If you’ve been to Macricostas Preserve recently, you may have seen some significant changes. We’re building the Steep Rock Center for Conservation. This new hub will transform how we serve this community and care for the land.
Located at Macricostas Preserve, the Steep Rock Center for Conservation is where your generosity comes to life—caring for the land, growing food for neighbors in need, and inspiring deeper connections to nature and community. More than 20 years ago, a bold vision took root at Steep Rock—to create a place where people could protect the land, learn from it, and strengthen the community. Thanks to the generosity of our Board and early supporters, that vision is taking shape. The Camp-Lemmon House now serves as our administrative home, the Isaac Camp House welcomes students and visitors to our Education Center and Museum, and the Mnuchin Family Pavilion hosts outdoor community gatherings and programs. Now we need your help to finish the Center for Conservation and address two urgent needs.
Urgent Need: Judea Garden. Since 2009, Judea Garden has provided fresh, organic produce to families in need—over two tons each year, often their only source of local, healthy food. But after losing our seed shed and processing area, we can’t start seedlings onsite, prepare harvests, or meet rising demand.
A new greenhouse and workshop will change that—extending the season, increasing production, and giving volunteers space to work in any weather. Families will receive food with dignity and choice, and workshops in composting and sustainable gardening will inspire others to grow their own food and give back to the community. Sharing space with Steep Rock’s stewardship team will maximize efficiency and reduce costs.
Urgent Need: Caring For the Land. Stewardship—how we care for the land—is at the heart of Steep Rock’s mission. Our team manages over 6,000 acres and 50 miles of trails, balancing habitat protection with exceptional visitor experiences. Yet today, they operate from a leased, aging barn with no heat, no dedicated workshop, and inadequate space for equipment, repairs, or volunteer training.
A new Stewardship Workshop and Equipment Barn will change that—providing a modern, energy-efficient space to store and maintain tools and vehicles, train volunteers, and complete projects year-round. With solar power and dedicated work areas, it will increase efficiency, expand capacity, and strengthen our ability to care for the land we all love.
To learn how you can help bring the Center for Conservation to life through gifts of any size, contact Monica Roberto (860)868-9131 x 106.
Mnuchin Family Pavilion & Pavers
On September 21, 2025, we celebrated the grand opening of the Mnuchin Family Pavilion, a generous gift from Alan and Alessandra Mnuchin. The Pavilion gives us an outdoor space at Steep Rock’s Center for Conservation where neighbors can gather, learn, and connect in ways we’ve never been able to before.
That spirit of connection is exactly what a community land trust like Steep Rock Association is all about: local residents leading the way and working together to permanently protect land for conservation, recreation, and community benefit.
Terrace Pavers: You can celebrate your family, honor a loved one, or recognize your business with a commemorative paver on the terrace beside the new Pavilion—while helping advance the Center for Conservation.
Paver Options:
- 24″ x 24″ — $5,000
- 24″ x 12″ — $2,500
- 12″ x 12″ — $1,000