Burlington Wildways

What Burlington Wildways does

Burlington Wildways is a Burlington, Vermont-based nonprofit coalition founded in 2017 that stewards and connects natural areas within the greater Burlington area, including Burlington, Colchester, and Winooski. The organization operates with a staff of 1-10 employees and serves three principal constituencies: local residents seeking access to wild places and nature-based recreation, K-12 students (612 students in 37 classrooms during the 2024-25 school year), and community volunteers who act as trail stewards (contributing approximately 470 volunteer hours annually). The coalition's footprint spans a 9.5-mile trail connecting the Winooski River to Lake Champlain and a network of conserved properties including Arms Forest, Centennial Woods, Crescent Woods, Derway Island, Ethan Allen Homestead, Ethan Allen Park, Forest at Appletree Point, Heineberg Wetlands, the Intervale, and Kieslich Park.

Burlington Wildways' core assets consist of physical trail infrastructure, conserved land parcels, and a lightweight digital platform anchored by an interactive web map for wayfinding and trail status. Programmatic offerings include the Nature-Based Solutions Education Program (delivered directly into Burlington School District classrooms), the Grow Wild sub-brand (science-based native plant and pollinator habitat resources, plant finder tools, and how-to zines for the Champlain Valley), the Native Plant Giveaway Series (1,300+ plants annually, germinated at University of Vermont greenhouses), and community science events such as the Spring Bees and Butterflies Bioblitz, which integrate the third-party iNaturalist platform for biodiversity documentation. The technology stack is web-based (burlingtonwildways.org interactive map, blog, event pages), supplemented by Instagram and Facebook channels; no native mobile app, proprietary AI/ML models, or public API are documented.

The business model is donation-supported; all programs, events, trail access, and educational resources are provided free of charge with no fee-based tiers. Go-to-market is community-led, with reach built through coalition partnerships with Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW), Intervale Center, Rock Point, and Winooski Valley Park District, plus institutional partnerships with the Burlington School District, UVM Department of Plant Biology, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Vermont Audubon, Crow's Path, and The Nature Conservancy. Distribution relies on direct trail access, school-based program delivery, free community events, volunteer stewardship, and digital content marketing via website, blog, email newsletter, and organic social channels. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; operations are funded through donations, small grants, and in-kind partner support rather than commercial sales.

Name

Burlington Wildways

Legal name

Burlington Wildways

Website

https://burlingtonwildways.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Burlington Wildways is a Burlington, Vermont nonprofit coalition conserving local wild places through a 9.5-mile trail network, K-12 environmental education programs, native plant initiatives, and community science events, serving Burlington-area residents, students, and volunteers free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation and Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Citizen Science & Conservation Volunteer Tourism Programs (On-Site) (THAAAFAH)

Keywords

• Conservation land stewardship
• Environmental education programs
• Trail network management
• Native plant restoration
• Citizen science monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization accepts public donations to support conservation projects, trail maintenance, educational programming, and native plant initiatives. Donation options are available on their website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Burlington Wildways is a nonprofit coalition that cares for and provides free public access to a 9.5-mile interconnected trail and a network of conserved wild places spanning the greater Burlington, Vermont area from the Winooski River to Lake Champlain. The organization delivers K-12 environmental education through the Nature-Based Solutions Education Program, runs the Grow Wild native plant and pollinator habitat initiative, hosts community science events such as bioblitzes and the City Nature Celebration, distributes free native plants in partnership with UVM, and coordinates a volunteer Trail Steward program to maintain trail accessibility and ecological health.

Product overview

Burlington Wildways is a coalition that cares for the natural areas in Burlington, Vermont, offering educational programming, and improving public access to wild places. The organization's product portfolio centers on an interactive digital map for exploring conserved lands, the 9.5-mile Burlington Wildways Trail connecting river to lake, and a network of protected Wild Places including forests, wetlands, and parks. Complementing these core offerings are community engagement programs including the Nature-Based Solutions Education Program for schools, the Grow Wild native plant and pollinator initiative with online resources and plant selection tools, the Native Plant Giveaway Series, seasonal recreation programming, and community science events like the Spring Bees and Butterflies Bioblitz and City Nature Celebration. The Trail Steward Volunteer Program supports ongoing stewardship of trail resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grow Wild: A network that promotes more native plant and pollinator habitat across the Champlain Valley, providing science-based educational resources and plant finder tools.
• Nature-Based Solutions Education Program

