kingdomtrails

Kingdom Trails Names Georgia Gould as Executive Director

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:10:07 GMT

Kingdom Trails Names Georgia Gould as Executive Director

Dear Kingdom Trails Community,

The Kingdom Trails Association Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Georgia Gould has been unanimously appointed as Executive Director of Kingdom Trails Association.

Georgia came to East Burke in 2018 and never left - as a resident, a parent, a business owner, a fellow landowner, and one of the most accomplished mountain bikers in the world. For the past nine months, she has served as Interim Executive Director, and in that time she has led with focus and conviction: steering KTA back to financial health, deepening relationships with the landowners whose generosity makes our trail network possible, overseeing the most successful Annual Fund in the organization's history, and making real progress on trail connectivity that will benefit riders of every ability level. She made hard calls to reduce costs and restructure the organization, while reinvesting directly in the trail crew - replacing aging equipment and outfitting the team with the tools they need to do the work well.

This was a serious and thorough search. We conducted a public forum, gathered input from more than 40 community members, landowners, trail members, and staff, and carefully reviewed everything we heard - including perspectives that challenged us and pushed us to think hard about what this organization needs. We were fortunate to attract strong candidates, and we are grateful to everyone who engaged in the process. That honest community input shaped our decision and the expectations and support structure we are putting in place as Georgia steps fully into this role.

Our strategic priorities are clear: improve and maintain world-class trails that serve riders of all abilities, grow revenue and financial sustainability, strengthen landowner relationships, invest in supporting infrastructure, and enhance the experience for every person who comes to ride. Georgia's proven track record, her passion for these trails, and her deep roots in this community make her the right person to lead that work.

The board voted unanimously. We are united and excited about what comes next.

Kingdom Trails exists because of this community - the landowners who open their land, the members who show up season after season, the volunteers, the local businesses, and the neighbors who believe in what these trails represent. Georgia believes in all of that too. We can't wait to see what she and this team build together.

With gratitude and excitement,

The Kingdom Trails Board of Directors

4/11/26 Community Chat

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:23:44 GMT

Recap of the 4/11/26 Community Chat hosted by the Burke Mountain Club.

Kingdom Trails Community Chat

October 11, 2026. 10AM start

Burke Mtn Club

16 people attended. Georgia (IED), Cedelle (staff), Kara (staff), Finn (board)

Attendees were a mix of trail users, local businesses, landowners.

Updates :

ED search summary . Board, staff, and community interviews happening Monday, 4/13. Question about how to attend. Georgia/Cedelle will post the Zoom link on the “News” page of the web site, so it is easily accessible.

Trail update . Trail crew has already started working on the Wildflower skills park – if conditions permit, we may do a soft opening of a small area. Trail crew will work on all the excavated trail resurfacing in East Burke areas first. Then go up to East Haven which will get a more extensive early season maintenance.

Questions :

Q: Can you give an update on the logging that happened on Darling Hill? A landowner purchased a 20 acre parcel and 300 acres on S Darling Hill. He logged it this winter, and it will need some cleanup before the trails can be reopened (trail crew is prioritizing). The landowner offered an excavator and an operator to help trail crew clear off big stuff. There may be minor re-routes, but probably not.

Q: Plan for volunteer work days in 2026? We are offering a combo of public days and private. A bunch of private groups like NICA, Cannondale do annual trail work days with us. We are frontloading our own volunteer work days in the early season when it’s needed most (and the enthusiasm to get out there is the highest). For 2026 we have added weeknight Dig Days. All dates and times are posted on the website under “Support”.

Q: Update on the trail that will connect Sugarhouse Run to the Burklyn? Hoping to start in early June. It will be a bi-directional, adaptive trail designed to allow riders to completely avoid riding on East Darling Hill Rd.

KT will also be adding a new downhill trail on our Darling Hill parcel. It will connect Sleigh Ride to East Branch North.

Q: Is Act 250 triggered on all Darling Hill trails? One of the KT-owned parcels on Darling Hill has an Act250 permit attached to it. We are submitting an updated amendment for the legacy trails on the KT-owned parcel across from the Wildflower Inn. We’ve had great support from the district Act250 coordinator.

Q: What is the anticipated expense for submitting the Act250 amendment? Because we’re part of the VT trail system, it’s free.

Q: Is there any update on Burke Mountain’s plans for the season? We continue to work well with the team at Burke Mountain, and they have been very supportive of KT and our goals. KT’s projects in the Dashney area will help Burke’s goal of having more family-friendly terrain close by.

Q: What projects are planned in the Dashney area? Dashney Loop has drainage issues on the lower switchbacks. We are planning to fix the issues which will allow the trail to remain open all season. We also plan to fix some culverts that are being undermined. We have permission to officially link Buttertubs to Dashney via a small segment of new trail, providing a larger family friendly loop in that area.

Q: Is Dashney dog-friendly ? Yep.

Q: Will there be a climbing trail to Mountain that is not Burnham Down? We are actively working on this, still waiting for full landowner permissions.

Q: Is KT still pursuing a connection to Kingdom Campground? Yes, but there are many obstacles. The original plan relied on a VAST bridge that was washed away in a flood and is not planning on being replaced

Q: Is there a plan to replace Flower Brook trail? Yes, it is on the wish list, and Georgia is actively looking into possibilities.

Q: How do you decide what trails to build and when? Combo of what we need, interested landowners and a timeline and budget that works.

Q: Are we still pursuing a connection to West Burke? Possibly in the future, but that is on the backburner for now. There are some really wet, swampy areas and would need long bridges and maintenance.

Q: Any update on Parr’s Yard and Wilder Way? Restoring the connection is on the list for this year. Major bridges needed, and stream alteration permits needed. This is a goal for Burke Mtn as well.

Q: Target trails open date? We want to open as soon as we can, but the priority is always on the trails and ensuring that they are dry enough. May 1st is what we shoot for, but that is weather and conditions-dependent.

Q: What about the section of West Branch that keeps getting washed away ? A re-route is planned for this summer. The sandy area will remain open, but the reroute will allow the trail to stay open even when there is high water.

Q: Are annual memberships still structured the same way? No, we are trying to simplify by moving to the calendar year. Most memberships are bought in spring.

Q: Is there a membership goal? No. We have a very conservative number in our budget. We would like to surpass last year, and are working hard to do so, but there’s always things beyond our control (weather, political environment).

Q: Restructuring. Has there been a change to mission/vision/strategic plan? No change to mission, we are just trying to focus on it. Increase our focus on trails. Ensure more resources are going to trails. This year the board is trying to address the main risks to the organization (having a strong trail plan, being on solid footing financially, strengthening our relationships with landowners, addressing our facilities needs, knowing our rider base).

Q: Any plans for additional parking? Burke Mtn. has a lot of parking. We are working with them to make the lots more usable by building better trails up there. Looking at other options as well.

Q: Any chance the Shuttle could come back? Probably not. It would be nice, but not enough people used it to make it a viable option.

Q: Tiki Bar parking rule ? Are campers allowed to park overnight at Tiki? Yes, it is permitted.

Q. Is there a trash receptacle in the Tiki lot? Yes, but bears get into it and spread trash around.

KT Community panel with ED candidates

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:33:23 GMT

Join the Virtual Community Panel HERE

Hi Kingdom Trails Community -

Please join us from 5:15 - 7:00 pm on Monday, April 13th for a virtual Community Panel on zoom to hear from our two final Executive Director candidates:

5:15 - Welcome and overview of process
5:20 - 6:00 - Craig Cimmons
6:05 - 6:45 - Georgia Gould
6:45 - 7:00 - Wrap-up and next steps, including feedback survey

Erika, our recruiter, will moderate the Community Panel. If there are specific question(s) you want the candidates to answer, please submit them here by the end of the day Friday (4/10): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KTAcommunitypanel

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Erika directly at erika@skylightcoaching.com .

Thanks,

The Kingdom Trails Hiring Committee (Finn Maguire, Michael Greenblatt, Shannon Lenzini, Twiladawn Perry)

Green Up Day!

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:29:14 GMT

Help us keep our towns clean!

Join us Saturday, May 2nd as we help "Green Up" our community!

It's easy:

Come by the Welcome Center in the morning to pick up your "green up" bags.
Pick up trash! Collect garbage along one (or more!) local roads.
Drop off your full bags at the KT Welcome Center and get a FREE T-shirt plus entry into a raffle for a KT Annual Membership and other great prizes!

See below for more details. Contact us with any questions: info@kingdomtrails.org, or 802-626-0737.

8:00AM @ KT Welcome Center
Coffee / hot cocoa
Green up bags available for pickup
Check in & claim your roads / area to green up
Limited supply of high visibility vests available to borrow
9:00AM-3:30PM
Green uppers disperse
Return full bags to the Welcome Center drop-off area throughout the day (KT Truck parked in front of WC for bag disposal)
With a full bag of trash collected and returned, receive a free KT Baseball tee and be entered in a raffle. For every additional bag collected, receive another raffle ticket.

Visit www.greenupvermont.org for important information on safety.

3/10/26 Community Chat

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:51:56 GMT

Recap of the 3/10/26 Community Chat hosted by Cafe Lotti

We had roughly 20 attendees, with KT staff (Interim Executive Director Georgia Gould, Trails Manager Orion Campbell-Wolk, and Trail Crew member/Volunteer Coordinator Tom Seymour), a KT Board member, several KT Landowners, local residents and local business owners.

TRAILS

Georgia Gould (KT Interim Executive Director) shared an overview of trail projects KT hopes to accomplish in the coming months. This is in addition to all the typical maintenance the KT trail crew does all year- early season drain clearing, leaf blowing, repair of pump tracks and excavated trails like the Village Pump Tracks and the Kitchel zone, mowing, brushing and bridge repair.

East Haven maintenance will be stepped up this year:

•Stormin’ Norman will get a spruce-up

•adding culverts, repairing puddles, adding and replacing armoring

•Lower Black Bear will get some resurfacing

New Builds

•NEW Downhill trail on Darling Hill starting at Sleigh Ride and joining into East Branch (East Branch was spruced up in

November)

•NEW connector from the top of Sugarhouse Run to the Burklyn Trail (eliminating .5 mile of road)

•NEW connector from Moose Alley/Butter Tubs junction to Dashney

Several Sustainability Upgrades

•Rerouting a steep hill on Lower Pond Loop

•Rerouting a section of River Run that often floods

•Fixing lower switchbacks on Dashney Loop so the trail can be open all season

VOLUNTEER DAYS

Tom Seymour (KT Volunteer Coordinator) mentioned that 2026 volunteer dig days are posted on the KT website.

•This year, KT will offer a few weeknight volunteer days in addition to the typical Saturdays

•Several school groups also volunteer throughout the season (Burke Mountain Academy, St. Johnsbury Academy, NICA)

•Feedback is always welcome.

BURKE MOUNTAIN

•There was a question about the relationship between KT and Burke Mountain

•Georgia and Orion said that a strong partnership is forming: there has been open

communication between the 2 organizations and they share many of the same trail-related goals.

MISCELLANEOUS

•Orion Campbell-Wolk (KT Trail Manager) was present and received positive feedback for quality of the trail maintenance.

•A local business owner asked if KT has plans to move the Welcome Center out of East Burke, and Georgia responded that KT does not have plans to move at this time. Several business owners shared that they hope the Welcome Center remains in East Burke village.

•A Pudding Hill trail Landowner asked about potential for connecting the Pudding Hill area back to Darling Hill. Georgia responded that it is a goal, but is complicated due to loss of a VAST bridge that was a critical part of the proposed connection.

•Trail Crew received more positive feedback from multiple people about the nordic grooming this year.

2/10/26 Community Chat

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:46:24 GMT

Recap of the 2/10/26 Community Chat hosted by Burke Mountain

This Chat was very well-attended (20+ people) with 3 current KT board members, several past KT board members, Interim Executive Director Georgia Gould, several landowners, local business owners, representatives of Adaptive trail organizations, KT volunteer groomers, KT trail ambassadors, local community members and part-time locals as well.

KT Board members Finn Maguire and Twiladawn Perry introduced themselves and spoke about why they joined the board and the important role KT plays in the community and our economy.

Twila shared an update on the ED search process- the board has hired a contractor to assist with an open search (more info will be posted here as it becomes available).

Community members and landowners believe that landowner outreach/communication is a critical skill that any potential ED should have.

People were curious what the current staffing model looks like. Georgia shared that an Office Manager position description will be posted soon. Current staff members are:

-Georgia Gould: Interim Executive Director

-Cedelle Sirjane: Operations Manager

-Orion Campbell-Wolk: Trail Manager

-Emmett Hinman: Trail Crew

-Tom Seymour: Trail Crew

There was broad agreement that KT should be pursuing trail connectivity, especially where it will lead to fewer riders on the road (which will be appreciated by locals). Georgia shared some details about upcoming trail projects like the connection between Sugarhouse Run and the Burklyn Trail that will allow riders to completely avoid riding on East Darling Hill Rd.

Several attendees asked if there was a Flower Brook trail replacement in the works- Georgia said she is actively pursuing options and speaking with interested landowners.

Lots of attendees shared their appreciation for the quality of the grooming on both the nordic and fat bike trails. 2 volunteer groomers were present and received a round of applause for their hard work!

Several attendees shared that in their friend circles there was excitement about KT and its renewed focus on trails.

Someone asked about the E-bike policy (2025 was the first year class 1 E-bikes were allowed for all users) and how it has been received by the trail users and local community. Georgia shared that all feedback has been positive and there has been much appreciation for the increased accessibility. No negative incidents have been reported.

A long-time trail user from New Jersey shared his appreciation for KT, Trail Crew, and the broader community. He has been involved with organizing NJ NICA (High School MTB) camps at KT for years and spoke very eloquently about the lasting, positive impact that the trails have had on his participants.

The next KT Community Chat will be March 10th at 5:30pm at the Burke Mountain Club.

FAQ

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:40:13 GMT

A lot has happened over the past year at KT

Capacity Study

What became of the Capacity Study?

The Capacity Study was a success; and we implemented several of its recommendations, like dispersing users throughout the network and creating safer road crossings.

Our membership numbers have dropped since the 2018 peak. The world has changed: many communities have followed our lead in developing their own local trails, and factors ranging from economic shifts to extreme weather have impacted visitation. However, this shift isn't a setback; it’s an opportunity. We are no longer managing overcrowding, which allows us to double down on trail maintenance and stewardship, ensuring the Kingdom remains a premier destination.

Community Hub

Are you still planning on building a Community Hub/Welcome Center?

The Community Hub was a bold vision developed during a different chapter of our growth. The viability of the project relied to a large degree on the potential availability, commitment and timing of public funding. After careful consideration, we’ve decided to move away from a major building project to ensure we stay 100% focused on our mission. Right now, our resources are fully dedicated to what we do best: building and maintaining the incredible trail network you love.

Infrastructure/Amenities

How are you thinking about infrastructure—parking, visitor services, and capacity—especially now that the visitor center has been tabled?

While we have shifted away from a new centralized visitor center, our commitment to a smooth visitor experience is stronger than ever. By deepening our partnerships with local anchors like the Wildflower Inn and Burke Mountain, we can provide ample parking and services while allowing us to focus our resources on the trails.

Burke Mountain

How does Burke Mountain fit into KT’s future given the new ownership, particularly where the trail systems interface today?

We have formed a strong partnership with Burke Mountain. The new owners have shown an incredible commitment to our mission, providing the land access, equipment, and resources necessary to maintain a premier trail system. Moving forward, we are focused on a 'one-network' feel, where the transition between KT and Mountain terrain is seamless, intuitive, and world-class.

Continuity of the Network

Over the past 5 years, there have been some major losses of connectivity. Do you have any plans to address this?

Yes! We have been actively pursuing potential connections. Look for some exciting new projects coming this season.

Attracting Visitors

What steps are being taken to attract new visitors while retaining existing ones?

Our focus is moving back to the heart of our mission: the trails themselves. We are excited to launch an enhanced maintenance program that prioritizes the long-term health of the network. By revitalizing our historic trails and re-establishing vital connections, we are building a more seamless and sustainable experience. We are creating a more resilient and dynamic trail system that will continue to thrill riders and respect the land for generations to come.

Staying True to our Roots

How does KT plan to maintain differentiation as similar trail networks proliferate?

We recognize that riders have more choices today than they did a decade ago, and we think that’s great for the cycling community. However, Kingdom Trails remains the heart of the sport because of our history and our people. We are choosing to stay true to our roots as a community-driven, landowner-supported network. We aren’t trying to compete with every new bike park; we are focusing on the miles and miles of unique trails and the 'handshake' culture that made us a leader in the first place. By staying true to the flowy, scenic, and soulful riding experience that put the Northeast Kingdom on the map, we ensure that KT remains the gold standard for authenticity in an increasingly crowded field.

Virtual Community Engagement

Many invested parties don’t live full-time in the NEK- Is there a way for landowners, stakeholders, and trail users to participate in Community Chats remotely?

Our Community Chats take place at various local businesses, some of which don’t have the ability to offer a remote set-up. However, we will plan for at least 1 Chat per year to have a virtual option. Outside of Community Chats, we welcome feedback and the chance to answer questions or talk about trails at any time. Our phone number is 802-626-0737. You can reach Georgia Gould, our Interim Executive Director at ed@kingdomtrails.org .

Beginner and Green Trails

Over the years, there has been a loss of true beginner-friendly trails. Do you have plans to address this?

Yes! In partnership with Burke Mountain, we have plans for a build-out of the Dashney area to offer a family-friendly trail zone with multiple ride-length options.

Long Term Plans

What is KT’s 3–5 year strategic vision for growth?

Our new reality (more competition, more volatile weather patterns) has forced us to make some difficult decisions to ensure the long-term viability of the organization. Our focus is on operational sustainability . We are dedicated to a balanced budget that aligns our resources with our mission, ensuring the longevity and health of the organization for the long haul. This is a chance to refocus on our mission: trails. We have just developed a set of principles to guide our trail work, including: addressing deferred maintenance, climate-resilient upgrades, and building new connectors.

Executive Director Search

What is the process for the Executive Director search?

We are actively working on developing the process, and more communications will follow.

Fat Bike Trails Temporarily Closed

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:46:49 GMT

Fat Bike trails Temporarily Closed 1/9/26

Unfortunately, warm weather and rain are expected for this weekend. We have made the decision to close the fatbike trails today, 1/9/26, to preserve the riding surface. We will reassess in the morning and determine if it is worth reopening them or keeping them closed through the weekend. If you are looking for something else to do this weekend, Nordic trails at Dashney and the Inn at Mountain View will remain open. If you still want to get out on your bike, check out these beautiful dirt road ride recommendations:

A 16.5 mile ride north of town

A 13 mile ride (easily shortened) in Kirby

We hope to reopen the trails as soon as temperatures drop. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Happy New Year!

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 19:48:12 GMT

To read the full newsletter, click HERE .

Kingdom Trails Grooming Report

Our grooming team has been working tirelessly to provide the high-quality conditions the Northeast Kingdom is known for. With the recent snowfall, we have successfully firmed up our winter network to offer prime surfaces for all users.

New Snowdog Groomer : We are thrilled to introduce our newest grooming unit to the fleet! This nimble machine allows us to access tighter singletrack and maintain a more consistent, flowy surface in areas our larger equipment can't reach. New features like an equipment mount and handguards make Trail Crew's job much easier.
Superior Grooming Quality: Our crew utilizes a combination of snowmobile-pulled drags, Snowdogs, and hand shoveling to ensure a firm, fast, and high-quality base.
Nordic trails are groomed with classic track set at the Dashney Nordic Center and the Inn at Mountain View.
Think Before You Sink : To preserve this high-quality grooming, please remember to check TrailHub for trail condition updates. If you are leaving a rut deeper than an inch, please exit the trails and wait for them to firm up. Thank you!

To read the full newsletter, click HERE .

2025 Winter Trails Opening Day

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:20:47 GMT

To view newsletter with live links, click here

2025 Summer Season Closed October 31st

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:43:03 GMT

To view newsletter with live links, click here

New Paragraph

Bear Den Partners, Owners of Burke Mountain, Make Unprecedented $100,000 Gift to Kingdom Trails, Securing Northeast Kingdom’s Recreational Future

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:13:12 GMT

EAST BURKE, VT – October 27, 2025 – Kingdom Trails, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of recreational trails in the Northeast Kingdom, today announced it has received a monumental gift of $100,000 from Bear Den Partners, the owners of Burke Mountain, and Kingdom Trails’ single largest private landowner. This unprecedented corporate donation is the largest in Kingdom Trails’ history and signifies a powerful commitment to the economic vitality and future of recreation in the Northeast Kingdom.

The $100,000 investment comes as both organizations continue to expand their collaborative efforts to enhance outdoor tourism and provide world-class experiences for visitors and local community members alike. This funding will be immediately directed toward critical trail maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable trail development projects across the network, allowing Kingdom Trails to build important new connections and keep the trails in top shape.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity and vision demonstrated by the leadership at Burke Mountain,” said Georgia Gould, Interim Executive Director of Kingdom Trails. “This is more than just a donation; it’s an unprecedented investment in the future health of our trails, our organization, and the entire Northeast Kingdom community. This investment ensures we can not only maintain the current quality of the Kingdom Trails experience but also pursue long-term sustainability and innovative projects.”

The gift came during an evening of music and celebration of Kingdom Trails’ Landowners hosted by Bear Den Partners at the Burke Mountain Hotel. The event brought together the landowners, community members, and friends who make Kingdom Trails possible. The evening featured a powerful joint performance by national touring artists Adam Gardner of Guster and Stephen Kellogg, whose music captured the warmth, connection, and spirit that define the Northeast Kingdom.

The relationship between Burke Mountain and Kingdom Trails has been instrumental in positioning the region as a premier mountain biking and outdoor destination. Burke Mountain’s contribution emphasizes a shared goal of drawing visitors to the region while ensuring responsible stewardship of the natural resources.

“Burke Mountain is a proud neighbor and partner to Kingdom Trails,” said Jon Schaefer, CEO of Bear Den Partners. “We understand that the trails are a critical driver of our local economy and an important amenity for our guests. Making this $100,000 commitment was a clear decision—it ensures the longevity of this incredible network and helps secure the Northeast Kingdom’s reputation as a top-tier outdoor destination for generations to come.”

The organizations encourage the public and corporate partners to view this as an inspiration for collective responsibility in protecting and preserving the trails that define Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom experience. Kingdom Trails extends its sincere gratitude to Bear Den Partners for their integral support of this investment and their dedication to the future of the trails.

About Kingdom Trails

Kingdom Trails is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of a 100+ mile network of non-motorized multi-use trails in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Utilizing a land-use agreement model with 106 private landowners, Kingdom Trails provides recreational access that promotes healthy lifestyles, economic vitality, and sustainable use of resources.

About Burke Mountain

Located in the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Burke Mountain Resort is an independent, four-season destination owned by Bear Den Partners. Burke delivers 178 acres of world-class skiing and riding in the winter, and lift-served mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Burke’s bike park is adjacent to the world-renowned Kingdom Trails network, a mecca for mountain bikers. Year-round, Burke and the Burke Mountain Hotel host events and activities that reflect the culture and community of Vermont: down-to-earth, uncorporate and driven by the spirit of the mountain and the people who ride it. For more information, visit SkiBurke.com or follow on all major social platforms including Instagram , Facebook and YouTube .

September Newsletter

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:08:52 GMT

To view newsletter with live links, click here

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Kingdom Trails Benefit Concert at Burke Mountain

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:17:16 GMT

October 18th, 2025 from 7-10 PM

Join us for a very special fundraising concert featuring musicians Stephen Kellogg and Adam Gardner from Guster! All ticket sale proceeds from this event benefit the Kingdom Trails mission. This intimate concert will sell out quickly, so grab yours today.

The concert will be held on October 18th, from 7-10 pm in the Burke Mountain Hotel.

Purchase Tickets Here !

Make it a Concert Getaway and turn the show into a full-on weekend at Burke.

Book our exclusive concert lodging package at the Burke Mountain Hotel

Available for stays 10/15/2025 through 10/19/2025. Includes 1 ticket per adult.

No promo code needed.

Click here to book now!

Leadership Transition Announced at Kingdom Trails and the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative

Sven@kingdomtrails.org (Sven Cole) — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:39:10 GMT

Dear KT Community,

I write to you today as I begin a transition in my relationship with Kingdom Trails. I have made the difficult decision to take the next step in my professional journey and step away from my role as Executive Director.

Serving Kingdom Trails and this incredible community over the past eight years has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply proud of the work I’ve led and supported, from navigating immense global challenges and natural disasters, to forging incredible relationships, with our landowners and community. And throughout this journey, the Northeast Kingdom has become not just where I live, but truly my home. It’s the place I chose to become a mother and where my family has put down roots.

That said, I am ready to explore new ways to serve this community, ways that will allow me to continue growing as a leader. I’ve accepted the role of Interim Executive Director for the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, where I will carry forward the work I fell in love with through Kingdom Trails: strengthening our communities and supporting thoughtful economic development. In this new role, I’ll have the opportunity to advocate not only for outdoor recreation, which is so essential to the heart of our region, but also for the many sectors that make the Northeast Kingdom such a unique and vibrant place.

Please know I remain deeply committed to Kingdom Trails. This is my home, and it will remain my home. I wish to always be an ambassador for KT, including playing a role in ensuring a graceful, responsible transition with care. The Board of Directors and I have committed to this, to ensure continuity, stability, and the trust you hold in this organization. I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to have served my community through this role, and I look forward to closing this chapter with the same heart and good intention with which I began it.

Georgia Gould is stepping in as interim Executive Director to lead the organization through this transition. Georgia has served on the KT Board of Directors since 2021, leading both the Landowner and Trail Advisory Committees. She is a KT Landowner with an impressive mountain biking and cyclocross resume - including a bronze medal in one of her two Olympic bids on Team USA and five career national championships in cross-country and short track mountain biking. Georgia, her husband Dusty, and their two young children are engaged members of the Burke community and the KT team. Her deep ties to the sport of cycling, dedication to providing great trails for all skill levels, and her love of this community make her the perfect choice to lead KT in its next phase. The Board and I are thrilled that Georgia has agreed to lead KT and feel confident that she will hold the mission of the organization at the center as she has throughout her Board service. You can reach Georgia directly and welcome her to this new role at ED@kingdomtrails.org .

With deep gratitude,

Abby

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Kingdom Trail Association

The mission of the Kingdom Trail Association is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. Kingdom Trails strives to accomplish this mission by offering a 100+ mile network of quality, non-motorized, multi-use trails for all levels of ability, incorporating the best of our local scenery and natural diversity. The Kingdom Trails are made possible through the generosity of 106 private landowners.

Northeast Kingdom Collaborativ e

The mission of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative is to improve the quality of life for all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development as the vision is a strong, vibrant Northeast Kingdom where we all thrive. The NEKC brings people together to spark positive change in our communities, creating structures that bring partners together across service areas, sectors, municipal and political boundaries to provide solutions for the renewal of the Kingdom. The NEK Collaborative serves as the backbone organization for the federally designated NEK REAP Zone and community partner for USDA Rural Development.

Cannondale Becomes KT's First Corporate Sponsor

Sven@kingdomtrails.org (Sven Cole) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:16:43 GMT

Cannondale Dirt Party a Success

Do you remember the Cannondale Beast of the East? This early 1990s mountain bike from the Connecticut company was built specifically for East Coast riders, high bottom brackets and quick handling matched with a stiff frame to tackle the technical, root-infested climbs that defined our riding back then.

You know what else was launching in the early 1990s? Kingdom Trails.

Fast forward three decades, and both have become New England legends in their own right. Cannondale evolved into a global innovator, while Kingdom Trails grew into one of the East Coast's premier mountain bike destinations. So when these two titans of singletrack finally joined forces in 2025, it felt like a sponsorship that was always meant to happen.

A Sponsorship Built on Shared Values

"For more than 50 years, we've always looked to cut our own path to make bike riding better," said Mike Marro, Cannondale's Mountain Bike Category Marketing Manager. "From our east-coast-optimized Beast of the East mountain bike that bucked all the trends, to developing some of the first e-bike systems in partnership with Bosch, Cannondale has been committed to innovation and pushing the limits of what's possible on two wheels. We're excited to partner with Kingdom Trails because they share that same mindset; we both lead by example, blaze our own path and invite the community to come ride with us."

Beyond Sponsorship: Real Impact

This sponsorship goes deeper than logos and marketing. Cannondale's first move was practical, equipping Kingdom Trails' Trail Crew with eMTBs that let the team reach remote sections quickly while hauling tools. Now the crew can access and maintain trails with minimal impact while actually testing their handiwork on two wheels.

"Cannondale has proven to be an exceptional sponsor who truly understands the heart of Kingdom Trails and the community that makes this place special," said Jodi Flanagan, KT's Director of Development. “Their support goes beyond typical sponsorship, from equipping our Trail Crew with eMTBs that enhance our maintenance capabilities to creating the Cannondale Dirt Party that brings our community together. What stands out most is how they've approached this relationship with authenticity and a genuine commitment to the trails."

The Dirt Party: Partnership in Action

The sponsorship spirit came alive during the maiden Cannondale Dirt Party, when a crew from Connecticut headquarters joined Kingdom Trails volunteers for a morning of serious trail work. Together, they tackled significant improvements on Martha's Pines, Connector, and Widow Maker, plus helped VAST volunteers complete the final touches on the Village Trails bridge, the crucial link between downtown East Burke and the trail system that flooding had damaged the previous year.

