Warming Hands and Hearts at Graylag

This year, Graylag kicks off its first-ever fundraising campaign to transform the preserve’s underutilized oldest building into a new open-air pavilion overlooking Wild Goose Pond. Lakeside Pavilion will be a gathering place where visitors in all seasons can enjoy educational, cultural, and social activities. Timber and stone for this project are being sourced from the Graylag property.

This fully accessible space will also increase the number of people we can serve by making greater use of the preserve’s quieter winter months. In fact, the success of past winter programs, such as ice fishing and snowshoeing days, inspired the idea of the pavilion. We plan to begin expanded programming using the pavilion in early 2026.

Fittingly, the  pavilion will be anchored by a central hearth where guests can warm both hands and hearts in its glow. We hope you will join us in supporting this visionary project.

How You Can Help

Our fundraising campaign aims to raise $100,000 for construction of the pavilion. We are delighted to announce that every dollar donated in 2025 will be matched by a generous anonymous donor, up to the $100,000 goal.

Please consider making a donation to Graylag Nature Preserve’s Pavilion Fund to help expand Graylag’s facilities—and its reach. And share our appeal with friends, family members, and colleagues who may be interested in Graylag’s mission and contributing toward this fundraising campaign. The preserve is a  501(c)(3) nonprofit registered with state and federal governments, so all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

We welcome donations of all sizes. Donors who give $100 or more will be invited to a special pavilion event in fall 2025. Individuals and families who donate $1,000 or more will also be honored permanently in the pavilion, as will organizations and businesses who donate $1,500 or more.

Architect’s rendering of the pavilion: