NorthWoods Stewardship Center

Great resource for the NorthEast Kingdom. They provided a forester to walk my land with me, at no cost to me, to advise me on how to best manage it. Also, works closely with the Green Mountain Club to support our volunteers. Great organization, easy to work with. Glad they are here in NEK.

Serving as an Americorps Education Volunteer in 2007, I was so inspired by Northwoods Stewardship Center. As a child, I had went to an outreach paddle when it was the Vermont Leadership Center. It made me want to get back and explore the Northeast Kingdom. The staff, board, and community are so invested in their landscape and lifestyle. In an area so rural, I was so happy to be surrounded by a community of people that are passionate learners and educators always trying to do their best and improve upon what they do, while keeping it creative and relative.

We encountered the NorthWoods Stewardship Center through a tourist publication and then found out about a book written by Luke O'Brien, who is the Trail Manager. The book introduced us to many detailed descriptions of hiking trails in the NorthEast Kingdom of Vermont. It made a huge difference to have this level of detail, and greatly enhanced our hiking experiences. We also learned about a Peak Challenge, and one summer completed it with the help and support of NorthWoods staff members. It turned out that we were the first to have completed it and as Canadians, we were quite proud of that. Last spring we met some young people who were staying at the NorthWoods Stewardship Center and they were canoeing up to Canada. Having met them there, we were able to make arrangements to meet them again in Canada. This is to say that NorthWoods is a meeting place and resource center for people who care about the environment and who seek to experience it in profound ways. We have also attended some educational event s at the center, and these also have enhanced our appreciation of the natural environment. The staff have always been extremely helpful to us, and have greatly enhanced our trips to Vermont. We have found a home away from home at the Center, and have told many of our friends about the wonderful work that is done there. We are glad to know that they have a presence in local schools, and enable local young people to learn about the natural world that surrounds them. We met a young boy on one of our canoe trips and he told us that he learned to canoe at NorthWoods: a great endorsement!

I accepted the invitation to this board because of the uniformly excellent reputation they have among all my environmentally oriented friends. They have a 25-year history of serving well the land use needs of a great many north woods communities through projects and education.

Northwoods Stewardship Center offers opportunities to the general public at minimal to no cost. We have used their cross-country ski trails, learned about different animal pelts with the lodge itself, enjoy the local musicians who have performed and taken several classes there such as the solar energy classes. The best things I feel they provide are programs to the youths in the area to experience nature in a respectful way while enjoying all of its beauty. Our youngest son went on the weeklong canoeing trip while I older son enjoyed the youth camping trip. This summer our oldest son worked on the Conservation Back Country Crew and describes it as an awesome experience. They worked the trails during the day and camp on them at night. Though it rain most of the time, he enjoy it immensely. It is a true asset to the community offering families the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and learn new things.

I am proud to be an Americorps volunteer here at NorthWoods. The landscape as well as the people are beautiful. The outreach programs, such as live music, full moon paddles, and hikes, are always super fun. The work that gets done by the trail crews is amazing (Especially the new cabin on Bald Mountain, open to the public for free!) The summer camps are top notch. I just love everything here.

Our connection with Northwoods goes way back. Every winter we use their beautiful trails for cross country skiing. Always a wonderful way to get outdoors on a beautiful day when our kids were learning to ski. Now we go with kids and grandkids. During the summer, we are there weekly for yoga classes. Northwoods provides a wonderful spacious area for our class--really a perfect setting as we look out on magnificent views of the pond and mountains beyond. Our grandson has enjoyed summer camp experiences at Northwoods which teach nature study/appreciation. Our daughter and son-in-law have had foster children. One, in particular, a city kid, went on a camping/canoe trip. It was a truly wonderful experience for her. Something she couldn't imagine doing beforehand. She made friends with fellow campers. The canoe trip gave her a real sense of accomplishment. My husband has taken the course in "The Game of Logging". The skills and knowledge not only has made him a better woodsman, but probably has saved his life. On the light side, we have enjoyed many evenings of musical entertainment at coffee houses which Northwoods provides to the community.