But this wasn't all work and no play. After the morning's efforts, Cannondale brought out eMTB demos and the real fun began. KT local and longtime Cannondale rider Knight Ide gave the visiting crew a proper tour, including sessions at one of his masterpieces, the Kitchel Zone.

Community Celebration

As afternoon turned to evening, the party shifted to Mike's Tiki Bar, where Nobby Reed's music provided the soundtrack for good food, cold drinks, and even better company. The highlight came when Jodi Flanagan and Brendan Mulrooney, Cannondale Marketing Manager, presented an eMTB to the East Burke Fire Brigade, a gesture that perfectly captured how this partnership extends beyond just the trails to support the entire community.

The celebration continued late into the night, embodying everything that makes the mountain bike community special: shared passion, mutual support, and the pure joy of being part of something bigger than any single ride.

What This Means

This collaboration represents something bigger than business; it's about two organizations that grew up with East Coast mountain biking coming together to ensure its future. With Cannondale's innovation and Kingdom Trails' community focus, this promises to set new standards for how the industry can support not just riding, but the places and people that make riding meaningful.

Here's to many more years of blazing trails together.

Visit Cannondale.com to learn more about the brand.

Kingdom Trails depends on support from local and industry sponsors. We offer numerous opportunities for collaboration and value building lasting relationships with businesses that share similar goals. If interested in Kingdom Trail sponsorship opportunities please reach out to Jodi Flanagan at jodi@kingdomtrails.org

KT is taking action—on the trails and in the Statehouse!

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:04:51 GMT

This 2025 Legislative Session, KT is teaming up with other amazing trail organizations through the Vermont Trails & Greenway Council to advocate for H.147, a bill to establish the Recreational Trails Compensation Study.

KT is a world-class trail system deeply intertwined with the local community. In 1994, it was Northeast Kingdom community members, private landowners, who banded together to develop the multi-use nonprofit trail network that now welcomes 100,000+ visitors and generates over $10,000,000 in annual direct spending for the Northeast Kingdom, a region with significant social and economic challenges.

KT’s 106 private landowners, neighbors after neighbors, who host our trails, know firsthand the positive economic, public health, and conservation benefits of communities investing in outdoor recreation. However, they do not receive compensation for their generosity. Stewardship organizations, such as KT, are prohibited from directly compensating host landowners, as it would compromise the landowner’s protection under the state’s liability statute.

Currently, over 70% of Vermont’s public-access trails are on private land and dependent on the benevolence of private landowners. With increased demand on our trail assets, these non-profit trail stewardship organizations face more and more challenges in retaining public access to vital trail corridors.

This question of how we develop an appropriate mechanism to recognize and incentivize private landowners will be a critical component of how we retain public access to Vermont’s trail system, and how VT remains a national leader in outdoor recreation.

Therefore, KT is advocating for H.147, a bill to establish the Recreational Trails Compensation Study Committee, a proposal that would analyze how to create a mechanism to recognize landowners that provide public access for trails. This proposal includes a localized outdoor recreation economic impact study to better understand the value across recreational activities and land ownership. This study is a vital investment in sustaining recreation on private land and supporting Vermont's $2.1B, almost 5% of the state’s GDP, outdoor recreation economy.

Chers voisins du Nord

ed@kingdomtrails.org (Executive Director) — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:59:23 GMT

Vous êtes toujours les bienvenus à Kingdom Trails

You are always welcome on Kingdom Trails

Chers voisins du Nord,

Nous joignons nos voix à celles de nos amis de Jay Peak et des nombreuses entreprises et communautés du Northeast Kingdom qui chérissent notre connexion transfrontalière, afin de faire savoir aux sportifs canadiens qu'ils sont toujours les bienvenus à Kingdom Trails.

Vous n'êtes pas de simples visiteurs, vous faites partie de la famille KT. Votre présence est depuis longtemps un élément essentiel de ce qui rend ce réseau de sentiers si spécial. Nos panneaux et nos bulletins d'information électroniques sont disponibles en français et en anglais parce que nous savons à quel point vous aimez cet endroit - et nous vous aimons en retour.

Ensemble, nous avons surmonté des défis changeants, des pandémies, des restrictions de voyage et des fluctuations économiques. Autant de forces qui échappent à notre contrôle. Malgré tout, une chose est restée inchangée : le lien fort que nous partageons, enraciné dans notre amour du plein air, des sensations fortes et de la camaraderie en sentiers.

Nous comprenons que le contexte actuel présente des défis qui rendent le voyage vers le sud plus compliqué qu'il ne devrait l'être. Nous aimerions que ce soit plus facile, que rien ne s'interpose entre vous et les sentiers qui vous sont chers. Sachez que nous apprécions chaque kilomètre parcouru et que nous attendons avec impatience ceux qui restent à parcourir. Nos sentiers restent ouverts et vous aurez toujours votre place parmi nous.

Comme nous le rappelle le code de conduite de Roulons Avec Gratitude, « Prenez soin des autres ».

Nous prenons soin de vous,

L'équipe KT, vos amis du Sud

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Dear Neighbors to the North,

Joining our voices with our friends at Jay Peak and the many Northeast Kingdom businesses and communities who cherish our cross-border connection, we want our Canadian trail users to know you are always welcome at Kingdom Trails.

You are not just visitors; you are part of the KT Family. Your presence has long been a vital piece of what makes this trail network so special. Our signs and e-newsletters appear in both French and English because we recognize how much you love this place—and we love you right back.

Together, we’ve weathered shifting challenges, pandemics, travel restrictions, and economic fluctuations. All forces beyond our control. Yet through it all, one thing has remained unchanged: the strong bond we share, rooted in our love for the outdoors, the thrill of the ride, and the camaraderie of the trails.

We understand that the current landscape presents challenges that make traveling south more complicated than it should be. We wish it were easier, that nothing stood between you and the trails you hold dear. Please know how much we appreciate every kilomètre we’ve shared and how much we look forward to the ones still ahead. Our trails remain open, and you will always have a place here with us.

As the Ride with Gratitude Code of Conduct reminds us, “ Care for Others.”

We care for you,

The KT Team, your friends to the South

KT Trails are Open!

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:48:15 GMT

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Kingdom Trails awarded a VOREC 2023 Community Grant to support inclusive programming!

Fri, 31 May 2024 18:34:34 GMT

We are proud to announce that last week, Kingdom Trails was awarded a Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) 2023 Community Grant for $74,927 to support inclusive mountain bike programming in partnership with the Kingdom East School District (KESD), Unlikely Riders, and POWERED Magazine! KT was one of 51 new recipients in 2023 for grants to boost outdoor recreation across Vermont, totaling $6.3 million!

KESD offers mountain bike programs to school-age youth through after-school and summer camp programs that seek to break barriers for youth enrolled in the school district. POWERED is a nonprofit that offers outdoor recreation clinics to magnify the full spectrum of identities that represent outdoor lovers and promote physical, mental, and social well-being. Unlikely Riders is a nonprofit that offers programs to reduce or eliminate the barriers to mountain biking for BIPOC Vermonters while also creating a community to exist fully and authentically in outdoor recreation spaces.

Through these valuable partnerships, these grant funds will actively support initiatives that promote inclusive, equitable, and diverse programming, incorporating groups facing barriers to entry into mountain biking. These creative and imaginative efforts will allow these groups to engage in programs they might not have accessed otherwise, facilitated by encouragement within a safe and secure affinity space. We recognize our significant economic impact in the region and our role as an exceptional recreational resource that can help provide these opportunities. We are excited to support these programs in this way.

These funds support fall after-school and summer camp youth bike club programs through KESD, host 6 mountain bike clinics for POWERED, and support a mountain bike weekend at KT for Unlikely Riders. In turn, these programs directly support outdoor recreation and community development by encouraging the involvement of our local community, developing, building, and sustaining partnerships with local organizations, and supporting local businesses' efforts to support outdoor recreation and regional economic development.

Finally, this grant encourages environmental action and promotes a healthy lifestyle in our regional community. These programs educate participants on our Ride With Gratitude campaign with Bike Borderlands. Participants learn essential skills that revolve around protecting nature, respecting and showing appreciation for the gift of access, and caring for others around them; all points, in turn, encourage participants to be an example for others outdoors, in life, and on the trail.

Governor Phil Scott established the VOREC Steering Committee by executive order in June 2017 to bring together a broad set of outdoor recreation stakeholders to promote stewardship of state recreation assets and market Vermont’s outdoor recreation values and attributes to effectively foster responsible and sustainable economic growth. We are grateful to the Vermont Legislature for their continued commitment to outdoor recreation! We are equally grateful to our 105 private landowners who make the KT network possible. We #ridewithgratitude for you!

This grant award speaks to KT’s commitment to community investment and our core values to prioritize access and inclusion, embrace outdoor recreation, health, and safety as a shared responsibility, and to grow wisely as we listen, learn, and evolve.

For more information on the VOREC Community Grant award and the awardees, please visit https://fpr.vermont.gov/press-release/63-million-vorec-grants-boost-outdoor-recreation-across-vermont

Darling Hill and White School Trails to OPEN Friday May 3rd.

Wed, 01 May 2024 15:00:59 GMT

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KT Welcomes New Members to the Board of Directors

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:54:21 GMT

Marking the end of an era!

The Kingdom Trails Board of Directors (KT BOD) gathered at the end of March for their annual meeting to usher in KT’s new fiscal year! April 1 marks the beginning of not only our organizational finances but also a new term for our BOD. It is a bittersweet transition as we say thank you to those who have completed their service and welcome new members to the team.

Kingdom Trails is fortunate to be led by a group of dedicated volunteers who care about our community, landowners, trails, members, organization, and the beauty that surrounds us. The Board is composed of trail enthusiasts, local leaders, area business owners, and, of course, KT landowners, all of whom bring their unique perspectives and skills to guide KT.

Our 12-member BOD elected at our annual meeting can serve three consecutive 2-year terms. As these terms are staggered, we find ourselves thanking Jake Wheeler and Harry Morrison for their incredible service to the Board over the past 6+ years.

It is truly the end of an era! Harry and Jake are the only remaining Board members who were serving KT when our Executive Director, Abby, joined the organization in 2018. Jake was even an original Board member when KT was founded 30 years ago! The time, energy, onboarding, and transition to uplift this organization through those pivotal times were exceptional. And it never stopped! They continue to dedicate themselves by volunteering their time for trail work and events, driven by their passion for trails and community.

While their presence will be missed on the Board, we are lucky to have them always as community members and Jake and his family, KT Landowners. We have high expectations that they’ll continue joining KT Trail Building Volunteer Days with their new Vermont Gloves , customized with the KT logo and their initials! We wish to express our deepest gratitude to both of them for their invaluable contributions and unwavering support to KT. Their legacy will continue to resonate for years to come.

KT is thrilled to now welcome Shannon Lenzini and Dave Eikenberry to the Board! Shannon is a Partner at Downs Rachlin Martin Law Firm and has experience in nonprofit work. She lives in St. Johnsbury with her family who enjoy KT throughout the summer and winter seasons. Dave lives in Kirby, enjoying his days in retirement from the nonprofit financing world skiing glades, riding bikes and horses, and enjoying good conversation.

Please know that we always encourage folks to contact the KT Board of Directors at Board@kingdomtrails.org . The Board meets every other month on the 4th Thursday of the month. Folks are always welcome to attend our monthly Community Chat as well. A few Board members will always join our Executive Director, Abby and members of the KT Leadership team, to listen and learn. The next one is on Saturday, May 4th, from 11:30am-12:30pm at the East Burke Market gazebo. We hope to see you there!

2024-25 KTA Board of Directors

Elise Lawson, Chair - West Burke, Landowner

Becky Tharp, Vice Chair - West Burke/ Williston

Stephanie Giese, Treasurer - Kirby

Georgia Gould, Secretary - East Burke, Landowner

Tom De Carlo - Kirby

Doug Clarner - East Burke, Landowner

David Eikenberry - Kirby

Caleb Grant - Lyndon

Shannon Lenzini - St. Johnsbury

Ben Mirkin - Kirby

Dana Prey - East Burke, Landowner

Eric Wilson - Kirby

Solar Eclipse 2024

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 19:20:43 GMT

April 8th

2024 is a big year here! Not only is it KT’s 30th Anniversary, but in case you haven’t heard, at around 3:25 pm, April 8th , the moon will pass in front of the sun, bringing our Northeast Kingdom region into complete darkness for almost 3 minutes. We are incredibly fortunate to find ourselves in the solar eclipse’s “path of totality.” This is a once-in-a-lifetime event as Vermont has not experienced this phenomenon since 1932 and won't again until 2106.

Although the KT network is closed at that time of the year while we navigate Vemont’s famous Mud Season, we are opening Bill Magill, a trail on the property that KT owns on Darling Ridge, for people to access on foot for viewing.

To access this property, viewers may park in designated Wildflower Inn parking areas and walk on Bill Magill as far out as they would like. Remember that viewing will be best from a south-facing slope. The Wildlflower Inn will also open their property on Heaven’s Bench, accessed from Bill Magill.

We will not require a KT Membership to view the Eclipse on April 8th. However, you are required to sign the KT Waiver if you plan to venture out on Bill Magill and Heaven’s Bench.

It is important to:

Park only in designated areas. There will be no parking on the side of the roads.
Travel only on foot and be mindful of surface damage- stick to the BIll Magill double track.
Wear Eclipse Glasses.
Leave No Trace. You can always live the Ride With Gratitude lifestyle without a bike!
Dress Appropriately.

Read this article for tips about how to watch the eclipse safely.

For more info on the Eclipse, check out these resources:

Taking action at the Statehouse!

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:47:31 GMT

“Fight for the things that you care about. But do so in a way that will lead others to join you.” -Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

KT has hit the ground running for the 2024 legislative session! Abby Long, KT’s dedicated Executive Director, has been actively involved at the Statehouse, engaging in conversations that promote, support, and advocate for bills that bolster outdoor recreation investment and preserve our natural landscape and resources in alignment with the KT mission to enhance the health of our local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy.

Here is what we’ve been up to!

Outdoor Recreation Bill H.673

Abby serves on the Executive Committee for the Vermont Trails & Greenways Council (VTGC) , an independent nonprofit supporting the Vermont Trail System, officially serving as an advisory body to the Vermont Department of Forest Parks and Recreation (FPR) . This session, through VTGC, KT is supporting Bill H.673 , an Act relating to Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy. H.673 aims to rightsize investment into outdoor recreation stewardship to benefit Vermont and its communities. The bill proposes initiatives such as;

a statewide outdoor recreation economic impact study to understand better how impact is distributed across recreational activities and land ownership,
administrative support for the Vermont Trails & Greenway Council,
and codifying and agreeing on best management practices with FPR.

H.673 will result in concrete recommendations on many aspects of outdoor recreation, including how we, as a state, invest in trail maintenance and stewardship. Answering the question of how we develop an appropriate mechanism to recognize private landowners will be a critical component of how we retain public access.

Abby has testified on H.673 in both House Agriculture, Food Resiliency, & Forestry and House Commerce & Economic Development, urging legislatures. View one of Abby’s testimonies here on 02/07/2024! (Starts at 0:45!)

KT’s Landowner Advisory Committee also joined in the advocacy for private landowners who host trails and H.673 at the Statehouse by crafting a letter to send to our legislators on behalf of KT landowners. We encourage all to contact their VT Reps and to monitor H.673 here on Vermont’s legislature website: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.673

Outdoor Recreation Day 02.16.2024

Abby, joined by Lukas Ray, KT’s Community Collaboration Director, participated in the first-ever Vermont Outdoor Rec Day (VORD), organized by VOBA, Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, and VTGC! We joined 85 fellow outdoor recreation professionals, while our friend, Kelly Brush, of the Kelly Brush Foundation, provided a devotional on resiliency and the importance of outdoor recreation, especially as an adaptive athlete. Together, we watched as a Joint Resolution naming February 16th as Outdoor Recreation Day was presented and adopted! The remainder of the day was spent again encouraging the Legislature to pass Bill H.673 and support Bill H.723, which provides for investment in a Flood Recovery Assistance Program and to invest in housing and permit reform to encourage workforce development and business innovation.

Forest Future Strategic Road Map

Abby also serves as the outdoor recreation voice for the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap Advisory Panel, tasked to create the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap as established in Act 183 in 2022. This strategic roadmap seeks to strengthen, modernize, promote, and protect the forest products sector and the greater forest economy, of which outdoor recreation is a part. In January 2024, after an 18-month process, the completed roadmap was released to the public. Read it here!

As Abby noted at the Vermont Forest Future Press Conference on 02/22/2024, KT is a true example of recreation that provides renewed economic vitality and operates in a complementary manner with the forest products sector. KT not only elevates our region as an exemplary place to live, work, and play, assisting area businesses’ need to recruit a workforce, but we have also conserved over 400 acres of forest with the Vermont Land Trust, forests enrolled in current use, allowing us to host our first-ever timber harvest last winter. KT is proud to share that story through signage on the trail so trail users from afar pass by and learn, building stronger linkages and understanding between the forest user and the positive impact of the forest economy.

We would like to express our immense gratitude for the 100+ Landowners who make up the KT network and the local businesses, organizations, schools, and stakeholders who make up our community! We advocate with you, for you, and for our future! #community

Celebrate Acts of Service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 22:01:06 GMT

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is; What are you doing for others?”
-Martin Luther King, 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 acting on his call to the service of others. When we recognize that the numerous gifts made abundant in our lives come to us unearned, entitlement falls away, and our mindset turns to grateful living. This allows us to see the difficulties experienced by others as equally undeserved and creates a drive in us to make sure that all people have access to the safety, rights, comfort, and privileges that we might enjoy.

The impact of grateful living is that it cultivates a sense of sufficiency and abundance, instilling in us a desire to serve others with the courage and commitment that supports meaningful change. In a 1968 sermon, Dr. King shared, “If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, then my living will not be in vain….I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others so that we can make of this old world a new world.”

Kingdom Trails recognizes our own impact on the local community, both economic and social. Mountain biking is an expensive sport that can create an economic barrier for youth participation who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. We find that KT's role in providing opportunities to youth is vital to the growth of a healthy community, as our organization is a community-built, led, and based non-profit organization.

Today, we’d like to honor many of our partners who offer opportunities for service through programming for marginalized groups that promote well-being, diversity, equity, and inclusion. These opportunities contribute to the KT mission and uplift our core values that define KT in our shared community; “We prioritize access and inclusion,” and “We embrace outdoor recreation, health, and safety as a shared responsibility.”

KT partners with Powered Magazine , a local nonprofit and quarterly publication whose mission is to increase BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) access and expand participation in outdoor activities by combining education and training in a safe and comfortable environment to celebrate joy of being outdoors. In 2023, KT and Powered partnered to create an affinity space that provided programming for BIPOC youth and adults to learn the joys of mountain biking in a safe and supportive environment, with plans to offer this programming opportunity in 2024! Read more about the program here!
KT partners with and supports the Kingdom East School District bike club and summer camp programs to provide trail access for disadvantaged youth from many different backgrounds in the NEK. This youth program offers after-school and summer camp opportunities. It breaks financial and cultural barriers to allow youth to learn how to mountain bike while promoting a healthy lifestyle outdoors. Find out more about the program here!
KT partners with Northwoods Stewardship Center and Burke Mountain to offer KT Kids Ride , a weekly summer bike ride hosted for youth ages 7-14. This ride is free to KT members and presented at the low cost of $5 for non-members. The program is a wonderful educational tool for youth to learn about the KT trails, their surrounding environment, and healthy outdoor exercise. Find out more about the program here!
KT also supports Northwoods Stewardship Center through a scholarship program to give more youth the opportunity to participate in their mountain bike camp. Summer camp program for students with a passion for exploring and understanding the natural world while developing technical mountain biking skills in a safe, fun, and adventurous environment, along with sharing the Ride With Gratitude campaign for sustainable trails and communities. Find out more about the program here!
KT supports Kingdom Kids, a volunteer local nonprofit that works to provide access to the trails for youth through KT memberships and Burke Mountain pass scholarships! Find out more about the program here!

These are a few programs KT participates in, but we know that many programs, organizations, schools, and individuals are doing their part to make outdoor recreation more accessible in the NEK! Contact us at info@kingdomtrails.org if you have any questions on how you can get involved in community programming with KT or our partner organizations!

RESOURCES:

Read more about MLK’s “Beloved Community”: https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/

Read more about “Grateful Living”: https://grateful.org/resource/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-to-serve/

Read more about the history behind MLK Day, and how you can celebrate it: https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/martin-luther-king-jr-day

Reflections from the 2022 KT Mini-Grant Program!

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:15:10 GMT

As 2023 comes to a close, Kingdom Trails is excited to share the progress of grants awarded in 2022 during the 4th Annual KT Mini-Grant Program! In 2022, KT was privileged to receive 17 applications with $73,019 in requested funding for the $25,000 allotted by the Kingdom Trails Board of Directors. This made it the largest number of applications and funding requested since the program began in 2019, and we were able to fund 9 projects! We were grateful for the opportunity to fund these projects that seek to enhance and enrich the life of our shared community.

Take a look at some of the projects a few awardees have been able to accomplish with the funds provided by KT and the local community:

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Adaptive Sports Partners was awarded $2,500 to purchase an enclosed trailer to access more athletes in our community and serve everyone who wishes to recreate! After they purchased the trailer, ASP outfitted the interior with hooks and straps for the bikes to transport safely. The trailer benefited the summer and fall program in the community by storing bikes safely, bringing bikes to various partners, including schools and community organizations, and allowing athletes with disabilities to access different trail locations, including the NEK! (See more pictures below!)

The Town of Lyndon was awarded $2,000 to purchase an e-bike available for checkout at the Cobleigh Library. The outcome led to an opportunity for Lyndon residents and visitors to try an e-bike as an alternative form of transportation in the hopes that overall vehicle miles traveled would be decreased by using an active mode of transportation. The bike was checked out 6 times for 6 weeks straight before winter! Read more about the impact of this new program at this WCAX article!

The Cobleigh Library was awarded $2,850 to build a shed to house the e-bike lending library. They are currently awaiting a zoning permit to have the shed installed. Once approved, they will put down a gravel pad and a prefabricated shed on top of the pad. They are hopeful to have the shed in place, with another e-bike, in time for the 2024 summer season!

The Northeast Kingdom Preschool was awarded $4,250 to build an outdoor playground shelter to accommodate both their infant and preschool play yards, offering the ability to have a dry space to teach, explore, and grow our curiosity on a day-to-day basis throughout the year. In addition to the shelter, this project brought an outdoor classroom to their center to be utilized year-round, offering more opportunities for outdoor learning and exploration. ( See pictures below for the shelter in action!)

The Town of East Haven, VT was awarded $4,400 for a community project that built a 12’ by 14’ gazebo in an area that is between the existing playground and the newly paved basketball court that is adjacent to both the East Haven Community Building and the East Haven section of the KTA trail system. The East Haven Select-board reported that the gazebo was constructed after many weeks by their road foreman and 2 residents, and the structure has been used since June 2023. This is an excellent addition to our Community Building playground area. We appreciate this grant helping to improve our outdoor space. Additionally, Kingdom Trails used the gazebo during our 2023 Landowner Appreciation Celebration, and it's been used for many outdoor functions since! (See more pictures below!)

The Northwoods Stewardship Center was awarded $2,000 for Northwoods has revitalized programs with new hands-on materials, grown our confidence with and knowledge on the care and handling of raptors, and sparked students’ wonder for native wildlife. To enhance visitors’ experience at Northwoods, they designed and ordered signage for the mew of our resident barred owl, Oberon. With these signs, visitors can learn about Oberon’s personal story, threats facing other raptors like her, and the unique adaptations of our most common, but rarely seen species of owl. They have also purchased the first piece to expand the hands-on wildlife artifacts collection: a set of silicone life-size replicas of 16 species’ scat and tracks. With these materials, their wildlife tracking and mammal movement programs have taken on a new life as students have a hoot comparing the artificial poops to one another, making paw print art, and creating plaster molds of bobcat and bullfrog feet - and of course, the occasional human hand. Allocating half of the supporting funds to staff time for the wildlife ambassador program has allowed the Northwoods Education Program Coordinator to dedicate more time to creating lessons, training Oberon and exploring enrichment opportunities for her, and attending a more in-depth raptor handling and husbandry training with their partner at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS). Read more about Northwood's Outdoor Education Programs here! (See more pictures below!)

The East Burke School was awarded $1,000 to help purchase a brand new American Harvester Cider Press and Grinder for one of their school’s most beloved traditions. Each fall, EBS students and teachers shake their neighbors’ trees for fresh apples that they manually grind and press for the annual apple cider fundraiser. In addition to cider-pressing, students learn how to make the most of Vermont’s apple abundance by putting surplus to use in chutneys, cider vinegar, fire cider, boiled cider, and more. In 2021, EBS pressed more apple cider than ever, but their aging equipment proved increasingly inefficient and painful to operate. The new press’s double-tub design will allow for grinding and pressing to occur simultaneously, offering the greatest efficiency and output available in a hand-operated mill. Students began assembling the press in April and utilized it throughout the cider season, cranking out over 60 gallons of cider! (See more pictures below!)

Lyndon Town School was awarded $5,000 to jumpstart a ski and snowboard program at the school! These funds allowed the school to offer this program free of charge to interested students, essentially erasing a barrier to participation many students faced. In the winter of 2023, every single 6th-8th grade student was able to participate in winter sports at LTS, choosing either skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or snowshoeing!

Thaddeus Stevens School was awarded $1,000 for renovations to the red building on their new East Burke campus that offers students art and music classes. Funds were used for electrical improvements of the building, which serves as a classroom for music and art for TSS students! Additional lighting and outlets were added to maximize the functionality of the classrooms, including installing eight horizontal LED lights and four new electrical outlets!

Donations help fund programs like the KT Grant Program. Together, we can make a difference!
Make your gift at kingdomtrails.org/donate today to provide support and help sustain programs like these.
Thank you all! We are SO grateful!

The Joy in Mountain Biking

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:17:46 GMT

Finding joy on the trails!

We love the outdoors. We love feeling the crisp and fresh air that permeates our lungs as we navigate the forest trails. We love the land. We love our community. We love our landowners, whose generous gift of access makes Kingdom Trails and programs like these possible. We also recognize that KT was founded and built upon lands first inhabited by the indigenous people of this region, the Abenaki, and we seek to honor and acknowledge their ancestors and allies, both past and present. These ideals form the bedrock of our mission and embody our core values , exemplified by commitments to "prioritize access and inclusion" and "embrace outdoor recreation, health, and safety as a shared responsibility." We find joy on the trails and exploring the land, and we wish to share this joy with everyone.

Powered Magazine is a nonprofit organization created by and for people of color who find joy in the outdoors. Powered's mission is to magnify the full spectrum of identities that represent outdoor lovers and promote physical, mental, and social well-being in communities of color through outdoor engagement. In 2023, KT and Powered partnered together to create an affinity space that provided programming for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) youth and adults to learn the joys of mountain biking in a safe and supportive environment. Both organizations saw the joy mountain biking can provide and wanted to offer an experience to those who may not have the opportunity to learn to ride. Together, we set three dates for each program throughout the summer of 2023.

Mountain biking is more than just a recreational activity; it's a dynamic tool for engagement and empowerment. Riders learn the technical skills of mountain biking and gain confidence, resilience, a sense of accomplishment, and belonging in a mountain biking community to find joy. These Programs reached 12 new adults who learned new skills in the morning through two BIPOC instructors partnered with Powered, and then tested their new knowledge on the trails in the afternoon! Many sought a chance to return to develop their new skills further! Programs like Powered can serve as a platform for building a supportive community where participants can share experiences, overcome challenges, and celebrate triumphs together. As a group leader with Powered noted: “Our participants found joy in MTB and the natural beauty that surrounds KT.” The joy of being outside and learning with each other!

Unfortunately, the youth programs never had a chance to run due to extended rain and thunderstorms. But Powered and KT saw a deep interest in furthering youth programming with Powered and local diverse youth! Along with the vast success of the adult program, we are both invested in continuing programming in 2024!

Kingdom Trails would like to extend our deepest thanks to The Wildflower Inn for providing access to their gazebo and field next to the trail network, Sport Thoma for working with KT to provide bikes for the adult programming, and Kingdom East School District for their willingness to provide youth bikes from Burke Town School. We are SO grateful for amazing community partners that make programming like this possible!

#thankyouktlandowners, for making programs like this possible! We #ridewithgratitude for you!

KT Winter Trails are OPEN with Early Season Conditions

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:44:55 GMT

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From the mountains to the ocean, everyone has a story….

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:26:57 GMT

Everyone has a story to tell!

Everyone has a story to tell! From the mountains to the ocean, stories bring communities together. Back in May, Kingdom Trails had the fortunate opportunity to welcome Timna Varela Sanchez from Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras to our community for four weeks! Timna was matched with KT by the Institute for Training and Development (ITD) Fellowship, a program funded through the US State Department whose works bring together professionals from around the world to share cultures, exchange ideas, deepen understanding, and spread knowledge. Timna is the Executive Director of Partners in Education Roatan (PIER) , a nonprofit organization working diligently to educate local youth and adults in creating an economy based on sustainable tourism, investing in local cultural experiences, protecting the environment, and supporting local business. Roatan is a tourist destination renowned for diving at part of the Mesoamerican Reef - the second-largest barrier reef system in the world. Our match highlighted the parallels between KT and PIER, encompassing our efforts in community engagement, sustainability, and environmental awareness, as well as our efforts with destination management, education, and economic viability.

