Mohonk Preserve, Inc.
Saving the land for life
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
In 2018, Mohonk Preserve is embarking on creation of its first new trailhead in 30 years. The Testimonial Gateway Trailhead will provide access to over 830 acres of the Mohonk Preserve Foothills, which the organization purchased in 2014. The Preserve will also be hosting part of the new River-to-Ridge Trail in partnership with the Open Space Institute. This free trail will connect the Mohonk Preserve Foothills directly to the Town of New Paltz and the larger Empire State Trail.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Education
For over four decades, Mohonk Preserve® has been providing innovative education programs that have gotten over 100,000 children into nature. Our award-winning NatureAccess® program provides quality outdoor and environmental education for people of all ages and abilities, and our summer camps help children discover the wonders of the natural world. Our many diverse programs and events offer something for everyone, from recreationists to naturalists-at-heart, supporting lifelong learning and strengthening connections to the land.
Stewardship
The Preserve’s Stewardship program is responsible for the planning and management of the Preserve’s land and facilities. Guided by our land management plans, the Stewardship team maintains our lands and infrastructure, balancing the Preserve’s commitment to conservation with recreational access, managing over 8,000 acres of property including 70 miles of historic carriage roads and trails, along with five trailheads, the Visitor Center, and other Preserve buildings, facilities and equipment. The critical work of our Stewardship staff is essential to facilitate access to healthy outdoor activities and conserve the natural environment for future generations.
Conservation Programs
In 2020, the Preserve’s Conservation Science and Land Protection programs joined to become Conservation Programs. This integration enhances both our climate and natural history research, including citizen science programs, and our land protection and management work, including ongoing work with landowners to protect high priority properties. Working together, these conservation professionals take a comprehensive approach to deepening our connections and commitments to nature and our communities.
Visitor Experience
The Preserve’s Visitor Experience team focuses on the human dynamic at the Preserve with recreation, safety and support services. With recent increases in visitation, including new audiences, nurturing the experiences members and visitors have at the Preserve is more important than ever. The Visitor Experience team is committed to maintaining the critical balance between recreation and conservation, while promoting low-impact, Leave-No-Trace principles for all visitors.
Where we work
Accreditations
Land Trust Alliance 2013
Awards
Best hikes in the Hudson Valley 2003
Hudson Valley Magazine
Leadership Award (for Director of Education) 2008
New York State Outdoor Educators Association
Regional Quality of Life Award 2001
Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress
Excellence in Sustainable Design 2004
Environmental Guild of the AIA, New Hampshire
Accreditation 2013
Land Trust Accreditation Commission
Conservation Education Program 2001
New York State Conservation Council
Accessibility Award 1996
Association of Independent Living Centers of New York State
Pride of Ulster County 2002
Ulster County Legislature
Best New Adventure Race - Rock The Ridge 2013
Hudson Valley Magazine
Ulster County Tourism Business of the Year 2014
Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Affiliations & memberships
Land Trust Alliance 1993
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of clients participating in educational programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Mohonk Preserve's educational programs serve approximately 12,000 children and adults each year. The Preserve offers programming for people of all ages and abilities, from toddlers to seniors.
Number of acres of land protected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Visitor Experience
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Beginning with the 487-acre Trapps parcel in 1966, and continuing through to the 537-acre Mohonk Preserve Foothills, the Preserve has over 8,000 acres of ecologically and culturally important lands.
Number of grants and research funding awarded to the institution
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Mohonk Preserve receives grant funding from a variety of sources for land protection and stewardship, education and conservation science.
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Each year, Mohonk Preserve presents hundreds of public programs serving children, adults and families. These programs include guided nature hikes, education programs, and environmental presentations.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The mission of Mohonk Preserve is to protect the Shawangunk Mountains region and inspire people to care for, enjoy, and explore their natural world. The Preserve has over 16,000 members from across the country and around the world, and welcomes over 250,000 visitors each year. The organization serves over 14,000 children and adults annually through its environmental education and public programs.
