FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE OF RELEASE: January 4, 2010
Contact: Russell Hirschler 802 649-9075

Mascoma River Greenway Coalition Completes Short Connector Trail to Northern Rail Trail

The Mascoma River Greenway Coalition, along with the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, the National Park Service Rivers & Trails Program, and the Lebanon Recreation & Parks Department are pleased to announce the completion of a short connector trail from Mascoma Street to the Northern Rail Trail. The trail leads from the sidewalk on Mascoma Street, near the Slayton Hill underpass and leads 60’ to connect with the Northern Rail Trail. From the Rail Trail, people can then walk, bike or ski safely to the High Street intersection on a separated pathway without having to battle with traffic.

This connector trail was initiated with funding from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC). They provided $1,975, but volunteers from the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail and donations from the City leveraged another $2,100 needed to match the NPS and RTC funds. “Several City departments contributed time and expertise to help make this trail a reality,” said Cindy Heath, Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Lebanon’s Recreation & Parks Department, “We were very pleased to see such support for the trail.” The Upper Valley Trails Alliance shouldered a great deal of the work, coordinating with contractors, the City and Alice Peck Day Hospital to help get this trail on the ground. “The Mascoma River Greenway project is directly in line with our vision of creating an accessible trail network in the Upper valley that promotes recreation, health, and alternative transportation in all four seasons. We are happy to lend our support and expertise to these kinds of community trail projects,” said Russell Hirschler, Executive Director of the Upper Valley Trails Alliance.

"The National Park Service is proud to support such capable partners and eager to continue contributing to the Mascoma River Greenway,” says Lelia Mellen. The Mascoma River Greenway Coalition was able to apply for these Challenge Cost Share funds because they are an active partner with the NPS Rivers and Trails Program. Eligible projects include those that are working with NPS on conservation and recreation projects along National Recreation Trails and rail trails.

The Mascoma River Greenway is envisioned as a 4-mile bicycle and pedestrian non-motorized, separated pathway connecting Lebanon with West Lebanon. Where possible the greenway will follow the Northern Rail Trail, but there might be places along this four mile corridor where the greenway will deviate away from the rail corridor and closer to the Mascoma River. The greenway corridor is currently being studied by Bob White and Associates to give the City and the Coalition an Action Plan of where the best location might be for the Mascoma River Greenway.

A grand opening for this connector trail will occur on Sunday, January 31, 1-3pm.

For more information contact: Cindy Heath, Special Projects Coordinator, City of Lebanon Parks and Recreation Department, Lebanon, NH 03766 (603) 448-5121

Key project contact:
Russell Hirschler (802) 649-9075 or Cindy Heath (603) 448-5121

Tour de Taste: Thank You!

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to ride the 2009 Tour de Taste! It was a great day full of tasty food, beautiful views, and nice weather.

THANK YOU to the many UVTA volunteers and Board members for giving your time and effort.

THANK YOU to all the farms, restaurants, businesses, and individuals listed below for providing the amazing array of food and locations for the Tour.

THANK YOU to the generous Tour de Taste sponsors:

• Lake Sunapee Bank
• Ledyard National Bank
• Mascoma Savings Bank
• Martha Diebold Real Estate

• Acheson Family
• Aloha Camp
• Boloco of Hanover
• Cedar Circle Farm
• Co-op Food Stores
• Corson/Schneider Family
• Crossroad Farm
• Fogg’s Hardware
• Friends of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center
• GIS/GPS Mapping
• Grafton Village Cheese Co.
• Heron Graphic Arts
• Hulbert Outdoor Center
• Isabel’s Café
• King Arthur Flour
• Lake Morey Resort
• Lebanon Recreation & Parks
• Leda's Pizza Restaurant
• Local Police Departments
• Long Wind Farm
• Palmer Farm
• Perfect Pear Café
• Peyton Place Restaurant
• Poverty Lane Orchards
• Redmond Rd. Neighbors
• Riverbend Farm
• River Valley Farm
• Rivendell Trails Association
• Samuel Morey Elem. School
• Stella’s Restaurant
• Super Acres
• Town of Fairlee
• Upper Valley Ambulance
• Upper Valley Humane Society
• Vermont Brownie Company
• Vermont Udder Delight
• Whippi Dip
• Your Farm

Tour de Taste: A Pedaling Picnic
Sunday, September 13, 2009, 10:00am
Fairlee, Vermont

View Tour Map!

