Smokey House is in the midst of a planning effort funded through the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) that is helping to revitalize recreation on the property. The goal of the project is to re-establish the 20+ mile historic trail network that spans across Smokey House's 5,000 acres of diverse forest and farmland to act as a platform for a community science program.

Once established, the Living Lab Community Science Program will allow youth, community groups, and people recreating on the property to directly participate in the research of the Living Lab by helping to collect ecological data across the property. These community-member driven observational datasets will be utilized by researchers to track and study important ecological patterns on the property such as the long-term impacts of climate change on resident plant and animal populations.

Community science is the partnership between scientists and members of the community to conduct meaningful research. At its best, community science not only engages participants in the collection of data, but also includes the community in the development of relevant research questions. Participants need not have a background in science as community science projects can range in level of commitment from submitting casual observations of species encounters to following strict methodology to collect project specific data. Regardless of the project requirements the result should be the same, a rigorous research project that was developed and carried out by the community and whose results will then be openly shared back with that community and other stakeholders.

Smokey House staff and partners will be looking to solicit feedback from community groups over the coming weeks to determine future trail use and focus areas for the community science program.

An important first step in this effort is to collect information from individuals through the survey: https://forms.gle/UDy97knySGbGXafe8.

Please consider taking a few minutes to provide your input and mark your calendars for the first in-person community input session happening on Thursday, September 26, 6pm - 8pm at the Conference Barn at Smokey House Center and co-hosted by the Danby Planning Commision.

Pizza, salad and drinks provided and all are welcome to join!

Event Info

Sep 21, 2024, 8 AM to 2 PM

Sep 21, 2024, 9 AM

Sep 21, 2024, 9 to 10 AM