Mohonk Preserve

Mohonk Preserve's mission is to protect the Shawangunk Mountains region and inspire people to care for, enjoy, and explore their natural world. In partnership with our members, supporters, and volunteers, we protect and manage over 8,000 acres of mountain ridges, forests, fields, streams, ponds, and other unique and beautiful places. As New York's largest nonprofit nature preserve, each year we welcome over 200,000 visitors. The Preserve's devoted volunteers, dedicated donors, and expert staff all work in harmony for a common cause - to create a place where people and nature thrive. To accomplish our goal of protecting one of the region's most treasured and beautiful places, we conduct programs in four key areas - environmental education, land protection, land stewardship, and conservation science.

Mohonk Preserve supports thriving and resilient natural environments that are welcoming to all who e

Goal One: Climate Change & Sustainability - We are committed to becoming a carbon neutral organization by 2030, leading by example and protecting resilient natural habitats.

Goal Two: Community Engagement - Expand our outreach to local and underserved communities and continue to create partnerships with other organizations to amplify our impact.

Goal Three: Visitor Experience - Enhance our access, recreation and education opportunities to embrace diverse audiences and foster a sense of welcoming and belonging.

Mohonk Preserve provides opportunities for staff to attend conferences and trainings in the areas of conservation, education, stewardship and visitor experience. In 2022, staff attended national and regional conferences, and in some cases were program presenters. The Preserve has also provided organization-wide diversity, equity, inclusion and justice training through a consulting group. The Leadership Team has attended two day-long offsite retreats focused on leadership issues.

Mohonk Preserve was able to successfully navigate the many external changes over the past year thanks to the leadership, creativity and tenacity of our board and staff. We were able to respond quickly and effectively to serious climate-change related impacts to our land and visitation thanks to our experienced and nimble Stewardship and Visitor Experience teams. Our Conservation Programs staff launched new climate-resilient forests and invasive species monitoring projects to help ensure sustainability of our over 8,000 acres of forests, fields, streams and other natural places. Our staff seamlessly adapted to a hybrid workplace, while maintaining a sense of cohesion through monthly virtual and on-site full-staff meetings. Our Development team reintroduced live fundraising events such as Rock The Ridge, our 50 mile benefit race, and our 25th Annual Auction, which was our most successful fundraising event to date. Our Education team was able to resume our popular on-land summer camps, which reached pre-pandemic attendance levels. They also welcomed students from across the region back to the land for environmental education programs. Our Climate Change and Sustainability Task Group was able to make meaningful strides toward our organizational goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. We also embarked on a joint board/staff Strategic Planning Process that is slated for completion in 2023.