Vermont State Parks

Maidstone's Day Use beach was redone after we closed. Half of the beach had been taken over by grass  and was something beach goers mentioned, so it has been taken care of!  This fall a volunteer who lives on the lake , Dave Lufkin , volunteered his time and machinery to rake the grass out of the beach. After he did. we got 4 loads of new sand delivered , then he leveled that out.....it's so amazing the difference . Campers Beach A also got the same treatment. We hope you all enjoy the new beach next season! 

Every wonder what goes on when you do not see the work happening? Here are two stories from some of this years trail work. Boardwalk  The new Lake Carmi boardwalk replaces a small loop of near-ground level boards that were slippery, uneven and made for a great temptation to roam on foot across the bog trampling sensitive plant life.  The new boardwalk is fully accessible to all, elevates above the bog for improved views and has less impact on plants and wildlife.  It provides a great learning opportunity as well since there are good views of plants and animals and it can support groups of all abilities out to 231’ into the bog.  We plan on adding an interpretive sign next summer.  This past August the state trail crew worked for two weeks on the project.  The first week they worked with a contractor who instructed the crew with how to drive the helical piers and then how to go about making a level, wooden surface with framing and decking.  This ...

A 2-3 foot stone retaining wall was removed between the grassy area and the sand.  The primary purpose was to increase access by allowing them to walk onto sand at any point rather than the one ramp.  It also reduces the risk of people and children from falling in an attempt to access the sand by jumping down the stone retainer.  A secondary benefit may reduce the amount of sand loss by better controlling runoff. Another goal, equal to removing the wall was to gain usable sand and grass area, to provide drainage and to create a slightly larger potential footprint for a future playground. Here are some photos from the construction! 

Vermont State Parks provide a variety of recreational opportunities for different users and interests, and at this time of year, hunting is one of them. A long held tradition in Vermont, hunting is  an enduring element of the cultural heritage of Vermont and is an important method for managing the state's game species.  It is both a family and community activity. Vermont is one of the most rural states in the country and we have a proud heritage of living close to the land.  White-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, waterfowl, and snowshoe hare hunting are popular in the fall. Finding a place to hunt in Vermont is easy with more than 800,000 acres of conserved wildlife habitat open to public hunting. Hunting is just one of the many recreational opportunities available year round.  Hunting is allowed on all state lands, which include Vermont State Parks in the off season. (which is now). You  don't  need to stop hiki...

This summer Champlain College student, Sarah Lucia, a Professional Writing Major spent some time writing a few articles providing some great camping tips! Thank you so much Sarah! Start Your week Right with Breakfast Who Get's Dish Duty Always Hungry for Lunch Here are some great dinner time ideas for camping! Nights can get quite chilly when camping, especially come September and October, and a hot bowl of soup always tastes great. Some people prefer to have their soup on simmer for hours before serving, but that is not always feasible at the campground. This simple soup only requires about an hour of cooking time. Chicken Noodle Soup   Ingredients: 1 chicken breast, cooked and chopped 1 cup of noodles, uncooked 1 cup carrots, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 can mixed vegetables 1/2 teasoppn Italian spices 1 teaspoon sweer basil 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon dried chopped onion 2 cans chicken broth 3 cups water Salt, pepper, to ...

After flooding last year damaged the Burton Island Contact Station, they are getting a new one for next season. It is going to be slightly up the hill. Check out the progress of the new building, we can't wait to see it when it is done! 

Trish Hanson, our Forest Protection Entomologist, stopped by our office while on her way to a program at Lincoln Community School. Trish deals with anything insect-related in the state, and fields inquiries from both the public and staff. Her lab does routine monitoring of many species and has a collection of both live and dead specimens, which help in the identification and tracking of insects.  She revealed to us that she had a childhood fear of bugs.  Her mom encouraged her to learn more about them and thus began her career. Here are some of the bugs she brought with her. Top photo: Horse Lubber Grasshopper from Arizona Bottom Left: Millipede- 1,000 legged bug from Arizona Bottom Right: Female Scarab Beetle from Arizona