Fueled by her experience with KT , Timna developed an Action Plan for PIER to develop a Collaborative Management Community Strategy for sustainable tourism in the West End Village of Roatan! PIER wanted to address the growing pressure on the natural environment and the area’s significant challenges to foster sustainable development from stable tourism growth throughout the last 20 years. One major point of focus would see PIER establish a Tourism Stewardship Committee to coordinate efforts with West End community key stakeholders. Another key point of focus would establish a West End Community Center that would serve as a cultural center, providing visitors with information on cultural heritage, tourist information, and monitoring tourist satisfaction. Timna's insight recognized the value in bringing together her community to spearhead these efforts through partnerships dedicated to prosperity on the island. We deeply valued our time with Timna at KT as it led to our own personal growth from this experience. Timna brought a wealth of knowledge, experience, and advice that strengthened our team and the work we do in our community. Timna returned to Roatan in June, and she kept in touch as her project developed with help from the PIER board, community stakeholders, and partner organizations in Roatan.

In November, Lukas was invited by ITD to visit Timna and PIER for a week-long trip to the Caribbean! Lukas had the incredible opportunity to connect with many extraordinary individuals during his time in Roatan, spanning a diverse number of local businesses, tourism office, recreation-focused organizations , municipalities, mayors of two municipalities , the local university, and the dedicated members of PIER’s Board of Directors and volunteers. The experience was profound, and Lukas found himself immersed in vibrant perspectives and initiatives, including the many correlations that Timna had accurately noted during her May visit to KT. Throughout countless conversations, a resounding theme emerged – community. Roatan, a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, including native islanders, Hondurans, Garifuna, expatriates, and tourists, fosters a tight community that passionately advocates for sustainable tourism and educational programs with universal benefits to all who live there and visit the island. Many groups actively engage in partnership with each other to protect the coral reef, develop sustainable housing, and educate visitors on the culture that surrounds the beauty of the island.

PIER is actively involved in educating local students and enabling adults through sustainable tourism initiatives. It is inspiring to witness PIER's direct impact as they navigate various educational avenues. The locals' recognition that the development of sustainable tourism is vital to the economic future speaks to the significance of PIER's multifaceted efforts. These efforts even motivated younger generations of students to explore career paths centered on sustainable tourism, and Lukas had the opportunity to speak to local university students about the history of Kingdom Trails, our own path to sustainability, and our capacity study that continues to guide KT to this very day!

One story that inspired Lukas was that of Island Honey, a local honey producer that manufactures honey-based products only sold on the island. It was fascinating that the family that owns Island Honey felt empowered to find a new direction to support the tourism economy and themselves, but also establish a sustainable business that can thrive for years based on the economic shift in Roatan. When commercial fishing began to dry up, they brought honeybees to the island and opened production in 2013. They first started with 12 bee boxes and have since expanded to 125. Island Honey can be found all over the island and is an organic product. They produce honey and an array of unique products such as lotion, soap, and a honey eucalyptus-infused drink. Island Honey has developed a new way to support the local economy, community, and themselves. At the same time, initiatives like Island Honey have become an example for many community members who rely on the tourism industries such as diving, restaurants, and cruise ports. Island Honey continues to grow, including seeking more property to purchase more bee boxes while they seek funds to develop an online presence to take their product global! Their inspiration and success story is why it’s vital to support community initiatives that help promote sustainable tourism. We see correlations here in the Northeast Kingdom, such as maple, coffee, and craft breweries, amongst many others! Our community works together to support each other, and are key examples of success in an economy built on outdoor recreation.

Stories and experiences like these are how we grow wisely, by listening, learning, and evolving . We never know which collaboration is around the corner and the impact we could have. So, keep sharing each other's stories. View experiences as a learning opportunity. Keep taking the time to listen. Remain curious, remain open. Keep looking for inspiration to help others. We are so grateful for this unique experience that united KT with Timna and PIER. We are equally thankful for this remarkable community, our landowners, and stakeholders who welcomed Timna in May, and continue to support KT as we work towards sustainability for generations to come.

#thankyouktlandowners you make these opportunities possible. We #ridewithgratitude for you!

2024 KT Winter Operations

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:44:47 GMT

Winter Season Opening Policy

The winter trail network may only open for the season after a substantial stretch of below freezing temperatures to allow the ground to thoroughly freeze AND after the end of the muzzleloader hunting season (this year that date is December 10, 2023).

The fatbike trails will open to fatbikes (tire 3.5 inches or wider) as long as the ground is frozen and can be ridden without causing damage to the trail surface.
If there is no snow, regular mtb tires are allowed on open trails.
The groomed ski trails will open when the ground is frozen and we have received a sufficient amount, preferably 6-8”+ of snow to groom and maintain.
The snowshoe and backcountry ski trails are open when the ground is frozen and snow coverage allows.
If there is no snow, foot travel is allowed on open trails.

For up to the minute trail conditions and information on which trails are open or closed, visit our trail conditions page.

Winter Trail Crew

KT is proud to employ a grooming team through the winter season that grooms on a consistent basis: CJ Scott our Trail Director, Geoff Whitchurch our GIS Analyst & Trail Manager, Deste Relyea our Signage & Trail Manager, and Evening Groomers Mike Halvorsen & Emmett Hinman.

Grooming Equipment

The team uses a variety of snowmobiles and implements to groom the fatbike and nordic ski trails dependent upon conditions.

Nordic equipment:
Skidoo Wide Track LX snowmobile
Yamaha VK snowmobile
2 Tidd Tech drags with track setters
2 compaction rollers
Fat Bike equipment:
2014 Skidoo Tundra
Various handbuilt drags for all conditions and commercially built drags to use in sufficient deep snowpack.

Nordic Ski Trails

The skate ski lanes are groomed and classic tracks are reset when surface conditions and snow depth is suitable. Our groomed ski trails are closed to fat bike use. However, snowshoers are allowed on the groomed ski trails, but should be mindful to avoid disrupting the classic track set. We welcome ski use on all trails throughout the winter network.

Fatbike Trails

Fatbike trails are groomed as needed. Once the surface is packed and set up (also known as hardened); tire, snowshoe, and ski traffic can be the best method for maintaining an optimum surface. We plan to groom next when there is an accumulation of 2+ inches or the previously packed surface becomes compromised and can effectively be improved with our machinery.

While the fatbike trails may remain open after a significant snow event, we encourage people to wait until the surface sets up before accessing trails by fatbike as the soft snow creates unenjoyable conditions and tires will cause ruts that are difficult for our equipment to remove.

When temps are warm and surface conditions are soft or slushy, fatbike access is discouraged. To help riders keep track of the temperature and proceed with caution at their own discretion, there are strategically placed thermometer gauges with educational signage throughout the trail network. As a general rule, if a rider is leaving a rut or having a hard time riding in a straight line, it is best to turn around and wait for the temps to drop and the surface to set up properly before continuing.

General Grooming Policies & Procedures

During the winter season the trails will remain OPEN as long as surface conditions are safe and the ground is sufficiently frozen to accommodate ski, fatbike or snowshoe traffic without causing damage to the trail. Trail surface conditions and closures are always reported on the trail conditions page of our website.

KT utilizes customized weather forecasts provided by Nor’Easter Weather to make the most informed decisions on how and when to groom.

When there is a base and a significant amount of snowfall is forecasted , grooming begins after 2+ inches of accumulation and continues until the snowfall ends.

If there is low, or no existing base, this can affect the frequency of grooming. Our Crew will wait for a more significant accumulation of 6+ inches before they start grooming since thin conditions can lead to damaging the trails, like digging up dirt, or even being detrimental to our equipment. There is a balance in these scenarios when less is more, and the surface, as well as the snowpack, can remain more sustainable with less manipulation.

When grooming soft or slushy snow in warm temps, it is critical to find the window of time when the surface consistency is accessible for manipulation and our equipment is manageable, as snowmobiles are difficult to steer and drags can get bound up with heavy wet snow.

Icy conditions are also challenging as we operate without a tiller, the machinery used to break up ice. When conditions become icy, we will make sure to communicate through all avenues, the necessity for caution and recommend proper equipment such as studded tires and snowshoes with crampons. And if safety requires it, we will close trails.

Dogs

*Please remember, even in the winter, Dogs are only welcomed on the Village Trails.

Welcome Center Operations

Our visitor experiences are overseen by Sean Skrzypiec, our Operations Director, and our Membership & Experience Manager Cedelle Sirjane. The KT Welcome Center location and hours of operation are posted here

Parking

Parking locations to access the winter trail network are posted here .

Membership

Trail access is allowed for KT Members. Daily, Monthly, and Annual Memberships and locally produced and sourced merchandise that supports the KT mission can be purchased at the KT Welcome Center or from our online store . Purchases made from the online store are shipped or are available for local pick-up, during regular business hours.

Annual KT Members who purchased their membership during the Summer season and would like to receive their Winter stickers, please email info@kingdomtrails.org and we’ll gladly pop them in the mail.

Trail Maps

A digital version of our winter map is available on the Trail Map page of our website. You may also download the Ondago GPS app for navigation when on the trails. Printed versions of the map are available at our Welcome Center or from the map kiosk on the exterior of the Welcome Center.

Ride With Gratitude

Please adhere to the Ride With Gratitude Code of Conduct.

BOD Retreat ReCap & Strategic Plan Update

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:31:48 GMT

The Future is Bright!

Although trails are closed for the season, that doesn’t mean the work stops! The 12-member volunteer KT Board of Directors met for their annual Board Retreat on Sunday, November 5th, at the DoNorth CoWork Space in Lyndonville. Fueled throughout the full day by Freighthouse and Mosaic , it was an extremely positive and productive day dedicated to the future planning of Kingdom Trails.

Cynthia Stuart of Stuart Consulting led the KT Board through team bonding, board roles and responsibilities, and continued our Strategic Framework process. Many of KT’s stakeholders; landowners, trail enthusiasts, and local community members and businesses, have been invited to participate in focus group meetings, plus participated in KT’s recent online survey to define the organization’s goals, measure performance against our mission, foster organizational alignment, and ignite inspiration! Findings from this community engagement were presented by Cynthia to the Board.

Throughout this planning process, KT’s intention has been to analyze and emphasize the various facets that constitute Kingdom Trails in its ongoing development and growth. Four ‘Crowning’ Principles have emerged from this pre-planning research. These focal areas were the foundation of the Board’s discussions and deliberations;

Supporting the Trail Network
Forging Community Connections
Fostering a Thriving Organization
Making a Positive Impact

Cynthia will now be compiling the Board’s feedback on strategies to guide us through the next year. Once organized, she will be bringing these overarching goals to the KT Leadership Team to brainstorm action items to reach these objectives. As soon as 2024 comes, KT will be able to hit the ground running, implementing for success!

We look forward to sharing what we come up with and are grateful to all our stakeholders who have been instrumental in crafting our future. Learn more about the KT Board of DIrectors here .

2023 KT Mini-Grant program awards 10 area projects!

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 22:49:11 GMT

$27,615 awarded to 10 area projects for our 5th Annual KT Mini-Grant Program!!

On behalf of the Kingdom Trails Board of Directors, the Kingdom Trail Association (KT) is delighted to announce that the 5th annual KT Mini-Grant program has awarded funds to 10 applicants around the Northeast Kingdom! KT was privileged to receive 16 applications in 2023 and $56,605.43 in total funding requested as our program grows yearly! Kingdom Trails is grateful for all applicants who submitted an application this year, and thankful for the positive impact they have as we all work together to foster the health of our shared space and community. Kingdom Trails is also grateful to the 100+ landowners whose gift of access has allowed KT to contribute to our community and offer this program.

The KT Mini-Grant Selection Committee awarded funds to applicants who participated in a competitive application process. These applications met the criteria focused on community need, impact, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, public support, and a realistic, effective work plan and budget. The projects must highlight and advance valuable local endeavors that promote recreation, health and wellness, education and training, environmental stewardship, economic viability, heritage and culture, and the creative arts.

We can’t wait for you to see the impact these projects have on our local community!

The 10 awarded projects include:

Adaptive Sports Partners: Adaptive Swim Project, Awarded $4,500: The Adaptive Swim Project at Adaptive Sports Partners sought funding to expand and enhance ASP's successful two-year initiative of providing adaptive swim lessons in the NEK of Vermont. By certifying more instructors, this project aims to meet the increasing demand and ensure year-round availability of high-quality adaptive swim lessons, promoting inclusivity and accessibility in aquatic sports for individuals with disabilities. The funding will cover the Swim Whisperers’ Level 1 Course to certify 10 instructors to offer adaptive swim lessons and purchase adaptive swim equipment for programming!
Lyndon Town School: Winter Activities Program, Awarded $3,500: This project seeks to expand the Winter Activities program, which was started at Lyndon Town School last year. Through a 2022 KT Mini-Grant, LTS 6th-8th graders could choose a winter sport of their choice free of charge, allowing students to pursue any outdoor winter recreation opportunity that appealed to them, regardless of cost. Now in its 2nd year, the program sought funds to continue and develop a sustainability plan, including offering scholarships for families, not just individual students. These funds will allow students at LTS to continue exploring the outdoors while LTS develops plans to make this program sustainable!
Newark School: All Kids Ride Project, Awarded $2,000: The Newark School sought to add bikes to their fleet to use for PE, after-school, and experiential learning programs to allow ALL students to ride with a properly fitted bike, with hand brakes that will be safe for all locations such as KT outings and hills within their own campus. The grant funds awarded will purchase four more small bikes with hand brakes so students can easily move from platform striders to pedal bikes with hand brakes. These funds allow the program in Newark to keep bikes in-house without being reliant on borrowing bikes from community neighbors, therefore providing more access to students wishing to learn to bike!
Burke Town School: MTB Program, Awarded $4,000: The Burke Town School Mountain Bike program sought funds to enrich their school’s PE curriculum by introducing a comprehensive Bike Education and Safety Program, specifically for the elementary-age students. This initiative aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, active transportation, and essential safety skills among the students through hands-on bike education and practice. Currently, BTS has mountain bikes for their middle school students. The awarded funds will allow BTS to add bikes to their fleet that will fit younger students and increase the equability of the Bike Education and Safety programs. The BTS school campus can be a vital learning ground for all our students to become competent riders and promote a healthy, active lifestyle! These funds will allow students to progress from bike to bike in an educational setting!
Lyndon Institute: Hilltopper Club Program, Awarded $2,500: LI requested funding to cover the expenses of local students from LI to participate in the Hilltopper Mountain Bike Club at St. Johnsbury Academy. The awarded funds will allow students to attend Wednesday and Saturday club rides and participate in mountain bike races organized by Vermont Youth Cycling, expanding access to students who wish to continue their mountain bike racing career!
H.O.P.E: Homelessness Tent Program, Awarded $4,000: H.O.P.E.'s homeless program assists those who find themselves suddenly homeless with emergent needs, whether they be tangible (food, clothing, tents, personal care items) or intangible, helping them access programs and services we are unable to provide through our relationships with collaborating local human service agencies. The awarded funds will allow H.O.P.E. to expand the homelessness program and offer more services to those experiencing homelessness in the NEK.
Town of Kirby: Knotweed Committee Project, Awarded $1,000: Knotweed is a highly aggressive invasive plant that destroys native plants and quickly colonizes areas, particularly watersheds. Initiated in 2019 by Kirby residents Melanie Finn and Dana Caspersen as a private " good neighbor" project to control the spread of knotweed along the roads and watersheds of Kirby, they worked with the Town to map all the infested areas on Town roads and flagged areas to be omitted during the Town's summer mowing regime to slow its spread hopefully. This committee has successfully petitioned the Town to contract the services of Northwoods Stewardship to treat the cut knotweed to eradicate it where possible and prevent further infestation. The funds awarded will help the Knotweed Committee accomplish these tasks!
Lyndon Town School: PROSPER Program, Awarded $2,000: PROSPER (Promoting School Partnerships to Encourage Resilience) is an empirically validated delivery system for supporting sustained, quality delivery of evidence-based programs for middle school youth and their families. The upcoming academic year (September 2023 - June 2024) will focus on building sustainability and increasing awareness. The Life Skills Training and Strengthening Families Program (SFP) will be provided for as many staff and community members as possible. One of the most significant challenges in implementing SFP 10-14 is recruiting families to attend program meetings. To maximize participation and retain families, these funds will be used to offer meals and childcare during programming, allowing more families to attend!
Thaddeus Stevens School: Expedition Program, Awarded $1,500: TSS sought financial support to help build out their Expedition Program. Specifically, TSS requested support to cover the cost of memberships to organizations that provide educational resources, networking, and expensive gear required for outside excursions. These programs advanced KT’s mission by marrying recreation and education for TSS students and, ultimately, NEK youth beyond TSS! The requested funds will support more programming for youth!
East Burke Fire Brigade: Upgrades to Remote Rescue Vehicle , Awarded $2,615 : Kingdom Trails donates $8,000 annually to the East Burke Fire Brigade to support operations that benefit the community. This year, they needed additional support for repairs and maintenance to the remote rescue vehicle used to rescue trail users around the KT trail network. We are honored to partner with the East Burke Fire Brigade and support local operations!

To learn more about the KT Mini-Grant program and how to apply for next year’s cycle, please visit https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant . Applications will open in late July 2024 and close at the end of September 2024. Any questions can be sent to us at grants@kingdomtrails.org .

KT Costume Contest!

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:17:40 GMT

October 28-31, 2023

This year for the final few days of the season, we invite you to hit the trails in your most creative Halloween costume yet for a chance to win an Annual KT Membership or some cool KT swag! Costumes will be judged by an impartial committee and winners will be announced on November 1st. Contestants must submit a photo of themselves in costume on the trails by posting the photo to your Instagram page and tagging @kingdomtrails, or email the photo to info@kingdomtrails.org with "Costume Contest" in your subject line.

We encourage you to also consider entering your photo in our 30th Anniversary Photo Contest for the chance to go down in history by being featured in our commemorative Photo Book coming out in 2024!

1st Place Prize: KT Annual Membership

2nd Place Prize: KT T-shirt

3rd Place Prize: KT socks

Photos must be taken on KT trails.

Participating contestants agree to photos being shared on KT Social Media pages.

Annual Membership Sale and Season Closing Date Newsletter

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:55:47 GMT

Enjoy Late Fall on the Trails!

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Trails to Remain Open for Youth/Novice Hunting Weekend

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:52:13 GMT

Sharing the Outdoors!

With the guidance of the Landowner Advisory Committee, KTA has made the decision to remain open for the 2023 Youth/ Novice Hunting weekend, October 21-22. The trail network will close for the season on October 31st.

In 2021, prior to Youth Hunting Weekend, the KTA Landowner Advisory Committee held an in-depth and deliberative meeting to discuss the potential closure of trails during youth/novice hunting weekend. Local game Warden, Cody Jackman of East Haven, was available to share and answer questions. We learned that in Vermont, written permission must be sought from the Landowner by the youth or novice hunter to participate in that weekend and they must be accompanied by an unarmed adult with a valid hunting license. According to Nicole Meier with Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s hunter education program, “People enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways and as long as everyone treats each other with respect, there are rarely conflicts. With a little planning, hunters and other outdoor recreationists can both safely and courteously enjoy their pursuits and share the woods without any issues,” said Meier. “Everyone should feel welcome in the woods at any time of year,”

If you are planning to hit the trails during youth/novice hunting weekend, with respect for the shared use, we encourage you to:

Wear bright colors
Plan outings closer to the middle of the day when the lighting is best.
Favor high-use public areas or trails.

More info on youth hunting weekend and sharing the outdoors can be found on the State’s Fish & Wildlife youth hunting site . And VT’s Fish & Wildlife site on sharing the outdoors .

We appreciate your support.

Please email info@kindomtrails.org with any questions.

Sonny's is OPEN!

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:42:28 GMT

New trail in Moose Haven Forest open with temporary re-route.

This .6 mile (to be longer upon completion) blue square is OPEN! Though not fully complete until next year due to this season's wet condition delays, we just could not wait to let you all ride it with some minor re-routes. Built by IdeRide in collaboration with KT, this mellow and rolling machine built trail circumnavigates the field around the gazebo at the top of the Moose Haven network, and features remnants of an old saw mill, numerous old stone walls, and stunning views of Burke Mountain.

New Trail, Photo Contest, & More Newsletter

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:55:50 GMT

Next year we turn 30!

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On a besoin de votre contribution !

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:38:04 GMT

Aidez-nous à façonner l'avenir des KT en répondant à notre questionnaire sur la planification stratégique.

Chers amis,

Kingdom Trails entame un parcours de planification stratégique stimulant afin de mesurer ses performances par rapport à sa mission, de favoriser l'alignement organisationnel, de formuler des objectifs stratégiques pour l'année à venir et de susciter l'inspiration ! Vos idées et vos opinions sont essentielles pour guider notre processus. Nous vous invitons à participer en remplissant un questionnaire destiné aux parties prenantes et axé sur les quatre principes fondamentaux des KT : tisser des liens avec la communauté, favoriser une organisation prospère, soutenir le réseau de sentiers et avoir un impact positif.

Il vous faudra environ 20 minutes pour répondre à ce sondage. Nous comprenons que votre temps est précieux et nous apprécions votre volonté de contribuer. Vos réponses resteront confidentielles et ne seront utilisées que pour améliorer notre planification. S'il vous plaît, remplissez le questionnaire d'ici le 8 septembre.

Sachez que votre participation à cette enquête fait partie intégrante de notre approche collaborative pour l'avenir. Vos idées nous permettront de prendre des décisions éclairées qui profiteront à l'ensemble de notre organisation. Ensemble, nous pouvons façonner un avenir prospère pour les KT et notre communauté.

Nous vous remercions d'avance pour votre précieuse contribution. Nous vous en sommes très reconnaissants !

Abby Long

Directrice exécutive, Kingdom trails

Strategic Framework Survey

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:30:28 GMT

Help shape KT's future by contributing to our Strategic Planning Survey.

Dear Friends,

Kingdom Trails is embarking on an exciting strategic planning journey to measure KT’s performance against its mission, foster organizational alignment, formulate strategic objectives for the upcoming year, and spark inspiration! Your insights and opinions are vital in guiding our process. We invite you to participate by completing a stakeholder survey focused on KT's four Crowning Principles: forging community connections , fostering a thriving organization , supporting the trail network , and making a positive impact .

The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. We understand your time is valuable, and we appreciate your willingness to contribute. Your response will be confidential and only used to enhance our planning. Please complete the survey by September 8th .

Know your participation in this survey is an integral part of our collaborative approach for the future. Your insights will enable us to make informed decisions that will benefit our entire organization. Together, we can shape a successful and impactful future for KT and our community.

Thank you in advance for your valuable input. We are so grateful!

Abby Long

KT Executive Director

NEK Community Hub Master Planning Continues

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:16:26 GMT

Last October, KT announced that we had been awarded another USDA Rural Business Development Grant to pursue the Master Planning phase of an NEK Outdoor Recreation Community Hub serving as a new KT Welcome Center with offices, parking, workforce housing, as well as host community gatherings, programming, and promote local and regional activities and businesses. This Outdoor Recreation Hub was a top recommendation identified in the 2021 KT Capacity Study , a planning process conducted by Vermont based SE Group Engineers and informed by you, our community, through public forums, surveys, and on site studies to address safety, congestion, and capacity of the Kingdom Trails network in order to enhance the network's positive impact on our host communities. As a community-focused organization, KT is comprised of landowners, community members, business owners, trail users, local officials, friends and neighbors. Our local community's wishes and needs guide our every decision. We are grateful for the direction that the capacity study provides by outlining our community's recommendations for improvements. To learn more about the Capacity Study, visit our website here .

Finalized in 2021 , based on public input, the Capacity Study identified the current KT Welcome Center location as a cause of congestion due to insufficient parking for KT staff, trail users at current levels, and safety concerns with road crossings. However, it was clear through this feedback that our community also felt strongly that the Welcome Center remain centrally located in the village of East Burke. The 10-acre parcel of land, which has been owned by KT since 2011 in the village and on the trail network, was identified as the space needed to accommodate a new center as well as a sustainable municipal parking solution. SE Group also explored the safest entrance and exit locations to access the KT-owned parcel. It recommended the purchase of two abutting properties to obtain the safest and lowest impact access on the community to the proposed area. KT worked together with the Tower family, the owners of the two residential homes in front of and abutting KT’s land, to purchase the properties this Spring 2023. Thelma Tower has life tenancy in her home, while KT will seek historic preservation funds to renovate the other to its original character and provide much-needed workforce housing and office space for KT staff.

*This screenshot captured from the Capacity Study is just a recommendation. In actuality, these will not be the access points nor footprint size of the Community Hub.

Throughout this Master Plan phase, SE Group and KT have continued to engage with stakeholders, plus performed site analysis to inform design concepts. KT has met with KT landowners, neighbors, area businesses, community members, and town administrators to explore visioning as we seek to be conscientious and diligent in consideration for all matters. Please know that we do not take this project lightly, and each step is measured. We serve you, our community, through each decision and action.

As reported last year, the initial timeframe for the Master Plan phase was estimated at 9 months. We are now entering into the final stages of this exploration with design concepts for the building and site soon to come. The intent of the design is to ensure the project captures the vision, programmatic needs, and operational logistics KT and the community are hopeful for. There have been questions as of late regarding parking capacity and other types of details. We promise that as soon as there are findings, we will share them with all!

Please know that we welcome all questions or concerns; we are accessible any day of the week at the KT Welcome Center in person, by phone at (802) 626-0737 or by email at info@kingdomtrails.org. And of course as always, you can also catch us at one of our monthly Community Chats . The next one is August 22nd, 4-5 pm at The Hub, 2099 Darling Hill Rd. Lyndonville.

If interested in the Capacity Study process, below is a compilation of all blog posts and recommended projects completed in the capacity study.

Capacity Study blog posts throughout the process

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/community-hub-master-plan

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/capacity-study-done-and-done

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/network-capacity-study-recommendations-are-in

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-network-capacity-study-progress-report

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/network-capacity-study-update

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kingdom-trails-network-experience-survey

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/network-capacity-study-visioning-survey-results

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/network-capacity-study-public-workshop

Capacity Study recommendations:

https://segroup.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=ff307acd023440d585c3c62aec25b47c

Place Making Recommendations:

Welcome Center Master plan phase

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/community-hub-master-plan

System Wide Recommended projects completed:

Road widening and stop signs added

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/east-darling-hill-rd-project-end

Rumble strips at road crossings

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/new-safe-road-trail-crossings

Partner with Rural Community Transportation to offer free shuttle between trailheads.

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/parking#Shuttle

Utilize technology to notify public of parking lot capacity and status

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/a-weekend-in-the-life-of-our-head-ambassador

Hold monthly KT Community Chats to engage stakeholders on a frequent basis

https://www.kingdomtrails.org/calender-of-events

Trail Pod recommendations completed;

Additional Access to Moose Haven Area; Besaw and Shonter’s Shuffle
Increased trails and use of parking in Dashney/Burke area; Dashney Loop, Less Lumber
Added new connection to White School and Moose Alley; New School
Added new connections on North Darling Hill to White School; Ozias
Added new connection on South Darling Hill to decrease road traffic; Beltway
Enhanced village trail features and accessibility with machine work
Began work on a new trail sector in Kingdom Campground to add parking capacity which will connect to South Darling Hill and increase opportunity for West Burke/East Burke expansion

Kingdom Trails announces 5th annual 2023 KT Mini-Grant Program!

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:10:53 GMT

Applications are now live for 2023 KT Mini-Grant Program!

The Kingdom Trail Association is excited to announce the launch of the 5th Annual KT Mini-Grant program! The purpose of the KT Mini-Grant program is to provide funding for projects that will advance the mission of Kingdom Trails while expressing our gratitude to the communities that host us. It is because of our 105 private landowners that we can offer this opportunity to foster the health of our local community.

Kingdom Trails believes our KT Mini-Grant program will help highlight and advance valuable local endeavors that promote Recreation, Health & Wellness, Education & Training, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Viability, Heritage & Culture, and Creative Arts.

The KT Mini-Grant program will award funds to projects that benefit the communities of Burke, East Haven, Kirby, and Lyndonville, the towns where Kingdom Trails exists. Funds will further Kingdom Trail’s mission, increase the capabilities and capacity of other local organizations and groups, focus on developing a sustainable economy and improve the quality of life for people in these communities while promoting diversity and inclusion.

Projects of 2022 awardees’ include the Lyndon Town School for a Ski and Snowboard Project, Adaptive Sports Partners to purchase a bike trailer to transport aMTB bikes, the Cobleigh Library to build a bike storage shed to store a rental e-bike, the Town of Lyndon to purchase the first e-bike for a lending library, the Northeast Kingdom Preschool to build a new playground shelter for their students, the Town of East Haven, VT for a new gazebo project for residents to enjoy, Northwoods Stewardship Center for their wildlife ambassador program, East Burke School for a self-sufficiency workshops project, and the Thaddeus Stevens School for a renovation project on their new property in East Burke!

For the 2023 KT Mini-Grant program, $25,000 will be available. Requests for funds may not exceed $5,000 per project. Applications opened on Wednesday, July 28th, and are due back no later than Thursday, September 28th at 9pm. Submitted applications will only be accepted through email to grants@kingdomtrails.org . Applications will then be read and scored by the KT Mini-Grant Advisory Committee. Funding decisions will be made no later than 2 months following the submission deadline. Grant applications and instructions are available for download on the KT website, https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant .

Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, schools, governments, or collaboratives. Applicants also may include individuals, teachers, or groups (2 or more) of youth or adults who are working on projects in the community and who need resources to move their projects forward. Previous KT Mini-Grant award recipients are encouraged to apply, but must apply for a new project.

The KT Mini-Grants will be awarded once a year. If you would like to be on the Kingdom Trail’s grant distribution list, or if you have any questions regarding the process or eligibility of the grant process, please see further details on the website or email grants@kingdomtrails.org.

Early Summer Trail Updates, Events, and Free Shuttle Newsletter

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:27:40 GMT

Enjoy the Trails!

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St. Johnsbury Academy Stewardship Day

Mon, 15 May 2023 14:35:53 GMT

KT teams up with Adaptive Partners to rebuild bridges!

Kingdom Trails generates tremendous economic impact throughout the region and is a remarkable recreation resource that our KT staff and board of directors have worked to make accessible to all. Through numerous conversations, engagement, and community efforts, we continue to partner with many diverse organizations to make our trails more accessible. In 2021, KT partnered with the Kelly Brush Foundation and Vermont Adaptive to rate over 100 miles of trail as aMTB accessible. From this collaboration, KT was able to identify 55 miles of trail with the help of Greg Durso, an adaptive rider and Program Director with the Kelly Brush Foundation. Afterward, KT proudly displayed the *aMTB symbol on the 2022 summer trail map for the first time. We are grateful for the guidance and support from our partners as we seek to increase access and opportunity to mountain biking for athletes with disabilities.

In the fall of 2022, in partnership with Adaptive Sports Partners and aMTB rider and Program Manager MiKayla Breie, Kingdom Trails identified a number of bridges that didn’t meet aMTB standards. These bridges also needed to be replaced due to wear and tear. The list included a field bridge on the Loop Trail behind the Inn at Mountain View and a forest bridge on Old Webs near the Chapel. The Loop trail bridge keeps trail users out of a marshy field, and the Old Web’s trail takes trail users over a deep forest floor. Each bridge is just wide enough for an aMTB bike to make it across, but there is no room for error. Reconstructing each bridge to widen them will make each trail more adaptive and friendly for all trail users to enjoy!

In October 2022, KT presented numerous service project ideas to multiple groups of sophomore students at St. Johnsbury Academy, where 24 students chose aMTB bridge replacement to complete their service project on May 5th, 2023, called Stewardship Day. The day was quite epic! We hosted the group of 24 students in two sessions, morning and afternoon. The morning group deconstructed the bridge and set the stringers. The second group decked the bridge and built up dirt hills at either end for bikes to access easily. Both groups participated in the demonstration of a few aMTB bikes on the Loop trail. This experience not only gave the youth a service project to give back to our community, but it taught them the importance of creating access for anyone who wishes to recreate! Our three adaptive partners made this happen, and we are forever grateful for their passion, guidance, and help.

Another remarkable feature was the lumber used to reconstruct the bridge! Most of the lumber used came from our very own sustainable timber harvest on the Darling Ridge conserved parcel in January & February 2023! We used freshly milled hemlock cut to 2x8, 4x4, and 2x6 boards, bridging a true connection back to the land and how deep our community goes. From our own environmental timber harvest to expanding access to aMTB riders at KT, and using the opportunity to educate youth through a service project, this project hit all the marks!

KT continues to find ways to engage in community growth, and we couldn’t be happier with how this day turned out. Next time you are on Loop trail, check it out and revel in the process that made it happen :)

2023 Darling Ridge and White School Trails Opening Newsletter

Wed, 03 May 2023 18:17:09 GMT

Darling Hill & White School Trails to OPEN Friday May 5th!

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Darling Ridge and White School Trails to OPEN May 5th

Wed, 03 May 2023 15:46:59 GMT

Map of trails to OPEN

As the ground dries, the rest of the trail network will open.

Please check kingdomtrails.org/trail-conditions for trail updates.

2023 Community Chats!

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 14:02:34 GMT

Community Chat dates set for 2023!

Hello friends!

Community Chat's are back this summer and fall!! We’re proud of the KT Community Chat series and how much they accomplished the past two years! We got to hear from you, be in community, and understand the role KT has in our community. Get ready for more fun in 2023!

These gatherings help keep KT’s renewed commitment of consistent communication and more accessibility to all. These are relatively informal gatherings hosted on a monthly basis. Goals of the gathering will be a chance for us to share the latest news from KT, yet the bulk of the chats will be an opportunity for KT to hear feedback from you, our community . We want to receive your thoughts, questions, and even visions for the future! KT is a community based, driven, and run organization. Hearing your voice is very important to us.

If concerns are identified through these chats, we hope to demonstrate action and responsiveness, either by addressing the issues during the gathering or following up individually with folks. If it appears to be a broader concern, our team can devote a more strategic effort. There may be times when we are unable to solve every issue or implement every suggestion, but we commit to you now that we will listen and learn.

The full slate of scheduled 2023 Community Chats is listed below! These chats will be about an hour long and hosted at different times and locations for the remainder of the year. Please know KT will not be providing food or drink, but many chats are hosted at venue's that you can purchase a treat!

Questions? Drop us a line at info@kingdomtrails.org. We look forward to seeing you out there! But most of all listening and learning. We are so grateful for this shared community :)

-Abby, Lukas, and all your friends at KT.

Sustainable Timber Harvest on Darling Hill Parcel

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:01:29 GMT

A Changing Landscape for the Health of our Forests

If you find yourself on the conserved Darling Ridge parcel this summer, you’ll notice that things look a bit different. Like how Bill Magill, which had been slowly eroding over time, is now in fabulous shape!

Once you’ve crested the hill and entered the woods, you’ll also notice that the forest is thinned. This makes space for healthy trees to thrive and new space for young trees to sprout. You’ll see disturbed ground surface in the harvest's landing area, remaining compromised wood, and downed woody debris. A successful harvest operation will create woody debris and purposely leave some of the compromised wood to emulate the natural state of an unmanaged forest, providing habitat for wildlife and compost to feed the foliage. This debris also functions as an extra protective layer for the ground surface while the machines are in operation to avoid disturbing the soils. At first, these changes will be very noticeable. But just as it happened 20 years ago, when this property was last harvested, the grass will soon grow in and the healthier forest will integrate the changes.

The Northeast Kingdom upholds a lasting tradition of working landscapes and shared land use, from hunting grounds to maple sugaring stands, pasture lands to timber harvests, even recreational trails for all. KT seeks to embrace this long-standing legacy of a working landscapes, while embodying the fact that recreation and active resource management can coexist. We believe that a holistic land stewardship approach strives for forest health, and is a powerful alternative to land development and permanent land-use change. We support conservation that involves thoughtful resource production to improve long-term forest health and support the local economy. KT’s Executive Director Abby Long is proud to serve on Vermont’s Forest Future Advisory Panel advocating for recreation as part of Vermont’s forest economy.

In 2020, with your support and in partnership with the Vermont Land Trust and Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, KT conserved the Darling Ridge Parcel with pre-existing Current Use enrollment and a forest management plan in place. A timber harvest operation was planned to allow more growing space for healthy trees, diversify wildlife habitat, create a resilient forest to weather the impacts of global climate change, and allow the working forest to help carry some of the ownership cost through selling quality timber products.

Beginning in the summer of 2022, KT Trail Director CJ Scott and then Mapping and Signage Specialist Matt Brabender began working together with Forester Ryan Kilborn of Meadowsend Consulting to determine property boundaries, affected trails, and lay out patterns utilizing old logging roads minimizing active trail crossings. The crew flagged each trail entry so that the locations of the crossings would be visible to the operators in the winter time and could be found in the spring when time to clean up.

Through a public bid process, KT sought to work with an NEK operator and a mechanized crew to care for aesthetics, lessen the overall impact, and for efficiency to minimize the length of time and multiple machine entries for the harvest. Emerson & Sons logging was selected for the project. According to Kilborn “References played a huge part in selecting the Emersons to do the job, and I think the quality of work they showed is a great example as to why they were selected.”

The operation began as soon as the ground froze, the long-term forecast held below freezing temperatures (which was January 31st this year!) Harvesting on frozen ground, and ideally with snow cover, minimizes impact to the ground surface and wood. Harvesting during the winter season also helped KT to minimize the impact of trail closures. The harvest area was approximately a quarter of the overall parcel. Although there were only 5 trail crossings in total, KT ultimately decided to close all trails in the area for the 2 week duration of the harvest to allow for safe and efficient operations. Throughout the process, KT was thrilled with the communication and cooperation between all partners including trail users and the local community. Safety was the number one priority. We appreciated the respect afforded to the trail closures as well as the willingness of Emerson’s crew to modify their plans accommodating our Torchlit Trail experiences and safely allowing the space for a local High School Nordic race. KT ED Abby Long shares, “Working with Ryan, Zach and his dad was a gift. They not only provided an incredible service to our forest and community, they also offered educational opportunities for all to take part in and learn. We are truly grateful for their hard work and dedication to the care of our beautiful landscape that all enjoy.”

With guidance from Kilborn, Emerson’s crew was meticulous in their work, performing selective thinning in the hardwood stands and smaller, continuous tracts of harvesting in softwood stands while removing infected, split or compromised trees for public safety, and to curb the spread of invasive species. The timing of this harvest was fortunate, occurring prior to Emeral Ash Borer beetles affecting the area. According to Kilborn, the next entry (harvest) to this property will likely occur in the next 15-20 years. Throughout the operation, the utmost care was taken to prioritize the health of the forest while considering the recreationalist’s experience of the trails and the landscape. According to Zach Emerson, “working on Kingdom Trails property was a delight. It’s not everyday you have the view of Burke Mountain as your backdrop. The KT project was a huge success, even with Mother Nature throwing in her opinion. All harvesting goals and objectives were met and completed in a timely manner. I’m most excited for the reaction of local folks and the mountain biking community to see the positive change and how a well managed forest can benefit us all when we work together as landowners, professional logging contractors and foresters. We look forward to working with Kingdom Trails in the future.

Woods harve sted were white pine, ash, sugar maple and hemlock for saw logs. The hemlock will be used by KT for bridge building and trail features. The low grade wood harvested will be utilized for firewood at local sugaring operations, hard pulp, softwood pulp, and biomass. A portion of the timber sale proceeds will be put towards repairing the erosion of Bill Magill while the remaining will go toward KT’s Stewardship Fund, which is devoted to caring for our shared lands.

In September of 2022, KT hosted an educational walk guided by Kilborn to learn about the impending timber harvest. We now look forward to hosting a post harvest educational walk and invite all to join us on May 24, 2023 at 4-5:30 leaving from the Wildflower Inn, directly after the KT Community Chat at 3pm.

We’d like to thank Ryan Kilborn and Zach Emerson for a great timber harvest experience, and express our utmost gratitude for the support of our community!

What We Do Makes a Difference: Volunteer with KT!

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:17:44 GMT

Volunteer Opportunities for the Summer 2023 season!

Looking for a way to give back to your community? Interested in how KT builds & maintains the trail network?! Just want to have fun outdoors with your community friends?! Now is your chance to volunteer at Kingdom Trails! Every summer, KT hosts two volunteer programs you can be a part of:

Do you want to ride your bike and meet other trail users?! You could be a Volunteer Ambassador! These three-hour shifts on Saturday & Sunday morning serve our community to educate trail users on the mission, vision, and rules of the Kingdom Trails network. Ambassadors can bring your own bike or work at one of the information tents! Come greet trail users with a friendly attitude, and gently remind everyone of the rules of the trail. Signups are available on the KT website, and we provide training on your first day. PLUS you get a really cool t-shirt! Remember to Ride With Gratitude!

KT also hosts 5 trail work days throughout the summer! You can see them all scheduled HERE! These are usually hosted on the last Saturday of each month from 9am-12pm and could include building a new trail, maintaining an existing trail, or improving an existing trail. You'll learn about trail tools, trail building techniques, and what it takes to keep the network in tip-top shape! Afterwards, we'll have pizza and/or seltzers to celebrate a job well done! These are limited to 20 people due to capacity with tools and staff, and KT sends out online signups 2-3 weeks before each one.

Questions? Want to add your name to the volunteer contact list? Email us at info@kingdomtrails.org.

Thank you for volunteering with Kingdom Trails! We are so grateful for your service to our organization and your community!

La saison estivale approche!

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 14:43:00 GMT

Informations sur le réseau 2023

Le soleil est au rendez-vous, les températures grimpent et la neige fond ! Nous ne pourrions être plus heureux et plus occupés à préparer les sentiers pour la saison à venir ! À l'heure actuelle, il reste encore une bonne quantité de neige et d'humidité sur les corridors de sentiers, de sorte que nous ne pouvons pas encore fixer une date d'ouverture. En attendant, nous espérons que vous êtes en train de préparer votre vélo, de dépoussiérer votre casque et d'acheter votre adhésion annuelle afin d'être prêt à vous lancer dès l'ouverture du réseau !

Malheureusement, tout ne peut pas être toujours sous le signe du soleil et de la chaleur, et nous avons quelques nouvelles décevantes à partager. Cette semaine, nous avons reçu une lettre du propriétaire foncier qui a retiré ses terres de notre réseau le long de Darling Ridge en 2019. Il a décidé de retirer des parcelles supplémentaires. Cela aura un impact sur le sentier Flower Brook de trois kilomètres et sur la section finale d'un kilomètre du sentier White School. Bien que nous soyons déçus de cette décision, nous sommes en communication ouverte avec le propriétaire et nous respectons le fait qu'il ne souhaite pas autoriser l'accès du public à sa propriété. Avec 121 sentiers sur 160 kilomètres, la connexion avec Moose Haven est toujours assurée (même sans Flower Brook) et, à l'heure où nous écrivons, l'équipe est occupée à chercher d'autres connexions et à planifier de nouveaux sentiers.

Ici à KT, nous avons appris que le changement de saison amène des modifications au réseau de sentiers et nous nous réjouissons d'un autre bel été dans le Royaume ! La KT Kids Ride est de retour pour une nouvelle année et nous sommes ravis d'accueillir le camp d'été du district scolaire local et les programmes après l'école, de participer au rassemblement Ride For Mo, de co-organiser le Elevate Women's MTB Summit avec VMBA et NEMBA, de nous associer au Northwood Stewardship Center's All Women Trail Crew, d'attribuer à nouveau les KT Mini Grants au NEK et d'offrir des opportunités de loisirs en plein air pour que TOUS puissent en profiter !

N'oubliez pas de rouler avec gratitude. L'accès aux sentiers sur des terres privées est un privilège, pas un droit. À chaque sortie, n'oubliez pas d'être reconnaissant envers les propriétaires fonciers et les autres personnes qui rendent cet accès possible.

À bientôt sur les sentiers !

L'équipe et le conseil d'administration de l'AC

The Summer Season is Approaching!

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:10:16 GMT

Trail Network Updates

The sun is out, temps are in the seventies, and the snow is melting! We couldn’t be happier or busier prepping trails for the upcoming season! As of now, there is still a good amount of snow and moisture on the trail corridors so we can not yet set an opening date. In the meantime, we hope that you're tuning up your bike, dusting off your helmet, and purchasing your Annual Membership to be ready to rock when the network opens!

Unfortunately, it can’t all be sun and seventies as we do have some disappointing news to share. This week we received a letter from the landowner who withdrew their land from KT along Darling Ridge in 2019. They have decided to now withdraw their additional land parcels from the network. This will impact the three mile Flower Brook trail and a half mile end section of the White School trail. While we are disappointed with this decision we have open communication with the landowner and respect that they do not wish to allow public recreational access on their property. With 121 trails and 96.5 miles of riding, the connection to Moose Haven is still strong (even without Flower Brook) and as we write, the crew is busy looking for alternative connections, and planning new trails and features.

Here at KT we’ve learned that with the change of season often comes change to the trail network and we look forward to another beautiful summer in the Kingdom! The KT Kids Ride is back for another year and we are excited to host the local school district’s summer camp and after schools programs, participate in the Ride For Mo gathering, co-host the Elevate Women’s MTB Summit with VMBA and NEMBA, partner with Northwood Stewardship Center’s All Women Trail Crew, award KT Mini Grants to the NEK again, and offer outdoor recreation opportunities for ALL to enjoy!

Please Remember to Ride With Gratitude . Accessing trails on private lands is a gift, not a right. With every ride, remember to be grateful for the landowners and others who make it possible.

We invite you to reach out with any questions to info@kingdomtrails.org, give us a call at (802)626-0737, or drop in at the KT Welcome Center to chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

We appreciate you!

The KT Team & Board of Directors

Celebrate MLK Jr. National Day of Service

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 15:36:43 GMT

“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

11th Annual Winterbike Fatbike Festival on February 25th!

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 17:34:57 GMT

Mountain Bike Vermont and Kingdom Trails have partnered again for the 11th WinterBike Fatbike Festival!

East Burke, VT - Mountain Bike Vermont and the Kingdom Trail Association invite winter cycling enthusiasts to join us for our WinterBike Fatbike Festival on Saturday, February 25th 2023.

WinterBike is Vermont’s premier Fatbike Festival. Now in its 11th year, the event continues to be the favorite among fatbike fans. Hosted at Mike’s Tiki Bar and on the Kingdom Trails network, the event is situated on the Northeast’s most expansive groomed fatbike specific trail network, boasting over 31 miles of cold-rolled singletrack!

In keeping with tradition, Winterbike will include the usual crowd pleasing ingredients including a morning ride, remote aid station, local vendors, catering by Ranch Camp, beverages from Lawson’s Finest , and so much more!

Based on last year’s new format, we'll be designating a signed and mapped loop suitable for all abilities. Ride at your own pace, with your friends, stay at the aid station as long as you please, and return with everyone to the Tiki Bar HQ party! “We strive to improve the event year over year while maintaining its soul.” Says Lilias Ide, Kingdom Trails Director of Communication and Education. “With the support of a few of our favorite partners, this year is shaping up to be the best to date.”

Capped at 250! This year we're deliberately keeping the event on the smaller side. We've capped the event to 250 participants total. So don't wait to register. It will sell out… and for the first time, KT and MTBVT are excited to offer discounted registration for full time Northeast Kingdom (NEK) residents! For information on this discount visit the event registration page!

Here’s all the information you’ll need to attend this year. Registration for the event gives you access to the Kingdom Trails network and all Winterbike activities on Saturday including the ride route, lunch, beverages, music, fire, games, and swag!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE – as the day approaches we’ll be adding details of the event. Timing is subject to change based on the forecasted temperatures for the day. * Fatbiking is snow condition and weather dependent, so planning out the day will be a game-time decision…

Looking for lodging options? Check the Accommodations listings at www.kingdomtrails.org

Reservations at any of the local restaurants are strongly recommended for that evening.

We look forward to hosting you all at Winterbike 2023. See you on the trails!

Question?

Contact ryan@mtbvt.com

Kicking Off KT’s Next Strategic Framework!

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 12:12:10 GMT

KT is beginning the process of creating a new strategic framework to serve the future of our organization and community.

KT finds itself in the home stretch of our 5 year strategic plan! A plan that so many of our trail users, staff, community members, and especially our landowners were a part of creating. A plan that we believe has been a success! KT has accomplished so much of what was identified by you, our stakeholders.

We are proud that even in the midst of uncertainty we continued to strive. We experienced incredible and at times, fast paced change; a new Executive Director, access challenges, even a global pandemic. We believe we remained grounded in our strategic plan, yet we had to make drastic shifts to the plan to adapt; we extended it from 3 to 5 years, we wove in diversity, equity and inclusion values, and allowed some targets to become obsolete. We have also done so much more, going above and beyond the action items fixed in our plan, with nowhere to account for them. So this is why KT will not be creating another strategic plan, rather a strategic framework.

KT needs a planning process that is agile and responsive. It has to account for the challenges and complexity that we will undoubtedly always face. Traditional strategic plans, like our current one, are built as long lists of strategies with an overwhelming amount of objectives and tasks. We feel this type of plan locks KT into a limited view, much like tunnel vision. These strategic plans specify future action, yet the future is unknown.

Strategic frameworks can be a simpler document with big ideas. It will contain our vision, mission, values, overarching goals and objectives written in a concise, bold way. These are components that define KT and the future we want, while these essential elements stay the same over time. It will be an adaptive plan. On an annual basis we will define, track, and assess projects to coincide with our framework and the reality surrounding us at the time. This allows us to stay true to KT, while being responsive and fluid. Plus we wish to better report out to you for better transparency and to hold us accountable.

KT is thrilled to welcome Wendy Rhein as our Strategic Framework consultant. It is important that KT looks to someone outside our organization to guide us through this process as Board members and staff are most definitely biased. We need a neutral convenor to lead, listen, pull the wisdom from the room, and make sense of it. Wendy will do just that! As she is a nonprofit professional with more than 25 years experience, bringing an extensive skill set crafting strategies aimed at sustainably growing organizations.

KT launched the strategic framework creation process at our Annual Board of Directors Retreat. Meeting at the new classroom in the DoNorth Co-Work Space and fueled by Freighthouse and Mosaic , our 11 member Board, led by Kimberly Penharlow of Kimberly Penharlow Consulting , connected to build stronger relationships with each other, plus began developing a vision statement for KT. Building off the Board’s past work educating themselves on ‘Power Analysis,’ they reviewed structures of power and even learned about a lens of systematic oppression. The Board dove into “intention vs Impact” and were able to be more aware about how power exists and moves throughout our organization. The Board took part in a further anti-racist and systematic oppression training to continue educating themselves and to encourage KT to shift paradigms and perspectives when creating this next framework. Thank you to our Board of Directors for their time, energy, and thoughtfulness.

Now that the Board of Directors has kicked it off, we have begun looking to our incredible stakeholders; trail enthusiasts, community members and leaders, awesome staff, and absolutely our essential landowners. Our facilitator has been hosting one on one and focus group conversations, gathering feedback and asking questions such as, “What is special about KT? What is something only KT can do? What should KT stop doing? And if you could change something about KT what would it be?” We believe public engagement is a key component to creating this framework as KT serves you, our community, and none of it is possible without our landowners.

Next steps, based on the stakeholder sessions, a draft framework we will be produced to test against goals by working with the KT team to create completed plans based on the framework. We plan to put this draft out to the public to solicit feedback once again. So stay tuned!

KT also plans to create a reporting and tracking tool. This tool will allow for quarterly monitoring of projects against the established timelines, budget and goals. This tool will allow the KT Team to quickly and easily assess progress to date and provide data to inform a pivot or shift, making the strategic framework a functional and living tool for all.

We are excited for what’s to come and are grateful to those who have already and soon will participate. Again, it is essential that KT listens and looks to our stakeholders for guidance in order to assure a sustainable and successful future.

“Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.” –Deepak Chopra

2023 KT Winter Operations

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:28:17 GMT

Winter Season Opening Policy

The fatbike trails will open to fatbikes (tire 3.5 inches or wider) as long as the ground is frozen and can be ridden without causing damage to the trail surface.
If there is no snow, regular mtb tires are allowed on open trails.
The groomed ski trails will open when the ground is frozen and we have received a sufficient amount, preferably 6-8”+ of snow to groom and maintain.
The snowshoe and backcountry ski trails are open when the ground is frozen and snow coverage allows.
If there is no snow, foot travel is allowed on open trails.

For up to the minute trail conditions and information on which trails are open or closed, visit our trail conditions page.

Winter Trail Crew

KT is proud to employ a grooming team through the winter season that grooms on a consistent basis: CJ Scott our Trail Director, Trail Crew member Tucker Tirey, and Evening Groomer Mike Halvorsen.

Grooming Equipment

The team uses a variety of snowmobiles and implements to groom the fatbike and nordic ski trails dependent upon conditions.

Nordic equipment:
Skidoo Wide Track LX snowmobile
Yamaha VK snowmobile
2 Tidd Tech drags with track setters
2 compaction rollers
Fat Bike equipment:
2014 Skidoo Tundra
Various handbuilt drags for all conditions and commercially built drags to use in sufficient deep snowpack.

Ski Trails

Fatbike Trails

General Grooming Policies & Procedures

KT utilizes customized weather forecasts provided by Nor’Easter Weather to make the most informed decisions on how and when to groom.

When there is a base and a significant amount of snowfall is forecasted , grooming begins after 2+ inches of accumulation and continues until the snowfall ends.

Dogs

*Please remember, even in the winter, Dogs are only welcomed on the Village Trails.

Welcome Center Operations

Our visitor experiences are overseen by Brooke Pierce, our Operations Director, Membership & Experience Manager Cedelle Sirjane, and Retail Supervisor Millie Wignall. The KT Welcome Center location and hours of operation are posted here

Parking

Parking locations to access the winter trail network are posted here .

Membership

Trail access is allowed for KT Members. Daily, Monthly and Annual Memberships and locally produced and sourced merchandise that supports the KT mission can be purchased at the KT Welcome Center or from our online store . Purchases made from the online store are shipped or are available for local pick-up, during regular business hours.

Annual KT Members who purchased their membership during the Summer season and would like to receive their Winter stickers, please email info@kingdomtrails.org and we’ll gladly pop them in the mail.

Trail Maps

Ride With Gratitude

Please adhere to the Ride With Gratitude Code of Conduct.

Reflections from the 2021 KT Mini-Grant Program!

lukas@kingdomtrails.org (Lukas Ray) — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 13:35:51 GMT

As 2022 comes to a close, Kingdom Trails is excited to share the progress of grants awarded in 2021 during the 3rd Annual KT Mini-Grant Program! KT was privileged to receive $42,685 in funding requests for the $25,000 allotted by the Kingdom Trails Board of Directors. The KT Mini-Grant Selection Committee received 10 applications in 2021 and we were able to fund every application in some way, shape, or form- extending the network’s positive impact beyond the trails and to our shared community! KT is grateful for the opportunity to fund these projects that seek to enhance and enrich the life of our community.

Take a look at some of the projects a few awardees have been able to accomplish with the funds provided from KT and the local community:

---------------

Cobleigh Library was awarded $2,000 to install 2 bike racks, made by Lyndon Institute students, and 1 bike repair station in front of the library for public use, along with educational programming related to use of the repair station. You can hear more about the success of this project in an NBC5 interview with Bryn Hoffman from the Cobleigh Library! (Pictures below!)

The Town of Burke was awarded $3,500 to support the purchase of a 103-acre parcel to establish a Community Forest for use by Burke residents and visitors for educational purposes and multi-use recreation, plus wildlife habitat and corridors, water quality, and wetland protection. You can read more about the success of this project at the Vermont Land Trust website!

Kingdom East School District Outdoor Club and the Hilltopper MTB Club were awarded $2,000 (Outdoor) and $3,000 (Hilltopper) to cover the expenses of 8 KESD students to join the Hilltopper MTB Club to learn biking skills and participate in races organized by Vermont Youth Cycling and develop an Outdoor Club for KESD to create opportunities for students to participate in outdoor activities with proper outdoor gear. Take a look at all the programs KESD is offering through these clubs here! (pictures below!)

Upright Steeple Society was awarded $2,000 To support the restoration of an 1829 Greek Revival Church that now hosts community events such as meetings, concerts, and lectures, reducing heat loss and preserving the historic windows. All the windows and upper/lower sashes were fixed and replaced with storm windows that preserve the historical nature of the building! Upright Steeple can now host community events without the outdoor weather affecting the building. (pictures below!)

The Town of Lyndon and Lyndon Chamber were awarded $2,500 to reinvigorate and reinvent the covered bridges in the Town of Lyndon to be great historic landmarks and lively places of the present, including interpretive, educational signage. Wreaths were hung on all five covered bridges from December to March. Many community members shared appreciation for the wreaths as a small token of care to each of the bridges. Schoolhouse bridge was painted in June by volunteers. A final coat is being applied in September with a different donation source. Two kiosks were installed, one at Sanborn CB and one at Schoolhouse CB, with information about the bridges, the village of Lyndonville, and the Passumpsic River. The graphic design element was created in collaboration with Lyndon Institute Graphic Design program students and Flek, Inc. (pictures below!)

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country was awarded $3,000 to support the NEK community and implement a learn to bike program for people with disabilities. You can hear more about the success of this program in an NBC5 interview with Executive Director Kelly Starr! (pictures below!)

East Burke School was awarded $2,000 to contribute to a Food Forest, providing an educational space, serving as a demonstration center for regenerative agriculture. (pictures below!)

H.O.P.E. was awarded $2,000 for the Backpack Program, a charitable food service providing food to children and their families who are facing food insecurity from 8 area schools. HOPE reported that they averaged roughly 45 bags per week going to 8 different area schools from September 2021 to June 2022! The Backpack Program continues to be HOPE’s most supported and recognized charitable program. One faculty member at Lyndon Town School reflected “One dad let me know that the Backpack Program has been incredibly helpful for him. He was

so appreciative when we were able to assist with making sure his boys have snacks during the day at school. I do a bit of planning to make sure they have items that they’re able to prepare, and it seems to be working well for them.”

KT Mini Grants are funded through donations and memberships, KT is investing in our local community. Make your gift at kingdomtrails.org/donate today to support and sustain programs like these.Together we can make a difference!

2022 KT Mini-Grant program awards area projects!

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:43:51 GMT

4th Annual KT Mini-Grant Program awards 9 applicants!

On behalf of the Kingdom Trails Board of Directors, the Kingdom Trail Association (KT) is delighted to announce the 4th annual KT Mini-Grant program has awarded funds to 9 applicants around the Northeast Kingdom! KT was privileged to receive 17 applications in 2022 and $73,019 in total funding requested, the largest number of applications and funding requested since the program began in 2019! Kingdom Trails is grateful for all applicants who submitted an application this year, and we are thankful for the positive impact they have as we all work together to foster the health of our shared space and community. Kingdom Trails is grateful to the 105 landowners whose gift of access have allowed KT to contribute to our community and offer this program.

