Other Pathfinders Projects

Villages Folk School

Villages Folk School is located in Van Buren County and offers 1-day and weekend classes in arts, crafts and trades of everyday people or "folks."

Classes include topics such as pottery, blacksmithing, artisanal baking, gardening and painting. The entire county will serve as the campus for the classes making use of the scenic landscapes and historic villages.

Pathfinders helped organizers develop their Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, apply for their 501c3 non-profit designation, facilitate development of their 40-page business plan, and secure grant funds to partially support 18 months of operational expenses.

http://villagesfolkschool.com

Historic Maasdam Barns and Visitor Center

The Maasdam Barns Development Project will showcase the three historic barns that are part of the Evergreen Ridge Stock Farm Historic District. From 1910 until 1938 the owner of this farm, J. G. Maasdam, raised and sold award-winning Percheron draft horses.

The Maasdam Barns Preservation Committee is working to rehabilitate the barns and develop a visitor center at the site. The farmstead lies at the junction of Highway 34 and Highway 1, just one mile south of Fairfield.

Pathfinders provided grant writing assistance to secure $300,000 to complete rehabilitation of the historic barns and provide infrastructure to develop a welcome center. Pathfinders provided additional grant writing to secure $20,000 for the development of the interpretive exhibits at the site.

Pathfinders is also provided grant administration services for these grants.

http://www.jeffersoncountytrails.org/HTrail/maasdam/barns.htm

Fairfield Loop Trail

Pathfinders provided grant writing for the Jefferson County Trails Council since 1999. Grants have been secured to develop sections of the Fairfield Loop Trail including the development of several bridges.

In 2009, a bow string truss bridge was installed across Highway 1 to connect two sections of trail.

Most recently Pathfinders wrote grants to develop the final 3.3 mile section to complete the western section of the 16-mile Fairfield Loop Trail. Pathfinders is also providing grant administration services for this grants.

To date, more than $3,000,000 has been invested in the Loop Trail.

http://www.jeffersoncountytrails.org/

Fairfield Go Green Commission

Detra Dettmann, Pathfinders Executive Director, served on the Fairfield Go Green Sustainability Commission. The Green Commission developed a community-wide plan focused on incorporating sustainable practices throughout the city. In September 2009, Sustainability Coordinator Scott Timm was hired to help implement various components in the plan, as well as establish the Fairfield Go Green website.

Fairfield Farmers Market

Since 2009, Pathfinders has been serving as fiscal agent and organizational manager for the Fairfield Farmers Market.