Mohonk Preserve, Inc.

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.

The Preserve has established strategies and tactics for achieving the goals articulated in its three strategic themes. For "Visit...Mindfully," the Preserve will conduct research to study the effects of visitation on resources and assets; build educational opportunities that encourage more immersive and responsible experiences in nature; use technology that enables a customized experience for visitors; build on the popular momentum in the community for regional connectivity; and engage staff, members, and volunteers to interact with visitors and sensitize people about what is required to preserve the land. Some example of current initiatives are planning for a new and distinct experience on the land and new entry point to the Preserve in the Mohonk Preserve Foothills; restoration of the Trapps Bridge to facilitate fuller access to the Trapps and Millbrook areas; opening the first section of the Giant's Ledges Pocket Park for multi-use; and planning for a location-based mobile app.

For "A Mountain of Choices," the Preserve will engage more people of all ages and abilities to participate in conservation and stewardship; increase the scope and reach of organizational communications; facilitate transportation to the Preserve from the surrounding community; reduce socio-economic and physical/mental barriers; and provide education and involvement opportunities from children's camps and teen programs to interns and adult volunteers. Some examples of current initiatives are expansion of inclusive educational programming through pilot programs for Young Explorers camp, Junior Rangers teen program, and underserved youth with the San Miguel Academy of Newburgh; actively and more deeply engaging the public through a free, participatory citizen naturalist volunteer program; expanded Visitor Center hours and use facilities including an accessible sensory trail; more inclusive programming, services, and outreach; and establishment of an Inclusion and Diversity Task Force.

For "Share Our Vision," the Preserve will focus communications strategy on better defining the Preserve; convey authentically and convincingly the community importance and benefits of our work; provide educational programs and advisory services to diverse public constituencies and other natural area management organizations; and more actively interact, collaborate, and partner with community, civic, governmental, educational, economic, social and cultural organizations in the region. Some examples of current initiatives are peer focus group meetings to assess conservation advisory service needs and advise on a sustainable plan for shared mentoring or training; charter participation in the new Greater New Paltz Area Anchor Institutions to promote the community benefits of collaborative strategies; collaboration with SUNY New Paltz students and faculty on research; and use of a Media Advisory Task Group to help foster wider understanding of the Preserve's community benefits.

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.

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.