Thanks for Your Support! State Parks End Season on High Note, Report Record Attendance

Governor Jim Douglas announced that Vermont State Parks reported the busiest operating season in 15 years. As theregular season came to a close on Columbus Day, State Park attendance was up 15 percent over 2009 as 836,984visitors enjoyed Vermont beaches, mountains, campgrounds and trails.

“As Park staff are cleaning up and turning off the lights for the last time until next spring, they have much to celebrate, as do all Vermonters,” said Governor Douglas. “Vermont State Parks are a fun and affordable get-a-way that more people are now taking advantage of that thanks to foresight, innovative marketing and smart investments at the Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation. Vermont capitalized on a great season, boosting our local economies around the state at the same time.”

The numbers break down to 455,319 day use visits – a 23 percent increase over last year – and 381,665 camper visits. Forty-five percent of campers were Vermonters, while 55 percent were from out-of-state.

Craig Whipple, Director of State Parks, attributes this year’s success to the great weather, the economy, park infrastructure improvements and effective marketing and outreach. “We thank everyone for their tremendous support this year – and remember, parks remain open to everyone in the “off season” for hiking, hunting, skiing and all sorts of winter activities,” Whipple said.

In addition to park visits, 346 people, so far, have completed the Venture Vermont Challenge – 55 percent more than last year. The Venture Vermont Challenge encourages participants to experience fun outdoor activities and photograph their adventures to earn points, with 250 points earning an individual a VIP Gold Pass granting free park entry for all of the 2011 park season. Venture Vermont’s sister program, Outdoor S’more, designed for younger children and child care programs, had 26 group submissions since its launch at the end of June. Approximately 250 children participated, plus many adults did the challenges with those children. In total, over 600 people have completed or helped others complete one of the two challenges.

Camping reservations for next summer can be made online at http://www.vtstateparks.com/ or by calling our reservation call center at 1-888-409-7579. Individuals can also purchase annual passes for next year as well. Passes and gift certificates make wonderful, “local” holiday presents.

Rain Droplet

Rain Droplet
By Eric Bouchard, Assistant Ranger Smugglers’ Notch State Park

In the purview, the clouds form round the mountain,
This my home, the Earth’s life fountain,
Just an insignificant being am I,
A droplet formed and released from the sky,



Free falling, where will I end?
So many places I could descend,
Will it be land? Will it be sea?
Will it be roots at the base of a tree?

Closer and closer, ready to go,
It’s now time to begin the show,
Bounce, pop from stone to stone,
Into the stream is where I’m thrown,

Thrash, swirl, side to side,
What could I do, but enjoy the ride,
With one fell swoop, the ride would stop,
Onto a tongue and out of the drop,

What happened then I cannot say,
For the darkness set in and I was led astray,
Up, down, round and round,
Through the dark tunnels I travelled, will I ever be found?

Lost no more, I was able to see,
Released once again by the side of a tree,
Into the dirt I went, through humus and silt,
To that mysterious place an ecosystem’s built,

Filtered back to my original form,
It’s time now for me to perform,
Through the hairs I enter at the base of the root,
From bottom to top, up its natural chute,

From root, to trunk, to branch, to leaf,
I’ve come to a stop, what a relief,
With the heat of the sun, I’m released once again,
To the surface I go, what happens then?

I’m transformed once again from droplet to steam,
Up and away I go as if in a dream.

Great New Design for an Age Old Function - Winner Selected in "Going Green" Outhouse Design Competition

A winner has been chosen in the contest to design a 21st century version of the old Vermont outhouse. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, in conjunction with the Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association, announced the winner of the “Going Green” trailside outhouse design competition at the annual meeting of the Vermont Wood Manufacturers in Woodstock, Vermont.

The contest inspired several architects and design firms to submit outhouse designs compatible with CLIVUS composting toilets for use at remote trailheads and recreation areas, and state park and forest lands throughout the state.

Participants were asked to create a simple, affordable wood design that could be built using native materials. The design had to be universally accessible, easy to assemble and maintain, use natural lighting and an eco-friendly finish. It also had to fit in with the aesthetics of state parks.

“The winning design, by Cushman Design Group, of Stowe, VT, met all the goals of the design completion. What really set this design apart from the others was the ability for the structures to be developed as an economical kit which could be easily transported and assembled on site by a group of supervised volunteers or a trail crew”, said Frank Spaulding, Parks Projects Coordinator. “The aesthetics of this design also fits with almost all state park facilities, from the Civilian Conservation Corps to those parks developed in the 1960’s, and those built for today.” said Spaulding.

There are many potential sites for this design throughout state forest and park recreation areas, including six within the Groton State Forest.

Cottage Comfort at Branbury State Park

Moosalamoo Cottage at Branbury State Park has had a makeover! The improved cottage feels quieter and cozier with the addition of paintings, carvings, antiques, and other unique decor. The added charm of these furnishings are provided by the Barn Antiques out of Middlebury, Vermont (available for purchase too!). Think of the cottage as a rotating art gallery - it could have different artwork every time you visit!

All cottages in Vermont State Parks have multiple rooms which sleep four to six comfortably. Electricity, heat, indoor kitchen with refrigerator, stove, freezer, toaster oven, microwave, coffee maker, cookware, and sink, and an indoor bathroom with shower and toilet are all amenities in each cottage. Other cottages are located in Camp Plymouth, Crystal Lake, Half Moon, Ricker Pond, Shaftsbury State Parks. To ensure your week long vacation is secured, it is recommended that you book early!

Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance through our reservation center at 1-888-409-7579 Monday through Friday 9am-4pm, or by booking online at http://www.vtstateparks.com.