The KT Mini-Grant Selection Committee awarded funds to applicants in Burke, East Haven, Kirby, and Lyndon, all who participated in a competitive application process. These applications met the criteria focused on community need, impact, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, public support, and a realistic, effective work plan and budget. The projects must highlight and advance valuable local endeavors that promote recreation, health and wellness, education and training, environmental stewardship, economic viability, heritage and culture, and the creative arts.

Awarded project include:

Lyndon Town School: Ski and Snowboard Project, Awarded $5,000 : Lyndon Town School sought funds for scholarships for 6th-8th graders to ski and snowboard at Burke Mountain. These funds allow the school to offer this program free of charge to interested students, essentially erasing a barrier for participation many students faced.
Adaptive Sports Partners: Bike Trailer Project, Awarded $2,500 : Adaptive Sport Partners (ASPNC), with the growth of equipment and athletes, will purchase an enclosed trailer to access more athletes in our community and be able to serve everyone who wishes to recreate! The trailer will benefit the community by storing bikes safely, bringing bikes to various partners including schools and community organizations, and allowing athletes with disabilities to access different trail locations, including KT.
Cobleigh Library: Bike Shed Project, Awarded $2,850: The Cobleigh Library will install a shed for storing bicycles for check-out, as well as our Book Bike. The Library has partnered with the Town of Lyndon to provide e-bikes for check out to the local community. This will help more people in the community to learn about biking and be able to bike in a comfortable manner, seeking a healthier lifestyle.
Town of Lyndon: E-Bike Lending Project , Awarded $2,000: The Town of Lyndon will purchase an e-bike that will be available for checkout at the Cobleigh Library. The outcome will be an opportunity for Lyndon residents and visitors to try an ebike as an alternative form of transportation, in the hopes that overall vehicle miles traveled will be decreased by using an active mode of transportation.
Northeast Kingdom Preschool: Playground Shelter Project , Awarded $4,250: Building Will a shelter in both their infant and preschool play yards, offering the ability to have a dry space to teach, explore, and grow our curiosity on a day to day basis throughout the year. In addition to the shelters, this project will bring an outdoor classroom to their center to be utilized year round offering more opportunities for outdoor learning and exploration.
Town of East Haven, VT: Gazebo Project, Awarded $4,400 : The project will build a 12’ by 14’ gazebo in an area that is between the existing playground and the newly paved basketball court that is adjacent to both the East Haven Community Building and the East Haven section of the KTA trail system.
Northwoods Stewardship Center: Wildlife Ambassador Program, Awarded $2,000: This project will expand capacity to deliver wildlife programs on campus and at afterschool programs. This includes rebuilding a new mew, building the program to include another visiting raptor (perhaps a Kestrel!) and program development around raptors as a key speciality. This will also include development of new program materials for display and travel for the local communities including Burke, Lyndon, Kirby, and East Haven.
East Burke School: Self-Sufficiency Workshops Project, Awarded $1,000: EBS intends to build on the strong foundation they have established for their Self-Sufficiency Workshop Series with improved offerings designed to strengthen students’ skills and self-confidence, engender in them a greater sense of agency in their ability to contribute to their communities, and help them connect more deeply with the people and places that make the NEK home.
Thaddeus Stevens School: Renovation Project, Awarded $1,000 : Thaddeus Stevens School is completing a number of renovation projects at its new East Burke campus to convert the property into a forever home for the school. The renovation projects are being conducted in phases (driven by priority) and the Thaddeus Stevens School Board of Trustees is leading a capital campaign to help fund these renovation projects. These funds will help convert the basement into an art and music space.

To learn more about the KT Mini-Grant program and how to apply for next year’s cycle, please visit https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant . Applications will open in late July 2023 and close at the end of September 2023. Any questions can be sent to us at grants@kingdomtrails.org .

End of Season Newsletter

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 14:18:22 GMT

Thank you Landowners!

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End of Season Letter 2022

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 14:07:00 GMT

Thank you for another incredible season on Kingdom Trails!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for another incredible season on Kingdom Trails!

As our 2022 Community Report reflects, the word Together wholeheartedly describes this past year.

Together derives from the Old English word togædere , meaning “to be present in one place, in a group…”. The past few years challenged us to find ways to be together, yet the trails always afford us that space.

We are so happy to be back together again with our neighbors to the north, as border closures were lifted and Canadians could once again visit our beautiful community.

Our trail users and community members gathered together for Volunteer Trail Building Days, Community Chats, Vermont Youth Cycling races, summer camps and afterschool bike clubs. The Chamber’s annual Burke Fall Festival and Burke Mountain Resort had the honor of hosting a successful international Enduro World Series event, the first time for this event on the East Coast.

Together our Trail Crew worked hard to build 4.23 miles of new trail and dedicated 1846 hours to trail maintenance. Our Ambassadors and Information Specialists welcomed all, sharing the Bike Borderlands code of conduct; Ride with Gratitude. And the KT Team and Board of Directors engaged with our stakeholders, bringing them together to vision for a future Outdoor Recreation Community Hub that will serve as a KT welcome center.

And our 105 Landowners come together every single day to provide this gift for you. As is tradition, KT even invited them together to enjoy a wonderful appreciation celebration dedicated to them, thanking them for their incredible generosity.

Soon, when Mother Nature deems trails ready to open for the Winter season, we’ll be outside together on the trails again, braving the cold on our nordic skis, fatbikes, and snowshoes.

Until then I hope all is happy and healthy.

Abby Long, Executive Director

Alongside the KT Team & Board of Directors

Community Hub Master Plan

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:35:45 GMT

We’re taking another action step toward our Network Capacity Study recommendations!

KT is proud that we have been hard at work striving toward the solutions deemed by our recent Capacity Study. We have built more connector trails mitigating bikes from the roads, installed safe road & trail crossing tactics, plus welcomed shuttle service back thanks to RCT. All these initiatives have addressed the imbalances throughout the trail system, continuing to improve the quality of life of our host communities to which we are so grateful.

These initiatives came from YOU as public engagement was a key component of the study. Our very own community members drove our priorities and goals. One of the main conclusions was that KT needs a new Welcome Center, yet it should remain in the East Burke Village. To explore this possibility, KT, through the NEK Collaborative, applied for and was awarded another USDA Rural Business Development Grant to pursue the Master Planning phase of an Outdoor Recreation Community Hub.

Through this awarded funding, professional architectural and engineering services have been obtained through SE Group, for the planning and design of the Hub. This Outdoor Recreation Community Hub will serve as a new KT Welcome Center with offices and parking, as well as host community gatherings, programming, and promote local and regional activities and businesses. The Community Hub, which will be ADA and aMTB (adaptive mountain bike) accessible, will strengthen the economic impact across the region, elevate the quality of experience for community members and visitors, and relieve pressure and safety concerns of the Kingdom Trails host community’s rural village infrastructure.

The Master Plan phase for the NEK Outdoor Recreation Community Hub will involve continued stakeholder and KT landowner engagement, site analysis, and the development of design concepts. Already we have met with our landowners, abutters, area businesses, town administrators, and KT Team members to guide us in this visioning, explore our right of way options, and to be good stewards to the river, land, and especially our neighbors.

This master planning project is expected to take about nine months to complete, wrapping up in the early summer of 2023. Future phases of the project, which we are not ready to pursue yet, will include permitting, final design detailing, and ultimately construction and implementation which will be supported by continued grant writing and fundraising by KT. Please know KT commits to you now, that we will continue to keep you informed every step of the way.

Kingdom Trails to Remain Open for Youth/Novice Hunting Weekend

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:13:22 GMT

Sharing the Outdoors!

With the guidance of the Landowner Advisory Committee, KTA has made the decision to remain open for the 2022 Youth/ Novice Hunting weekend, October 22-23. The trail network will close for the season on October 31st.

Last year prior to Youth Hunting Weekend, the KTA Landowner Advisory Committee held an in-depth and deliberative meeting to discuss the potential closure of trails during youth/novice hunting weekend. Local game Warden, Cody Jackman of East Haven, was available to share and answer questions. We learned that in Vermont, written permission must be sought from the Landowner by the youth or novice hunter to participate in that weekend and they must be accompanied by an unarmed adult with a valid hunting license. According to Nicole Meier with Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s hunter education program, “People enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways and as long as everyone treats each other with respect, there are rarely conflicts. With a little planning, hunters and other outdoor recreationists can both safely and courteously enjoy their pursuits and share the woods without any issues,” said Meier. “Everyone should feel welcome in the woods at any time of year,”

If you are planning to hit the trails during youth/novice hunting weekend, with respect for the shared use, we encourage you to:

Wear bright colors
Plan outings closer to the middle of the day when the lighting is best.
Favor high-use public areas or trails.

More info on youth hunting weekend and sharing the outdoors can be found on the State’s Fish & Wildlife youth hunting site . And VT’s Fish & Wildlife site on sharing the outdoors .

We appreciate your support.

Please email info@kindomtrails.org with any questions.

Jobs, Sustainable Timber Harvest, and the Race Back to School!

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:35:11 GMT

The best time of year is here!

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Upcoming Sustainable Timber Harvest on Darling Hill Parcel

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:26:03 GMT

Join us for an Educational Walk Thursday, October 6th at 5pm starting from Village Sport Shop Trailside

As a light breeze combs through rolling meadows, lush woodlands slope toward the river. Where bobolinks flit through the grass in summer, rabbit tracks crisscross snow in winter. Bikers dart between pine trees. Hikers and horseback riders make their way along skid trails. Indeed, bounded on either side by Darling Hill Road and the Passumpsic River East Branch, the recently conserved Darling Hill parcel features stunning natural beauty and some of the network’s most popular trails—Ridge, Rim, Martha’s Pines, to name a few—and also hosts portions of a VAST trail and access to Heaven’s Bench.

Without a doubt, the Darling Hill Parcel’s central role in our trail network’s experience spurred your incredible contributions to allow KT to preserve this land. For that we are truly grateful. This land has a long legacy of active management, including timber harvests, grazing, and sugaring. As we conserved the Darling Hill parcel with a preexisting Current Use enrollment and forest management plan, a timber operation has been planned here for some time. Following the action steps in this plan and working with a licensed forester we will partake in a sustainable timber harvest this winter 2022-23.

This operation will be both healthy for the forest and supportive of our community’s broader goals. The impacted areas represent approximately a quarter of the overall parcel, with selective thinning in hardwood stands and smaller, continuous tracts of harvesting in softwood stands. We will remove many infected, split, and otherwise compromised trees to prevent unexpected deadfall for public safety, curb the spread of invasive species, and improve the overall health of the stand. However, we will retain some weakened trees to provide wildlife habitats for key local species, including songbirds, owls, and bats. Undoubtedly, some sections of the forest may look different, but as younger, healthier species establish, it will ultimately be healthier for the future.

In addition to fostering a healthier forest in the long-run, this winter’s timber harvest aligns with KT’s mission of fostering the health of our community by embodying our support for a working landscape. Similar to farming and sugaring operations, this timber harvest demonstrates how KT trails are not exclusive with other land uses. Not only do KT trails directly stimulate the regional economy, but their coexistence with other land uses provides so many benefits; this operation will support jobs through logging and downstream processing. Moreover, some of the harvested hemlock will be saved for future bridge projects on our trails. Other wood will go to local sugaring operations as firewood. All remaining proceeds will go toward KT’s Stewardship Fund which is devoted to caring for our lands.

An overall land stewardship approach strives for forest health, and is a powerful alternative to land development and permanent land-use change: conservation that involves thoughtful resource production to improve long-term forest health and support the local economy. With this move, KT is not only upholding Vermont’s long-standing legacy of working landscapes, but also embodying the fact that recreation and active resource management can coexist.

To learn more about the upcoming harvest and anticipated impact to winter trail access, we welcome you to join us on Thursday, October 6th at 5pm at Village Sport Shop Trailside for a community walk of the forest. In addition to KT Staff, Northern Regional Forester Ryan Kilborn of Meadowsend will be guiding us. This event is an invaluable time to ask questions and learn more. Come join us in ushering in this beneficial and exciting phase of the Darling Hill parcel!

We appreciate your understanding and continued support of KT. To explain the importance and benefit of this harvest, we have also created signage and media to educate visitors about this timber harvest. Together, we can all be positive stewards of the land and our community by recognizing the synergies between recreation and working landscapes and even by educating others to do the same.

Luke Collins

KT Land Stewardship Intern

Burke Fall Foliage Festival: Saturday September 24, 2022

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 17:24:21 GMT

Expect Road Closures and Slow Moving Traffic in the Village of East Burke.

This Saturday September 24th The Burke Fall Foliage Festival returns to the village of East Burke after a couple of years off! If you are planning a visit to the trails this weekend, there are a couple of very important details to note:

On Saturday from 9:45 AM-10:45 AM, Rte 114 will be closed for the parade from Darling Park to the East Burke Fire Station. To bypass the village, if coming from Lyndonville, take a right off Rte 114 on Mt. Hunger Rd. and take it all the way to the Mountain Rd.

T he Crown Connection Community Shuttle will NOT run on Saturday the 24th .

There will be NO road crossings during the parade . You must wait until the parade is over to cross the closed section of the road. Please plan accordingly.

Mike's Tiki Bar parking lot will be open, but expect heavier than usual traffic in that area . We recommend parking at another parking location. The Dashney Lot or Burke Mtn's Sherburne Base Lodge lot are recommended if taking the Mt.Hunger Rd.village bypass route. KT Parking locations.

Throughout Saturday the 24th, East Burke Village will be hustling and bustling with festival goers. Expect congestion and slow moving traffic. Please drive slowly.

August Trail Updates

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 18:05:05 GMT

August 2022

August Volunteer Work Day Crew

Interesting Fact : From May - August, the KT Trail Crew has put 1187 hours into trail maintenance and 2329 hours into new trail construction.

Our next Volunteer Trail Work Day will be Saturday September 25th, please email lukas@kingdomtrails.org to be added to the volunteer contact list.

Trail Projects Completed August 1- September 1, 2022:

Key to the longevity and sustainability of any trail network, trail rehabilitation is always ongoing. August saw the crew on Ozias, Hog Back, Piggy Back, River Run, NewT, and Bear Back improving drainages, reshaping berms & benches, and repairing bridges.

Continuing to take our direction from our Capacity study that advised new expansion into the Lyndonville area, the construction of a 3 mile loop around Kingdom Campground will be ongoing til completion next summer. This trail will be a combination hand and machine build.

Moriah's Ascent .6 mile climbing trail is dedicated and opened . Click through for the full story on this beautiful trail and it's namesake.

Pete's Dragon in O'Reilly's Backyard opened. An excavated blue square trail with a few black diamond features found off of Lou Lou's, this addition gives riders yet another opportunity to progress their skills to the next level with big berms, smooth rollers, and optional jumps lines. Thank you to the W ildflower Inn for generously providing their land and the trail crew for making the trails. Enjoy!

Thank you to all for your tremendous support. We are so glad to be part of this amazing community.

Kingdom Trails Works With Area Partners to Expand Mountain Biking Opportunities for aMTB Riders!

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 23:32:10 GMT

Hey KT Community!

You might have noticed a new feature on the Trail Map for 2022! Some trails now have the new *aMTB symbol, indicating these have been identified as adaptive mountain bike accessible. Kingdom Trails offers over 53 miles of aMTB accessible trails on the KT network and is proud to partner and collaborate with Adaptive Sports Partners North Country (ASPNC) to provide recreational and programming opportunities to all aMTB riders!

ASPNC Executive Director, Kelly Starr, states that, “This partnership supports programmatic expansion that will allow community members increased access to the beautiful landscapes in which they live. We are eager to build on the work Kingdom Trails has begun in terms of trail accessibility as well as to serve as a resource for athletes with disabilities looking to mountain bike at Kingdom Trails. We have been riding the trails all summer with our athletes, meeting with KT’s staff regularly and having a blast doing it!”

These trails have been ridden and approved by aMTB users and meet the criteria of aMTB friendly trail standards! You can read those standards here. We highly encourage all adaptive users to be accompanied by a support rider while using the network. Trail difficulty ratings are not aMTB specific, yet in some cases aMTB trails have been marked as the easier route. Please remember to follow eMTB policies if you have an e-bike assist. Please note that all bathroom locations (except the Inn at Mountain View parking area) have handicap accessible port-a-lets.

KT owes many thanks to organizations like ASPNC, The Kelly Brush Foundation, and Vermont Adaptive for all the work they've done to incorporate aMTB accessible trails and routes on the KT network! We are grateful for the guidance and support as we seek to increase access and opportunity to mountain biking for athletes with disabilities.

Lukas Ray, Community Outreach & Partnership Director at Kingdom Trails reflects: “The partnership with Adaptive Sports Partners supports Kingdom Trail’s mission to provide recreational opportunities for any and all who wish to utilize our trail network. We’ve been able to establish over 50 miles of adaptive trails, with help from the Kelly Brush Foundation and Vermont Adaptive. Now with ASPNC’s help, KT hopes more trails will become aMTB accessible! Many diverse groups ride at Kingdom Trails, and we are proud of the programs that

will allow more aMTB riders to participate!

For more information visit the KT aMTB page: https://www.kingdomtrails.org/aMTBTrails

Trail Updates

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 18:23:23 GMT

July 2022

2022 KT Trail Crew

So far this summer, KT Crew, volunteers and contracted builders have installed 2.94 miles of new trail to help avoid 2.4 miles of road! With guidance from last year's complete capacity study, we focused primarily on providing safe connections for trail access by bypassing travel on the roads. Our next Volunteer Trail Work Day will be Saturday August 27th, please email lukas@kingdomtrails.org to be added to the volunteer contact list.

Trail Projects Completed July 1- August 12, 2022:

The new phase 4 section of Shonter's Shuffle is COMPLETE! We're pretty excited as this trail has been a long time coming with permitting, grants, and tons of logistics to pull together to make it happen. Built in collaboration with the Ideride crew and of course the landowners, Rick Prescott & Sally Schlueter as well as Rick & Claire Shonter, this new addition to the network is a mechanized build with numerous areas of rock armoring along with berms and rollers. We are most excited about the fact that this newest section of the trail omits over a half mile of travel on Victory Road and when incorporating the Flower Brook Trail offers a loop from our mountain side trails out to the Moose Haven section of the trail network and back without riding on the road!

Moriah's Ascent .6 mile climbing trail is dedicated and open! Click through for the full story on this beautiful trail and it's namesake.

Pete's Dragon in O'Reilly's Backyard is open! An excavated blue square trail with a few black diamond features found off of Lou Lou's, this addition gives riders yet another opportunity to progress their skills to the next level with big berms, smooth rollers, and optional jumps lines. Thank you to the W ildflower Inn for generously providing their land and the trail crew for making the trails. Enjoy!

Fox Run Switchbacks - The machine built blue square/intermediate switchbacks were installed on two of the steeper sections of doubletrack on Fox Run to help make the climb up easier and the descent more fun.

Projects in the works:

A new 3 mile loop around the Kingdom Campground has started up as phase 1 of the new expansion into the Lyndonville area. This is a work in progress that will not be completed this season.
Since most trail crew members have returned to school, we will begin to transition towards various maintenance projects for the latter part of the summer season.

Thank you to all for your tremendous support. We are so glad to be part of this amazing community.

Moriah's Ascent dedicated and open!

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 14:14:24 GMT

To the KT Community:

It's an honor to announce that the new 0.6 mile climbing trail, Moriah's Ascent, is now complete and open!! Named in memory of Moriah Wilson, a rising star in the gravel and MTB race scene, former KT employee, Burke Mountain Academy alumni, and a beloved daughter, sister, and friend to many. We know that this trail will help preserve Moriah’s legacy in our community, a legacy made to live on forever.

Moriah’s Ascent is built as a climbing trail that begins just above the bottom of Moose Alley and brings you to the to Butter Tubs or mid way up Moose Alley. Entirely hand built with multiple switchbacks for a mellow grade, it also offers a few short, punchy climbs. Built to be Adaptive MTB friendly, the trail travels through beautiful hardwoods and towering hemlock stands.

Throughout the months of June and July, numerous and diverse groups donated their time to work on the trail, equaling a total of 200 volunteer hours! Ground was broken on Saturday, June 25th with a mixture of volunteers from the KT Board, community members, and the Wilson’s family and friends. This group cut in the first section of the trail, laying way and direction for future groups and work to be done. Trail crews supplied by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and Northwoods Stewardship Center came next, completing over 100 hours of trail work amongst the groups. From Northwoods came an all-women's crew, the first of its kind working on the KT network! Along with the 9 teenage girl volunteers from the Saratoga Shredder MTB camp, these two groups work to break down barriers and empower women in our local community, a mission close to Moriah’s heart.

Throughout the month of July the KT Trail Crew made headway in constructing the newly cut-in trail, furthering the trail’s length, making way for completion towards the end of July. A large thank you goes to our KT Trail Crew, who work hard to maintain the KT network while building new trails. On July 30th, KT hosted the final Volunteer Work Day on Moriah’s Ascent. Alongside numerous community member volunteers came a youth cycling group from Rhode Island, 1PVD Cycling. A group that envisions a world where all students have a safe place to pursue their physical, social and emotional development, 1PVD Cycling works to overcome obstacles by giving opportunities to students to pursue MTB and cycling opportunities they might otherwise not have had. In the second year of coming to KT, the group has now worked on two trails and continues to return to give back and learn even more!

Moriah’s Ascent will be dedicated on Thursday, August 11th, 2022 with the Wilson Family and numerous community members in remembrance of the remarkable impact Moriah Wilson had on our community. CJ Scott, Trail Director at KT reflected: “The KT Trail crew is honored to help create a lasting memory for Moriah through the construction of this trail by honoring her name and legacy. It is a fitting tribute to her and we are humbled to be a part of celebrating her life with the dedication of this trail.”

We hope that you will feel the reverence, joy, and tranquility as you ride this trail in the future! A huge thank you to all of the volunteers and trail crew for all of their hard work! Another huge thank you to the landowners who made this trail possible: William & Teresa Binney and Burke Mountain Operating Company. Thank you Landowners! Enjoy your first ascent up Moriah’s Ascent, and remember to Ride with Gratitude ;)

Burke Mtn's Enduro World Series

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 18:25:26 GMT

Please Respect our Private Landowners & Community

View Newsletter with live links here.

Kingdom Trails Announces 4th Annual 2022 KT Mini-Grant Program!!

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 12:58:55 GMT

Applications now live for 2022 KT Mini-Grant Program!

The Kingdom Trail Association is excited to announce the launch of the 4th Annual KT Mini -Grant program! The purpose of the KT Mini-Grant program is to provide funding for projects that will advance the mission of Kingdom Trails while expressing our gratitude to the communities that host us. It is because of our 105 private landowners that we can offer this opportunity to foster the health of our local community.

Projects of 2021 awardees’ include the Kingdom East School District to develop an Outdoor Club and participate in Hilltopper Club giving kids the opportunity to bike, the Town of Burke to assist in purchasing 103-acres for the Community Forest for resident and visitor use, the Lyndon Chamber for covered bridge revitalization, H.O.P.E’s Backpack program, the East Burke School’s Food Forest for regenerative agriculture, Cobleigh Library’s addition of a outdoor bike repair station for Lyndon residents and visitors, the Adaptive Sports Partners Learn to Bike Program, the Lyndon Village Improvement Society for Powers Park to receive signage & ADA lift, and the Upright Steeple Society to reduce heat loss and preserve historic windows in historic building preservation.

For the 2022 KT Mini-Grant program, $25,000 will be available. Requests for funds may not exceed $5,000 per project. Applications open on Friday, July 22nd and are due back no later than Thursday, September 29th at 9pm. Submitted application will only be accepted through email to grants@kingdomtrails.org . Applications will then be read and scored by the KT Mini-Grant Advisory Committee. Funding decisions will be made no later than 2 months following the submission deadline.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, schools, governments or collaboratives. Applicants also may include individuals, teachers, or groups (2 or more) of youth or adults who are working on projects in the community and who need resources to move their projects forward. Previous KT Mini-Grant award recipients are encouraged to apply again, but must apply for a new project.

The KT Mini-Grants will be awarded once a year. Grant applications and instructions are available for download on the KTA website, https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant . If you would like to be on the Kingdom Trail’s grant distribution list, or if you have any questions regarding the process or eligibility of the grant process, please see further details on the website or email grants@kingdomtrails.org.

Opening of the Bike Repair Station at the Cobleigh Public Library, June 2022

Mid Summer Newsletter

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:59:54 GMT

Two New Trails, the Shuttle is Running, and "What's Your Policy?" Video Series!

View Newsletter with live links here .

Kingdom Trails IPA Hits the Shelves This Friday, June 24th!

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 01:44:37 GMT

Join us at Mike’s Tiki Bar on Saturday June 25th from 4-7PM for the Launch Party!

Kingdom Trails and Lawson's Finest Liquids are excited to announce the release of this summer’s limited edition Kingdom Trails IPA! This bright and fresh IPA is pale yellow in color, soft and refreshing on the palate with a mild bitterness and an intensely fruit forward and floral nose.

On Saturday, Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Kingdom Trails will be celebrating the launch and connecting with community at Mike’s Tiki Bar from 4-7 PM, with the Vermont Bluegrass pioneers playing from 5:30-8 PM. All are welcome!

Proceeds from this first KT IPA batch of the summer will be donated to the Moriah Wilson Fund to provide funding to organizations that support and expand access to recreation, sports, and educational programs promoting healthy lifestyles and community engagement for all.

Each batch is brewed in a limited edition to make sure that it is always fresh. So hurry on over to any of the locations listed below to get yours!

Trail Updates

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 18:09:20 GMT

May 2022

It's hard to believe but technically summer isn't even here yet! Although we would've liked more snow and precipitation this winter, the long dry spring did give our early season skeleton crew and the many, many volunteers that donated their time, a good long period to get the trails cleared for opening. We are so grateful for the numerous volunteers that have helped out on the trails for a variety of trail projects, from prepping for opening to shaping the Dashney Loop switchbacks, and three days each of 14 BMA students out installing one of the new trails!

May trail projects completed:

Full system season opening maintenance work; drainage improvements, blowdown clearing, benching and berm reshaping
New School hardening & realignment

As of now, we are super excited to be up and running with our full Trail Crew of 10, so we can really start to "dig" in on a few of this summer's big projects that will include:

2 new trails (currently in progress) that will be singletrack connections to get more trail users off the roads.
The final phase of the Moose Haven Connection which will allow for an epic loop with virtually no road riding!

Please plan to join us for the next Volunteer Work Day on June 25th!

Please remember to Ride With Gratitude and single file while on the roads.
See ya on the trails!

Shuttle is Back & Annual Membership Increase Newsletter

Fri, 20 May 2022 16:39:25 GMT

Plus, Help Preserve Besaw Trail!

Download newsletter here.

2022 KT Community Chat Series

Tue, 10 May 2022 14:23:30 GMT

The KT Community Chat series returns for 2022!

Dear KT Community,

We’re proud of the KT Community Chats and how much they accomplished in 2021! We got to be in community with you, hear from you, and understand the role KT has in our community. We are excited to announce the return of these gatherings, with a full slate of Community Chats now scheduled in 2022 (with one already hosted at Café Lotti back in April!).

These gatherings help keep KT’s renewed commitment of consistent communication and more accessibility to all! These will be relatively informal gatherings hosted on a monthly basis. The chats will consist of me, KT’s Community Outreach and Partnership Director, and Abby Long, our amazing Executive Director. Plus, we will always be joined by a few Board members or folks from the KT Team!

Goals of the gathering will be a chance for us to share the latest news from KT, yet the bulk of the chats will be an opportunity for KT to hear feedback from you, our community. We want to receive your thoughts, questions, and even visions for the future! KT is a community driven organization, and your voice is very important to us.

A list of all the scheduled Community Chats for 2022 is listed below! These chats will be about an hour long and hosted at different times and locations for the remainder of the year. Please know KT will not be providing food or drink as they are designed purely to be a casual conversation.

We look forward to seeing you out there! But most of all listening and learning! We are so grateful for this community :)

-Lukas

Thursday, May 26th, 2022 from 5-6pm at Dirt Church Brewing Co. , 1771 VT-114, East Haven, VT 05837
Thursday, June 23rd, 2022 from 4-5pm at The Hub Trailside , 2099 Darling Hill Rd, Lyndonville, VT 05851
Monday, July 25th, 2022 from 11:30am-12:30pm at The Orange Rind , 427 VT-114, East Burke, VT 05832
Saturday, August 20th, 2022 from 11am-12pm at Cafe Lotti , 603 VT-114, East Burke, VT 05832
Saturday, September 24th, 2022 from 11am-12pm at the West Burke Library, 123 VT Route 5A West Burke, VT 05871
Friday, October 21st, 2022 from 10am-11am at the Do North Workspace (above Mosaic), 930 Broad St 2nd floor, Lyndonville, VT 05851
Wednesday, December 14th, 2022 from 4pm-5pm at the KT Welcome Center, 478 VT-114, East Burke, VT 05832

Summer Opening Newsletter

Thu, 05 May 2022 17:47:32 GMT

Ride With Gratitude and Single File on the Roads!

Find our opening newsletter here!