This organization serves the people of Northern Vermont in several ways:
1. The Land Management team helps home owners by providing planning and site management of forest lots that need logging or conservation. They perform this function for me, and are a real time- and money-saver.
2. The Conservation Corps team hires teenagers (ages 15 through 18) from the area, trains them to do forest conservation work and environmental conservation, and deploys teams of youth workers throughout New England.
3. The Education team provides summer camp education in the environment to children.

I have experienced all three aspects of these teams through work they have done for me, and education they have provided for my grandchildren.

I have hired crews from Northwoods to help with invasion plant eradication and have been very pleased with their hard work, enthusiasm, and conscientiousness. We accomplished more than I had set out to do.
Allen Y

NorthWoods Stewardship Center (NSC) fulfills many needs in this underserved area of Northeastern VT. The Conservation Corps not only provides jobs for local kids in the area, but teaches leadership, responsibility and a positive work ethic. In addition, there are a great variety of educational programs offered as well as the work of the Forest Stewardship Center. In a world where "connection" usually means to an electronic device, the NorthWoods experience provides a deeper more meaningful connection to nature and each other.

We were introduced to the original Leadership Center when our son's participated in hands-on learning opportunities with their primary schools...and being fans of Outward Bound and other such programs ourselves, we were very excited for them to experience similar outdoor experiences with such a wonderful program staff and setting here in the NEK...as our sons grew older, two of them were able to participate for several summers in the Kingdom Corp work experience and we believe this was life changing for both of them: climbing up local mountains daily carrying heavy hand tools to maintain and build trails, learning how to cooperate with and understand the variety of fellow group members, overnight camping out, preparing and presenting a conservation project at the end of the summer...it was awesome seeing our young sons develop their own self confidence and also appreciation for others and become aware of nature and their role in protecting it. Still today when we hike our area mountain trails our sons will point out "we built that" as we pass a still sturdy wooden or rock bridge, etc...
We can't say enough about what a GREAT role North Woods Stewardship Center plays in the NEK of VT!!

My daughter has attended North Woods several summers. It's a remarkable program. The kids all love it. It teaches love for the outdoors, teamwork and self-respect in an atmosphere of support and great fun. I've had experience with many camps, none better than North Woods.

The NorthWoods Stewardship does amazing work and helps young people love, appreciate and understand our world. Maria is wonderful and has taught our son so much and helped him be proud of his hard work and character. This is a fabulous organization!

Roe wrote: I was awe struck by the magnificent work that was done this summer on the trail around Lake Willoughby. The paths of mud were covered with well constructed, sturdy and lined up wooden planks, several newly planted rock stairs were formed to lead down to the water's edge. The trees along the lake are intricate and majestic as you observe their twisting and artistic trunks winding around each other or stretch out over a rock or snag to reach out to the sun for survival. I thank all of the workers on the trails for the care of the trails to purely enjoy.

My children attended Northwoods Stewardship Center summer camps for four years and one of them served as a junior counselor. The program is exceptional at an extremely low cost and provides a great service to the community. My family members are also avid hikers and much appreciate the tremendous efforts Northwoods has made in improving and maintaining the hiking trails in the NEK. When we first came to the NEK many of the trailheads were unmarked and trails were not well-maintained. The difference since Northwoods began their efforts is amazing. We are looking forward to hiking Bald Mountain to see the wonderful restoration on the fire lookout cabin, as well as the new history trail on the Northwoods site. We have also participated in their community activities, such as the full moon paddle, and if we lived full time in the NEK we would attend many more. I couldn't say enough wonderful things about this organization; they are an incredible service to a community that lacks few services of this caliber.

NorthWoods is one of the best non-profits I have worked with. In the past few years I've worked with a handful of conservation non-profits up and down the east coast, and NorthWoods Stewardship Center has by far been my favorite place. I worked with NorthWoods over the summer of 2012 for a few weeks doing canoe trips for kids in the NEK. They we're so well organized, laid back, knowledgeable, and just overall some of the most friendly people around. After each canoe trip I did with them, you could see the difference they made in the kids. They absolutely love what they do and they do it well. Anytime I wound up in the NEK, I would find myself pulling into NorthWoods just for a visit. Everything NorthWoods does for the NEK is so valuable, and I just wish more people knew what a great organization they are. A great place full of great people.