The Mohonk Preserve Strategic Plan - Vision 2020 and Beyond - was developed through a very participatory, stakeholder-centric process. It addresses the challenge of the Preserve's rapid evolution in recent years and the growing demands and expectations from new constituencies, audiences, and interests. The Plan focuses on four strategic principles: "Foster Conservation," "Deepen Connections;" "Be Inclusive," and "Nurture Resilience."
The goals of "Foster Conservation" are to advance land protection, science-based land management, environmental monitoring and research, and place-based education and interpretation to foster a strong conservation ethic and ensure our natural lands help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The goals of "Deepen Connections" are to deepen people's connection to the Preserve and emphasize the importance of conservation through a wide variety of recreational, educational and cultural experiences in nature for our members, visitors and the broader community.
The goals of "Be Inclusive" are to pursue cultural competency and inform our decisions, policies and programs with the values of diversity, equity and inclusion, dismantle barriers to becoming and organization more representative of our changing community, and nurture a welcoming environment for all people.
The goals of "Nurture Resilience" are to invest in our organization to become a more supportive and resilient workplace, balance resources and opportunities, and align capacity so that one of our most valued assets - our excellent staff - can success and thrive.
Over the next few years, Mohonk Preserve will focus our efforts on two key priority initiatives, which embody the Preserve's strategic principles.
Mohonk Preserve will be deeply engaged in creating our first new trailheads in 25 years on the site of the largest acquisition in our history - the 836-acre Mohonk Preserve Foothills. This multi-faceted project will engage and impact every program and department at the Preserve as we create infrastructure, establish programs and provide recreational opportunities in the Foothills.
In 2018, the Preserve launched a Constituent Data and Commerce Integration Initiative to determine our needs for organization-wide automation and integration of constituent data and commerce systems, prioritize those needs, and determine an implementation process and budget. We are currently engaged in the assessment assessment phase of this multi-year effort to improve customer service and staff capacity.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since its beginnings as a volunteer-led organization in 1963, Mohonk Preserve has expanded to become a leading regional organization with a $4 million budget, 40 year-round professional staff, and 30 additional seasonal employees. In 2017 and 2018, the Preserve expanded staff in Land Stewardship, Visitor Services, Land Protection, and Development to support initiatives related to the organization's Strategic Plan.
In 2018, the Preserve embarked on a $6.8 million campaign "Your Gateway to Nature - Campaign for the Mohonk Preserve Foothills," to establish the Testimonial Gateway Trailhead, provide access to marshland and grassland habitats for research, education and wildlife protection, preserve and iconic scenic and cultural landscape, and complete the acquisition of the 836-acre Foothills.
The Preserve's active, participatory Board includes individuals with a broad range of expertise in law, finance, education, and business.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Preserve's Strategic Plan - Vision 2020 and Beyond was adopted by the Board in December 2018. New initiatives under development will focus on deepening connections, encouraging inclusion, fostering conservation, and enhancing capacity to fulfill our mission.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Mohonk Preserve, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 3/24/2022
Mr. Russell Clune
Outdoor Equipment Industry Executive
Term: 2018 -
Russell Clune
Outdoor equipment industry executive
Norman Goluskin
Retired advertising executive
Eric Gullickson
President of hotel corporation
Ronald Knapp
Retired college professor
A. Floyd Lattin
Investment manager
Carol Rietsma
Retired college professor
Sara Senior
Civic leader
Nina Smiley
Hotel executive
Laurel Sweeney
Real estate professional
Kathleen Weathers
Environmental scientist
Jonathan Chenette
University educator
Gary Finger
Financial services executive
Lynn McGrew
Healthcare executive
Patrick Paul
Nonprofit CEO
Raymond Schrag
Trust & estates attorney
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.
Media executive
George Gatch
Financial services executive
Karen Halliday
Financial services executive
Barbara Ginsberg
Retired attorney
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data