Vermont Guides

When you picture a scenic Vermont getaway, chances are that image looks a lot like Common Ground Center. Rolling, green fields bordered by quiet woods, with mountains visible in the distance. Barn spaces, cozy cabins. A boulder-strewn creek with the calm of babbling water. A swimming pond, campfires, stars, fireflies. This is the place.

Our 700-acre site offers a balance of natural beauty and unique, ADA-compliant indoor spaces to host youth and family camps, weddings, and group rentals. With capacity for 200 people for a day event, space for 165 overnight guests, and plenty of things to see and do, everyone’s welcome here at camp. Take a look around, and we hope to see you soon!

DINING HALL

Eat, dance, and gather in this spacious, central structure.

This central gathering space features a 1,850-square-foot room (great for yoga, dining, and dancing), two breakout rooms, and a lovely and spacious screened porch. The Dining Hall has been used for family-style meals at camp, coffeehouse open-mic nights, wedding receptions, talent shows, celebrations, and dances. There are two bathrooms in the building; one of them has a changing table and all bathrooms have step stools for the kiddos. Booster seats are also available for young diners. For weddings and retreats, the Dining Hall is conveniently attached to the commercial kitchen for meal service and clean-up. Rentals come with standard tables and chairs, or banquet-style round tables can be rented through Common Ground Center.

ECO-LODGE

Overnight accommodations offer comfort and sustainability.

The Eco-Lodge is available to rent year-round and sleeps up to 31 overnight guests in eight rooms, most with private bathrooms. This unique, comfortable, and quiet retreat features a fully furnished common room for gatherings, with a cozy woodstove, a full kitchen, wi-fi, laundry, and windows overlooking the Green Mountains. The Eco-Lodge is the centerpiece of our sustainability ethos and was built with wood and stone harvested on campus, local and reclaimed fixtures, and energy efficiencies throughout. The Eco-Lodge is wheelchair accessible.

HAY BARN

Get together in this historic, rustic space.

Our 1,000-square-foot barn with exposed beams and a cathedral ceiling offers plenty of open space that’s ideal for ceremonies, meetings, yoga, dance, and more. It’s a favorite activity space during camp, and a peaceful and picturesque place to host weddings and retreats. The space offers electricity and wifi, and folding chairs are included in rentals. The nearest restrooms are in the Creekside Barn. The Hay Barn is available to rent mid-May through mid-October.

THE CREEKSIDE BARN

There’s plenty of room for indoor fun here.

This 2,550-square-foot space is an indoor playscape that features a small basketball court, an art space, and five break-out activity rooms, overlooking Lewis Creek. On one end of the barn is a sun deck, and on the opposite side, a giant sandbox in the foundation of the silo, along with a play structure for smaller children. There is one restroom in this building. During Camp Common Ground, the Creekside Barn becomes the headquarters for our children’s programs (also known as “Kidville.”) The Creekside Barn is available to rent mid-May through mid-October.

POND

Swim or float to your heart’s content.

The two-acre pond is a spring-fed summer oasis with designated swim area and sandy beach for castle-building. There are no boats allowed, but there’s plenty of aquatic wildlife to discover in this kid-friendly swimming spot!

LEWIS CREEK

There’s so much to discover Creekside.

Lewis Creek runs along the camp property for three-quarters of a mile. Its cool, clear waters offer a great place to wade in the shallows, take a creek walk, race homemade paper boats, or just sit back and listen to it babble. It also serves as an outdoor classroom for stream ecology during our camp programs.

TRAILS

Hiking and snowshoeing for all levels.

Several miles of trails run though the Common Ground Center land and offer a range of options from easy 30-minute strolls to more moderate three-hour tours. Marked with easy-to-spot colored blazes, most trails are loops that wind through the forest along the Hogback Mountain Ridge.

CABINS

Creative, cozy lodging for camp and celebrations.

Our 21 unique cabins are clustered together in a maple grove about 100 yards from the dining hall, and sleep up to 100 campers or guests. They were designed in collaboration with Yestermorrow Design Build School in Waitsfield, VT, and built with wood from our land. Cabins share a central bathhouse with hot water, electricity, flush toilets, and indoor and outdoor showers. They’re all within a short walk of the bathhouse, but there is a composting toilet for those that are a bit farther away. Cabins are electricity-free and bedding is not provided. Many but not all cabins can accommodate a cot, which we can provide at an extra charge.

Strawbale – sleeps up to 5
Sailboat – sleeps up to 4
Cow – sleeps up to 4
Jackson Pollock – sleeps up to 3
Hands & Feet – sleeps up to 4
Psychedelic – sleeps up to 4
Peace – sleeps up to 4
Green & Pink – sleeps up to 6
Japanese – sleeps up to 4
Raindrop – sleeps up to 5

Strawberry – sleeps up to 6
Pop-up – sleeps up to 6
Screened Porch – sleeps up to 6
Breeze – sleeps up to 4
Sugarhouse – sleeps up to 4
Twin North – sleeps up to 2
Twin South – sleeps up to 2
Squiggle – sleeps up to 5
Cloud – sleeps up to 5
Butterfly – sleeps up to 5