2021-22 KTA Board of Directors

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 20:24:21 GMT

The 2021-22 Kingdom Trail Association Board of Directors met this past weekend at Burke Mtn. Hotel for their annual retreat, a daylong opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, assess current dynamics, and plan for the future. Taking full covid precautions, it was a gift to meet in-person as their time together strengthened connection, collaboration, and capacity of Kingdom Trails. We were grateful to once again welcome Claire Wheeler of RE:WORK to facilitate and maximize the Board’s time and effectiveness.

This annual retreat marks the beginning of a new term for our Kingdom Trail’s Board of Directors. It is a bittersweet transition as we say thank you to those who have completed their service, yet welcome new members to the team.

Kingdom Trails is fortunate to be led by a group of dedicated volunteers who care about our landowners, neighbors, trails, members, and the beauty that surrounds us. The Board is composed of trail enthusiasts, local leaders, area business owners, and of course KT landowners, all bringing their unique perspectives and skills to guide the organization.

Our 11 member Board of Directors can serve 3 consecutive 2 year terms elected at our annual meeting each November. As these terms are staggered, we find ourselves thanking Matt Langlais, Katie Story, and Ann Nygard for their incredible service to the Board.

We are grateful for Matt’s 3 years of leadership as the Board Chair. He was a rock, providing steadfast and unflappable commitment to KT during a time of transition and welcoming a new Executive Director. Katie also served as Board Chair for a term, fine tuning roles and responsibilities and the efficiency of meetings. We congratulate Katie as she welcomed her first baby into the world this past Fall. Ann set forth a strong connection with Northern Vermont University that will continue into the future, as well as helping bring to fruition the KT Mini Grant program, extending $25,000 annually into our communities to advance the capabilities and capacity of other local initiatives.

KT is thrilled to now welcome Ben Mirkin, Becky Tharp, and Georgia Gould to the Board! Ben is a Professor of Outdoor Recreation & Leadership at NVU. He is an avid backcountry skier, mountain biker, and a rock and ice climber from Kirby where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Becky spends time in both Williston and West Burke, biking with her husband and two sons. She is an Aquatic Scientist and founder of Just Water Consulting. Georgia Gould, having already served on the KT Trail Advisory Committee for 3 years, is a KT Landowner from East Burke alongside her husband, daughter, and son. Georgia is a 2x Olympic Mountain Biker, winner of a bronze medal in London 2012, and strong advocate for women in cycling.

Please know that we always encourage folks to contact the KT Board of Directors at Board@kingdomtrails.org . The Board meets every other month on the third Thursday of the month. Folks are also welcome to attend our Community Chat series as a few Board members will always join our Executive Director, Abby, to listen and learn. The next one will be March 4th (the day before Winterbike!) 5-6pm at Burke Mtn. Hotel.

2022 KTA Board of Directors

Tabitha Bowling, Chair - East Burke

Elise Lawson, Vice Chair - West Burke, Landowner

Harry Morrison, Treasurer - Lyndonville

Tom De Carlo, Secretary - Kirby

Doug Clarner - East Burke, Landowner

Georgia Gould - East Burke, Landowner

Colleen Leonard - Sutton

Ben Mirkin - Kirby

Becky Tharp - West Burke/ Williston

Jake Wheeler - East Burke, Landowner

Eric Wilson - Kirby

Investing In Our KT Team

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 15:46:55 GMT

As we are all too well aware, Vermont, and the entire nation for that matter, is experiencing a staffing shortage at crisis levels. Kingdom Trails is not immune to this. This past summer we admit it was a challenge for us to hire for many of our seasonal positions. Positions that our services and trails depend on to welcome and provide a quality and safe experience for not only our trail users, but our community as well.

Our Leadership Team and Board of Directors knew it was time to take action and change gears. In order to hire and retain our incredible employees we need to better value and invest in our staff. This has always been a long term goal of ours, as outlined in our strategic plan, “to strengthen our organizational culture with an appreciation and investment in staff and encourage a healthy work environment.” Even in our own mission statement we “foster the health of our community,” which extends to our KT Team.

KT began by educating ourselves. We attended workshops on workforce development and retention such as NEK Collaborative ’s Connects online gathering. We also contracted with HR experts from Kimberly Penharlow Consulting to guide us toward a stronger internal structure. Through these opportunities we have learned that KT must offer careers, paired with worthwhile, full time, salaried positions, plus benefits, to attract and maintain the amazing team that makes KT so exceptional.

We are very happy to announce, for the first time in Kingdom Trail’s 28 year history, we are offering health benefits to our full time employees . And our package goes beyond this health benefit as we also include professional development opportunities and other perks. Our hope, with these added benefits and compatible salary, KT employees will be provided peace of mind throughout their workday knowing they are supported holistically.

This shift has also led KT in the direction of forming our own Core Values. Through a joint process between staff and Board members, KT has agreed on guiding principles to portray our organization's beliefs. Our Core Values can also better allow employees to feel confident that they are working for a nonprofit that aligns with their personal goals and that KT is a good fit for them.

KT Core Values

● We welcome all who visit and live in our region.

● We prioritize access and inclusion.

● We use our trails with gratitude and respect.

● We communicate with honesty and transparency.

● We invite respectful and diverse opinions.

● We steward smart growth in collaboration with our landowners and other stakeholders.

● We embrace outdoor recreation, health and safety as a shared responsibility.

● We grow wisely by listening, learning and evolving.

With this transition, KT is now proud to announce that we are looking for more motivated, passionate leaders to join our growing team! In the New Year we hope to expand by hiring a Development Director to lead fundraising, manage donor appeals and relationships, and identify grants opportunities to support sustainable funding dedicated toward KT's mission.

A Welcome Center Manager to lead day to day operations of the best in class customer service at KT’s Welcome Center, serving as the first point of contact between visitors and KT.

A Retail Specialist to facilitate retail sales at the KT Welcome Center and Online Store by ensuring there are meaningful products aligned to outdoor rec trends and KT’s mission.

We encourage all those who may be interested to apply by submitting your resume and cover letter to info@kingdomtrails.org prior to Monday, January 24th at 4pm. Also keep a look out as we announce other opportunities such as a Community Outreach & Partnership Manager and Facilities & Equipment Manager in the near future.

Please know the Kingdom Trail Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or sexual identity, gender or gender identity, national origin, age, ability, or genetics.

2022 KT Winter Operations

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 14:59:06 GMT

Winter in Vermont is magical, especially when you can get out to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and incredible recreational opportunities! Here at KT, we are passionate about our mission to provide recreation and education opportunities through our trails to foster the health of our community, environment, and economy. We seek to make the network welcoming and enjoyable for all by maintaining the trails to the highest standard through all seasons, along with providing the info you need to respectfully access this incredible resource that’s made possible by over 100 private landowners.

Below, we have outlined our Winter Operations information. Our hope is that this info will answer questions on KT grooming capabilities, schedule, and our winter services that will help to make informed decisions on how and when you access the trails.

Winter Trail Crew

KT is proud to employ a grooming team of 4 through the winter season: CJ Scott our Trails Director, Matt Brabender our Signage & Mapping Specialist, Mike Halvorsen our Trail Crew Leader and Kenyon Fatt, Evening Groomer.

Our Trail Crew is scheduled to groom daily. Therefore if there is a weather event, folks can rest assured our KT Team has their pulse on it.

Grooming Equipment

The team uses a variety of snowmobiles and implements to groom the fatbike and nordic ski trails dependent upon conditions.

Nordic equipment:
Skidoo Wide Track LX snowmobile
Yamaha VK snowmobile
2 Tidd Tech drags with track setters
2 compaction rollers
801 Mogul Master drag for heavy drifted snow
Fat Bike equipment:
2014 Skidoo Tundra
2000 Skidoo Tundra
Various handbuilt drags for all conditions and commercially built drags to use in sufficient deep snowpack.

Ski Trails

Fatbike Trails

Fatbike trails are groomed as needed. Once the surface is packed and has set up (also known as hardened); tire, snowshoe, and ski traffic can be the best method for maintaining an optimum surface. We plan to groom next when there is an accumulation of 2+ inches or the previously packed surface becomes compromised and can effectively be improved with our machinery.

When temps are warm and surface conditions are soft or slushy, fatbike access is discouraged. To help riders keep track of the temperature and proceed with caution at their own discretion, there are strategically placed thermometer gauges with educational signage throughout the trail network. As a general rule of thumb, if a rider is leaving a rut or having a hard time riding in a straight line, it is best to turn around and wait for the temps to drop and the surface to set up properly before continuing.

General Grooming Policies & Procedures

During the winter season the trails will remain OPEN as long as surface conditions are safe and the ground is sufficiently frozen to accommodate ski, fatbike or snowshoe traffic without causing significant damage to the trail. Trail surface conditions and closures are always reported on the trail conditions page of our website.

KT utilizes customized weather forecasts provided by Nor’Easter Weather to make the most informed decisions on how and when to groom.

When there is a base and a significant amount of snowfall is forecasted , grooming begins after 2+ inches of accumulation and continues until the snowfall ends.

If there is low, or no existing base, this can affect the frequency of grooming. Our Crew will wait for a more significant accumulation of 5+ inches before they start grooming since thin conditions can lead to damaging the trails, like digging up dirt, or even being detrimental to our equipment. There is a balance in these scenarios when less is more, and the surface, as well as the snowpack, can remain more sustainable with less manipulation.

Dogs

*Please remember, even in the winter, Dogs are only welcomed on the Village Trails.

Welcome Center Operations

Our visitor experiences are overseen by the newest member of the KT Team, our Membership & Experience Director, Brooke Pierce. She thanks all for understanding the inside of our Welcome Center remains closed to the public due to staffing shortages and Covid precautions. We are grateful for your patience with our limited capacity as we seek to hire for multiple year round positions. Learn about current job listings here , and please share with those who may be interested!

Membership

Trail access is allowed for KT Members. Daily, Monthly and Annual Memberships and locally produced and sourced merchandise that supports the KT mission can be purchased from our online store . Purchases made from the online store are shipped or are available for local pick-up by appointment. To arrange for a local pick-up, email info@kingdomtrails.org .

Annual KT Members who purchased their membership during the Summer 2021 season and would like to receive their Winter 21/22 stickers, please email info@kingdomtrails.org and we’ll gladly pop them in the mail.

Trail Maps

A digital version of our winter map is available on the Trail Maps page of our website. You may also download the Ondago GPS app for navigation when on the trails. Printed versions of the map are available at the map kiosk on the exterior of our Welcome Center as well as at many local businesses.

Ride With Gratitude

Please adhere to the Ride With Gratitude Code of Conduct .

Ride Single File

For your safety and the safety of others, please ride single file when on the roads.

More Info

For more information visit kingdomtrails.org . If you have questions, please call us at (802) 626-0737, or email info@kingdomtrails.org

We Are Hiring!

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 17:46:34 GMT

Join Our Team

Happy Holidays Friends of KT!

KT is looking for more motivated, passionate leaders to join our growing team! We are excited to be hiring a few, new, year round positions!

Development Director (FTE Salaried) to lead fundraising, manage donor appeals and relationships, plus identify potential grants to support sustainable funding dedicated toward KT's mission.
Welcome Center Manager (FTE Salaried) to lead day to day operations of the best in class customer service at KT’s Welcome Center, serving as the first point of contact between visitors and KT.
Retail Specialist (FTE Hourly) to facilitate retail sales at the KT Welcome Center and Online Store by ensuring there are meaningful products aligned to outdoor rec trends and KT’s mission.
Plus we will soon debut a job description for a Community Outreach & Partnership Manager (FTE Salaried).

Check out full job descriptions here.

For folks who wish to apply we ask to please submit a resume and cover letter to info@kingdomtrails.org with the job description they are applying for in the subject line, no later than Monday, January 24th at 4pm.

Kingdom Trail Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or sexual identity, gender or gender identity, national origin, age, ability, or genetics.

Have a happy and healthy New Year! We are so grateful!

Abby

Lawson’s Finest Liquids and KTA Partnership Continues with the 2022 Return of the KT IPA

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:51:38 GMT

Collaborative brew supports sustainable recreation in Northeast Vermont

Waitsfield, VT. (November 22, 2021) – After three successful years of partnership, Lawson’s Finest Liquids is excited to continue their collaboration with the Kingdom Trail Association (KTA) into 2022 through their Good Brews for a Cause program. KTA is a Vermont-based nonprofit trail organization whose mission is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of their community, surrounding environment, and regional economy in the Northeast Kingdom of the state.

Good Brews for a cause is one of six initiatives that make up the brewery’s Social Impact Program (SIP). It is focused on creating special, limited-release beers and small-batch collaborations to benefit nonprofit organizations with ties to local communities where Lawson’s Finest Liquids is sold. The two organizations first partnered three years ago on a collaborative brew, Kingdom Trails IPA, which resulted in a $6,033 donation in 2020 that aided in the purchase of the Darling Ridge, protecting a vital trail network in Northeast Vermont. Kingdom Trails IPA continues to make a difference every year. The beer quickly sold out in Summer 2021 with $2.00 of every four-pack sold donated to the Kingdom Trail Association for a total of $6,586. These funds support the KTA Trail Ambassador Program to ensure continued vitality of this amazing resource.

“Our business collaborates with organizations that support sustainable recreation. Being active and outdoors is a form of recreation, and re-creation,” said Sean Lawson, founder and CEO Lawson’s Finest Liquids. “With Kingdom Trails IPA, we brewed a beer to support the fine work of the Kingdom Trail Association and their ambassadors. We’re excited to continue that tradition in 2022.”

Dedicated to maintaining more than 100 miles of non-motorized trails across Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, the KTA is a community-focused, non-profit organization in partnership with private landowners. Along with other efforts, the KTA ambassadors program aims to educate and guide trail users on ways to protect the community, landowners, and precious natural resources.

“When you’re a relatively small organization, in a rural community, it’s exciting to partner with other organizations that have the same missions, goals and values,” said Elise Lawson, a board member with the Kingdom Trail Association. “As the Kingdom Trail Association has grown, our ambassadors have become even more important to our community. With this partnership, they’re set to have an even larger impact in the new year.”

Kingdom Trails IPA is a soft and refreshing beer with a mild bitterness and an intensely fruit forward and floral notes. The next batch of Kingdom Trails IPA will be brewed and available for purchase in June 2022.

To learn more about Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ Social Impact Program (SIP), including Good Brews for a Cause, click here.

ABOUT LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS

Based in Waitsfield, Vermont, Lawson’s Finest Liquids produces beers of the highest quality and freshness.

Emulating the best of widely appreciated styles, Lawson’s Finest is home to a growing collection of expertly crafted

beers, including world-class IPAs and unique maple brews. Founded in 2008 by Sean and Karen Lawson, the

company started as a highly acclaimed, small-batch artisanal brewery in Warren, Vermont. In 2014, Lawson’s Finest

Liquids added an alternating proprietorship in Stratford, Connecticut, where the brewery produces its flagship Sip of

Sunshine and Super Session beers. Lawson’s Finest Liquids opened its destination brewery, taproom, and retail

store in Waitsfield in 2018. For more information on Lawson’s Finest Liquids, please visit www.lawsonsfinest.com

or follow the brewery on Instagram ( @lawsonsfinest ) and Facebook ( @lawsonsfinestliquid s).

East Darling Hill Rd Project END

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 18:06:05 GMT

W hat seems like years ago now, because it was! In 2018, the Town of Burke and Kingdom Trail Association came together to undertake a collaborative project to rehabilitate our community’s East Darling Hill Rd. The Town of Burke was unable to pursue this construction on their own as the road was designated Class 2 and not eligible for state funds. Kingdom Trails agreed to join forces to seek a Northern Border Regional Commission federal grant as we believed this endeavor would provide the needed infrastructure to restore a main thoroughfare for our community, safely connecting East Burke, West Burke, Burke Hollow, and Lyndonville.

The project consisted of the reconstruction of East Darling Hill Rd including new subbase, eco friendly drainage and asphalt, plus a 5ft bike lane for uphill cyclists. Additionally, two parcels of land adjacent to the road were purchased by Kingdom Trails. This acquisition secured a critical trail connection for KT, ensuring that trail users will have an off-road option instead of using East Darling Hill Rd for both uphill and downhill bike travel, avoiding a dangerous conflict between cycle and car, increasing safety of our community and visitors, drivers and riders. The intersection of East Darling Hill Road and Burke Hollow is now a three way stop due to the realignment of the roads creating safer traffic flow for all. The three way intersection will be crucial for the safety of future potential town projects such as a crosswalk and multi-use pathway.

Together, the Town of Burke and Kingdom Trails were thrilled to have been awarded a Northern Border Regional Commission federal grant for the completion of the project! There was no tax increase to local residents. Kingdom Trails also helped leverage donations through the Pave the Way campaign. Local businesses and 100+ individual donations from community members and KT trail users raised the remaining funds needed to complete the construction. We are grateful to all the generous donors, including Casella Waste Systems, Community National Bank, White’s Market, Passumpsic Savings Bank, and Union Bank. A special thank you to the Gallagher Family, previous owners of the adjacent land, for their patience and willingness to work with us through this project.

Abby Long, Kingdom Trails Executive Director

Mike Harris, Town of Burke Administrator

2021 KTA Mini Grant Awards

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 15:03:44 GMT

The Kingdom Trail Association’s Mini Grant Selection Committee once again met to determine awards for the annual KTA Mini Grant cycle. In the nonprofit’s third year offering this opportunity, Kingdom Trails was privileged to receive $42,685 in funding requests for the $25,000 allotted by the Kingdom Trails Board of Directors. The Committee received 10 applications and for the first time since the inception of the KTA Mini Grant Program, Kingdom Trails were able to fund every application in some way, shape, or form- extending the network’s positive impact beyond the trails, to the community fabric that surrounds it.

Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process, scoring projects from Burke, East Haven, Kirby, and Lyndon on such criteria as community need, impact, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, public support, and a realistic, effective work plan and budget. Projects must highlight and advance valuable local endeavors that promote recreation, health and wellness, education and training, environmental stewardship, economic viability, heritage and culture, and the creative arts.

The Kingdom Trails Board of Directors, at the recommendation of the KTA Mini Grant Committee, is excited to announce the following recipients of the 2021 KTA Mini Grant awards:

Cobleigh Library, Awarded $2,000 to install 2 bike racks, made by Lyndon Institute students, and 1 bike repair station in front of the library for public use, along with educational programming related to use of the repair station.

Village Improvement Society and Powers Park , Awarded $3,000 to add a sign at the entrance of Powers Park clearly directing the community to the location of the park and to finish financing a chair lift to the swimming pool to meet ADA standards.

Town of Burke, Awarded $3,500 to support the purchase of 103-acre parcel to establish a Community Forest for use by Burke residents and visitors for educational purposes and multi-use recreation, plus wildlife habitat and corridors, water quality, and wetland protection.

Kingdom East School District - Hilltopper MTB Club, Awarded $3,000 to cover the expenses of 8 KESD students to join the Hilltopper MTB Club to learn biking skills and participate in races organized by Vermont Youth Cycling.

Kingdom East School District - Outdoor Club , Awarded $2,000 to develop an Outdoor Club for KESD to create opportunities for students to participate in outdoor activities with proper outdoor gear.

Upright Steeple Society, Awarded $2,000

To support the restoration of an 1829 Greek Revival Church that now hosts community events such as meetings, concerts, and lectures, reducing heat loss and preserving the historic windows.

Town of Lyndon and Lyndon Chamber, Awarded $2,500 to reinvigorate and reinvent the covered bridges in the Town of Lyndon to be great historic landmarks and lively places of the present, including interpretive, educational signage.

Adaptive Sports Partners , Awarded $3,000 to support the NEK community and implement a learn to bike program for people with disabilities.

East Burke School, Awarded $2,000 to contribute to a Food Forest, providing an educational space, serving as a demonstration center for regenerative agriculture.

H.O.P.E. , Awarded $2,000 for the Backpack Program, a charitable food service providing food to children and their families who are facing food insecurity from 8 area schools.

Kingdom Trails is thankful to all applicants who submitted proposals and we wish all the best in advancing these valuable local endeavors, improving the quality of life for our community. Above all, Kingdom Trails is grateful to our 104 private landowners who so generously allow our trails to cross their beautiful properties. It is because of them that we may continue contributing to our community and offering this program.

To learn more about the new KTA Mini Grant program and how to apply for next year’s cycle, please visit www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant.org

End of Season Letter 2021

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 19:59:41 GMT

Thank you for another incredible sea son!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for another incredible season on the trails! However, it is with heartache that we must write another End of Season note knowing that not all w ere able to visit Kingdom Trails this year. These times leave us even more grateful for access to green space, forested land, and recreation as so many folks are still confined to rooftops, balconies, and sidewalks. We have deepened our appreciation and sense of privilege for the refuge and renewal that our trails afford us, adding new value to the practice of Riding with Gratitude and it’s mantras; Respect This Gift, Care for Others, Protect Nature, and Be the Example.

This code of conduct we adopted from Bike Borderlands is a crucial element to reaffirm respectful behaviour, yet we recognize that it is just one step toward making our trails accessible and welcoming. Therefore we are proud to have put forth so many incredible initiatives throughout this past year to holistically support our community and private landowners.

We begin with our organization being more open to and in conversation with our community, listening better to their needs and concerns by debuting our monthly Community Chat series. We engaged the community throughout our now completed Capacity Study process as they directly informed the priorities we are actively tackling to address our congestion and infrastructure challenges. We offered more Volunteer Work Days and expanded our already existing Ambassador Program to increase trail user engagement, education and accountability. And we held strong to our commitment to equity and inclusion, working with Vermont Adaptive and the Kelly Brush Foundation, to now host 53 miles of Adaptive MTB trails!

Above all we were proud to partner with and financially support the Town of Burke to complete the East Darling Hill road project, offering a bike lane, securing parallel trail access, and providing a safer intersection for all. We have continued our valued relationship with the Vermont Land Trust to conserve 7 miles of trails and 271 acres of land on Darling Ridge with the support of Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and contributions from over 740 local businesses and community members to ensure the land will remain undeveloped and available for public recreation as well as farming, forestry, and educational activities forever.

In closing, we are profoundly grateful to you and humbled by your continued support. Without the vision 27 years ago by our founders and the volunteer toil by which the original trails were hand built; without the now 104 private landowners who generously share their land; without our resilient and hardworking staff, some of which have been with the KT Team for 20 years (CJ Scott, Trail Director!) who make it possible for us to keep the network open, safe, and enjoyable; without our members who respectfully and loyally recreate and ride here; this incredible gift would not exist .

See you when the snow flies!

Abby Long, Executive Director

Alongside the KT Team & Board of Directors

Trail Network to Remain Open for Youth/Novice Hunting Weekend

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:42:48 GMT

Sharing the Outdoors

With the guidance of the Landowner Advisory Committee, KTA has made the decision to remain open this year for Youth/ Novice Hunting weekend, October 23-24. The trail network will close for the season on October 31st.

Last month, the KTA Landowner Advisory Committee held an in-depth and deliberative meeting to discuss the potential closure of trails during youth/novice hunting weekend. Local game Warden, Cody Jackman, was available to share and answer questions. We learned that in Vermont, written permission must be sought from the Landowner by the youth or novice hunter to participate in that weekend and they must be accompanied by an unarmed adult with a valid hunting license. According to Nicole Meier with Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s hunter education program, “People enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways and as long as everyone treats each other with respect, there are rarely conflicts. With a little planning, hunters and other outdoor recreationists can both safely and courteously enjoy their pursuits and share the woods without any issues,” said Meier. “Everyone should feel welcome in the woods at any time of year,”

If you are planning to hit the trails during the weekend of October 23-24, with respect for the shared use, we encourage you to:

Wear bright colors
Plan outings closer to the middle of the day when the lighting is best.
Favor high-use public areas or trails.

As we head in to the hunting season, consider purchasing one of our locally designed and printed custom blaze orange "Share the Outdoors" jerseys from our online store . Not only will the keep you visible but all KT store purchases contribute to achieving the mission of the Kingdom Trail Association.

More info on youth hunting weekend and sharing the outdoors can be found on the state's Fish & Wildlife youth hunting page, and VT’s Fish & Wildlife page on sharing the outdoors .

We appreciate your support.

Please email info@kindomtrails.org with any questions.

KT eMTB Policy Review Update

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:30:19 GMT

A Listen and Learn Process

As folks are well aware, KT is currently undergoing an Electric Mountain Bike (eMTB) policy review. This process, which began in early June 2021, has sparked passionate dialogue among trail users, within our community, and between KT landowners. The KT Team and Board of Directors are grateful for the incredible feedback we have received from all and we continue to encourage folks to share their experienced based input and thoughts.

KT understands conversations about eMTBs can be controversial and divisive. Therefore our team began an intensive policy review by initiating a listen and learn process. KT is not advocating for or against eMTBs. Rather we are engaging in research and listening with the goal of arriving at the most responsible and sustainable decision for our community.

The review began with an informational session offered to all our KT landowners as we believe those who make our trails possible should be centrally engaged in this process. The KT Team outlined our current policy as it remains “KT does not allow e-bikes on our trail network, as we honor the no motorized vehicle agreement we have made with our landowners.” We then educated our landowners on the different classes of eMTBs and that KT would only be reviewing Class 1 eMTBs for use on our trails.

The KT Team believes it was important to consult with, and review the stances that are held at other organizations, as eMTBs are not currently defined universally, or dealt with consistently across the US. We shared with our landowners policies such as IMBA’s and NEMBA’s, we also looked at federal and state public lands, and our own conservation easements with the Vermont Land Trust. We even invited Bob Green, the owner and founder of New Hampshire’s Green Woodlands Foundation trail network, to share his experience as he conducted a pilot program in 2019 allowing Class 1 eMTBs on his trails.

We engaged in conversation with our own community members, local businesses, trail users, and KT landowners, even creating a special email address, eMTB@kingdomtrails.org, encouraging folks to share their opinions. Through these conversations and emails we have learned reasons why people are supportive of eMTB access, yet also their concerns. We are educating ourselves on the many apprehensions people have that range from fast speeds creating trail user conflicts, injuries, impact to land, and increasing the number of trail users to our network. Yet we also realize that allowing eMTBs could broaden access for those with physical limitations due to age, illness and disability, supporting KT’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

Through this research we have learned that any trail open for pedestrian use and owned or operated by a public or private entity, such as KT, is subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations regarding Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs). These rules mandate that motorized vehicles of any type used by a person with a mobility disability be allowed on trails where pedestrians are allowed. This means adaptive MTBs that have an electric assist motor are already allowed on KT. We welcome their use.

Another step in the review process was an eMTB demo day, providing an opportunity for Landowners to try out an eMTB first hand. KT hosted this event at the end of August and invited our Landowners to see how they handle, how they look and sound, plus a chance to ask more questions and explore further. We are grateful to Specialized Bikes and Bosch Ebike Systems for offering eMTBs and serving as a resource for our landowners.

Now, as the end of summer season approaches, KT still finds itself in the midst of our policy review. Through the process of educating ourselves and our landowners, we have found that there are significant gaps in research. There are limited studies on eMTBs, especially as they relate to Northeastern terrain. We believe a healthy next step would be to commission a study combining management issues such as injuries with social effects like inclusivity and accessibility while also providing assessment of on the ground trail and land impacts.

We understand this may not be the update people hoped for. Yet we are not confident in our understanding and more information is needed to help address and answer the questions and concerns that have been shared around safety, use, and potential impacts to trail integrity and sustainability. We commit to continuing to listen and learn. We welcome everyone's feedback and again thank you in advance for participating in this deliberative process with civility and respect. To participate in our process, submit your input by email to eMTB@kingdomtrails.org .

And please remember, regardless of whether or not you agree with KT’s process or we amend our policy, we ask that all Ride with Gratitude.

Trail Updates

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 18:43:17 GMT

Maintain to Sustain

September found us with a small skeleton crew tackling various maintenance projects and prepping for the transition of seasonal operations. Projects included:

Bridge repairs & maintenance - adding fill to the entrance/exits, improving sight lines and drainages, replacing rotten decking, stringers & footers, leveled & shimmed various sections to help with the longevity and sustainability of some of the oldest and longest bridges on the network.
Chipping away at corridor maintenance ahead of the winter season by brushing back branches on the side of the trails and up in the canopy to allow for more snow to reach the ground to improve snow cover and allow for a wider trail with less infringement on the track set for classic skiing.
Machinery & equipment repairs and maintenance for winter grooming.
Site visits and scouting for future trails.

Note from Trails Director CJ Scott:

This year's trail crew was awesome. I truly enjoyed working with all of them and I can honestly say this was one of, if not the BEST trail crew I have had the pleasure of working with in my 20 years with KT. The camaraderie we established with crew rides, Donut Fridays, end of the day ice creams on hot days and overall joking around and laughing together while on trail really brought back a sense of a strong team while out there slinging dirt.

This summer we received numerous accolades for all the work we accomplished, from the maintenance projects that kept the trails running smooth and sustainable to the new trails we installed that gave folks new terrain to explore. They all crushed it this summer and I could not be more grateful for their efforts.

Thank you crew!

NEW Safe Road & Trail Crossings

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 18:21:21 GMT

We’re taking action folks!

As many are aware, KT and the Burke Chamber, received a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to fund a Network Capacity Study that was completed this past Spring. Public engagement was a key component throughout the process and we were grateful to learn our community’s wants, concerns, and vision for KT’s future. The study determined that KT had sufficient capacity, but there were significant safety issues and imbalances in usage. Recommendations focused on safer traffic and pedestrian flow and dispersion of users. One specific strategy that we were excited to tackle right away is the Safe Road and Trail Crossings project.

