Celebrate MLK Jr. National Day of Service
January 16, 2023
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is; What are you doing for others?” -MLK Jr.
Today is MLK Day and a National Day of Service. Not only do we celebrate King’s legacy and reflect on his powerful contributions to our nation. We honor his memory by serving our community today and throughout the year. Kingdom Trails share’s Dr. King’s vision and urgency to act through service to others, his example is our call to action. We build trails to connect people and wish to share this community with everyone.
In a 1968 sermon, Dr. King shared “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Service, through volunteering, is a wonderful way to be part of the Kingdom Trails community! It is an opportunity to work alongside our local community members and staff as we cultivate growth within ourselves. These opportunities help contribute to the KT mission and uplift our core values that define KT in our shared community. Throughout the year, Kingdom Trails holds events that rely on volunteer support for success. Alongside events, KT offers two unique volunteer programs that invites everybody and anybody to participate:
- Volunteer Ambassadors:
through engagement and education, KT Ambassadors serve to advise trail users on KT policies to protect our community, landowners and precious natural resources. By utilizing the Ride With Gratitude code of conduct as a standard for a common understanding and respectful behavior, Ambassadors work to encourage a culture of respect while on trail, and play an integral role within the Kingdom Trails culture. Volunteer Ambassadors can serve each weekend
(Friday-Sunday)
throughout the summer season, beginning in June. Visit the volunteer tab on the
KT website to sign up for weekend shifts! You also get a pretty cool shirt ;)
- Volunteer Trail Work Days: through education and comradery, trail work days bring community members and groups together to get a sense of how trails at KT are possible. Utilizing trail building techniques, volunteers work with the KT Trail Crew to either continue work on a new trail, or complete maintenance on an existing trail. From individual community members to groups from around the country, anyone is welcome to participate! Work days are hosted on the last Saturday of each month during the summer season, from 8:30am-12pm. In 2023, these dates are: 04/29, 05/27, 06/24, 07/29, 08/26, 09/30, 10/28 (dates subject to change). Afterwards, the KT staff share in community and thanks with seltzers (and sometimes pizza!) with all volunteers!
Volunteers for events are recruited on a by-needed basis. To add your name to our volunteer mailing list, contact KT at
info@kingdomtrails.org. In 2023, look out for volunteer perks based on the number of hours served at KT! We are so thankful for all who volunteer with us, and we hope these perks speak to the gratitude we have for all of you.
Sources:
The history behind MLK Day, and how you can celebrate it -
https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/martin-luther-king-jr-day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service -
https://www.aascu.org/programs/ADP/MLKDay/
MLK Jr. Memorial, DC New Paragraph
Canadian Community Month Offers Below Kingdom Trails Kingdom Trails is a world-renowned, community-supported trail network at the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, built through long-standing landowner partnerships and careful stewardship. It remains the central hub of the region’s mountain biking community. As part of Canadian Community Month, Canadian visitors are welcomed with special membership access and benefits designed to make visiting more accessible. Offers: Canadian dollars accepted at par for annual and day memberships purchased in-person at the Kingdom Trails Welcome Center Canadian annual members receive a complimentary guest day membership to share during their visit Canadians who purchased day memberships earlier this season may upgrade to annual memberships at par, with the amount already paid in USD credited toward the upgrade Burke Mountain Resort Burke Mountain Hotel offers 116 rooms and suites with slopeside access and direct connection to both Burke Bike Park and Kingdom Trails. Guests enjoy bike-in/bike-out convenience, on-site dining at The View Pub, and mountain-facing rooms overlooking Willoughby Gap and Burke Mountain. Burke Bike Park is a lift-served mountain bike destination featuring 24 trails across 25 miles of terrain, 10 lift-served routes, and 2,115 feet of vertical drop. The trail network spans a full range of riding, from beginner-friendly flow to advanced technical descents, all built into the natural contours of Burke Mountain. Riders can cruise the lower mountain’s flowy berms and progressive features, or head higher into more challenging terrain with natural, rocky trails and purpose-built technical elements. The park also offers direct access to over 100 miles of Kingdom Trails singletrack, creating a seamless connection between lift-served laps and expansive cross-country riding. Offers: Canadian dollars accepted at par on lift tickets and Burke Bike Park season passes 20% off lodging at Burke Mountain Hotel 20% off Transition bike rentals at Burke Bike Park *Canadian