Common Ground Center — Starksboro, United States

Nonprofit solar-powered camp and gathering ground on 700 Vermont acres

Lewis Creek runs for three-quarters of a mile along the edge of Common Ground Center's 700 acres in Starksboro, Vermont. Beyond it lie open fields with views of the Hogback and Green Mountains, a spring-fed two-acre pond, and loops of trail marked with colored blazes through the woods along the ridge. The place began as a "Wouldn't it be fun if...?" Peg Kamens and Jim Mendell wanted vacations of creative activity with their three young kids, with programs the children would enjoy while the adults pursued their own interests. They wanted healthy food that respected alternative diets, and prices flexible enough that a variety of people could come. They visited many family camps, improved on the best ideas, and invited friends who happened to be great teachers. Everyone said yes. The first Camp Common Ground ran in 1994. It now draws families from over 29 states and 11 countries, and the center operates year-round under a volunteer board. The land carries the same thinking. Of the 700 acres, 560 were given to the Vermont Land Trust so they will never be developed. The electricity is 100% solar. The Eco-Lodge, with eight guest rooms for up to 31 people, was built from lumber harvested on the grounds, including hemlock, white pine, beech, red oak, maple and black birch. The center acknowledges the Ab'naki, on whose ancestral homelands it stands. Camp Common Ground remains the core program. Mornings offer adults classes in yoga, tai chi, meditation, pottery, blacksmithing and songwriting, while children and teens have programs of their own. Fees run on a sliding scale, with the upper range letting families pay it forward. Between camps, the Dining Hall, Hay Barn and Eco-Lodge are rented for retreats, conferences and weddings, and the Eco-Lodge stays open through winter.

Traditions: Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation, Non-violent Communication, Nature Exploration, Family Camp

Programs: Camp Common Ground, Camp Kaleidoscope, Sprouts Program, Kidville, Camper Samplers, Big Show, Opening Weekend, Closing Weekend