Dedication of the Stephen C. Trombulak Nature Sanctuary

This dedication and reception for the newly designated Stephen C. Trombulak Nature Sanctuary will be an opportunity to both introduce the sanctuary as an important educational resource for our community and to celebrate Professor Emeritus Steve Trombulak’s 34 years as a faculty member in biology and environmental studies, and his continuing work in natural history education and nature conservation.

The 60-acre sanctuary, a wetland along Otter Creek near the College campus, includes state-significant natural communities, especially a floodplain forest, along with shrubland and early successional forest habitats. The site was initially developed by Steve as a teaching and research natural area for his vertebrate natural history course (BIOL 302), which he taught from 1985 to 2019. The primary focus of his curriculum there was running a bird banding station with his students, in association with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, throughout fall migration each year, resulting in the site being the longest continuously running bird banding station in Vermont. The sanctuary was also the focus of numerous other field studies by Steve’s class and those of other faculty for the study of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, carbon sequestration, and wetland function. Its close proximity to the main campus along with its ecological diversity and accessibility make it a unique resource for Middlebury.

The Trombulak Nature Sanctuary is a collaborative project of Environmental Affairs, the Program in Environmental Studies, Department of Biology, and Middlebury College Lands. Learn more about the sanctuary’s location and walking trail, as well as Middlebury’s commitment to land stewardship here.