Like to eat? Like to ride? Join us for our very popular, scenic, progressive pedaling picnic through the Connecticut River Valley. Enjoy the autumn foliage and beautiful scenery at your own pace, meet local food producers and community members, and stop at local farms and restaurants along the way to taste delicious harvest bounty.

Now in its third year, the Tour de Taste is more appetizing than ever! New this year are: a stop at Stella's Restaurant in Lyme; a longer River Road Extension route option; and by popular request, a safer, family-friendly ride around Lake Morey that avoids Route 5. Please see below for information on other new features this year as well as a synopsis of the three routes (when registering you will be required to identify which route you will be riding).

For your convenience and safety, we provide detailed route maps, directions, and support vehicles. Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 13, 2009 and register now for this popular UVTA event - enrollment is limited and will fill fast!

Your registration includes an incredible menu of locally-produced foods. Depending on your chosen route, you’ll enjoy:

• Homemade breads with Super Acres blueberries and Crossroad Farm zucchini
• Vegetable soup made by Perfect Pear Café with Cedar Circle Farm vegetables
• King Arthur Flour bread
• Whippi Dip barbeque or Boloco burritos (vegetarian option)
• Vermont Brownie Company brownies; Vermont Udder Delight Ice Cream ice cream
• Tabouleh salad with Long Wind Farm tomatoes and Crossroad Farm vegetables
• Poverty Lane apples and Grafton Village Cheese Company cheddar*
• Stella’s Restaurant pizza*
• Leda’s Pizza Restaurant pizza*
• Your Farm heirloom veggies*
• River Valley Farm sweet corn*

*Some offerings vary by route. Please see the full menu on the registration page for details.

Choose from three great rides!

• Lake Morey Loop

  We have redesigned our Lake Morey Loop for families with young cyclists, new cyclists, or for those who want a very leisurely bike ride around the lake. 6 miles. Easy. Avoids Route 5 completely. 2 short hills. Minimal auto traffic. Road support. Enjoy several stops along the way, so you can take your time, rest, and relax. You can even take a short hike on one of our local treasures, the Rivendell Trail! Includes delicious food provided by local producers. And, be sure to save room for dessert back at the school!

• Tour de Taste Classic Loop *UPDATED*

  Our most popular route has a new look for 2009! Travel the scenic Connecticut River Valley in this 20-mile loop. Moderate. Some secondary roads, some state highways. Road support. Visit scenic stops in North Thetford, Lyme, Orford, and Fairlee while you enjoy plenty of delicious food that showcases many local producers, including Stella’s Restaurant pizza!

• River Road Extension *NEW*

  An extension of our very popular Classic Loop, this 34-mile ride is designed for those who want a bit more mileage. Moderate, with a few more hills than our Classic, but with an additional stop to refresh yourself while you admire a spectacular, long view of the river. Includes state routes and secondary roads. Road support. Fortify yourself with great food along the way, of course!

All routes start and finish at the Samuel Morey Elementary School in Fairlee VT. In addition to the menu items (included in the registration fee), riders will have an opportunity to shop for and purchase goods at select food stops, which will be delivered back to the school at the end of the day. All cyclists enjoy a sweet treat at the end of the ride!

Please note: The Tour de Taste will run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and will be held rain or shine. Riders must check in at Samuel Morey Elem. School by 11:00 am.

