partners on tree planting, bank stabilization, and river easement identification projects. Vermont Fish & Wildlife is a key partner in conservation science and habitat enhancement initiatives.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Youth Conservation Corps crews operating at National Wildlife Refuge locations throughout the northeastern United States including Silvio O. Conte NWR, Rachel Carson NWR, Moosehorn NWR, Parker River NWR, and others. Crews work under supervision of NorthWoods directors and USFWS personnel.
• Vermont Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont Land Trust holds conservation easements over nearly all of NorthWoods' 1500-acre land base. Collaboration on forest management and landowner services including timber harvest preparation.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Riparian Lands Native Seed Partnership working to collect native riparian tree and shrub seeds for restoration projects. Collaboration on watershed restoration efforts in Vermont.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthWoods is a proud host site for the Lyndon Economic Opportunity AmeriCorps Program (LEAP) and the State of Vermont ECO AmeriCorps Program. AmeriCorps is federally-run through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• Green Mountain ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on trail projects including rehabilitation of historic Burrows Trail. NorthWoods Conservation Corps joins Long Trail Patrol and Vermont Youth Conservation Corps on trail work.
• Intervale CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Riparian Lands Native Seed Partnership. Collaborates with Intervale Conservation Nursery (ICN) on propagating starts for restoration projects statewide. Works with State Seed Coordinator housed at Intervale Center.
• Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial collaboration in 2020 on developing priorities for riparian restoration projects including tree planting and bank stabilization.
• Vermont Department of Environmental ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial collaboration in 2020 on riparian restoration project priorities and river easement identification.
• Burke MountainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mountain bike camps. NorthWoods camps based at Burke Mountain with access to Kingdom Trails and Burke Mountain Bike Park.
• Kingdom TrailsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mountain bike camps providing access to Kingdom Trails network. Collaborates on sustainable trails initiative through Ride with Gratitude campaign.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/northwoodscenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/northwoodsvt
• Xx.com/NorthWoodsVT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwoods-stewardship-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NorthWoods Stewardship Center