The Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program, a collaboration between UVM Extension and Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, is pleased to announce
several upcoming workshops in support of the launch of the Vermont Town Forest Recreation
Planning Toolkit. To celebrate the release of the toolkit and to support sustainable, forest-based recreation in town forests statewide, we are offering a series of town
forest-based workshops that explore different topics around town forest recreation management. All workshops are free and open to anyone; however, we do as that you sign up.
Learn more about the Vermont Town Forest Recreation Planning Initiative and check out other upcoming town forest
workshops.
Upcoming Town Forest Workshops
Winter Trails 101
Saturday, February 1st, 10am-12pm,
Hardwick Town Forest, Hardwick
Learn about and experience the Hardwick Trails! Designed by two-time Olympian John Morton, Hardwick Trails offers 10k of non-motorized use in Hardwick, VT. Come learn
about their impressive maintenance and grooming of single-track trails in the Hardwick Town Forest. The workshop will begin in the Ski Cabin, where we enjoy refreshments and learn about the town forest. Then we will strap on skis or snowshoes to experience
first-hand Hardwick’s trail system. Along the way, our local guides will share tips on managing multiple user groups, highlighting challenges and techniques around trail design, construction and long term maintenance, as well as discuss the logistics of hosting
winter race events. We will also get some tried and true tips for keeping trails well-groomed and maintained for winter use, in difficult weather conditions. Ski equipment and snowshoes are available to borrow! All abilities welcome! This event is free
and open to all. Please sign up in advance,
so we know who is coming!
Saturday, February 22nd, 1-3pm, Hinesburg Town Forest, Hinesburg
Have you ever wondered how active town forest stewardship and recreation mix? Join us for an afternoon walk/snowshoe in the Hinesburg Town Forest to find out. Ethan
Tapper, the Chittenden County Forester, will be our guide as we explore an ongoing timber harvest to improve the range of habitat opportunities for forest birds. In addition to an active forest management program that seeks to increase the diversity, health,
and resilience of the forest, the Hinesburg Town Forest offers over 17 miles of trails and is a popular destination for many in Chittenden County. This walk will discuss the roles of active forest stewardship and recreation and offer some tips on how to have
your trails and managed forests too! Be prepared for the weather and trail conditions. Participants will receive an update on trail conditions (i.e., if you need to bring snowshoes) the week of the workshop. Refreshments
provided. This event is free and open to all. Please
sign up in advance,
so we know who is coming!
*******************************************************
Community Forests Mean Business: Connecting Vermont Town Forests to Downtowns
Thursday, March 26th,
9am-2pm Wright’s Mountain Devils Den Town Forest, and Downtown, Bradford
Vermont’s town forests play an important role in strengthening local economies. Join us for a day in Bradford sharing ideas, challenges, and opportunities around the
connection between town forests and downtowns. We will begin the workshop with a walk in Bradford’s Wright’s Mountain Devil Den Town Forest, then head downtown to hear about regional efforts in Forest-Based Recreation and Local Economic Development from around
Vermont. Then after lunch (provided), we will learn more about Bradford’s efforts to link their town forest to their downtown businesses. This workshop is a partnership between the Bradford Conservation Commission, with FPR Recreation Program, the Agency
of Commerce, and Community Development, and UVM Extension’s Vermont Tourism Research Center. This event is free and open to all.
Please sign up in advance so we can plan logistics for the workshop.
KATE FORRER
|COMMUNITY FORESTRY OUTREACH SPECIALIST VT Urban & Community Forestry Program University of Vermont Extension
802-476-2003, Ext 210
www.vtcommunityforestry.org |
|
|
|
|
||
|
||