Vermont State Parks

This is a fun time of year to create artwork and crafts that celebrate the season. Using nature as an inspiration, we have found some cool art projects to decorate your home and help you get into the spirit of winter! Ice Suncatchers What you'll need: Natural items, a container, twine, freezing temperatures 1. Go outside and gather twigs, leaves, berries, pebbles or any other natural material you would like to include. 2. Fill a cake or pie tin with water and place the objects you found in the water. If you would like to hang your suncatcher, remember to include a piece of twine in the pan, placed halfway in and out of the water so it won't completely freeze. * To create different shapes, you can place a cookie cutter in the pan and place your objects inside the shape.  3. Let freeze outside overnight. Alternately, you can place the container in the freezer overnight.  4. When the pan has completely frozen, let it thaw for a few minutes or run under hot water to ...

With a fresh snowfall blanketing Vermont, it's a beautiful time to go outside, look for animal tracks in the snow, and take notice of the changing season. Before you head into the woods during this time of year, keep in mind that hunting season may be in progress. Hunting is an annual tradition for Vermonters and an important part of the state’s cultural heritage. Many people view hunting as a way to source their meat locally and build a relationship with the land. Hunting is allowed on all state lands, including State Parks, during the off-season. Though hunting season may be in full swing, the parks are still available for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, or skiing.  Please come and visit the parks, but remember to be cautious in the woods. Dress in blaze orange (dogs, too) and make yourself heard. You may be less likely to run into hunters at State Parks like Niquette Bay , Underhill , Knight Point , and Mt. Philo . When planning your hike, please note that hunte...

Photo by Krista Cheney From late September to December, the Vermont landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation from late summer’s verdant greens, to our stellar fall foliage, to bare trees and quieter woods. For Vermont residents, the time after the autumn leaves have fallen and before the first snowfall is often referred to as “Stick Season.” When you get outside during this time of year, you’ll see why: the trees, free of their leaves, look like sticks against the mid-fall sky. Some people see Stick Season as a chance to cozy up indoors, cook up some hearty fall dishes, and prepare to hibernate for the winter. Other people find this period to be particularly peaceful and rejuvenating and look forward to getting outside to enjoy all of the advantages of Vermont’s “sixth season.” There are lots of ways to gain an appreciation for Stick Season like raking up and then playing in a pile of crunchy fallen leaves or taking your kayak out for a tranquil paddle under a clear ...