A family of moose traverse the verdant championship golf course at Stowe Mountain Lodge. In 2009, the lodge received Audubon International's Green Leaf certification, a program that honors a property's commitment to water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation and energy efficiency.  This green leaf certification rounds out a resort-wide effort to uphold Audubon International's standards for environmental excellence, with previous awards including the Audubon International Green Community award for the lodge's surrounding Spruce Peak at Stowe neighborhood, and the Audubon International Signature Sanctuary certification for the resort's Stowe Mountain Golf Club course.  The venue, which opened in 2008 and is the newest member of the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, features 12,000 square feet of meeting/event space, a 21,000-square-foot spa and Cooper Wellness Center, ski-in/ski-out access to over 100 legendary trails, and a heated outdoor pool with indoor access year-round. Located in Stowe Vermont, and a key participant in DH&R's "Destination Earth" program, the venue was recently recognized for its environmental practices by Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont, who in April  honored Stowe Mountain Lodge with a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention, which acknowledges extraordinary commitment to environmental & sustainable programs by organizations who call the Green Mountain State home.