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Hot Tips for Cold Weather: Off-Season Park Use and Hunting Season

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“Can I still go into a park that’s closed for the season?”  This is the most common question we get during the fall and winter months. The short answer is “yes!” Staff have gone home, and parks are officially closed for the year, but late fall has a start beauty all its' own, and the off season is a great time to visit - for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, or even a late season picnic. 

Schedule your fall field trip to a Vermont State Park today!

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Educators, take your students outside this fall for a fun, interactive, hands-on educational field trip in a state park. There is no cost for these educational programs, you just pay an entrance fee of $0.50 per person. Guided field trip experiences are available at: Branbury State Park in Salisbury Groton State Forest in Groton Jamaica State Park in Jamaica Little River State Park in Waterbury Mt. Ascutney State Park in Windsor Quechee State Park in Quechee Experienced Park Interpreters will design an experience to fit in your curriculum. Some available topics include: Forest Ecology Tree and Plant Identification Benthic Macroinvertebrates Ancient and recent cultural history Civilian Conservation Corps history Predator-Prey Relationships Geology   Mammals of Vermont Or request your own topic.   Please contact Rebecca Roy, Interpretive Program Manager, for more information or to book your field trip today: Rebecca.roy@vermont.gov More information is availab

July Flood 2024 State Parks Status Updates

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Post last updated at 08/26/24 at 9:00 AM The only park affected by the flashing flooding on 7/30/24 was Brighton State Park. The park is fully reopened on Wednesday, August 7th. Roads were damaged in the park, locally in the town, as well as the nearby state highway. Park staff have contacted affected reservations.  All parks affected by the July 11 flood have reopened, although 3 parks still have reduced operations. This page will be regularly updated as more information is made available and road repairs are made. Swimwater results are current . Swim areas are posted when there is an increased risk of impaired water quality. For water monitoring results outside of Vermont State Park swimming areas, check out the Vermont Department of Health Cyanobacteria Tracker Map . Parks in the NE part of Vermont bore the brunt of the storm.  Park visitors with affected reservations have been contacted by the parks.  We apologize for this inconvenience. Our priority is to protect the health and

Second Planning Meeting: North Hero State Park Plans Improvements to the Day Use Experience

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NORTH HERO, VT (7/17/24) – The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is holding a second public meeting to present plans for improvements to North Hero State Park, located in North Hero, Vermont.   The meeting will be held from 5:30 pm to 7 pm on August 8, 2024, at Knight Point State Park.   The revisioning of North Hero State Park proposes improvements to the day-use experience, including accessibility, safety, and stormwater management improvements, while removing infrastructure and revegetating areas that supported previous campground operations.   P roposed improvements continue to include:   Reconfigur ing the park entrance area to better meet the needs of day users, with 13 parking spaces, including two accessible parking spaces, bus parking, and additional established green space. This parking area will be maintained in the winter to increase recreational opportunities year-round.     Increasing accessibility and safety in the park through the conversion of

“Pints for Parks” returns to honor & support Vermont State Parks’ 100th Anniversary at Camp Plymouth

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" Brewing up adventure” has long been the motto for Whetstone Beer Co ., and that spirit of adventure continues with Whetstone Beer’s recent acquisition by North Chair Brewing, LLC. The new ownership is excited to continue the Pints for Parks project, a partnership benefiting Vermont State Parks through Vermont Parks Forever, the foundation for Vermont State Parks. Pints for Parks kicks off the 100 th Anniversary of Vermont State Parks at Camp Plymouth State Park on June 29 th and 30 th where a new release will be available, the Golden Hour Helles Lager, both on draught and in special edition State Parks 100 th Anniversary label cans.   Pints for Parks is a collaboration between Whetstone Beer and Vermont State Parks. In years past, Whetstone has focused on a different State Park to create a unique, limited-edition beer celebrating a specific park. This year we are celebrating the entire state parks system given the yearlong nature of the centennial event, and a whole new

Collect Fun Stamps in New Parks Passport

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Discover the beauty of Vermont State Parks with the Parks Passport! Perfect for documenting your adventures, this 4" x 6"  booklet features 64 pages with blank spaces to record the park name, visit date, personal notes, and a spot for a specially designed park stamp.  With 49 participating parks to explore, your passport will be a cherished keepsake of your journeys.  Make sure to visit each park and collect every uniquely designed stamp at the contact station! How can you join the adventure? Purchase a passport the next time you go to a participating park to start your journey! All parks in the passport program sell copies of the passport except for Burton Island State Park, Green River Reservoir State Park, and Molly's Falls Pond State Park. You can also order a copy online for $5 plus shipping and handling. Purchase a Parks Passport online . Looking to get a head start on your passport? Visit day-use parks for FREE this weekend during  Vermont Days  on June 8th and 9th

Celebrate Vermont Days with Free Entrance to Vermont State Parks and State Historic Sites  

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  MONTPELIER, Vt. – As part of Vermont Days, t he State of Vermont is offering free admission to Vermont State Parks and Vermont State Historic Sites on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 , 202 4 .   “ Vermont Days is a great way to explore Vermont , enjoy the warmer weather, and try something new this summer. We’re offering free admission to Vermont State Parks and State Historic Sites all weekend long,” said Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Heather Pelham.       The V ermont State Park system turns 100 years old this year. Celebrate Vermont Days by visiting one of Vermont's 55 state parks.     “ W e want to hear from our loyal Vermont State Park fans about what parks mean to them, and we're eager to welcome new visitors who haven't typically visited state parks before , ” said State Parks Director Nate McKeen . Mckeen also encourages people to join the anniversary celebration during Vermont Days and beyond . “ Share your parks stories, plan