Be sure to check back for details about the ride, the local producers, the menu, and more.

We have loads of volunteer opportunities available for the Tour. If you would like to volunteer and ride, please sign up using the "volunteer" ticket type. If you want to volunteer and are not interested in riding, please contact Kari Speer at .

Sponsors for 2009 include:

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

The Time Has Come for the Upper Valley Loop Trail

Letter to the Valley News, June 6, 2009

To the Editor:

In the recent weeks there have been a number of letters in this forum discussing the new bike lanes in Norwich coming up to town from the Ledyard Bridge as well as possible extension of the Northern Rail Trail from Lebanon to West Lebanon and the Westboro Railyard. These are just a few of the projects happening in the Upper Valley that will improve trail connectivity and muscle powered transport routes.

The early founders and staff of the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA) shared a vision for an Upper Valley Loop Trail that connects the four communities of Hanover and Lebanon, NH & Hartford and Norwich, VT. For 10 years the idea surfaced and resurfaced, only to fall by the wayside. In early 2009, UVTA re-launched the initiative and has made it an organizational priority going forward. We have convened a steering committee and have brought trails, bike & pedestrian, and conservation representatives of the four towns together to help guide the process.

Initially the primary Loop Trail will be a signed and mapped on-road route using the existing infrastructure as well as new and slated roadway projects (the Norwich bike lane project is an example). The Loop Trail will also provide some great off road options using existing alternatives for hiking, walking, or biking. In the future UVTA and the Steering Committee will work with town and state officials, trail managers, and private landowners to further improve the Loop Trail by looking for additional connections within and into the Loop Trail with the long range vision of creating an integrated connected network of multi-modal trails for all towns, communities and residents of the Upper Valley that will provide corridors for recreation, transportation, education, and community health.

We have set up a blog on our website called Roots, Rocks, & Mud to solicit feedback from the community. Please visit and share your thoughts at http://uvtrails.wordpress.com/.

Russell Hirschler
Executive Director
Upper Valley Trails Alliance

Local Nonprofit’s Program Working with Upper Valley Students to Reverse Unhealthy Trends

May 14, 2009

Recently released data indicate that Upper Valley students became more physically active this past winter thanks to a unique program administered by the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA). The nonprofit group brought their nationally recognized “Passport to Winter Fun” program to some 3,000 local students in 25 schools. Of the elementary school-aged children who completed the program, 79% indicated they were more active because of the Passport program.

The “Passport to Winter Fun” offers healthful incentives (such as free ski passes) to encourage children to accomplish 30 days of physical activity over the course of a six-week time period. Children who complete the Passport also receive a t-shirt and certificate to acknowledge their accomplishments. The incentive passes and grand prizes are donated by local partners who agree that promoting children’s health is a priority. Data was collected from the students at both the beginning and end of the six-week time frame.

With assistance from the Hood Center for Children and Families, the UVTA discovered that not only are children who participate exercising more (on average, a half day more per week), they are also trying new activities. The student’s responses indicate that the Passport to Winter Fun has a positive impact on reversing the growing trend of childhood obesity and the continuing disconnect between children and nature in the Upper Valley Region.

The UVTA began the program in 2007 under the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Active Living by Design Grant program as a way to engage families in outdoor activities during long Upper Valley winters. “The idea is to get children to start practicing healthy habits at a young age to foster a lifetime love of being active- especially outdoors,” says Russell Hirschler, Executive Director of the UVTA.

Since the program’s inception the UVTA has worked to increase the number of families they reach each year as well as to raise the number who participate and make it to 30 days of activity. This year, 27% of students completed the Passport compared to 22% the previous year, and 11% in 2007. In addition to reaching more children in the future, the UVTA is also working on other plans to expand the program to multiple seasons and developing an online version of the Passport.

