The Peru Gazette

CATS Volunteers contribute hundreds of hours at Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center in Lewis, NY

News Release of Feb. 3, 2026 – Lewis, NY– Champlain Area Trails (CATS), a community-supported non-profit and accredited land trust dedicated to creating and maintaining trails, conserving land, connecting people with nature, and promoting economic vitality in New York’s Champlain Valley, is proud to announce that it has successfully raised the necessary funds to purchase the 675.5-acre Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center. With this acquisition, Twin Valleys is officially open to the public.

Located approximately 40 miles south of SUNY Plattsburgh, Twin Valleys has long served as a hub for environmental education. The property connects 15 miles of trails, cabins, and a lodge that historically hosted college programs, workshops, and events. Under CATS’ stewardship, the trails will now be fully accessible to residents and visitors, while plans are underway to determine the future use of the buildings to enhance and expand their use in alignment with CATS’ mission.

“This acquisition is a transformative step for CATS and for the Champlain Valley region,” said Arin Burdo, Executive Director of CATS. “Owning Twin Valleys allows us to ensure the land and trails remain open to everyone, while providing a platform to thoughtfully plan future programs and facilities that strengthen connections to nature and support local economic vitality.”

A “forever-wild” conservation easement will keep Twin Valleys permanently undeveloped. CATS received assistance in purchasing the property from Northeast Wilderness Trust, a regional land trust that focuses on wilderness conservation. This support came through the Wilderness Trust’s Wildlands Partnership program, which offers guidance and funding to local land trusts to help protect their lands as forever-wild. Through the Partnership, the Wilderness Trust will hold a conservation easement on Twin Valleys, adding an extra layer of legal protection in addition to CATS’ ownership of the land. This project continues the long-standing relationship between CATS and Northeast Wilderness Trust.

“The forever-wild protection of Twin Valleys is a win for wildlife and people, and a testament to the longstanding relationship between CATS and Northeast Wilderness Trust,” said Peter Mandych, Land Conservation Director at the Wilderness Trust. “This project embodies what the Wildlands Partnership is all about: collaboration between land trusts to deliver tangible results for local communities, biodiversity, and the climate.”

Since its founding in 2009, CATS has created and maintained over 100 miles of trails, conserved 3,000 acres of land through direct action and partnerships, and offered hundreds of hikes, outdoor education experiences, and volunteer opportunities that bring people outdoors and draw visitors to the region. The addition of Twin Valleys significantly expands CATS’ ability to provide welcoming outdoor spaces, foster environmental stewardship, and contribute to the economic and recreational vitality of the Champlain Valley.

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack Park Community Smart Growth Program through appropriations from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

To explore the trails at Twin Valley Outdoor Education Center, visit www.champlainareatrails.com.

About Champlain Area Trails:

Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is an accredited land trust founded in 2009, dedicated to creating and maintaining trails, protecting land, connecting people with nature, and promoting economic vitality in New York’s Champlain Valley. CATS has created and maintains over 100 miles of trails, conserved 3,000 acres of land, and hosts numerous hikes, outdoor education outings, and volunteer events, engaging year-round residents and attracting thousands of visitors each year. Explore more at www.champlainareatrails.com

About Northeast Wilderness Trust

Northeast Wilderness Trust, a Montpelier, Vermont-based regional land trust, conserves forever-wild landscapes for Nature and people. It accomplishes this work by acquiring and stewarding land as forever-wild, and by holding forever-wild conservation easements on properties owned by other organizations or individuals. Across New England and New York, the Wilderness Trust secures wild places where Nature can thrive, wildlife can wander, and people can find beauty and quiet. Since its founding in 2002, Northeast Wilderness Trust has protected more than 104,000 acres, of which more than 11,700 are in New York. Learn more at www.newildernesstrust.org.