by Natalie Payne, Executive Director, Saunders Finger Lakes Museum
Growing up, I dreamt of living in a home just like the Swiss Family Robinson – a life lived entirely within nature. I imagined waking up to sunshine streaming through a canopy of lush vegetation, hearing a chorus of the wild as my first alarm clock and taking my first steps of the day to the water’s edge.
That craving for a full sensory experience with a deep connection to the environment has stayed with me. In fact, as a family, we find ourselves taking hikes to places where we can experience the quintessential Finger Lakes elements which are truly the soul of the regional landscape: freshwater, forests, hills and valleys. It is a philosophy I’ve carried into my personal life, my leadership and now into the very DNA of the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum (SFLM).
Teaming up for nature
At SFLM, this isn’t just a whimsical daydream; it is our professional heartbeat. We don’t simply “go to the office.” We operate within an environment that exudes peace, connection and a profound understanding of what this region is telling us. To truly showcase the wonder of the vibrant Finger Lakes, our team must be rooted and immersed in it on a daily basis.
Our staff culture is perhaps our most vital exhibit. We believe that every program we design and every exhibit and gallery we dream up must be born from a place of genuine, lived-in passion. Our team doesn’t just talk about watersheds. We paddle them, hike them and interpret their seasonal rhythms through first-hand observation.
This dedication is personified in our leadership. Take Debbie Lyon, our program director. From her background as a captain in the U.S. Air Force to her work as a classroom teacher in Central America and an environmental educator in Vermont and Maine, Lyon’s career has been defined by immersion. When she saw a need to grow our on-the-water programming, she “dove in.”
By securing her American Canoe Association and Scouts certifications and shadowing local wetlands courses, she ensures our educational offerings are as authentic as the lakes themselves. Each season, we host a series of full moon sunset paddles led by Lyon and our wonderful volunteers. Not only are there themed snacks based on the name of the moon, the company is engaging and the scenery is stunning. We say fondly that with Lyon’s programs you come as a stranger and leave as a friend.
Similarly, Laura Stom, our donor relations and grants manager, brings the perspective of a Finger Lakes native who spent a decade exploring outdoor scenes across the country. Returning home with her family has deepened her belief that life is profoundly shaped by the outside world and that outdoor experiences are paramount to one’s health. This personal conviction fuels Stom’s professional pursuit: building the relationships and sharing the stories that will sustain the SFLM for generations to come. You’ll see Stom more in the field in 2026 as she leads some of our outdoor programming both on land and the water, utilizing her paddleboarding and yoga expertise.
Photo by Preston Reynolds
Building a new home
Like our team, our new exhibit building will be nothing short of immersive. Our exhibit building is not designed as a static box built to house artifacts; it is a building that will live, breathe and blend with the environment around it. Our design team, MRB Group, met the challenge of creating a structure that functions like the ecosystems we honor: resilient, organic, and deeply connected to the terrain.
The exterior of the museum will tell a story of strength through the use of Shou Sugi Ban-style larch wood supplied by Pioneer Mill Works. Shou Sugi Ban is a traditional Japanese art of charring wood, a process that creates a striking, silken-gray finish. By combining larch, one of the hardest, most resinous softwoods on Earth, with this protective carbon layer, we will create an “armored” building that thrives in our harsh regional climates. It is a living building – organic, non-toxic and designed to change gracefully with the seasons. For our supporters, this represents a commitment to sustainability and longevity. It is a piece of intentional art designed to stand for decades.
Inside, the barrier between the visitor and the ecology of the region shall disappear. Expansive glass walls, graciously donated by Rochester Insulated Glass, will ensure the Finger Lakes remain the star of the show, blurring the lines between the gallery spaces and the picturesque landscapes. This design was born directly from our team’s experiences in the field, inspired by a staff-led trek with our exhibit design team, Reich & Petch, through Grimes Glen, we integrated a waterfall feature that echoes the tranquility of our local gullies. Combined with living green walls and undulating hanging waves, the exhibit building spaces will invite you to experience the Finger Lakes through every sense.
What started as a childhood daydream of a home in the trees has evolved into a mission to create a home for the entire Finger Lakes community. The Saunders Finger Lakes Museum won’t be just a building. It will be an immersive experience, a culture of stewardship and a promise to the next generation. We are building a place where the sunshine will always stream in (as much as Upstate New York weather will let it), proving that when we live in harmony with the environments that surround us, and with an authentic, passionate team at the helm, the possibilities for our region are endless.
