This Sunday Join the War on Weeds at Little River State Park in Support of National Public Lands Day!

Crossett Brook Middle Schoolers
pull out invasive honeysuckle

This Sunday, September 25, we invite everyone to join us in helping wage the "War of the Weeds" as part of National Public Lands Day.   Come to Little River State Park at 10:00am. Park Interpreter Brian Aust will lead volunteers through the park removing invasive honeysuckle plants while teaching participants about invasives in Vermont.

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. On September 24, 2011, over 170,000 volunteers will plant trees, remove trash, and build trails at public lands across the nation. Last year, volunteers and community partners contributed an estimated $15 million of improvements to over 2,000 public land sites. You can join in the effort too by doing your own War on Weeds on your property! Read more about Brian's fight below:

Brian's "War on Weeds" program caught the interest of Crossett Brook Middle School. Sixty middle schoolers along with teacher and chaperones helped pull a HUGE amount of invasive honeysuckle out of a section of forest between the Walnut lean-to and the park host volunteer site.

What's an invasive species? According to the New England Wildflower Society, an invasive species is "a non-native species that is capable of moving into a habitat and monopolizing resources such as light, nutrients, water, and space to the detriment of other species." Through Brian's program, he's helping to re-establish a healthier ecosystem by removing as many honeysuckle plants as he can.

A truck load of honeysuckle removed
from a family on their vacation!

Lending a hand at Little River, was a young family of three that were in the park for two weeks. Brian tell us that the family's "five-year-old son earned the new Junior Ranger badge and honeysuckle pulling was the service project. [The family] pulled honeysuckle around their campground and the B-side loop (not the beach area) for the rest of their stay." Talk about working on your vacation! In the photo to the right is the result of all their hard work!

Brian helps to remove invasive species

Brian continues his "War on Weeds" with the help of boy scout troops and AmeriCorps members this week. Good Luck Brian and keep us posted. For more information on removing honeysuckle on your property, visit this USDA document.

To see what else is happening at Little River State Park and other state parks, visit the events page.

Elmore State Park to Host Benefit Music Festival Sunday, Sept 25

Elmore State Park is known as a fun and popular park. With swimming, hiking, a fire tower to climb, horseshoes, a park interpreter (who runs great programs and events), a newly renovated beachhouse, camping, and more, Elmore is not a park lacking in things to do. Well add one more thing to the list - a music festival on Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 12:00 PM - 6:30 PM!

The staff at Elmore usually goes above and beyond the call of duty, and is continuing to do so by generously hosting a benefit music festival. Half the proceeds will go to the Vermont Food Bank and the other half will go to help the Lamoille County Conservation District’s work to protect and restore the water quality of Lake Elmore and the surrounding Lamoille River Watershed. Musical performances will be given by Vorzca, Eames Brothers Band, 7Lbs of Pork, and John Gailmor. The cost is $20.00, but kids under 12 are free! To add to the fun, the first 200 people get a free concert tee shirt, so make sure to get there early!

Elmore State Park's campground has 45 tent/trailer sites and 15 lean-tos. Two restrooms are available in the campground with hot showers ($). A sanitary dump station is available, but no hookups. There is convenient access to several hiking trails to Elmore Mountain and its fire tower. The day use area includes a large sandy beach, historic CCC bathhouse with a concession stand and cafe, restrooms and a rental pavilion, a picnic shelter, numerous tables and grills, pet-friendly picnic area and row boat, canoe and kayak rentals. Give the park a call for more information or to make a reservation, 802-888-2982.

2011 Parks of the Year Announced!

Camp Plymouth Staff

Each year four parks, representing each geographical region in  Vermont, are presented with the Park of the  Year Award. The purpose of the program is to acknowledge exemplary accomplishments of the parks field staff, as well as for the enhancement of public service – to make the parks a better, more enjoyable place to recreate. Competition is fierce and award recipients receive the right to display the coveted "Park of the Year" banner the following season. This year's winners are Camp Plymouth, Half Moon, Lake Carmi and Maidstone. Congrats to all for your fantastic work!

Half Moon Staff





Lake Carmi Staff



Maidstone Staff