2025 Northeastern Old Growth Conference
Wildlands and Old-Growth Forests: A Vision for the Future

September 17-20, 2025
In-person and Virtual
Middlebury College Bread Loaf Campus
Ripton, Vermont
Call for submissions! Now open.
Interested in becoming a sponsor or donor?
The mission of the Northeastern Old Growth Conference is to foster a unified vision for the conservation of old-growth forests through knowledge-sharing, conversation, and in-the-woods experience.
Welcome to the Northeastern Old Growth Conference! We are looking forward to joining together with all who love old-growth forests and want to learn about their value, their ecology, and their conservation. We look forward to seeing you in person at Middlebury’s beautiful Bread Loaf Campus in Ripton, Vermont, or online, where talks will be livestreamed and recorded for viewing after the conference.
The Northeastern Old Growth Conference brings together researchers, conservationists, planners, policy makers, health professionals, and lovers of wild nature to share their knowledge and perspectives on old-growth ecosystems.
This year’s conference, Wildlands and Old-Growth Forests: A Vision for the Future, reflects the urgency of protecting wildlands and old-growth ecosystems for their critical contributions to biodiversity, climate resilience, and human well-being.
Conference Themes
- The Future of Old Growth in the Northeast
- Healthy Forests, Healthy People
- Old Growth Ecology
Keynote Speakers
- Jerry Franklin
- Tom Spies
- Lynda Mapes
- Bob Leverett
We’re putting together a rich conference program featuring presentations, interactive conversations, and field trips led by a diverse range of voices from the Northeast and beyond. Our call for submissions is open until June 27.
Be sure to register today as spots are limited. We also have many great sponsorship opportunities available.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Liz Thompson, Conference Coordinator, oldgrowth2025@gmail.com
Marc Lapin, Middlebury College, host
Ali Kosiba, University of Vermont Extension, host
Hosted by Middlebury College and University of Vermont Extension

Important Dates
- April 11-June 27, 2025 - Call for Submissions (Talks, Workshops, Field Trips, and Posters)
- June 18, 2025 - Conference Registration Opens
- July 18, 2025 - Talks, Workshops, and Field Trips, Chosen and Presenters notified
- August 15, 2025 - Posters Chosen and Presenters notified
- August 20, 2025 - Conference Schedule Finalized
- September 1, 2025 - Regular Rate for Conference Registration Ends; Registration Refund Period Closes
- September 17-20, 2025 - Conference!