The Preserve at Vassar

The Preserve at Vassar https://www.vassar.edu/preserve The Preserve at Vassar, situated on a 527.5-acre plot of land

The Preserve at Vassar is a 525-acre multi-use space situated just south of Vassar’s campus, across Hooker Avenue. The northeastern portion of the Preserve hosts a number of organizations and initiatives, including The Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns, the Hudson Valley Corps of the Student Conservation Association, the Community Gardens, the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, and Vassar Rugby. The Vassar Cross Country teams also use the Preserve for practices and meets. The remainder of the Preserve, around 475 acres, is a designated natural area comprised of many habitats, including streams, wetlands, ponds, forests, and old fields populated by a stunning diversity of flora and fauna. The Preserve is an invaluable resource for Vassar students and faculty, who conduct scientific research to better understand the Preserve’s natural systems and work to protect and preserve the ecological diversity of the land, ensuring that its educational value will be maintained in perpetuity. Visitors from Vassar and the surrounding communities also use the Preserve’s extensive network of marked trails to hike, bike, run, and explore one of the few remaining large green spaces in the greater Poughkeepsie area.

09/15/2026

We can't wait to see you there, Poughkeepsie!

Visit the Vassar Barn this Saturday to purchase some native plants from Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley!
09/10/2026

Visit the Vassar Barn this Saturday to purchase some native plants from Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley!

This Saturday (9/12/26) in Poughkeepsie!

Meet the team that took care of the Preserve this summer! These students worked 40hrs/week maintaining trails, adding to...
08/28/2026

Meet the team that took care of the Preserve this summer! These students worked 40hrs/week maintaining trails, adding to restoration plantings, monitoring introduced species, and so much more. Keep swiping for a look at some of the projects they took on this year.

This summer at the Vassar Preserve, our Land Stewardship and Restoration Assistants
welcomed four more employees named Chicago, Samosa, Blondie, and Mustachio! Their jobs
were to eat the undesirable vegetation in previously scouted spaces throughout the preserve,
and look super cute while doing it!

This summer at the Vassar Preserve our Land Stewardship and Restoration Assistants
welcomed four more employees named Chicago, Samosa, Blondie, and Mustachio! Their jobs
were to eat the undesirable vegetation in previously scouted spaces throughout the preserve,
and look super cute while doing it!

Interns went on seed collecting adventures all across the hudson valley. This involves thoughtful
frolicking and tree hugging :) After collection these seeds are grown right here on the preserve
and planted out or given to partner land trusts.

Interns went on seed collecting adventures all across the hudson valley. This involves thoughtful
frolicking and tree hugging :) After collection these seeds are grown right here on the preserve
and planted out or given to partner land trusts.

Interns went on seed collecting adventures all across the hudson valley. This involves thoughtful
frolicking and tree hugging :) After collection these seeds are grown right here on the preserve
and planted out or given to partner land trusts.

Speaking of trees we planted a bunch in the huge meadow at the preserve entrance! Suited up
with donuts and gators our team fed, watered and tucked in these trees weekly. Then we
introduced some native neighbors, planting around 300 plants throughout the meadow!

Speaking of trees we planted a bunch in the huge meadow at the preserve entrance! Suited up
with donuts and gators our team fed, watered and tucked in these trees weekly. Then we
introduced some native neighbors, planting around 300 plants throughout the meadow!

Speaking of trees we planted a bunch in the huge meadow at the preser

08/21/2026

All summer long, the Preserve at Vassar is home to a team of hardworking ruminants who butt their heads together to tackle one of our greatest challenges.

Invasive species management is one of many ongoing conservation duties the preserve staff and interns have in order to maintain equilibrium in our native ecosystems. The goat team helps us out by chewing up some of our most pesky invasives like barberry and multiflora, as well as some pesky native species like poison ivy!

Thank you to our goats Samosa, Chicago, Mustachio, and Blondie for helping us out this summer, and special thanks to Annlilita Martins Cihanek for bringing them to us!

Our friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County are looking for volunteers!
08/10/2026

Our friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County are looking for volunteers!

🌎 Want to help your community build a more resilient future?
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County is looking for adult volunteers to join the Cornell Climate Stewards Program!
Through this hands-on opportunity, you’ll receive Cornell University training, learn about climate science and solutions, and help support local projects that make a difference. 🌱
✨ Receive expert training
✨ Support community resilience projects
✨ Build leadership skills
✨ Make an impact close to home
No environmental background is required - just curiosity, commitment, and a desire to help your community.

📅 Apply by August 13!

For more information, contact Scott Kleinberg at 845.677.8223 ext. 147 or [email protected]. https://ccedutchess.org/

What’s blooming at the preserve? Lot’s of things! Student research found that the preserve is home to more than 250 nati...
07/16/2026

What’s blooming at the preserve? Lot’s of things! Student research found that the preserve is home to more than 250 native wildflower species. If you’re a pollinator, this is a great place to 🐝

06/16/2026

Did you miss our Fall Kill creek cleanup on June 3rd? Check out this video from Community Matters 2 - "CM2" to find out what it was all about. We ❤️ Malcolm X Park and the Fall Kill, so we worked with CM2's Ignite Academy and Scenic Hudson to remove a ton of trash from the area, including a whole shopping cart! A lot of good, clean fun (and pizza) was had by all. Stay tuned for more volunteer opportunities like this in the City of Poughkeepsie !

Swipe to see some sample works by some of the artists that will be featured at our upcoming Art and the Outdoors event, ...
05/15/2026

Swipe to see some sample works by some of the artists that will be featured at our upcoming Art and the Outdoors event, which will be held tomorrow, May 15th from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at the Preserve!

🎨 There will be artists of all disciplines at the Art and the Outdoors event, and we hope you’ll stop by to say hello to some of these wonderful community artists!

🌱 This event is free to the public and food will be available for purchase from Casa Del Flavors!

🎨

Congratulations to the winners of our first ever Tree Hugging Photo Contest!!🌲 At the Old-Growth Forest Network Event la...
05/13/2026

Congratulations to the winners of our first ever Tree Hugging Photo Contest!!

🌲 At the Old-Growth Forest Network Event last Thursday, these three pictures took home the grand prizes

🌳 Drop a like to congratulate these dedicated arbor-lovers and stay tuned for more fun events like this to come…

🪾 Hashtags:

04/30/2026

We had a blast this April with Poughkeepsie City School District! Check out this awesome video of our Exploring Science field trips, where Vassar students teach second grade students how to think like a scientist on the Preserve.

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Poughkeepsie, NY
12603

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