In This State: NorthWoods Marks 25 Years Sharing Natural World Check out the latest about NorthWoods' 25th Anniversary Year in state news website VTDigger! VTDigger.org is a statewide news website that publishes watchdog reports on state government, politics, consumer affairs, business and public policy. The above article also appeared in the Rutland Herald and the Barre-Monteplier Times-Argus.
Every summer, NorthWoods Stewardship Center recruits local high school students for conservation projects in and beyond the Northeast Kingdom. These teenagers join the NorthWoods Conservation Corps to build trails, improve wildlife habitats, plant trees on river banks, and battle invasive plants. While working in the field, Corps leaders teach crew members about the science behind the work. This year, crew members will be eligible for three undergraduate science credits from Lyndon Sate College (LSC) if they pass the requirements of the Corps projects. The credit can be used at LSC or transferred to another college. “Experiential learning [Read More...]
NorthWoods Stewardship Center had a great time teaming up with Burke Mountain and Dynafit Sponsors for the 3rd Annual Randonnee Rally, which celebrates speedy ascents and descents of mountains, under human muscle power. There was a great turnout, and the Olympic spirit was felt by all! This year's event was sanctioned by the United States Ski Mountaineering Association.
Toyota Audubon TogetherGreen Program: Engaging Skiers in Conservation Summary of Jay Peak Summer Camp 2013 Laury Saligman, Conservation Collaboratives, Montpelier, Vermont Summary: As part of my Toyota Audubon TogetherGreen Fellowship Program, I worked with Maria Young, Education Director at NorthWoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston, Vermont to create and run a ½ day program for the Jay Peak Summer Camp. This effort supported by ski area engagement, by bringing 100 children into the mix. The kids planted 42 trees along a reconstructed stream and studied water quality and two sites, through macro-invertebrate monitoring. The program was designed to [Read More...]
Sunday, February 9th, 8:30 Mass Start Race Class: A USSMA sanctioned Category II race, which includes: 4,300 feet vertical gain, 1 boot pack, lengthy skins and 7 transitions, including mass start dash to skis. Descent includes trees, black diamond trails, and bumps as well as groomed surfaces. Course map available above or at www.skiburke.com. Recreation Class: 2,000 foot skin to summit and finish at Base Lodge.Award Ceremony: 11:00 am at Sherburne Base Lodge w/ après race snacks Prizes awarded for speed, spirit, and participation. Registration: 7:30 am at Sherburne Base Lodge Pre-registration: Contact [Read More...]
Students in Brighton's afterschool program had the opportunity to join NorthWoods for a Conservation Skills program held at NorthWoods These students visited NorthWoods, and gained an introduction to the skills and lessons of conservation work. Conservation Assistant Tim Lancaster modeled a day in the life of a Conservation Corps member, from tool safety and maintenance to the lore, legend, and safe use of an axe, and helped them work as a team to construct a small bridge on the Lang Brook Trail. Education Director Maria Young helped them practice with a crosscut saw, [Read More...]
How long has it been since you’ve dug your hands into the dirt or looked deep into the cavity of a rotten tree? At the Project Learning Tree Educators Workshop, hosted by NorthWoods and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation this October, adults explored these childhood pastimes from a new vantage point. We dug far enough into the dirt that a story unfolded about the geologic history and the land use patterns throughout the NorthWoods property. It made sense that a forest tour would begin with an investigation into [Read More...]
This year, as we have done for the past two years, Cody and I shared the pleasures and pitfalls of working with chainsaws with about 60 girls who will be Vermont’s next generation of fierce workforce women. This year, to our surprise and delight, the weather was perfect - crisp enough that we knew it was fall, but sunny enough that we could get away with wearing t-shirts. On the beautiful Old Dorm Green at Vermont Technical College, Cody and I set up our saw horses and pole-sized logs, and waited for our students to appear. [Read More...]
How are local schoolchildren becoming involved with the management of wildlife refuges in northern Vermont? An article written by NorthWoods staff member Maria Young was recently featured in the US Fish and Wildlife Service's May/June issue of the Refuge Update and answers that question. Start reading below, then head on over to the Refuge Update. Hard at work with loppers, bow saw and a swing blade, an eighth–grader from Stratford, NH, paused to share the complexities of conservation work as he had begun to see them. “Last spring, we were planting [Read More...]
Registration has opened for our 2013 Summer Camps! Are your kids ready for a season full of fun hiking, canoeing, research, learning and working with their hands? NorthWoods offers day and overnight camps, for ages 6-14. Check out our Camps & Expeditions page for more information about specific programs, or take a look at our handy printable brochure. Questions? Email Maria, or call (802) 723-6551 ext. 115.
