WAYNESBORO – Community learning activities for everyone is at the heart of the mission of Buttonwood Nature Center Home of the Institute.
That theme was explored by Executive Director Tracy Holliday as she spoke to members of Waynesboro College Club at its March 9 meeting in the Church of the Apostles.
Holliday began her work with the organization, formerly Renfrew Institute, as a volunteer in 1992. She became a member of the institute staff in 1996 and held a number of positions until becoming executive director in 2017. Holliday explained that after leaving Renfrew in 2020, the Institute purchased a 40-acre property off Amsterdam Road in 2021, which is home to more than 40 American Sycamore trees. Buttonwood is a folk name for the tree.
With a cornerstone gift from the Nora Roberts Foundation, the Institute surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $3 million, according to Holliday. Reaching the milestone allowed the Institute to construct a bridge for access to the property by large construction vehicles and school buses.
The grounds at Buttonwood were opened to visitors in 2025 and summer day camps were held on the property last year, she added.
While a slate of projects at Buttonwood is yet to be completed, the Institute continues to host school programs in environmental and cultural studies and community events at other locations, including Pine Hill Recreation Area, Monterey Pass, Old Forge and Red Run, Holliday said.
“Special immersive studies and early childhood programs are a longtime tradition of the Institute. We have a fly fishing adventure camp at Orvis Hill Country (in Fairfield). We also have programs for older learners such as our Discover archaeology and geology studies at the Stoner Farm (an early 1700s farm off State Hill Road in Waynesboro),” Holliday said.
Buttonwood continues to serve as the AWA (Antietam Watershed Association) stream water program headquarters, supporting community scientists, she added.
Holliday highlighted a number of community events offered by Buttonwood. “The next one is the Kite Fly from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Hooverville Elementary School.”
Upcoming projects including the restoration of the pond and construction of the parking area. A timber frame pavilion and Clivus Multrum double trailhead composting toilets will be added later this year. Phase two of improvements to the welcome center/administrative offices also will be started. The initiatives will be funded by campaign funds, new project grants and expanded community partnerships, she said.
In 2026 and beyond, Holliday added, Buttonwood plans to build a Nature Playscape and a structure to house an education classroom, a maintenance building and nature center education building, as well as an Arts in the Open performance area.
“To build and sustain a vibrant community, we must offer everyone an opportunity to connect with nature,” Holliday said.
About college club
Waynesboro College Club is open to graduates of a four-year college, junior college, school of fine arts and anyone having at least 60 credit hours.
Meetings are held in September, November and March and conclude with the annual scholarship banquet, set for May 20.
For information about joining, contact Nancy Mace, membership chairman, at [email protected]