Traveler Discounted room rate must be reserved in advance online or by calling reservations. Proof of Canadian residency must be presented at check in. Participating Lodging Partners Burke Bike Barn Burke Bike Barn offers rustic accommodations in a restored 1840s timber-frame barn just steps from Kingdom Trails. The property blends historic Vermont character with rider-focused functionality, creating a unique group-friendly base in East Burke with full kitchens, bike wash station, fire pits, and shared recreation space. Offer: July 12–18: 3-bedroom unit for $1400 CAD (regularly $1500 USD)—call for reservations Burke Haven Burke Haven is a private, dog-friendly mountain retreat designed for comfort, connection, and recovery after days outdoors. The home features sweeping Burke Mountain views, a sauna, hot tub, fire pit, and easy access to both Kingdom Trails and Burke Mountain Resort. Offer: 15% discount with code FRIENDS15 Camp Kiki Camp Kiki is a simple, rider-focused campsite located at the base of East Darling Hill Road, offering some of the closest possible access to Kingdom Trails. Each site includes a tent platform, fire pit, picnic table, and bike rack. Offer: 20% discount Firefly Farm at Burke Hollow Firefly Farm is a small, family-run working farm offering a peaceful rural retreat alongside a vibrant local food operation. The guest space provides a cozy stay for two with kitchenette, bath, and outdoor fire pit, while the farmstand offers seasonal produce, meats, maple products, and more. Offers: 25% off Airbnb stays 5% off farmstand purchases Rock Garden Rentals Rock Garden Rentals offers a collection of modern, well-appointed cabins in East Burke with direct access to Kingdom Trails and the VAST network. Each cabin includes full kitchens, private porches, fire pits, secure bike storage, and high-speed connectivity for a comfortable base in the Northeast Kingdom. Offer: Canadian dollars accepted at par The Inn at Burklyn The Inn at Burklyn is a beautifully restored historic estate offering a refined countryside experience in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Guests enjoy elegant ensuite rooms, daily breakfast, and on-site seasonal dining in a setting defined by classic architecture and mountain views. Offer: 10% off reservations The Village Inn The Village Inn is a boutique, rider-focused inn located in the heart of East Burke Village, just steps from Kingdom Trails. Guests enjoy direct trail access, an outdoor hot tub, riverside sauna, fire pits, bike storage, and walkable access to local dining and après-ride spots. Offer: Complimentary 60-minute sauna with a two-night stay Participating Community Businesses Bushy Beard Bushy Beard is a Vermont-based craft cannabis producer focused on clean cultivation practices, transparency, and high-quality product development within Vermont’s regulated cannabis industry. Offer: 15% discount Libbey’s Meat Market Libbey’s Meat Market is a locally owned specialty shop in Lyndonville offering premium meats, seafood, cheeses, and house-made prepared foods for visitors and locals alike. Offer: 5% discount Orange Rind / Clementine’s Creamery Orange Rind is a lively East Burke restaurant and bar offering food, drinks, and live music along the river, while Clementine’s Creamery serves handcrafted ice cream in a scenic village setting next door. Together, they form a central après-ride gathering place in the community. Offer: One free maple creemee at Clementine’s with purchase of an entrée at Orange Rind (receipt required)
From the Executive Director: Hi Everyone! Well, July has certainly brought the heat, but luckily here at KT there are plenty of shady trails to choose from. Speaking of trails...we are opening a new one this weekend: "Cheddar Slice" connects the bottom of Butter Tubs to the bottom of the Dashney Loop, creating a roughly 4-mile family-friendly loop and adding another way to connect the Moose Alley and Dashney zones. Connectivity has been a big focus this year, and there is more to come later this season. Thank you to all our generous Landowners, members and supporters. Have a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Fourth of July!! -Georgia Celebrate the Fourth with Us! As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite you to celebrate with us throughout the month of July. If you're riding on Saturday, July 4, be sure to stop by our newly refreshed Welcome Center! We'll be serving complimentary cookies and lemonade throughout the day—a small way of celebrating the holiday and welcoming riders, families, and visitors to Kingdom Trails. Later in the month, join us at Lyndonville's Stars & Stripes Celebration on Saturday, July 18. The celebration begins with the 10:00 a.m. parade, followed by the festival, where you'll find the Kingdom Trails tent. Stop by to say hello, learn about our newest initiatives and chat with our staff about everything happening at Kingdom Trails this summer. The festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and features food trucks, vendors, children's activities, live music, a Rotary BBQ, axe throwing, and more—making it a fun day for the whole family. We hope you'll stop by, say hello, and celebrate with us! CLICK HERE to read the full newsletter.
From the Executive Director:
