Nationally Recognized Non-Profit Leader Named Flanders Executive

Vincent D. LaFontan, native Kent, Connecticut, has been appointed to serve as the next Executive Director of Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust. Previously, LaFontan served as Director of Extended Care and Learning (EXCL) for Farmington Public Schools. LaFontan officially begins his tenure with Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust on July 1st, succeeding Arthur Milnor who is retiring after 22 years as Executive Director.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the next Executive Director of Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust. I understand the value and importance of keeping children, families and adults connected to the natural world. I have a passion for conservation, science and natural resources education and a deep understanding and appreciation of the agricultural traditions of New England. I hope to do my best in advancing the mission and vision of Flanders. I will use my experiences in non-profit administration, recreation, social services and out-of-school education based programs to protect, maintain and expand Flanders Tradition of being a principled destination for thousands each year. ” LaFontan stated.

LaFontan is an author of numerous national publications on Best Practices in After School Programs. Most recently LaFontan published his second children's book, "The Farmhouse Ladybug" (Mountain Books, 2017). He was also the Co-editor of “Innovations in Child and Youth Programming”, a special issue of the Journal of New Directions for Youth Development, The Program in Education, Afterschool & Resiliency (PEAR) at Harvard University (Jossey-Bass, 2011). He is the previous Chairman of the Connecticut After School Network (CASN) and previous Vice Chairman of The National After School Association in Washington, D. C... He has been a member of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, as well as a member of the Tunxis Community College Early Childhood Advisory Council. Since 1998, LaFontan has been an active consultant to youth serving organizations with an emphasis on: program development, sustainability, and best practices for school and municipal administered Before and After School Programs.

LaFontan has extensive experience in non-profit budget administration and is a strong advocate of the “enterprise fund” concept of budgeting for non-profit programs. He has extensive public speaking experience from his many years as an elected public official in his own home community, as well as while administering youth and family programs.

Following his active duty service in the United States Marine Corps, LaFontan began his career in Connecticut (1994-2004) serving in varying positions, including Assistant Director, at the well-recognized innovative New Milford Youth Agency in New Milford, CT. Then in 2004 he was named Director at Farmington Extended Care and Learning, a part of the nationally recognized Farmington Public Schools, in Farmington CT, where in 2016 he was then appointed to Business Administrator.

LaFontan earned a B.S. in Family Studies and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. In 1999 he earned a Masters of Health Administration (MHA) from the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University.

About Flanders

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that focuses on environmental education, and on the acquisition, conservation, and stewardship of open space. Through its land trust initiatives, Flanders actively works to protect important natural sites and the area’s landscape character and quality of life. Flanders manages over 2,300 acres of preserved land in Woodbury and neighboring towns. Year round educational programs for children and adults are offered at the Van Vleck Farm Sanctuary, Flanders’ main campus in Woodbury. Trails at its major nature preserves are open to the public at no charge from dawn to dusk. For more information, call 203-263-3711 or visit flandersnaturecenter.org