The University of Vermont and Shelburne Farms are pleased to offer an innovative program in placed-based education for towns in Vermont. The PLACE (Place-based Landscape Analysis and Community Education) Program provides local residents with a forum for exploring and understanding the natural and cultural history of their town landscape. Working directly with local schools, town commissions, historical societies, and conservation organizations, PLACE staff members develop an integrated series of presentations, field trips, workshops, and printed materials designed to facilitate residents' understanding of the natural and cultural history of the local landscape.

Since its inception in 2001, PLACE has collaborated with a host of local and regional partners to facilitate programs in ten communities. With the generous support of The Canaday Family Charitable Trust and the Lintilhac Foundation, we began experimenting in 2005 with an institute model. The PLACE Institute coordinates service learners from UVM as they collaborate with local residents on place-based research and programming.