The goal of the Safe Road and Trail Crossings project is improved safety for drivers and trail users where roads and trails intersect. Specific interventions will include tactile “rumble strips” to signal riders that they are approaching a road crossing, slow down and come to a complete stop. These rumble strips will not only promote rider and driver safety, but also help control erosion where the trail meets the road. There will also be signage that includes Stop Signs in advance of the road’s right of way, and adjacent “You Are Here” maps delineating crossing specifics and including emergency evacuation details. There vertical road signs will also be implemented to signal drivers that they are approaching a trail crossing.

KT was able to pursue this Capacity Study recommendation due to generous grant funding from Northern Forest Center’s Destination Development Initiative. The goal of this grant program is to improve outdoor recreation opportunities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It supports projects that help communities and organizations serve residents and visitors, plus invests in projects that enhance economic development and outdoor recreation in our region’s rural communities.

KTA is grateful to be taking action on this project that was suggested by our own community members. We are glad to be improving the safety where roads and trails intersect for drivers and trail users, community members and visitors. This project’s infrastructure, paired with the expanded KT Ambassador Program, will hold trail users accountable, monitor safe road and trail crossings, and promote engagement and education with the goals of creating a safer experience for those walking, biking, and driving, strengthening the economic impact across the region, as well as relieving pressure and stress on landowners, our host communities, and roads.

Due to Staff Shortages the Welcome Center will now be Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 14:52:49 GMT

Trail Network Remains Open

As the seasons begin to shift, Kingdom Trails will be shifting our Welcome Center hours of operation.

KT employs 23 seasonal staff. We are so proud that many of them are local youth attending our area high schools and Northern Vermont University. We wish them a successful school year and are grateful to them for being part of the team! As they head back to school KT will be losing several of our core staff members. KT will continue to hire, however we, like much of the country, are experiencing staff shortages.

In order to continue our commitment to our community and sustainably manage our trail users we will be closing our in-person operations at the Welcome Center on Tuesdays and Wednesday beginning August 31st in order to be properly staffed for the busier weekend days and abutting week days. In addition, our Welcome Center will change our hours or operation to 8am - 4pm.

This does not mean the trails are closed. KT is still able to serve through our online resources. Folks can access all information about the trails on the website and purchase memberships and KT swag online. Please remember that all membership and retail purchases directly go back to supporting trail building and maintenance. Simply visit our website or snag the QR code from signs placed in front of the Welcome Center or throughout the network. Plus you can grab a paper map outside the Welcome Center.

And of course when we are open please remember to Ride with Gratitude. This mantra extends not only to our trails and our private landowners, but also as you walk into area businesses or meet community members throughout town. Thank you for being respectful to those that provide this gift.

If you are interested in joining our amazing team and supporting our community, check out our employment opportunities here and apply! https://www.kingdomtrails.org/employment

Thank you all for your understanding and flexibility! We are so grateful!

The KT Team

A Weekend in the Life of our Head Ambassador

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 18:55:11 GMT

August 6-8, 2021

As folks know KT made a renewed commitment to our landowners and community to expand our already existing Ambassador program. This re-envisioned program hosts 12 Ambassadors, including a new ‘Head Ambassador” with the goal to increase trail user engagement and education, sharing Ride With Gratitude, Leave No Trace policies, inform users they are on private property and to be respectful. Ambassadors are stationed at key trailheads and parking areas, on foot and bike, making strategic rounds throughout the network holding trail users accountable. We are truly grateful for our Ambassador’s time and energy, serving our community.

Whit Rutherfurd, our Head Ambassador, has been an incredible addition to our team. His exceptional leadership dedicated to the program has supported better organization and management. Here is a sneak peak into Whit’s weekend as he creates a summary report every Monday morning to share with the KT Team so we know where to direct our efforts and education based on the observations he and his team experience. Thank you Whit!

Ambassador Report August 6-8, 2021

Beautiful weather this weekend with highs in the 80's. It was a bit muggy with plenty of sunshine!

Busiest Saturday Yet?

This weekend saw large crowds that were well spread across the network. Saturday seemed especially busy and by 11 am both VSS Trailside and Moosehaven parking areas were at capacity. Ambassadors stationed there had to turn away visitors arriving during that time. While the Tiki bar lot got close to filling (95%-ish) it began to self-regulate by 12:30.

TrailHUB

I communicated with the ambassadors to alert me when the parking areas were nearing their capacity. At that point, I put notices on TrailHUB as we are experimenting with the Capacity Study’s recommendation to have an integrated phone app that includes an interactive map with parking space availability.

This process is extremely easy and can be done in under a minute! As the website is only useful for the people that visit it, I have been asking Welcome Center staff and Ambassadors to spread the good word about TrailHUB to our visitors anytime the opportunity presents itself. Now that we have practiced using the parking aspect of this app I wonder how we can drum up further interest and awareness of the new TrailHUB and it’s parking feature?!?!? Did someone say more awkward videos!

We've found that Trailhub is a great platform because it's a website that can be bookmarked on your phone home screen rather than an app that needs to be downloaded. People that do use it seem to like it because they can create an account if they want- but it's not necessary. We do like to encourage people to go ahead and create an account as they can then customize the trail networks to get notifications when we send them out- which is only when necessary.

Construction, Congestion

As the E. Darling Hill Rd project continues to progress, I am simply shocked to see how many cyclists continue to climb the road instead of utilizing the singletrack. In fact, more than once I observed families (with small children) climbing in the left-hand lane (wrong side of the road) on the blind curve uphill of the trailhead and downhill of Garden Drive!!! This is a dangerous scenario and both times I witnessed this, I stopped the Truck and asked people to use the singletrack or at least use the correct side of the road.

I have begun to not only ask myself why but now, ask the visitors why they are climbing the road instead of the trail. The responses I often get are: that the road is faster or that the trail is too steep for new riders. I also suspect that the trailhead signs get “tuned out” with all the other commotion of the construction. I have instructed staff to focus on educating cyclists to the advantage of using the single track as opposed to the road under construction. I did observe what seemed like some locals getting impatient with the traffic on Darling Hill Rd. Speeding, revving their engines, and general grumpiness. Between the construction and a large number of cyclists on the road, there is a certain amount of patience required to navigate in a vehicle on Darling Hill on a busy weekend. Perhaps it was the heat in addition to the larger crowds, but I did observe that this patience is wearing thin in my travels.

People Visiting for the first time since '19

Recently there seems to be an uptick in visitors telling us that they are back for the first time since 2019. I think that this is the contingency of families that arrive once a year for a vacation in August. We have noticed less resistance to buying memberships online possibly because at this point in the pandemic people are conditioned to doing so. In fact, this weekend we had a few visitors note how user-friendly it was to purchase memberships on our website. Hooray!!!!

Pinkham Rd, Victory Rd

With this uptick of visitors returning for the first time since 2019, we have started to see a few more people parked on Pinkham Road, Victory, and Flower Brook Road where they should NOT BE. I was fortunate to catch many of these folks this past weekend before they left their vehicles and give them info on the many parking opportunities available on our map.

Village Sports Trailside

Friday I was able to install a large QR code membership board at the kiosk on the VSS parking area. I spoke with The Hub owner Carrie about the additional sign (for which she was grateful) and followed up with her a bit about how the waiver isn't required to be completed before membership purchase because the waiver language is included to the purchase.

Saturday after the VSS lot had cleared out a bit I was able to have a good talk with VSS owner Chris. He was appreciative that we have an ambassador staffed there during peak times. He and I both remarked how it felt good to be busy for once, yet glad that it wasn't crazy busy.

Big loop, little H20

While spending a short time at the Moosehaven tent, I encountered quite a few people inquiring about where they could find drinking water. It seems that they had assumed that there would be some water source available there. These riders had left from E. Burke and were in the middle of the big loop. I consulted the other ambassadors and they in fact confirmed that this is a continuing trend. I have started to tell Welcome Center staff to casually mention the lack of water on the big loop when mapping this route. May this info. could be added to our map next year, where water fill locations are available around the network?

The Ambassadors did a tremendous job this weekend despite being a bit short-staffed. We had many great interactions with the visitors and community members, giving routes and educating them about the Ride With Gratitude principles. It's always a great experience to meet someone, give them mapping advice, and then see them later and have them thank us for the recommendations.

See ya on the trails next weekend!

Whit

KT Head Ambassador

Trail Updates

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:37:06 GMT

July 2021

July trail projects:

2 New Trails Open!

Besaw

" Besaw" - an area that many Burke Mtn old timers referred to as the “old Besaw Place”. There also used to be a school house on the Victory Rd in the “S” turn just above Flower Brook Rd that was called “ The Besaw School”.
This trail is a combination of machine built flow, hand built sections, and pre-existing corridors. One of the final phases of the Moose Haven connector project, this section of the connection further cuts down the transfer time on both Victory and Flower Brook Roads between the Flower Brook Trail and Moose Haven for a true long distance backcountry trail ride!
Length: 1.24 miles
Difficulty rating: blue square

Dashney Loop

" Dashney Loop" references Fred Dashney who is rumored to haunt the old farmhouse!
This new beginner loop uses existing ski trail corridors. The majority of the trail is doubletrack, with short sections of singletrack, some playful features and amazing views to the North of Willoughby Gap.
To access this section of the network, park at the Dashney Nordic Center Parking lot which is just off the beaten path if you're looking to get away. This parking location is also great for accessing Moose Alley and even a loop out to Moose Haven to check out the other new trail, Besaw!
Length: 1.8 miles
Difficulty rating: green circle
The large amount of drainage and hardening done on this loop will also serve to improve the winter time trail action as this loop is also a Nordic ski trail.

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! Over the last month, the crew has hit almost every trail on the network to address problem spots and improve long term sustainability of the network. They worked to:

Clear and widen drainages,
Reshape benches and berms,
Harden various sections
Fill pockets that hold water and sections of trail that have lost material and are ditched out below grade
Address trail braiding and widening.
Trails that had an original treadway of 18” and are now 6-8’+ wide and have evolved into a trail with multiple ride lines scattered about, especially in areas with trees that have shallow soils that expedite the exposure of roots.

Thank you to the Northwoods Stewardship Center Youth Conservation Crew who spent a week on the network. They installed five switchbacks on the doubletrack climb up to Sky Dive and Farmjunk. This .2 miles section of trail will help lessen erosion and makes for a nice mellow climb.

Sadly, we are down to the final week of a full trail crew before a majority of them head back to school! Hard to believe we are already into August! According to CJ, this has been one of the best crews he's ever had the pleasure of working with, and while many of them were new to trail building they stepped up and knocked it out of the park this summer.

Road construction on East Darling Hill is still well underway and pretty much the entire road has been torn up. Remember to ride the trails as much as possible when heading from town to the top of Darling Hill and use caution while traveling through the construction zone, either on a bike, foot, or motor vehicle.

The next Volunteer Work Day is on Saturday, August 28th from 9am-12pm and as always, is sponsored by Lawson's Finest Liquids! Email info@kingdomtrails.org to be added to the volunteer contact list.

The next Volunteer Work Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 31 and is sponsored by Lawson's Finest Liquids!

For the July Volunteer Work Day we worked on a new trail (to be announced soon) and were grateful for the Providence Youth Cycling Team for spending half of Saturday of their weekend trip donating their time

2021 Circumburke Challenge Cancelled

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 13:25:15 GMT

The Kingdom Trail Association and Victory Hill Sector have chosen once again not to produce the annual Circumburke Trail Challenge. This will now be the third year in a row the event has been cancelled. While disheartened, KTA believes that it is the right decision due to a myriad of reasons.

Conceived in 2010, the Circumburke Trail Challenge is a 27-mile backcountry course for trail runners and mountain bikers to test their limits. The event was produced in partnership between Victory Hill and Kingdom Trails. Traditionally, Circumburke has been a one-day event that circumnavigates Burke Mtn. on a route through state land, Kingdom Trails, the Victory Hill Sector, and Burke Mountain singletrack. Participants have embraced the intense physical and mental challenge that the course offers. Multiple times CircumBurke had been voted “Best Bicycle Race in Vermont” by Vermont Sports Readers, plus it brought over 600 racers, as well as their families and friends to the area, as the goal of the event was to help provide economic support to the region during the Fall tourist shoulder season.

Kingdom Trails believes it is necessary to avoid the potential adverse impact the event could have due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the request for an Act 250 Jurisdictional Opinion, JO, currently pending on the Victory Hill Sector trails. In 2020 and this year, the event was planned to be produced solely by KTA, as part of the Challenge route passes through a section of the Victory Hill trails, an integral section of the course that has been closed to bikes for more than two years due to an Act 250 JO issued by Vermont’s Natural Resources Board. The Natural Resource Board has reserved the possibility of pursuing an enforcement action against Victory Hill, if the CircumBurke event passes through their trails. Victory Hill regrets not being able to host this wonderful end-of-season tradition. Despite this setback, Victory Hill and Kingdom Trails are hopeful that the CircumBurke race will return to the Northeast Kingdom in coming years.

Kingdom Trails is also extremely proud of our recent efforts to support our mission driven events and programs. We have been dedicating our time and energy to educational efforts such as our code of conduct Ride With Gratitude, Race Back to School, the KT Kids Rides, the Kingdom East School District Summer Camp, along with so much more. Although we understand CircumBurke was part of our mission, to foster the health and vitality of our regional economy, we know producing the event would potentially cause stress and strain on the community that so generously hosts our trails.

Kingdom Trails is grateful to know there are other cycling events in the Kingdom during the Fall. We do not wish to take away from these already scheduled events by hosting CircumBurke. Our hope is that past CircumBurkers will still consider visiting the NEK and participating in all our region has to offer.

KTA wishes to thank all Circumburkers and our communities for understanding the decision to cancel the event. At this time Kingdom Trails is not sure if we’re saying a true CircumBye, rather just taking a CircumBreak, and maybe one day it will be CircumBACK! (Sorry, we can’t help ourselves!)

KT Receives Summer Matters Grant

katie@kingdomtrails.org (Katie Carroll) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:24:02 GMT

81 Local kids receive instruction, bikes, and trail time through the Kingdom East Summer Camp.

Kingdom Trails was recently selected to receive $27,380 in funding from the Summer Matters for All Grant program. According to Governor Phil Scott, the Summer Matters for All Grant Program will award up to $3.85 million to programs in 13 counties with the goal of expanding access to summer enrichment opportunities for K-12 youth this summer.

The proposed Summer program partners with the Kingdom East School district to provide students the opportunity to participate in nature exploration hikes or mini-mountain bike camps 4 days a week, for five weeks of their summer on the Kingdom Trails network. The Kingdom East Summer Program seeks to re-engage students with school through providing free programming, food and transportation via bus to the program. KT will also provide added capacity to the school district to provide afternoon nature and bike camps to interested students, which will engage more students to attend the programming and help them connect with peers they’ve been separated from, and heal through healthy movement and outdoor activities on our trails.

Morgan Moore, Kingdom East’s Summer School Program Director, is excited about the partnership with Kingdom Trails, and the Summer Matters grant. The Kingdom East Summer Camp is serving students from all eight Kingdom East schools. According to Morgan, “This partnership is exciting because it expanded access to mountain biking, allowing students in the Kingdom to try a new sport, or practice one they love. It is meeting the school district’s goal of keeping kids active and engaged this summer, and KTA’s goal of providing educational opportunities. Forty students will mountain bike with Kingdom East and Kingdom Trails every Monday-Thursday for the five weeks of camp, and more students will bike for full days on Fridays. This means that over 250 students will have access to mountain biking this summer due to the partnership!”

Governor Scott has put an emphasis on helping Vermont kids recover from the pandemic and the isolation it caused, including creating opportunities for them to safely reconnect with their peers and their communities. The purpose of the grant program is to increase access to summer enrichment opportunities for K-12 youth statewide during Summer 2021. This was a highly competitive process with 188 proposals submitting $7,427,584 in requests, which far exceeded available funds.

The grants, funded by federal dollars secured by Senator Bernie Sanders and administered by Vermont Afterschool, were awarded to a variety of programs, including summer camps, libraries, municipalities, teen centers, non-profit social services organizations and more, to expand the number of weeks and slots, as well as to increase affordability and accessibility of summer programs. These offerings will supplement school-based programs, as districts in Vermont received separate federal funds to support summer learning and afterschool programs.

“Summer is the perfect opportunity to help kids reconnect and recharge. We are incredibly grateful to our state leaders and policymakers for their commitment to the development of the Summer Matters for All Grant Program,” said Holly Morehouse, Executive Director of Vermont Afterschool. “With this funding, communities and youth-serving organizations across the state will be able to create a great summer for Vermont children and youth that will help them make new memories and emerge from the pandemic strong, resilient, and hopeful.”

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The Kingdom Trail Association is a nonprofit organization with the mission to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy.

Trail Updates

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:51:13 GMT

June 2021

With summer in full swing and the full trail crew finally on board, this month's progress includes the opening of 2 new trails!

June trail projects completed:

Corridor maintenance cutting back tall grass and raspberry bushes throughout the system.
The exit of Kitchel has been slightly adjusted to help ease congestion on Garden Drive during construction.
Drone Lidar Mapping of the conserved property on Darling Ridge with Whiteout Solutions

To gather parcel and trail data such as; high res orthomosaic geo tiff, contour lines, trail slope and grade, classifications on vegetation/trails, signs, water, etc. Trail center lines, erosion issues/degradation, potholes that hold water, ADA trail compliance identification, an attempt to gather information for a better trail rating system.

Two new trails opened

Ozias

Ozias, which was the name of one of the original settlers on Darling Hill and was also the name of an old trail no longer in use near where Harp is now. This trail will serve as a great connector to the sector of trails in the Harp/Poundcake/Fenceline area that you had to otherwise access via East Darling/Darling Hill Road. Folks can now leave the village, ride Uptown to White School, up Ware's Davis to Ozias, cross Darling Hill Road and down onto Upper Harp Loop. This alleviates the need to be on the road and helps keep people on trails! So cool!
This trail meanders through a mix of hard and softwood forest and climbs its way up 4 switchbacks to the top of the ridge and will be a bi-directional trail to serve as a much needed new connector trail. Thank you to landowner's Polly Stadt & Michael Loynd, Paul Trojano, Peter Trojano, Michael Anderson, and Phil & Elise Lawson for allowing this trail constructed by the KT Trail Crew and volunteers, to cross their properties.
Rating: blue square
Length: .9

Another Round

Another Round bisects Last Call in the section of trails above the Tiki Bar parking area. This new addition, gives riders the option to ride that pocket of trails in multiple directions. Twisty, with an old school feel, riders with a keen eye may catch a glimpse of the Burklyn Mansion and Inn at Mtn. View Farm. Two short bridges built with milled hemlock timbers pulled from on site bring the trail some cool character. Thank you to Doug & Disa Clarner for allowing this trail on their property
The Clarner's young son is interested in trail building so CJ worked with them on laying out the trail and showing them the basics of what tools to use and how to use them. They did a majority of the corridor clearing on their own time. Along with the Clarners, students from BMA provided volunteer trail work to install a considerable amount of new trail on this project. It’s been a nice collaboration with a landowner and students from BMA.
Rating: Blue Square
Length: .62 miles

Road Work on East Darling Hill Rd. will lightly effect the trails but no access loss.

The next Volunteer Work Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 31 and is sponsored by Lawson's Finest Liquids!

2021 KTA Mini Grant Program

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 11:14:44 GMT

Open to applicants.

We are thrilled to announce the 3rd Annual KTA Mini Grant program! The purpose of the KTA Mini Grant program is to provide funding for projects that will advance the mission of Kingdom Trails while expressing our gratitude to the communities that host us. It is because of our 103 private landowners that we can offer this opportunity to foster the health of our local community.

Kingdom Trails believes our KTA Mini Grant program will help highlight and advance valuable local endeavors that promote Recreation, Health & Wellness, Education & Training, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Viability, Heritage & Culture, and Creative Arts.

The KTA Mini Grant program will award funds to projects that benefit the communities of Burke, East Haven, Kirby, and Lyndonville, the towns where Kingdom Trails exists. Funds will further Kingdom Trail’s mission, increase the capabilities and capacity of other local organizations and groups, focus on developing a sustainable economy and improve the quality of life for people in these communities while promoting diversity and inclusion.

Projects of past awardees’ include the Town of East Haven Library to refurbish the East Haven Community Park playground, the Vermont Children’s Theater’s update of lighting and electrical wiring, Rural Edge’s SASH Fall Awareness Program, H.O.P.E’s Backpack program, NEK Backcountry’s purchase of tools, Cobleigh Library’s addition of outdoor recreation and nature diversity books to their collection, and the Town of Lyndon’s effort to revitalize the old town highway garage into a greenspace.

For the 2021 KTA Mini Grant program, $25,000 will be available. Requests for funds may not exceed $5,000 per project. Applications are due via email only, no later than 4PM Friday, September 24, 2021. Applications will then be read and scored by the KTA Mini Grant Committee. Funding decisions will be made no later than 2 months following the submission deadline.

The KTA Mini Grants will be awarded once a year. Grant applications are available for download here . If you would like to be on the Kingdom Trail’s grant distribution list, or if you have any questions regarding the process or eligibility of the grant process, please see further details on the website or email grants@kingdomtrails.org .

KT Community Chat Series

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 14:11:11 GMT

Executive Director Abby Long to host monthly community chats!

Dear KT Community,

I know I am not the only one excited that the world is beginning to open back up! It’s been a wild year, but now that I am fully vaccinated I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with my own community! Keeping with KT’s renewed commitment of consistent communication, I would like to make myself and KT more accessible to all (now that we can!)

We’re proud to debut KT Community Chats! These will be relatively informal gatherings hosted on a monthly basis. The chats will consist of me, KT’s Executive Director, plus I will always be joined by a few Board members or folks from the KT Team.

Goals of the gathering will be a chance for me to share the latest news from KT, yet the bulk of the chats will be an opportunity for KT to hear feedback from you, our community. We want to receive your thoughts, questions, and even visions!

If concerns are identified through these chats, I hope to demonstrate action and responsiveness, either by addressing the issues during the gathering or following up individually with folks. If it appears to be a broader concern, our team can devote a more strategic effort. There may be times when I am unable to solve every issue or implement every suggestion, but I commit to you now that I will listen.

These chats will be about an hour long and hosted at different times and locations for the remainder of the year. Please know KT will not be providing food or drink as they are designed purely to be a casual conversation.

We look forward to seeing you in person! But most of all listening and learning!

Abby

2021 KT Community Chats

KTA Mini Grant Brings Bikes To Local Kindergartens

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 13:01:03 GMT

Kingdom East School District Integrates All Kids Bike Education Bike Curriculum

Last year, KTA was excited to able to contribute through the KTA Mini Grant Program to the Kingdom East School District (KESD) towards the implementation of the All Kids Bike Education Curriculum. With the help of some local money and the grant, KESD received 32 bikes, helmets and the curriculum.

Recently we heard from Lyndon Town School Physical Education Teacher Lisa Paquette who said, "This spring Newark school and Lyndon Town School were able to get all of our Kindergarten and first graders on Strider balance bikes and then moved to pedals. It was a great curriculum that got our students super excited about biking!"

Next school year the other schools in the district as well as Newark and LTS will continue with the program.

It is with honor and gratitude for your support through membership and donations, that KTA is able to provide these opportunities for health and wellness to our local community.

Another Round

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 18:17:35 GMT

New trail!

Our first full new trail of the season, Another Round bisects Last Call in the section of trails above the Tiki Bar parking area. This new addition, gives riders the option to ride that pocket of trails in multiple directions. Twisty, with an old school feel, riders with a keen eye make catch a glimpse of the Burklyn Mansion and Inn at Mtn. View Farm. Two short bridges built with milled hemlock timbers pulled from on bring the trail some cool character.

Rating: Blue Square

Length: .62 miles

Kingdom Trails IPA Hits the Shelves!

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 18:44:17 GMT

Lawson's Finest Liquids donates to the KT Ambassador Program

We are grateful and honored to partner again with Lawson's Finest Liquids to bring you the Kingdom Trails IPA!

The KT IPA is pale yellow in color, soft and refreshing on the palate with a mild bitterness and an intensely fruit forward and floral nose. And for each 4 pack sold, Lawson's will donate $2 towards support for the KT Trail Ambassador Program .

We'd like to send a special thank you to The Beverage Warehouse, 802BWS , and Jake's Quechee Market for matching Lawson's donation for each 4 pack sold.

Below is a list of locations where you can find the KT IPA either on tap or in cans.

In the NEK

Boutin's Mini Market

Burke Mountain Hotel

Burke Public House

Coles Discount Beverage

Craftsbury General

East Burke Market

Jay Country Store

Jericho Market

Kingdom Taproom

Lake Parker Country Store (Parker Pie)

Lyndonville Redemption

Marty's First Stop

Mike's Tiki Bar

NEK country store

Sylvester's Market

The Handlebar

The Hub Trailside

The Orange Rind

Statewide

VERMONT MEAT AND SEAFOOD

CITY MARKET - DOWNTOWN

HEALTHY LIVING

CITY MARKET - SOUTH END

HEALTHY LIVING - WILLISTON

ESSEX DISCOUNT BEVERAGE

KORNER KWIK STOP

STOWE BEVERAGE

JAKE'S QUECHEE MARKET

WOODSTOCK HOPS N BARLEY

STOWE PUBLIC HOUSE

BEVERAGE BARON

MEHURON S SUPERMARKET

CRAFT BEER CELLAR - WATERBURY

MR. J S SPECIALTY CRAFT BEER AND WINE

VILLAGE GROCERY

PARADISE MARKET

HUNGER MOUNTAIN COOP

TOMLINSON S STORE

CROSSROADS BEVERAGE

IRASVILLE COUNTRY STORE

AGS VT - VILLAGE MARKET OF WATERBURY

WARREN STORE

BRATTLEBORO FOOD COOP

BRISTOL DISCOUNT BEVERAGE

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION COOP

MIDDLEBURY CO-OP

MIDDLEBURY DISCOUNT BEVERAGE

THE CROWLER PIT AT BIG FATTY S BBQ

ALLEN BROTHERS FARM

MIKE S STORE

JOE S DISCOUNT BEVERAGE

116 WINE & SPIRITS

802BWS

BEVERAGE WAREHOUSE

KILLINGTON DELI & MARKETPLACE

ROUTE 7 LIQUORS

BEER KING

Trail Updates

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 16:28:55 GMT

May 2021

The summer is off and running and we are excited to have the full trail crew on board as of this week. Now we're really gonna jam!

May trail projects completed:

Much needed revamp of the village pump track!
Bridging on Kirby Connector over wet areas.
New School trail realignment by landowner request
1/4 Mile White School hardening and drainage improvements that make the trail:

More inclusive to adaptive riders
More sustainable with less bridges to maintain and allowed for better drainage.
Difficulty rating consistent from end to end.
Tie in with New School to make it part of a 6.5 mile beginner loop from town.
Much improved fat bike grooming

We would like to share a special thank you to KT Landowner Al Beaupre who donated machine work time and material on a section of the New School Trail on his property. We are honored to be given access to the properties on the Kingdom Trail network and it is beyond words to also receive time, energy and resources towards the KTA mission from generous landowners as well.

Road Work on East Darling Hill will begin June 25 for widening the road. This will lightly effect the trails but no access will change.

The next Volunteer Work Day is scheduled for June 26th, and sponsored by Lawson's Finest Liquids !

eMTB Policy Review

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 26 May 2021 15:05:00 GMT

The rapid increase of electric Mountain Bikes (eMTB) has sparked crucial dialogue within the trail recreation community. As we have all experienced, these conversations can be controversial and divisive. The growing pressures of the eMTB industry and user group are challenging trail networks to take a firm stance on whether to allow eMTBs or not. Kingdom Trails now finds itself in this position. eMTBs have been identified by both the KT Landowner and Trail Advisory Committees as a topic that needs further examination and a more delineated response. We have also heard many passionate opinions on the subject from KT trail users. KT has therefore begun an intensive review of this issue, the goal being the most responsible and sustainable decision for our community.

We believe community members, trail users, and most importantly our landowners should be engaged in this decision. The KT Team began with a preliminary discussion with our Board of Directors regarding a proper decision making process. This process was then presented to the Landowner Advisory Committee. Their response was positive, and they were pleased that KT Landowners will be involved and the policy shaped by their feedback. Kingdom Trails has invited all of the KT Landowners to a forum in early June.

As cycling technology and trail utilization trends evolve, we believe it is imperative that KT periodically review and consider policy changes. eMTBs are a prime example. Currently Kingdom Trails’ eMTB policy is stated as “KT does not allow e-bikes on our trail network” as we honor the no motorized vehicle agreement we have made with our Landowners. Please know this continues to be our policy throughout this process.

We understand there are a number of pros and cons that need to be weighed. On the one hand, allowing eMTBs could broaden access for those with physical limitations due to age, illness and disability, supporting our commitment to equity and inclusion. Increased patronage could also directly benefit our community and the region. On the other hand, concerns could arise regarding faster speeds, user conflicts, injuries and liability, land impacts, and overcrowding. We will need to educate ourselves on the different classes of eMTBs, review the decisions and policies of other trail networks, consult organizations such as IMBA, NEMBA, and VMBA, and explore both federal and state policies, along with the detail of our own conservation easements with the Vermont Land Trust and Vermont Housing Conservation Board. However, above all, gauging our landowners' comfortability with eMTBs on their land will be a priority.