Another encouraging piece of news to come from the data is that more students exercised with their families. By the end of the program, the percentage of students who did activity with a family member rose by 9%. Hirschler believes that the increased family participation may be a result of the UVTA offering a “family prize” to students who did at least 20 of their 30 days of activity with a family member. This year’s family prize was a compass, which Hirschler hopes will encourage families to explore the Upper Valley’s many trails.

The Passport program would not be possible without the generous support of UVTA’s major funders, the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation, the Ottauquechee Health Foundation, and the Byrne Foundation. In addition, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company has provided hundreds of their 20-inch Save the Bears® Polar Bear over the past few years and CCBA, Colby-Sawyer Hogan Sport Center, Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center, Dexter's Inn Trails by Norsk, Eastman Cross Country Ski Center, Farm-Way, Grantham Indoor, Hartford Municipal Arena, Ragged Mountain Resort, Suicide Six Ski Area, Systems Plus Computers, Union Arena, Whaleback, Wilderness Trails, and Woodstock Inn and Resort Nordic Center all provided incentive prizes.

The Upper Valley Trails Alliance is a charitable 501c(3) non profit organization. UVTA advocates for the use, maintenance, and development of trails in the region. Through education, outreach & stewardship we connect people and places through a regional trail network, lead a coalition of local trail groups and advocates, and promote active lifestyles through trail use in all seasons.

Trails Day a Great Success

Thanks to a lot of trails enthusiasm and great weather, the 11th Annual Upper Valley Trails Day was a wonderful success. Over 650 people participated in 17 events held throughout the valley. Over 160 trail volunteers worked to get trails ready for the summer season and hundreds of community members and visitors to the area enjoyed some great trail outings. Thanks to all the event organizers for their valuable help.

Chippers and Forest Savers Pitch In to Link Equestrian Trails

In celebration of National Trails Day on June 6th Woodstock companies Chippers and Forest Savers donated equipment and man-hours to assist in a Green Mountain Horse Association trail clearing project. Chippers, headed by Will Russell and Forest Savers, owned by Gerry Hawkes specialize in forest management and land and trail enhancement. They assisted GMHA volunteers in clearing a key connector trail on property in South Woodstock owned by Tom and Jennifer Eddy.

The Eddy’s trail system – which is preserved in perpetuity under the Vermont Land Trust – is part of an approximate 800-mile system in the greater Woodstock area that is accessible by GMHA pleasure and competitive riders.

Part of the existing trail system was opened in 1926 when GMHA was founded. Riders are able to enjoy the trail system because of the continued generosity of landowners who permit trail use on their property. Some landowners also permit additional passive recreational use for cross country skiers, hikers and snowmobile riders.

GMHA’s Trails Coordinator Deborah Donahue works with landowners to assure their trail-use directives are met. She oversees trail maintenance projects and represents GMHA members on the local, regional and state levels as necessary.

GMHA, a 65-acre landowner in South Woodstock, recognizes the importance of land and trail preservation. The organization’s motto is protecting the present and securing the future, which applies to continuing its equine program operation as well as trail and land preservation. A new Trails Endowment Fund provides donors the security of knowing their gifts will be directed towards the trails preservation.

GMHA is the oldest continuously operating horse association in the United States. Founded in 1926, GMHA is a non-profit organization committed to equestrian sports, education and trail preservation. For more information, contact GMHA, at 802 457-1509, or visit the web site at www.gmhainc.org.

Upper Valley Trails Alliance’s Eleventh Annual Trails Day Celebration

SATURDAY JUNE 6, 2009

Complete Trails Day events listing

Download a poster of the event (2 MB).
Download a poster of the event with space to write the name of your organization (2.1 MB).

Join more than one million hikers, bikers, equestrians, and others taking part in more than 3,000 events nationwide to celebrate America’s trails on the first Saturday of June, designated National Trails Day. Events throughout the Upper Valley, and across the country, include new trail dedications, workshops, educational exhibits, equestrian and mountain bike rides, trail maintenance, and hikes on favorite trails.

