A new chapter for outdoor education begins.
On September 17, 2026, the Trail Conference gathered with conservation partners, donors, supporters, and friends to celebrate the grand opening of our new Learning Pavilion at the Welch Trail Education Center in Harriman State Park, New York.
Bringing this vision to life has been years in the making, dating back to a brainstorming session among Trail Conference leaders at a coffee shop in Croton, New York. Now, that vision is a reality.
The new Learning Pavilion creates a versatile, welcoming space dedicated to hands-on outdoor education, set within Harriman State Park’s inspiring natural landscape. It will serve as a key hub for training our Conservation Corps members and a community gathering place for environmental programs, workshops, and public events.
Trail Conference Executive Director Josh Howard had this to say about the momentous event:
“Harriman State Park has always been at the heart of the Trail Conference. Enhancing our facilities in Harriman by adding a new learning pavilion at the Welch Trail Education Center will strengthen our ability to deploy volunteers, host partners for training opportunities, and help our staff grow and expand their skills. Education and supporting our partners and trail community is a crucial part of our mission.“
Nancy Krause, Facilities & Conservation Corps Program Coordinator, toasted the project’s collaborative spirit:
“Building the Learning Pavilion was a group effort of support, and the end result is a structure that truly looks and feels like it belongs here. I’m so thankful to our donors, volunteers, partners at Harriman State Park, and all the wonderful people I got to work with along the way who made the Learning Pavilion possible.“
Since 1920, the Trail Conference has connected people with nature. Our new Learning Pavilion at the Welch Trail Education Center carries this mission forward and represents an important investment in the future of conservation. Here, people will gather to learn new skills, deepen their relationship with the outdoors, and help care for the trails and landscapes we all love.
Thank you to the donors, supporters, partners, and community members whose generosity and dedication made this milestone possible. We’re thrilled to open this next chapter and can’t wait to see all that takes shape.
Want to participate in our upcoming workshop? Click below to view our events calendar and sign up!