Vermont State Parks

The view from Owl's Head Overlook This guest blog is by Matt Parsons, longtime photography intern, writer and avid parks explorer. Check out more of his adventures at his blog The Adventurers . I was 5 or 6 years old when our family bought our first camper. My first State Park memory is from Ricker Pond in Groton, Vermont. It was a spontaneous trip without reservations. As I recall, we could have site 8, provided that we could get the camper into the rather awkward place. Site #8 is a prime site by the pond and pavilion. My dad cork screwed our 23’ camper on to the site by going around the small camping loop in the opposite direction, thus setting himself up for a somewhat straight, but perfect landing. My dad was a hero! Two kids and a dog in a paddleboat To me, the whole world was in our backyard to explore. Behind us was a marsh that I could catch salamanders by day   and fall asleep to frogs by night. The beach was just steps away and I played there until I was water logged...

Jerry helps direct the large group of volunteers Jerry Prevost, sophomore dean at St. Johnsbury Academy, challenges his students to do more for the community and the outdoors. As freshman, students at the academy perform community service in the St. Johnsbury area. Once they became sophmores, Jerry wanted their experience to be further from home. "We wanted students to think more about stewardship of the Earth and Groton came to mind". Jerry continues that many of his students live near and use Vermont State Parks and with summer just around the corner, it seemed a timely opportunity for the students to help an organization that in turn protects undeveloped land and educates on some of Vermont's greatest natural resources. Special touches by the volunteers helped to make the parks even better On April 29th, Jerry along with over 175 students and faculty traveled the short distance to Groton State Forest where the group helped out Kettle Pond , Ricker Pond , Bou...

Foliage is starting to look good in Northern Vermont - here are some great parks for early fall foliage viewing and fun stuff to do in the surrounding areas: Smugglers' Notch State Park, Stowe, VT: Hike Mt. Manfield, VT's highest peak; Take a gondola ride up the mountain; Drive up Mt. Mansfield's Auto Road ; Bike Ride on the Stowe Bike Path ; Check out British Invasion Car Show Weekend; Visit the Boyden Valley Winery ; Visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill ; Take a tour of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory . Brighton State Park, Island Pond, VT: Try a stay in a cozy cabin ; Bring your own boat, and paddle on Island Pond , or rent one and paddle on Spectacle Pond, Check out the Northeast Kingdom's Foliage Festival ; participate in North Woods Stewardship Center's Foliage Bike Ride; Hike at Lake Willoughby ; Paddle the Clyde River ; Visit the Silvio Conte NWR . New Discovery/Osmore Pond State Park Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT Stay in a remote lean-to on Os...