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Fairbanks Museum at Matsinger 

Open to the public

April through November: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM or dusk (whichever is earlier)

Closed to the public

December through March

Learning in Matsinger Forest

Please contact us if your school or group is interested in using Matsinger Forest for educational programming.  We currently offer three Field Excursions (Forest Life, Meadow Life and Pond Life) on site.  Because of the site’s ecological sensitivity and ongoing Museum programs, all school visits to Matsinger Forest must be scheduled through Karina Weiss, our Director of Education.

Complete this form to start a conversation about learning in Matsinger Forest.

Barbara and John Matsinger

Matsinger Forest is a new environment for learning, discovery, and exploration. This 515-acre parcel features exceptional old-growth areas with a variety of natural communities. Matsinger Forest is ideal for nature-based learning, providing an extension for Fairbanks Museum educators to develop inquiry-based field programs.

Fairbanks Museum Nature Preserve at Matsinger Forest

The trail head is located at 3072 Thaddeus Stevens Road in Danville. The property
contains approximately five miles of easy to moderate trails.

The Fairbanks Museum Nature Preserve at Matsinger Forest is the Museum’s expansive
outdoor classroom in Danville, Vermont. The 515-acre parcel located near Greenbanks Hollow
was given to the Fairbanks Museum by John and Barbara Matsinger in December 2022 to fulfil their vision for forest stewardship, environmental education, and community access to the natural world.

The creation of the Fairbanks Museum Nature Preserve at Matsinger Forest represents three
decades of discussion and partnership between the Vermont Land Trust (VLT), the Fairbanks
Museum, and John and Barbara Matsinger. In 1992, the Matsingers protected a 180-acre parcel by conserving it with the Vermont Land Trust. Since then, they acquired adjacent parcels and partnered with VLT to conserve many of those as well for education and recreation. Today, nearly 390 acres are protected with VLT.

In 2023, Matsinger Forest was enrolled in the Reserve Forestland category of Vermont’s Use
Value Appraisal system which recognizes the inherent ecological values of managing forest for old growth conditions.

Funding for the upkeep of the property in perpetuity has been secured through the creation of a dedicated endowment fund at the Vermont Community Foundation by John and Barbara Matsinger.

Matsinger Forest was opened to the public for non-motorized recreational use in September
2024. The trail head is located at 3072 Thaddeus Stevens Road in Danville. The property contains approximately five miles of easy to moderate trails.

Matsinger Forest Rules

Please help us accommodate Matsinger Forest’s human users and natural inhabitants by following the rules below. All activities are undertaken at the risk of the participant.

Hours

April through November: 8AM to 6PM or dusk (whichever is earlier)
December through March: Closed to the public

General Rules

No littering. Matsinger Forest is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out area.
No alcoholic beverages.
No fires.
No overnight parking or camping.
No fireworks.
No glass containers.
Pets must be on a leash, remove pet waste.
No motorized vehicles of any kind allowed on trails.
No mountain bikes.
No firearms, unless hunting (see below).
Do not disturb educational programs.

Horseback riding is only permitted on Chet Willey Road.
No metal detecting or gold panning.
No disturbance of archaeological sites including stone foundations and walls.
Stay on trails.

Hunting

Hunting only with permission of the Fairbanks Museum, contact matsingerforest@fairbanksmuseum.org. Hunters must have an appropriate license from Vermont Fish and Wildlife, and comply with all applicable laws and regulations. If permission is granted, hunting is only permitted east of Chet Willey Road, and not within 500 feet of any marked trail. No trapping under any
circumstances.

Foraging

No plant may be uprooted or cut without permission from the Fairbanks Museum. Wild berries, fruits, seeds, nuts, or mushrooms may be collected only for personal use at the risk of the collector. No foraging for commercial purposes.