Vermont State Parks

Green Up Day on the trail. We're meeting Saturday May 4, 9 AM, at Kettle Pond parking lot (off of Rte 232, in Groton State Forest.) We'll head up the rail-trail towards Marshfield from there, doing some spring clean up. Local folks have reported cleaning out old tires and other trash along the trail earlier this spring already, and say that there is more to be gotten. Green Up Vermont's mission is to promote the stewardship of our state's natural landscape and waterways and the livability of our communities. The goal is to raise public awareness about the benefits of a litter free environment.

Join Vermont State Parks on  Sunday April 28th and May 4th for a hike in  Niquette Bay State Park while looking at spring wildflowers. Niquette Bay State Park is home to many wildflower colonies that put on a beautiful show for just a few weeks this time of year. Let’s hunt for wildflowers in the Park from 10am – 12pm on Sunday, April 28 and Saturday, May 4.  Bring your camera and any wildflower guide books along for an informative hike through the park with Park Ranger Lisa Liotta.  Space is limited, please phone the park at 802.893.5210 to RSVP.  *Please keep doggies at home or in the car for these hikes in order to protect these fragile species. From Niquette Bay Ranger Lisa Liotta: Today, I found the first spring ephemerals of 2013 in the Park.  Spring ephemerals are perennial wildflowers that are the first of the season to appear.  The word “ephemeral” means short lived, fleeting, transitory;  and it is a very apt adjec...

When the snow starts melting and the temperatures get warmer, most of us want to get outside and hike! But, mud season is not a good time for hiking in certain areas. Rain and melting snow at higher elevations are keeping many of Vermont's hiking trails wet and muddy. When hikers tramp on saturated soils, they cause soil compaction and erosion as well as damage to the trail and surrounding vegetation. Please help protect the fragile trails this time of year by staying off muddy trails. Higher elevation soils take longer to dry out. And after an epic snowfall this winter, and heavy spring rains the trails will take longer than normal to dry out.  A trail may be dry at the trailhead, but is muddy at a higher elevation this time of year. If you notice this happening, please turn around! Trails at lower elevations, dirt roads, and recreation paths provide excellent places for early spring walking. Below is a list of great places to hike during mud season - enjoy! ...

We found this photo yesterday and wondered who could come up with the best caption to win a Vermont State Parks punch card . Thank you everyone for participating we LOVED reading all of the submissions! We had over 180 submissions and it made our day more exciting.  And here are the Top 10! 10. Sharon Palady: Hand over the quackers now or I'll bring my entire waddling family to your campsite... it may not be pretty when we leave... so hand over the quackers!  9. Nola Howder: Hey baby, you're looking mighty fine. Might I join you at the beach for a waddle?? We can take a paddle together after we eat them there Quackers :) 8. Cheryl Cobb: "Hand over the bread and nobody gets hurt" 7. Lisa Huebl McGunnigle: "Excuse me, could you please point me in the direction of the paddle boats, please?" 6. Crystal Miller: Yo, what's quack-a-lackin? 5.  Lisa Ayers: Vermont State Parks are going to open soon, time to get quackin and get you...

Okay......drum roll....the results are in. The winning image from the Vermont State Parks Water bottle graphic design contest is: Chad Yonkman!   This season we were seeking a fresh new look for our Vermont State Parks Water bottles which are sold all over the state. So we held a water bottle graphic contest and we had 42 entries!  Thank you everyone for participating and congratulations to our winner!  The goal was to come up with a 3" x 3" graphic design that embraces the personality or feeling of Vermont State Parks. The design had to include only 3 or fewer colors and be applicable on a variety of colors.  1st Place: Chad Yonkman 2nd Place: Christina Smith 3rd Place:   Polly Heininger

Bring your family and friends for a fun-filled, naturalist-led, evening hike in the woods as we learn about owls.  The Owl Hoot Hike is scheduled for  Friday, March 1st from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm at Niquette Bay State Park  in Colchester, VT ( directions ). We suggest you bring a headlamp or flashlight, and please bring weather appropriate clothing as the temperature will drop after dark. Feel free to bring a snack, and we'll bring some hot cider to share. Please feel free to contact Sarah with questions and to  RSVP  at  events@lclt.org  or call 802-862-4150 x 4.

Growing Works of Art   A Contest for Students Grades 1-8 Jeremy Brotz Silver Maple Home School Grade 7 winner in 2012   Celebrate Vermont's Maple Trees Arbor Day is a day to plant, nurture and appreciate trees and the difference they make in our lives. To help us spread the word about Arbor Day, we are inviting students to actively participate in the celebration through the creation of tree art. To grow the works of art, students will choose a variety of maple (species Acer) that grows Vermont. There are many different kinds of maples that grow in Vermont naturally or intentionally planted. In fact, there are more maples in Vermont than any other species. This contest will highlight and celebrate their important to our state. To enter the contest students will draw their tree, identify the exact species, plus provide five unique things about that species of tree. This art/science activity will enrich student knowledge about trees an...