Champlain Area Trails (CATS), a land trust dedicated to creating and maintaining trails, saving land, connecting people with nature, and promoting economic vitality in New York's Champlain Valley, recently aquired the 675.5-acre Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center.   

Since 1945, Twin Valleys has served as a field campus for SUNY Plattsburgh, hosting various college programs, student activities, meetings, and workshops. The nonprofit organization CAS supports SUNY Plattsburgh students and the campus community by providing services not covered by the state budget. This includes owning and operating Twin Valleys, which is located approximately 40 miles south of the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, straddling the town lines of Lewis, Westport, and Essex.

This new addition will enable CATS to increase permanent outdoor recreational spaces, ensuring welcoming and public spaces for all residents and visitors. The Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center currently boasts 15 miles of established trails and facilities, including cabins and a lodge, which currently accommodate environmental education programs, community events, and more.