Camp Common Ground
Sustainable Facilities
Common Ground Center is located in Starksboro, Vermont, which is 30 minutes from Burlington and Lake Champlain. Our solar-powered site is located on an old farm, nestled in the valley between the Hogback and Green Mountains with 700 acres for our campers to explore and play.
Click to view photo galleries of our main buildings and our outdoor facilities.
Unique Program Facilities
Our program spaces are located in renovated barns and farm buildings.
Our Dining Hall features a game room, library, and a large screened in porch for drumming, arts & crafts, and other activities. It also has a wrap-around porch with rocking chairs perfect for reading, singing, and relaxing!
The Common Room in the Eco-Lodge is a quiet space with beautiful views for reading, games, or programs like non-violent communication.
The Hay Barn is a cathedral like space for dance and yoga.
The Creekside Barn is the starting point for our children’s programs and hosts an indoor basketball court in addition to an art and teen space. There's also giant sandbox in the foundation of the silo outside of the Creekside Barn along with a play structure for smaller children.
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Lodging
Common Ground Center has three accommodation options to choose from, whether you are spending your family vacation here or hosting your own family reunion, wedding, or retreat: you can stay in one of our cozy, rustic cabins, stay in the state-of-the-art Eco-Lodge, or pitch your own tent.
A central bathhouse is located near the cabin and tenting areas. It has flush toilets and hot water with eight sinks, four indoor, and three outdoor showers. Additional bathrooms are located in the Farm House, Dining Hall, and Kidville. All bathrooms are handicapped accessible.
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Outdoor Fun and Exploration
There are plenty of outdoor recreational activities to keep adventurous folks of all ages busy.
Our 700 acre property offers endless opportunities for outdoor fun and nature exploration. Whether you are a hardcore hiker or at camp with your small children, there is always something to do. There are miles of hiking & snowshoeing trails that vary in length and difficulty, meandering peacefully through the woods as well as leading you up a mountainside. We even have a hiking trail to a beaver pond at the top of our mountain!
There are 17 different natural habitats on site for campers to explore and spot wildlife, including a protected wetland. Because of our rural, but not remote, countryside location your family can listen to birds call on quiet mornings, star-gaze on clear nights, and enjoy the evening peepers, crickets, and fireflies after dinner from our dining hall porch.
Our two Har-Tru tennis courts dry off after rain in just 30 minutes and are so soft you can play with bare feet! Next to the tennis courts is an outdoor basketball court that can also be used for shuffleboard.
A younger camper favorite is a Play Structure made from recycled playgrounds within view of the dining hall!
Playing fields and other open spaces are enjoyed by adults and kids alike.
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Swimming
Nestled privately under the Hogback Mountains and a ten-minute walk from the main campus is our two-acre swimming pond. The pond has a shallow end with a sandy beach for our less experienced swimmers, as well as a floating dock for deep end swimmers. While swimming or basking the sun, campers get a fabulous view of the Green Mountains.
Lewis Creek, which runs for a mile along our border, is full of nooks and crannies for people of all ages to explore and also has a deep hole for swimming.
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Our Green Ethos
Careful consideration has been taken to minimize the human impact in our use of the land. We are committed to energy conservation, recycling, composting, and to using environmentally friendly products and materials. We have kept our site rustic, but comfortable, to minimize our impact on the environment. Read more here.
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Campus Map
Click to download a map of our main campus, including Cabins, Eco-Lodge, Dining Hall, Haybarn, Creekside Barn, Tennis Courts and more, plus a more detailed lodging map.