The history of National Trails Day originates with the 1987 report of the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, which recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. That recommendation, dubbed “Trails for All Americans”, was the impetus behind a public/private collaboration organized by the American Hiking Society to launch a National Trails Day® in 1993. Fifteen years later, an irrefutable body of evidence has been amassed in support of including trails as an integral part of our national health policy.

One of the unifying ideas and a long-range goal of National Trails Day is to actualize the concept of “Trails for All Americans”, to establish a nationwide network of trails that would link together as part of the nation’s infrastructure of greenways, much like the interstate highway system. However, the more immediate objectives of National Trails Day include promoting public awareness of and appreciation for America’s 200,000 miles of trails, and encouraging cooperative efforts among different trail users (hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, walkers, runners and anyone else who enjoys being on the trail).

In addition, this day is an opportunity to thank the many people and partners for their support and hard work in creating and maintaining our nation’s trails, including volunteers, private land owners who allow public access to trails on their land, public and private agencies, and outdoor minded businesses. For the past ten years, the Upper Valley Trails Alliance has been working to bring people together to make and keep trails available in the Upper Valley. The Rivendell Trail Association, Cardigan Highlanders, Upper Valley Mountain Bike Association, Green Mountain Horse Association, Wright’s Mountain Stewardship Committee, Hanover Conservation Council, and the Green Mountain Club are just a few of the many local organizations that sponsor trail activities throughout the Upper Valley. Bring your family and friends to one of the many trail celebrations in the Upper Valley!

Click here for a complete Trails Day events listing.

Spring 2009 Newsletter

The Spring newsletter is out! Click here to download.

Cardigan Highlanders Reflect on 2008 Trails Season and Prepare for 2009

The Cardigan Highlanders Volunteer Trail Crew worked for over 375 hours last year while tending to trail maintenance on Mount Cardigan, Mount Kearsarge, and Mount Sunapee. Trails would become deep gullies if it were not for dedicated volunteers helping to shed runoff away from the trails and hardening the treadway when regular trail use warrants such measures. Crew Chief, Craig Sanborn, shares the groups accomplishments in their Annual Report, thanks those who gave of their time and skills, and asks that you consider being part of the 2009 volunteer trail crew. Contact Craig at crgsnbrn@yahoo.com.

Fall 2008 Newsletter

The Fall newsletter is out! Click here to download.

Explore King Arthur Trail

Click here for a trail map.

Upper Valley Trails Alliance celebrated the official opening of King Arthur Trail on September 27th. Come walk, run, hike or bike along this multi-modal non-motorized trail - a safe and enjoyable route to the new athletic fields in Norwich. Thanks to everyone that helped to make this new community trail possible.

Special thanks to: landowners Frank & Brinna Sands, King Arthur Flour Co. (including Steve Voigt, Joe Malpino, Allison Furbish, Paula Gray and KAF employees) and Dresden School District (including Wayne Gersen, Jonathan Brush, and Dresden School Board and their representative John Chamberlin); Vermont Youth Conservation Corps John Leddy and energetic VYCC Roving Crew 3; trail visionaries Jamie Hess, Wally Elton, Heather Toulmin and UVTA founders; project support provided by Norwich Trails Committee (grant support), Jonathan Frishtick (mapping), and TimberHomes LLC (kiosk); and the many community trail crew volunteers, including Dartmouth’s Allwin Initiative at Tuck. Project funding by VYCC’s Transportation Enhancement Program, Vermont Recreation Trails Program, UVTA’s LLBean Trail Stewardship Fund, and Trails Alliance members like you for making this possible.

Trails Connect: Getting it on the Ground

On March 27th over 100 people filled the Lebanon City Council Chambers and adjacent meeting rooms ready to engage in Trails Connect, a public forum that will help to shape the creation of a Regional Trail System throughout the Upper Valley. Based on the overwhelming interest, energy and comments expressed at the Trails Connect forum it was obvious there is a very strong desire to have a safe and more connected system of trails throughout the Upper Valley. The Upper Valley Trails Alliance given the namdate to lead this movement.

Volunteers representing a cross-section of the community served as moderators for a variety of breakout sessions. An action plan was created by our facilitator, Jeff Olson, from Alta Planning + Design and will be implemented in the coming months (for full text of the action plan please visit our website at uvtrails.org). Some key priorities that were identified include: Using the many past studies for an Upper Valley Loop Trail along with recent trail mapping work we completed last year and begin to put it on the ground. There might be opportunities to improve the Loop Trail in the future but Trails Connect participants expressed, “It’s time to get it done”. Expanding the Northern Rail Trail and looking for more connections across the Connecticut River were also identified as priorities.

Do you want to help get the trail on the ground? Send your contact information to , UVTA’s Trail Programs Director, to be included in Trails Connect mailings.

31 Flavors of Trails…What is your favorite flavor?

By Bob White

For most of my life I have hiked New England trails, the narrow, straight - up paths that may have been were the result of the practical Yankees – the straightest path gets you there sooner, and the puritanical yearning for deliverance, by which a hiker, bathed in sweat and exhaustion, was granted deliverance from eternal damnation. As a young adult, working for the AMC – RMC and Mt. Monadnock Trail Crews, I came to view the damnation of the fall - line trail in a different light – those old trails were an eternal curse. Eroded into 6’ deep gullies, trails like South Twin, Osgood, Lions Head, the Mahoosucs and many others required hundreds of person - hours and tons of rock and logs to stabilize in the 1970’s and 80’s, and still need work again, barely two decades later. Not long in geological history. Those same kinds of trails abound in our own Upper Valley through many communities. In fact, many of our local community trails - occurred more accident than by design, and now require more maintenance than we can muster.

25 years later, in my work in trail design, those old style trails of traditional NE are a practice no more – the desire to create trails that fit more sensitively into the landscape, require less intensive and expensive maintenance, and “lay lightly on the land” are the new way. I have also come to believe that all trails are not equal in their use and design. The recreational public, as well as land managers understand that trails can be designed with different users in mind and therefore achieve different but still valuable ends. Borrowing from the original designs of Frederick Law Olmsted’s work in America’s great parks we now work from a menu of trail types: trail flavors you might say, and this article is a brief primer on what that menu might look like as we consider trail futures in the Upper Valley.

Hiking Trails

The hiking trails of the 21’st century follow the contours of the land, while still borrowing the techniques of rock steps and stone cribbing and rock bars for steeper ascents and still offer challenge and rugged terrain, but never re-created the “trail as power line”. These trails might still scale dramatic heights and access fantastic and challenging topography, but can be better maintained and enjoyed.

Walking Paths

The original parks of Olmsted created paths of the ladies in long dresses, and wandered through the parkland on moderate grades - say between 5-10% max. causing more “mist” than sweat, with some removal of rugged obstacles and trip hazards to create a strolling path more for enjoyment than just exercise.

ADA Trails

A further variation of the walking path is the ADA path, built more rigorously to criteria as defined by the Federal Access Board. Surfaced with materials to create a “form and stable surface typically hardpack gravel, with running grades of 5%, 8% and even 10% for limited sections – these trails are a whole new art form and technology in trail design and construction. Go to johndillonpark.org for an Adirondack example. ADA trails will be more and more a part of the Upper Valley trail lexicon, as future public recreational trail develop must integrate some level of ADA accessibility for new trails. Old trails are grandfathered.

Single-track adventure mtn. bike and ski trails

A variation of hiking trails without stone steps are the narrow curves and width of trails such as one finds in parts of the Boston Lot and parts of Oak Hill. Goodwin Park and Farnum Hills feature several of this type of ski trail. Please note: mountain biking is not permitted in Goodwin Park or Farnum Hill.

