Founded in 1894, AVIS is the second oldest land preservation society in the United States.
Its goal is to acquire land within Andover and preserve it in its natural state.
The organization controls 29 reservations totaling about 1,100 acres (4.5 km2), with 30 miles (48 km) of trails for hiking, skiing, or other passive recreational use.
Motor vehicles, hunting, fires, or camping in these conservation lands are prohibited.
As of June 2017, AVIS owns 30 sites with approximately 1,100 acres (4.5 km2).