DarkSky Vermont envisions a state where better outdoor lighting helps protect the night, reduce waste, support wildlife, and preserve a defining part of Vermont’s landscape and character.
Our work is grounded in a Vermont tradition of stewardship, restraint, practicality, and good sense. We believe dark-sky protection is not just about astronomy. It is also about conservation, community character, public safety, energy savings, education, and quality of life.
Our mission
DarkSky Vermont works to protect Vermont’s nighttime environment and heritage of dark skies through education, outreach, practical assistance, partnership, and better outdoor-lighting practices.
Our goals
These goals guide DarkSky Vermont’s work as the official Vermont chapter of DarkSky International. They will continue to evolve as our chapter grows, develops partnerships, and responds to opportunities across the state.
1. Strengthen DarkSky Vermont as a statewide organization
Build on our official chapter status and strengthen the organizational capacity needed to serve communities across Vermont.
Clarify and communicate DarkSky Vermont’s mission, role, and priorities as a statewide organization focused on education, outreach, policy, partnership, and practical assistance.
Develop a sustainable base of donations and other funding to support programs, services, outreach, and projects across the state.
2. Grow membership, volunteers, and statewide community
Grow public participation and build a stronger grassroots network across Vermont.
Build and deepen alliances with partner organizations, including Vermont State Parks, the Montshire, the Fairbanks Museum, local Audubon groups, and other conservation and education partners.
Form grassroots relationships with wildlife ecologists, naturalists, and other conservationists.
3. Expand public engagement and visibility
Strengthen social media, communications, and broader public engagement.
Host more public events and educational programs.
Continue representing DarkSky Vermont at Stellafane and other conferences and public events.
4. Support practical action beyond municipal government
Engage institutions, businesses, and other property owners, not just municipalities, in voluntary dark-sky-friendly practices.
Launch pilot or demonstration projects that show what dark-sky-friendly lighting looks like in practice.
Organize Lights Out programs tied to bird migration and wildlife protection.
5. Build technical capacity and policy usefulness
Build technical capacity and credibility on outdoor-lighting issues, including the ability to offer practical guidance on lighting standards, retrofits, and best practices.
Develop usable template language and practical tools for town plans, zoning bylaws, subdivision regulations, and other local policies.
6. Measure, monitor, and communicate impact
Provide standards, training, and a framework for people to measure and monitor sky darkness and present data and trends.
Track and report measurable impact, including partnerships, events, participation, policy adoption, sky-darkness data, and on-the-ground lighting improvements.
7. Become a trusted statewide resource
Build DarkSky Vermont into a practical, trusted statewide resource for education, outreach, technical assistance, and policy support on outdoor lighting.
Achieve measurable improvements in nighttime lighting practices across Vermont.
Get involved
If these goals resonate with you, we invite you to join the conversation, attend an event, volunteer, partner with us, or support DarkSky Vermont with a donation.