Recreational mtn. bike and ski trails trails

The trails of Bob Greene’s, and the Billings park feature trails of various grades and challenge with trails graded into the hillsides or taking advantage of snow cover for the trail surface.

Rail Trail conversions

The reclamation of old railroad beds such as the Northern Rail Trail, the old Wells River – Montpelier RR (Now the Cross VT Trail) offer highly accessible routes for multi -purpose four -season travel.

Shared use trails

Originally called “bike paths” and designed to higher transportation engineering standards, shared use paths like the Hartford bike path from Dothan Brook and Wilder Village. These paths are designed for use by both bicycles and pedestrians with safety and mobility in mind.

If you want to experience this type of trail variety, I highly recommend a visit to Acadia National Park in Maine. With the Olmsted inspired system there, the Acadia trail hierarchy ranges fro the wide gravel carriage roads that accommodate millions of bike, equestrian and pedestrian travelers, moderate village walking paths through the nearby forests, the highly crafted hiking trails with gorgeous stone masonry that scale the mtn. heights and cliffs, and the reclusive paths along mossy glens in the lesser traveled reaches of the park. From a management strategy the system is ingenious – provide for a variety of use, build long lasting trails that will endure, accommodate the masses while still creating solitude and solace. A scaled - down version of this arrangement can be found at the MT. Tom reserve in Woodstock.

Another place to visit is the recently completed trail system at MT. Independence State historic site at Orwell on Lake Champlain. New trails there accommodate ADA access for almost 2.5 miles with interpretive signage and overlooks.

As you hike locally think of how these ranges of trail types could better fit the landscape of the Upper Valley and their uses that trails might serve our communities in the future. Think trail flavors - ola!!!

Annual Meeting Scheduled for June 25, 2008

Please join us on Wednesday, June 25th for the 9th Annual Meeting of the Upper Valley Trails Alliance at the Community Room of the Norwich Public Library. Doors open at 5:30 with some light refreshments and networking. Business meeting and election of new officers starts at 6. We will adjourn by 7:30. Please join us.

Improved Member Benefits

In our continuing effort to improve the experiences of our members and supporters, UVTA will roll out a series of improved member benefits this summer. New member benefits will include reduced registration fees for UVTA events, discounts at areas businesses, and early notification of Trails Alliance events. UVTA also plans to roll out a new benefits program for partner/organizational members as well as a corporate/business sponsorship program. So stay tuned! Is it time to renew your membership? If you have not renewed your membership for 2008, please do so now. Thanks.

Snow Goose, Snowshoe Hare, Winter Fox, Polar Bear

2007-2008 Winter Passport program yields great success.

The endearing possibility of receiving one of 350 cuddly white Polar Bears, generously donated by Vermont Teddy Bear Co., caught the attention of elementary school children and their families participating in our 2008 Passport to Winter Fun program. Excitement over these cute bears, coupled with some great snow conditions blanketing the Upper Valley’s winter landscape, resulted in many families heading outdoors for some great winter fun.

This year we had almost twice as many children becoming Polar Bear Achievers as last year. Vibrant blue Polar Bear Achiever T-shirts were earned and awarded to 550 Polar Bear Achievers, children being active for at least one hour for 30 days during the 6 week program. Another 300 T-shirts were awarded to family members that were active with their “Polar Bear Achievers” for at least 20 days. Children really enjoyed having the chance to award a family member; several mentioned the best thing they liked about the program was “getting outside more with their family” and “filling in the Passport’s family star”.

Special thanks to Eastern Mountain Sports, Dartmouth Outing Club’s X-Country Ski Center and Lebanon Best Buy for donating Grand Prize Raffles of Tubb’s Snowshoes, 2008-09 Dartmouth X-Country Ski Center Season’s Pass and a Nano Ipod for participating students.

Congratulations to all participants that took a healthful choice and stayed active this winter.