As a resident of the NEK, we have heard about NorthWoods for many years. Especially its highly motivated and dedicated staff who conduct "hands-on" activities about land management practices and other environmental issues for all ages living-in and visiting the NEK. When my wife and I were loking for an organization worthy of placement of some of our money, they were the natural choice (no pun intended!). We could not be more pleased with the way they are using the financial resource we provided to them. We have received great satisfaction from knowing that we have been a part of sustaining their 20-year history of providing worthwhile and necessary, community-centered, work and education.

I brought my 7 year old son to the Northwoods one week summer camp. He and I rented a cabin on nearby Crystal Lake and I drove him to camp each morning, enjoyed hiking and biking in the Northeast Kingdom, then had the supreme fun of picking him up each afternoon. The NorthWood staff were courteous, easygoing, and professional. We live in suburb around Boston and I wanted my son to have a true, rural experience for one week in the summer. In addition, he and I got to spend one week together traveling, eating meals together, and fishing. It was a slice of heaven.

I am a retired university professor who left a dynamic world class community to live on a farm at the end of the known universe. To my delight we have found an organization that rivals the best of conservation and natural resource organizations anywhere. I have worked closely with its talented and energetic staff to do basic science, community service and most important of all...outreach programs that enrich the lives of many people living in the north country. Because of the NorthWoods Stewardship Center a number of young people have found summer job opportunities, have chosen to go on to colleges and careers in public service, and have worked in the field to build a better place for all to live, work and play. It is a terrific organization

Tucked away on 1,350 acres of forests, streams, the Clyde River and beautiful Lake Seymour I discovered the most dedicated and talented staff of outdoor educators, forestry experts, environmental scientists, conservation corps leaders you likely to find anywhere. They make a real positive difference everyday to our environment and someone's appreciation and learning about it. They are there for you and the people you care about. Come visit them and see for yourself.

This is a part of the Northeast Kingdom that must be walked, skied, or paddled. For people who just want to take deep breaths and soak in the sounds and smells of nature, this is the place to be. For adults who long for a camp experience that will teach their children about the real outdoors, while learning in a safe environment, this is the place to visit. With talented outdoor educators and volunteer scientists, this non-profit is a state-of-the-art educational center when it comes to combining science-based activities and fun community outreach programs. Of course I am biased, but not just because I am an active board member and love the people who work here, it's because I grew up in this area, and after being away for 20 years, then coming back, I realized how important, and necessary an organization such as this is. We need NWSC to help us learn again the lost arts of nature-living, and must pass on this knowledge of being a careful and educated land steward. Hey, it also provided a summer job for my active, 6'3", 17 year old son! He was a crew member of this organization's Youth Conservation Corp. Fortunately, Northwoods was able to secure grants to pay local girls and boys for various types of outdoor work, including fixing VT trails to make them safe for all hikers. Offering this kind of work to young people is invaluable in an area that has the highest unemployment #'s in the state. However, keeping the funds coming to support Northwoods Stewardship Center is very difficult in an economically impoverished area where family farms are dying fast, and few kids stay to work the land. NorthWoods Stewardship Center has a great impact on our local families, and on our local environment - come visit & experience the naturally wild nature of the Northeast Kingdom of VT.

This nonprofit conservation and environmental ed. organization is located where the rivers flow north in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. A small but dedicated staff "connects people with nature through research, education and action." It's stewardship programs have helped us take care of our wooded acres in sustainable ways, a conservation corps which gives 80 youth in our area, age 14 and up, paying jobs making trails, clearing invasives, planting riparian areas, etc. -and among its summer camp offerings is an excellent science camp exposing students to field studies of small mammals, including bats (in our barn), among other cool things.