Merck Forest & Farmland Center

10/15/2026

Do you even know what you are missing? Come find out Oct 21 at a One-Day Track & Sign Certification workshop that covers tracks, s**t, feeding, marking, and other animal behaviors. You'll go through a series of questions based on tracks & signs found on site, then identify the animal(s) responsible. We'll cover 30 plus tracks & signs. If you get a 70% or higher on the evaluation, you'll leave with a Track & Sign Level One Certification via CyberTracker Conservation. Highly recommended for environmental/outdoor educators. All levels of experience welcome.
https://www.merckforest.org/event-details/one-day-tracking-certification-course . .

10/13/2026

We are hiring! Wanted: someone who can keep thousands of students, several dozen educators, and one lively education department running on schedule.
Merck Forest & Farmland Center is hiring an Education Operations Manager. You'll lead school field trips and summer camp, own the systems behind education programs, and make sure teachers can focus on teaching. You will be the reason kids and educators say, "That was a great day."
If you are organized and love being outdoors, you might be our person! Rain or shine. Sometimes mud. Wind always.
Salary: 48,000–56,000. (DOE)
https://www.merckforest.org/join-our-team

10/10/2026

Meet us at the Manchester Community Library today for a special event with author and forester Ethan Tapper from 3 - 4pm.
https://mclvt.org/stec_event/author-ethan-tapper-with-the-forest-year-finding-hope-in-a-world-worth-saving/

10/07/2026

What could be more fun? Join Merck Forest & Farmland Center for a fall foliage wagon ride. Saturday October 10th and 24th. Visit MFFC's calendar for times and to save your spot on the wagon!

Climb aboard for a tractor-pulled wagon ride through the vibrant fall foliage!

10/05/2026

Woot woot! Last weekend's Hike-a-thon raised more than $30,000 for Merck Forest's mission. That is a remarkable gift from this community!

Thank you to everyone who registered, hiked, sponsored, bought raffle tickets, and donated on the day. Because of you, students will keep planting, tracking, and sugaring here, learning by doing. Your support helps tend this forest and farm, and keeps the trails open to all, with no gate and no fee, as they have been for 76 years.

Thank you to Taqueria el Chepe, Willoughby's, and Canopy Juice for feeding everyone, and to our generous sponsors who helped make the day a success. Special thanks to for capturing the fun and beauty of the day.

Share your favorite photos from the day on Instagram or Facebook. We'd love to keep the memory going!
See full list of sponsors at merckforest.org/hikeathon

10/03/2026

TODAY'S THE DAY! Hope to see you all out on the trails! Pick a trail, hike at your own pace, and hang with the whole community along the way.
Every step supports the land stewardship and place-based education that happens here and helps kids of all ages get outside and connect to nature.
Details:
🌮 Taquería El Chepe
🍩 Willoughby's Donuts
🧃 Canopy Juice
live music & kids' activities, 11am–3pm
📝 Check-in: 8:30–10:30am
⏰ Same-day registration closes at noon
💵 $25 to register, kids 10 & under free
☔ Rain or shine — dress for Vermont in October!

10/02/2026

Legend has it cryptids need big, unbroken forests to survive... so if Sasquatch is out there, Merck Forest is exactly where he'd be. 👣 😁

Come find out tomorrow at the Hike-a-thon! Pick a trail, hike at your own pace, and hang with the whole community along the way (maybe even Sasquatch).

Every step supports the land stewardship and place-based education that happens here and helps kids of all ages get outside and connect to nature.
Details:
🌮 Taquería El Chepe
🍩 Willoughby's Donuts
🧃 Canopy Juice
live music & kids' activities, 11am–3pm
📝 Check-in: 8:30–10:30am
⏰ Same-day registration closes at noon
💵 $25 to register, kids 10 & under free
☔ Rain or shine — dress for Vermont in October!
Register now → merckforest.org/hikeathon

10/01/2026

2 days to go and the flock is rooting for you! Get ready for the Merck Forest Hike-a-thon this Saturday, October 3rd. Did you know? The average American child spends less than seven minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play. The Hike-a-Thon is a full day outside, on a beautiful landscape, with live music, food trucks, kids' activities, and more. It will be a joyful day of community, raising funds to support the education programs and stewardship that keep this place open, healthy, and available for everyone.
Thousands of regional students come here for exceptional place-based learning experiences that get their hands in the dirt, their bodies outside, and connected to nature. The Hike-a-thon funds that work and the stewardship that keep this landscape whole. Thank you for being a part of it! See you Saturday and bring the kids! register at merckforest.org/hikeathon

09/30/2026

3 days to go! The sheep has created a scavenger hunt for this Saturday's Hike-a-thon for all families and friends doing the Farm Loop trail! Join the fun at merckforesat.org/hikeathon.
Food trucks: Taqueria El Chepe, Willoughby's, Canopy Juice, and more! Raffle prizes and a great day outdoors with the community! Every registrant is entered to win the raffle!