Products and services

• Interactive Wild Places Map Digital mapping tool allowing users to explore Burlington's wild places, trails, and natural areas with wayfinding and trail status information for free public use.
• Burlington Wildways Trail
• Wild Places Network
• Nature-Based Solutions Education Program
• Grow Wild Native Plant and Pollinator Habitat Initiative
• Native Plant Giveaway Series
• Spring Bees and Butterflies Bioblitz
• City Nature Celebration An annual spring event series featuring free nature walks, habitat restoration plantings, community science activities, and educational programming celebrating Burlington's natural areas.
• Trail Steward Volunteer Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 612 students engaged in hands-on nature-based programming in 2024-25 school year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBPRW is the primary municipal partner providing staffing, conservation team support, facilities, and programming infrastructure. The partnership manages parks, trails, winter recreation, and conservation activities. Jules Shen serves as BPRW Marketing and Outreach Coordinator. Dan Cahill serves as City Land Steward. The partnership coordinates trail stewardship, conservation projects, and community events.
• Intervale CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner providing venue and facilities for programs, events, and the native plant greenhouse operations. The Intervale Center hosts Spectacular Nature Day, Wintervale events, and serves as home to UVM student greenhouse projects. Hosts 360 acres of floodplain forests, agricultural land, and community gardens.
• Rock PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRock Point Commons stewards 130 acres of publicly accessible conserved lands in Burlington. Partners on trail systems, cross-country skiing, bird walks, and educational programs. Hosts Rock Point Center facility for events and programming.
• Winooski Valley Park DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional parks district partner providing conservation expertise, trail management, and programming support. Lauren Chicote serves as Operations Manager. Partners on trail stewardship, seasonal programming (including mud season guidance), and conservation projects along the Winooski River.
• Burlington School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner for the Nature-Based Solutions Education Program. The program directly engages students in creating and exploring natural areas on school campuses, aligning with the district's science and literacy standards. Reached 37 classrooms in 2024-25.
• University of Vermont (UVM) - Dept. of Plant BiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUVM partnership through Dr. Laura Hill's Nature-Based Climate Solutions service-learning class (PBIO 2440) and the UVM Native Plant Initiative. Students grow native plants in university greenhouses for community giveaways. Eva Morris and Gracie Byrd coordinate giveaway programs. All 1300+ plants in annual giveaways are locally sourced and germinated at UVM greenhouses.
• Vermont Center for EcostudiesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community science and biodiversity documentation. Collaborates on the Spring Bees and Butterflies Bioblitz using iNaturalist platform. Provides access to Spencer Hardy's Bees of Vermont survey data and supports pollinator conservation research across Vermont.
• Vermont Audubon (Audubon VT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner participating in City Nature Celebration events. Leads bird walks during Spectacular Nature Day and provides educational resources about Vermont birds.
• Crow's PathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation education organization that produces field guides and educational materials. Participates in City Nature Celebration events with educational resources and programming.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentioned in connection with Derway Island nature preserve acquisition. Conservation organization that has helped acquire natural areas within Burlington's wild places network.
• Grow Wild VTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrow Wild is a project/initiated and operated by Burlington Wildways that promotes more native plant and pollinator habitat across the Champlain Valley. Provides science-based educational resources, plant finder tools, how-to guides (zines), and coordinates the annual native plant giveaway series. Has dedicated social media presence (@growwildvt).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Audubon Vermont: Vermont affiliate of the National Audubon Society focused on bird and pollinator conservation through education, citizen science, and habitat protection. Partners with Burlington Wildways on City Nature Celebration and overlaps on educational programming.
• Intervale Center: Burlington-based nonprofit managing 360 acres of floodplain forest, agricultural land, and community gardens. Functions as both a coalition partner and a directly comparable local conservation/community-agriculture organization.
• Lake Champlain Land Trust: Regional land trust focused on conserving lands around Lake Champlain. Highly comparable as a Vermont-based conservation nonprofit managing wild places, trails, and natural areas in the same geography as Burlington Wildways.
• Vermont Center for Ecostudies: Regional nonprofit conducting ecology research and citizen science programs, including pollinator monitoring. Active partner in Burlington Wildways' bioblitz events; highly comparable on community-science programming.
• Vermont Land Trust: Statewide land conservation nonprofit operating in Vermont with similar mission of stewarding natural lands and providing public access. Directly comparable as a regional land-trust-style organization engaging in conservation, education, and trail-based programming.
• The Nature Conservancy (Vermont Chapter): Vermont chapter of a national conservation nonprofit. Already directly involved with Burlington Wildways on Derway Island; operates in the same conservation and habitat-protection niche in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• National Wildlife Federation: National advocacy and education nonprofit focused on wildlife and habitat conservation. Comparable as a large-scale environmental education and conservation organization, though operating at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protected land in cities across the US. Comparable in mission (urban nature access and conservation) but operating at a much larger scale across many geographies.

Regional players

• Green Mountain Club: Vermont-based nonprofit maintaining the Long Trail and other hiking trails. Comparable as a trail stewardship and outdoor recreation organization operating in the same state with similar volunteer-driven governance.

Emerging players

• Crow's Path: Burlington-area nonprofit producing field guides and running outdoor education programming. Participating partner in City Nature Celebration; comparable as a small local environmental education organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/burlingtonwildways
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@growwildvt
• Facebookfacebook.com/burlingtonwildways
• Instagraminstagram.com/burlingtonwildways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/burlingtonwildways

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Burlington Wildways