We encourage all to share their thoughts and opinions by emailing eMTB@kingdomtrails.org . Your feedback is welcomed and we thank you in advance for participating in this deliberative process with civility, and we especially encourage experience based input. Again, we ask that you email with your feedback, therefore we are turning off our social media comments on this topic as the goal is to receive constructive input directly from our stakeholders for thoughtful consideration and we do not wish to host a platform for negative interactions between people. We anticipate this review and policy update will conclude within the middle of this summer season.

Please remember, regardless of whether or not Kingdom Trails amends our policy, we understand education will be a key component to maintaining respect for our private landowners and encouraging all to Ride with Gratitude.

Capacity Study Done and Done!

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 05 May 2021 14:30:07 GMT

Thanks to all who participated in guiding KT in the right direction!

The study is done, recommendations are in, and priorities are set! Kingdom Trails is so proud to announce that the KT Capacity Study is complete and we are ready to rock, taking action toward a sustainable future with your input and guidance!

As you may know, in September of 2019, KT and the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, received a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to fund a KT Network Capacity Study with the goal of addressing issues relating to crowding, congestion, safety, and general pressure being placed on the local communities. Through these funds awarded, KT was truly fortunate to retain the services of SE Group, a recreation and community planning firm to facilitate the study.

As we shared this past February, the recommendations were deeply informed by the initial public visioning open house, conversations with stakeholders, existing conditions review, and a capacity data analysis. We then asked folks to participate further as we invited you to review the study recommendations and help shape key priorities for KT. We had over 450+ responses to the Community Priorities Survey, with about 40% of those responses being local KT Landowners, community members, and business owners. We were grateful to hear from so many!

The East Burke village crosswalk, safe road and trail crossings, and new Welcome Center were identified as the highest community priorities. KT agrees! And we are already taking action! We are currently writing multiple grants for funding to implement the needed infrastructure that will create safe road and trail crossings as early as this summer. In addition, we are working with the Town of Burke to pursue a scoping study for the crosswalk.

The biggest and most daunting, yet inspiring project our community identified will be a new Welcome Center. KT is excited to tackle this endeavor as this will not only be KT’s Welcome Center, but also a community hub for all! It will be a place to greet and educate visitors, provide office space for KT, house local programming and events, ample parking, and safe access to trails and businesses. This new Welcome Center will serve as a portal and accessible center for the entire Northeast Kingdom. We understand that these projects and improvements will not happen overnight, yet with your patience and understanding, please know that KT is striving to make the most responsible and sustainable decisions based on your input. We commit to you now, that we will continue to consistently keep you informed every step of the way.

KT is looking forward to sharing our journey through the Capacity Study in hopes that other communities may learn and look to our process as a resource. For the full story, check out Local Motion’s upcoming FREE workshop; Where Recreation Meets Transportation . KT, alongside SE Group, will serve as a real life example to help explore the overlap of transportation and recreation planning, to better connect Vermont communities.

Kingdom Trails would like to extend a heartfelt and sincere thank you to all those involved; USDA Rural Business Development, Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, Drew Pollak-Bruce and Ellie Wachtel of SE Group, Stantec, the towns and Selectboard members of Burke, Lyndonville, Kirby, and East Haven, all of the incredible stakeholder groups, amazing trail users, our community, and especially to the folks who make this all possible, the KT Landowners.

Looking forward to the future with you all!

Team KTA

Looking Forward to a Successful & Safe Summer

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 17:06:56 GMT

Preparing for more trail users with advanced educational messaging.

KT Landowners, Community, and Members,

Once again Mother Nature has deemed our winter season come to an end. The Kingdom Trails network is currently closed due to mud season conditions in order to protect the natural resources and future of the trails. We are not yet able to say when the ground will be dry and ready for recreation, but until then we thank you all for respecting the land and seasonal trail closure.

During this in-between season the KT Team is hard at work preparing for a successful summer ahead. It is an understatement to say that 2020 was a season like no other, however we learned a lot from managing our trails throughout the pandemic, ensuring the safety of our staff, landowners, community, and members. We are grateful to all for riding with gratitude and respecting our priority to take care of our local community. We plan to continue our COVID19 practices of adhering to the State of Vermont’s guidelines, and evolving as they do.

Kingdom Trails is anticipating increased visitor numbers compared to last summer due to the availability of vaccines and the expanding VT cross state travel policy. To properly prepare for this increase in visitors we will be dedicating our time to advanced educational messaging for trail users.

Along with physical distance, masks, and sanitary measures, these messages will encompass tips for dispersing the increased traffic. We will ask folks to be patient and communicate respectfully, show appreciation for our landowners and local community, avoid peak times and days, explore other trails that are not the most popular, not to overflow KT parking areas and only park in approved KT locations , purchase your memberships in advance online , follow Leave No Trace principles and abide by our Ride With Gratitude code of conduct. We want all to respect each other and be an active part in making the outdoors welcoming and inclusive for all abilities and identities.

To further increase education, engagement and accountability efforts, while encouraging respectful behaviour, KT Ambassadors will be stationed at key trailheads and strategic trail locations to share our code of conduct and inform users that they are on private property.

The KT Capacity Study, to be finalized this Spring, is also tackling the increased traffic concern as it is addressing issues relating to crowding, congestion, safety, and general pressure being placed on our local communities. With the goal of improving the quality of life for our region, we are excited to share the study’s final recommendations and get to work contemplating the suggested strategies and implementing community infrastructure to address the growing number of users and capacity imbalances in the system.

We appreciate more than ever the sanctuary that being outdoors provides. Thank you all for your support of Kingdom Trails and our community. We can’t wait until the dirt dries out and our amazing crew gives the thumbs up so we can hit the trails, as we understand the outdoors is a refuge, a safe place to gather, and an essential source of renewal. Until then we hope all continues to be happy and healthy!

We are so grateful,

Abby & the KT Team

Kingdom Trails Seeks Operations & Membership Manager

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:40:04 GMT

Join the KT Leadership Team

We are excited to announce a search to find a dynamic and experienced Operations and Membership Manager, a candidate that will lead the day to day operations in best in class customer service at the Kingdom Trail’s Welcome Center.

The KT Welcome Center serves as the gateway to the trail network and the first point of contact for the organization. Responsibilities include managing Welcome Center staff and Trail Ambassadors, facilitating retail sales and information operations, overseeing the Welcome Center facility, and attending to the needs of daily visitors.

The Operations and Membership Manager will lead technology innovation and Membership Management programs for over 5,000+ annual and 45,000+ daily members resulting in a seamless member experience for sustainable member retention.

The right candidate will work collaboratively with other members of the KT Leadership Team to strengthen the pursuit of KT’s mission. A Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years experience in related fields is required. Advanced proficiency in Quickbooks and other associated platforms and applications, along with a successful track record managing staff and maintaining effective working relationships is vital.

Qualified candidates are asked to please submit a cover letter and resume to abby@kingdomtrails.org. Please use “KT Manager Application” in the subject line. The job posting will close on Wednesday April 14, 2021.

Download the full job description here .

Contact:

Abby Long, Executive Director

Kingdom Trail Association

abby@kingdomtrails.org

Network Capacity Study Recommendations are In

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 17:06:02 GMT

We need your input!

Over the past year, a Network Capacity Study has been conducted of the Kingdom Trails network and its supporting infrastructure. This study was intended to address issues relating to crowding, congestion, safety, and general pressure being placed on the local communities. Kingdom Trails and the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, through a USDA Rural Business Development Grant, retained the services of SE Group, a recreation and community planning firm located in Burlington, VT to conduct the study. The study examined the existing conditions, determined capacity of the trail system and supporting infrastructure, identified a suitable location for a future welcome center, and developed strategies around better managing parking, dispersing use and economic impact, and offering a positive impact to the trail network’s host communities. Throughout the study process, public engagement has been a key component, from a large visioning in-person open house in February 2020 to virtual stakeholder meetings and online engagement due to the pandemic.

The study document is a virtual “storymap” available at www.kingdomtrails.org/networkcapacity and a video of the study’s presentation to the Burke selectboard is also available at that site. At this time, members of the public are invited to review the study recommendations and identify key priorities for Kingdom Trails in an online survey . The survey will remain open through the end of February 2021.

The capacity analysis determined that the trail system has sufficient capacity, but there are imbalances, pinch points, and opportunities to better disperse use. For example, there are many miles of trails on the southern end of Darling Hill, with very limited immediate parking and Burke Mountain offers hundreds of available parking spaces that have been underutilized. There is also a shortage of parking in the village, given the level of use in that area.

The study recommended locating the new welcome center in East Burke village, on the KTA-owned property where the balance bike pump track is currently located. This location was selected due to its connectivity to the trail system, existing KTA-ownership, topography, proximity to village businesses, and the importance of the welcome center remaining in East Burke. This new welcome center could offer guest services and office space, programming and events space, ample parking, a picnic area and river access, and other amenities. This new welcome center could act as a portal and tourist information center for both the trail system and the Northeast Kingdom more broadly. Additionally, a crosswalk was recommended in the village across Highway 114 in a location that would not result in the removal of on-street parking.

The study also offered potential designs for enhanced road-trail crossings, a new village trailhead, and mobile welcome center units. The mobile welcome centers would be “food truck-style” trucks or vans located in satellite parking lots that offer the indoor/outdoor service typically found at the Welcome Center, along with ambassador presence, membership, merchandise, and map information. The study also recommends better messaging around parking, alerting visitors to available parking spaces and satellite lots via additional website information, signage, and an integrated phone app.

A key community priority that emerged was dispersing users and spreading the economic impact of the trail system. There are several opportunities to do so in the Town of Lyndon. The land surrounding the new Kingdom Campground and the Lyndon Outing Club could be developed with 10 to 15-mile trail networks, and Northern Vermont University would be an excellent partner for future events and programs, given their campus and educational opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Kingdom Trails is a world-class trail system deeply intertwined with the local community. Local community members have banded together to develop the 100+ mile trail system and 100 private landowners allow trails to pass through their property. The user experience extends well beyond the trail network itself to the community fabric and tourism infrastructure that surround it. Users drive and ride along local roads, visit lodging and restaurants, and can overflow the village parking areas.

Over the past few years Kingdom Trails has become one of the most popular mountain bike destinations in the United States, with over 100,000 visits per year and visitation is growing sharply annually. With this growth, the community has experienced increasing impacts – both positive and negative – from the increasing number of users of the trail system. The trail system generates tremendous economic impact for the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and is a fantastic recreation resource for the community. However, the existing level of use places pressure on the community, its infrastructure, and the landowners.

In early 2019, KTA, in conjunction with the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, applied for and received a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to help fund a Kingdom Trails Network Capacity Study to help provide an understanding of the capacity of the trail network and associated community infrastructure and contemplate strategies to address the growing number of users and address capacity imbalances in the system with an eye towards improving quality of life in the region.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions by email to info@kingdomtrails.org or during business hours at (802) 626-0737 .

January 2021 Events Recap

katie@kingdomtrails.org (Katie Carroll) — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:03:14 GMT

From friendly competition to night rides, January 2021 did not disappoint.

Resolve to Ev olve

This past Sunday the inaugural Resolve to Evolve Winter Trail Challenge came to an end! What a ride it has been. The newly imagined push for a healthy lifestyle did not disappoint, and the month-long battle for the most mileage on the KT network was one for the record books.

Let us take a moment to review some highlights from the event.

Local Adrian Ponoran ran away with an early lead, and never looked back. He cruised to an easy first place finish with 177.1 miles on the network. Hats off to you sir!

The battle for the rest of the podium, however, was not so easy. KT Executive Director Abby Long issued a bold declaration that KT staff members would wrack up more total miles on the network than would members of the Board of Directors. Turns out she was right! The combined totals of Trail Manager CJ Scott, Trail Crew Members Kory Buck and Kenyon Fatt, Communication and Programs Manager Lilias Ide, and Operations Manager Ethan Kascenska, did indeed beat the lone board member on the leaderboard, Elise Lawson.

HOWEVER, it must be said, that with 88.7 miles Elise had a commanding second place finish, and deserves our respect and deference. “My back hurts from carrying this <BOD> team” -Elise, probably.

Coming in 3rd place with 45.6 miles is Trail Manager extraordinaire, CJ Scott. Way to hold it down for team KT CJ!

The KTA events department would like to thank all 20 participants who competed and contributed to the fun and friendly competition.

Prizing will be announced On Monday !

Thank you to our prize sponsors !

The Torchlit Trail Experience

The winter Torchlit Trail Experiences are KTA's longest running events. No one quite knows the exact origin date, but the best guess is that they've been happening for over 12 years. Originally, we lit the way with candles in bags, then jars, and have now transitioned to fairy lights to follow on t his moonlit trail foray combined with educational programs provided by local organizations.

In the past, a firepit and hot chocolate have accompanied the event, but in order to encourage social distance and keep participants safe, this year’s event was completely self-guided.

On Saturday, January 30th 2021, during a Waning Gibbous Moon, the tradition continued. Even without a fire pit (for COVID-19 considerations), a dedicated group of KT fans braved the cold temps and were rewarded with a beautiful night out on the network!

Thank you to our p rogramming partners!

Thank you to everyone who came out , and a very s pecial Thanks to the Fairbanks Museum for creating fun astronomy trivia, and for Northwoods Stewardship Center for lending their tree and critter knowledge.

MLK, an Environmental Leader

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 15:55:31 GMT

“We’ve played havoc with the destiny of the world. Somewhere we must make it clear that we are concerned about the survival of the world.” -MLK

BlackCycling.com found this 1967 photo of MLK on his bike. “Yes the Civil Rights leader took time out to get some cycling in. If he did it you can too!”

----

Today is MLK Day. It is a day to honor Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy and reflect on his enduring contributions to our nation. King’s mission was to ensure justice and equality. He was central to advancing civil rights through nonviolent activism in the 60s, and his words have echoed ever since, especially this year amidst the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Kingdom Trails shares King’s vision of racial, social, and economic parity, as our mission is to foster the health of our community and regional economy. Exploring our own commitment to diversity and inclusion, and today studying and honoring King’s teachings and his life, we were astounded to learn the powerful impact he has had on environmental justice, a concept Kingdom Trails is deeply passionate about.

Martin Luther King blazed trails for the environmental movement. In a 1951 sermon, “O That I Knew Where I Might Find Him,” King said, “Probably many of us who have been so urbanized and modernized need at times to get back to the simple rural life and commune with nature... We need sometimes to get away from the man-made lights of the city and place our eyes on that eternal light which man can never invent. We need sometimes to close our ears to get away from the noisy tunes of the man-made streetcars and subways and open our ears to the melodious voices of the birds and the whistling sounds of the jostling wind.”

Kingdom Trails builds trails to connect people. We believe that providing public access to the outdoors and trails to recreate, will enable people to lift their spirits, clear their minds, nurture their bodies, and cultivate a sense of responsibility and stewardship for both our community and the natural world.

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Sources & Resources

“O that I Knew Where I Might Find Him!” Sermon, Martin Luther King Jr.

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/o-i-knew-where-i-might-find-him

Martin Luther King Jr. The Ecological Thinker, Drew Dellinger https://drewdellinger.org/martin-luther-king-jr-ecological-thinker/

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-eric-holder-speaks-environmental-protection-agency-s-martin-luther-king

What the Environmental Justice Movement Owes Martin Luther King Jr, Paola Rosa-Aquino https://grist.org/article/what-the-environmental-justice-movement-owes-martin-luther-king-jr/

BlackCyling http://www.blackcycling.com/martin-luther-king-jr-rode-bikes/

Trail Update and Holiday Hours

katie@kingdomtrails.org (Katie Carroll) — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 20:30:02 GMT

Trails Closing Due To Conditions on 12/24-12/25

With the upcoming forecast of warm temperatures, wind, and wet precipitation over the next couple days, we will be closing the trails to best protect the natural resources. We will assess the trails after the warm up and determine if the trails can be reopened again this weekend once it returns to more seasonable temperatures and the ground has a chance to refreeze. Please stay posted on our website, social media and TrailHUB for the latest on trail conditions.

Holiday Break: 12/24-12/25 and 12/31-1/1

Our Welcome Center Will be closed for the Christmas holiday, 12/2 4 -12/25 and for New Years, 12/31 - 1/1/2021. Please review the links on our, home page for up to date travel policies, membership and trail information.

If you have further questions, please reach out to info@kingdomtrails.org and our team will respond to you when we return.

Thank you for all the wonderful support! Have a healthy and happy holiday!

-The KTA Team

Beloved Trails in Northeast Kingdom Secured

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:07:53 GMT

Land on Darling Ridge to Remain Open for Mountain Biking, Hiking, Skiing, and More.

Seven miles of trails in the heart of the popular Kingdom Trails network have been secured after a major community effort, the Vermont Land Trust and Kingdom Trail Association announced. The Kingdom Trail Association today acquired 271 acres on Darling Hill Road, and conserved the land to ensure it remains undeveloped and open to the public in the future.

Stretching from Darling Hill Road to the East Branch of the Passumpsic River, the land has sweeping views of Burke Mountain and includes trails leading to Heaven’s Bench, a favorite rest stop in the 100-mile trail network. When a key parcel here went up for sale in 2019, the future of these beloved trails, and surrounding scenic meadows and forest was at risk.

The Kingdom Trail Association and Vermont Land Trust came together to save the land for the community and visitors, with funding from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, an anonymous gift of $150,000, and contributions from over 740 local businesses and community members.

Hailed as one of the best trail networks in North America, Kingdom Trails receives as many as 135,000 annual visits by mountain bikers, Nordic skiers, trail runners and snowshoers. A 2016 Vermont Trails and Greenway Council study found that the network generates more than $10M a year in economic activity for the region.

“Vermont is extremely fortunate to have recreation destinations like Kingdom Trails. When we work together to secure their future, we’re helping our rural communities and economies thrive,” said VLT President and CEO, Nick Richardson. “It’s been thrilling to see Vermont’s landscape appreciated, expressed in a groundswell of support from the local community and as far as Montreal and the Boston area.”

The campaign to save land on Darling Ridge received support from businesses and community partners, including the Burke Bike Barn, Langlais Family Tree Farm, East Burke Market, several chapters of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Brewster River Mountain Bike Club, Inc., Libby’s Meat Market, Passumpsic National Bank, Kingdom Coffee Roasters, Crosstown Motors, Century 21 Farm and Forest, Community National Bank and the Passumpsic Valley Land Trust.

“Through cooperation and dedication, Kingdom Trails has gone from a grassroots project to a nationally recognized treasure,” said Chris Hibshman, owner of the Village Sport Shop Trailside, located on Darling Hill Road. “This effort to protect trails and the beautiful and iconic ridgeline of Darling Hill is vital to ensure the future for the Kingdom Trail network and its surrounding community.”

The newly conserved Darling Ridge property consists of 40 acres purchased from long-time owners Martha Corrock and Finn Gunderson and 231 acres previously owned by Ariel Quiros. It has scenic and productive farmland, as well as healthy forests, streams, and wetlands that provide wildlife habitat and contribute to water quality and carbon sequestration. The conservation easement held by the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board will ensure the land will remain undeveloped and available for public recreation as well as farming, forestry, and educational activities.

“We are so grateful to all who have helped us to purchase this spectacular land on Darling Hill and to join the 100 other landowners who make Kingdom Trails possible,” said Abby Long, executive director of the Kingdom Trail Association. “Owning this land allows us to sustain the trails on one of the most visible and visited areas of the network, and also be a steward of the river, forests, and farmland which are vital to the future health of the Northeast Kingdom.”

The Winter Trail Network is OPEN to Bike & Foot Traffic

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 18:05:09 GMT

With COVID Restrictions and changes to winter operations.

Although the snow has not yet arrived, KTA has made the decision to open the winter trail network for bike and foot travel with COVID restriction s. Fresh air and recreational opportunities are more important than ever in the quest to nurture our bodies and minds, and we hope that each of you are able to find the opportunity to enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer.

Due to the current conditions of no snow, frozen bare ground, and the hunting season over, we are allowing bikes of all tire sizes and foot traffic only on the Darling Hill and White School sector trails. The soils in these areas are less prone than other terrain to long term damage with temperature fluctuations. However, please note that if temperatures rise and the ground softens, we will close the trails or revert to fat tire bikes only and restrict foot traffic. We ask that you keep an eye on KTA's communications and the weather and temps. If any damage is occurring to the trails during use, please make the responsible decisions to ensure the future health of the trails. Before accessing the trails, always check our website for the latest condition updates.

For your health and safety of our community, it is essential that trail users familiarize themselves with KTA COVID policies. Unfortunately, due to rising COVID cases across the Northeast, effective on November 10, 2020, the State of Vermont has suspended its leisure travel map and implemented a mandatory quarantine for anyone returning or traveling to Vermont. Please abide by VT Cross State Travel mandates and follow mandatory quarantine procedures before planning a trip from out of state.

* Operational Changes *

It is important to share that there are changes to our operations this winter. KTA will not be operating out of the yurt on Darling Ridge this coming season. Due to COVID priorities and our desire to keep our staff, community, and members safe, we are not able to offer an indoor warming space, yet will still offer sales and information services at the KTA Welcome Center Service Window located at downtown East Burke 478 VT. Rte 114. (Same as our summer location). Please know as COVID may evolve, these operations could too. We thank you in advance for understanding any changes and we will absolutely communicate if this is the case.

Along with this change in location, the KTA Board of Directors and staff have also made the decision to slightly increase our cost of memberships. As we are all too aware, the strain of COVID is a factor, plus Kingdom Trails has not raised their prices in over 10 years to keep up with inflation. We wish to continue supporting our staff and stay true to the commitments we made to our community and landowners to have a greater trail presence, managing trail users for the safety of all. The increase will only be to our daily and monthly memberships and it is just by $5. We will also be offering a new 2 consecutive-day or “weekend” membership designed to encourage an overnight stay. Yearly memberships will remain the same and of course, we will proudly continue to offer our NEK discount.

The three locations for parking to access the winter trail network are 2079 Darling Hill Rd. where the yurt was previously located. And in the village of East Burke at East Burke Sports, 439 VT Rte 114 and at Mike's Tiki Bar at 44 Belden Hill Rd.

The updated winter map is online here . And hard copies are available at the KTA Welcome Center. You may navigate the trail system digitally by using the ONDAGO GPS app downloaded to your phone.

Trail conditions are available on our website or by downloading the Trailhub app to your phone. Set KTA as one of your favorites and you'll receive notifications with condition updates.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions by email to info@kingdomtrails.org or during business hours at (802)626-0737.

KT Winter Welcome Center Location Update

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 22:02:24 GMT

Membership and information will be offered at the KTA Welcome Center Service Window in the village of East Burke.

If you've been up on Darling Hill lately, you may have noticed that our beloved yurt is no longer there! While we will miss that ol' round room, due to COVID priorities and our desire to keep our staff, community and members safe, this winter, we will offer sales and information services at the KTA Welcome Center Service Window located at 478 VT. Rte 114, East Burke.

Parking to access the trails will remain at 2079 Darling Hill Rd. where the yurt was previously located. As well as in the village of East Burke at East Burke Sports, 439 VT Rte 114 and at Mike's Tiki Bar at 44 Belden Hill Rd.

Grooming of the trail network will remain the same as last year. The updated winter map is online here . And hard copies will soon be in stock at the KTA Welcome Center.

Current hours of operation for the KTA Service Window is Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM.

Memberships and KTA swag can be purchased online here and held for pick up at the Service Window or shipped to you.

The trail network will open with COVID-19 restrictions in place after hunting season ends, and as soon as condition allow. When we have an opening date set, we will make sure to release through all avenues for communication.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions by email to info@kingdomtrails.org or during business hours at (802)626-0737.

2020-21 KTA Board of Directors

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 18:16:31 GMT

The start of a new cycle.

November 2020 marks the beginning of a new cycle for our Kingdom Trail’s Board of Directors. During this time of transition we say thank you to those who have served, welcome new Board members, shift leadership, but also take time to self evaluate and look toward the future.

Kingdom Trails is fortunate to be led by an all-local group of dedicated volunteers. Each Board member is an active representative of our community who knows and cares about our landowners, neighbors, organization, trails, members, and the beauty that surrounds us. The Board is composed of trail enthusiasts, local leaders, area business owners, and of course KTA landowners, all bringing their unique skill sets to support KTA.

Our 11 member Board of Directors can serve 3 consecutive 2 year terms elected at our annual meeting. As these terms are staggered, we find ourselves thanking Rob Elmes for his incredible service to the Board for the past 6 years. We appreciate Rob volunteering his time and energy, going above and beyond the normal Board member commitment. Kingdom Trails is in the position it is today because of his insight, skill, dedication to our community, and passion for our mission. We are so grateful to Rob, yet are comforted that he will always remain part of the KTA family.

To fill Rob’s seat, Kingdom Trails is excited to welcome Eric Wilson. Eric is a long standing member of the community, having attended and worked at Burke Mountain Academy, as well as AG Edwards and currently Edward Jones in St. Johnsbury. Eric and his wife Karen live in North Kirby and have 2 grown children, Moriah and Matthew. We also welcomed Colleen Leonard this past summer to fill an early vacancy. Colleen is an agricultural loan officer for the Vermont Economic Development Authority. She grew up on a Jersey cow dairy farm just north in West Charleston, that her parents still operate today. She and her husband, Jonathan, now reside in Sutton on a small farm property with a flock of chickens, quail, and a rescue puppy named Winnie.

Our Board of Directors will also host a new Executive Committee. Tabitha Bowling will assume the helm as Board Chair, transitioning from Katie Story’s leadership. We are appreciative of Katie’s poised guidance throughout this past year, always making sure meetings were productive, prompt, and punctual. Jake Wheeler will serve as Vice Chair, Harry Morrison as Treasurer and Tom De Carlo Secretary.

Our new 2020-21 Board of Directors recently met for their annual Summit, a daylong opportunity to connect and plan. They worked to engage with KTA’s mission, core values and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; support the capacity and empowerment of board members to leverage their role and committee structure; and analyzed KTA’s current strategic position, reviewing priorities and identifying changes to advance KTA’s future goals. We were grateful to Claire Wheeler of RE:WORK for providing facilitation to support and maximize the Board’s time and effectiveness.

Please know folks are always welcome to contact the KTA Board at Board@kingdomtrails.org. The Board of Directors meets every other month on the third Thursday of the month.

2020-21 KTA Board of Directors

Tabitha Bowling, Chair - East Burke

Jake Wheeler, Vice Chair - East Burke, Landowner

Harry Morrison, Treasurer - Lyndonville

Tom De Carlo, Secretary - Kirby

Doug Clarner - East Burke, Landowner

Matt Langlais - West Burke

Elise Lawson - West Burke, Landowner

Colleen Leonard - Sutton

Ann Nygard - West Burke

Katie Story - West Burke

Eric Wilson - Kirby

Summer Season Closing Letter from Abby

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:54:36 GMT

Winter is around the corner.

Dear Friends,

I usually begin my end of season letter with thanking everyone for joining us this season.

However, I know this is not the case. Not everyone was able to visit and for that we are truly

heartbroken. Please know you were missed. I hope you and your families stayed healthy and

you enjoyed other beautiful places to recreate and lift your spirits, clear your minds, and fortify

your body. I thank all for riding with gratitude and respecting our priority to take care of our

staff, landowners, and community members, but most of all each other.

In spite of these challenging times, I continue to be amazed by the outpouring of love,

especially for our Darling Ridge conservation campaign with the Vermont Land Trust to

permanently protect 269 acres of land at the heart of our trail network. We are nearing the

finish line, now fundraising for Kingdom Trails’ Land Protection and Stewardship Fund to

support the future care of this incredible land and the world-class recreation trails that

invigorate people and communities. Thank you to all those who have contributed and to those

who are planning to contribute still.

Yet, the biggest thank you is to our Landowners. They play a key role in vitalizing our region,

providing a quality experience, and a healthy outlet for all. 2020’s trail development, by our

hardworking crew and steadfast volunteers, focused on establishing safe connections to keep

trail users off the roadways and increase family friendly trail access. With more miles of trails,

KTA welcomed more landowners, bringing our total number to 100! I am in awe at how our

neighbors share the foresight of what trails can bring to their community

And to end on the happiest of notes! My husband and I welcomed our first baby into the world

this summer! Baby boy Wilder joined us July 9th, (sharing my birthday!) weighing 7 lbs 13 oz, as

healthy as could be! He has already been rippin’ trail as we walked White School every day of

my maternity leave. We are beyond thrilled as this is truly why we moved to the area. This is

where we wished to grow and raise our family, surrounded by these trails and this community.

A dream come true!

Thank you all for your support of Kingdom Trails and our community. We can’t wait for the

snow to fly and our amazing crew begins to groom again as we understand the outdoors is a

refuge, a safe place to gather, and an essential source of renewal. Until then I hope all

continues to be happy and healthy!

I am so grateful,

Abby Long

Executive Director

2020 KTA Mini Grant Recipients

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 18:36:52 GMT

Grants awarded to 8 local projects.

On October 13th, the Kingdom Trail Association’s Mini Grant Selection Committee met to determine grant awards for the annual KTA Mini Grant cycle. In our second year offering this opportunity, we were overwhelmed to receive $70,083.30 in funding requests for the $25,000 dedicated to the program. This is almost double the amount in requests received in the program’s inaugural year. We would like to thank the Mini Grant Selection Committee for their time and energy as they had to make difficult choices among the expansive pool of applicants.

Kingdom Trails awarded grants to 8 local projects. Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process, scoring projects on such criteria as community need, impact, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, public support, and a realistic, effective work plan and budget.

The Kingdom Trails Board of Directors is excited to announce the following recipients of the 2020 KTA Mini Grant awards:

Town of East Haven Library: Awarded $4,800 to refurbish the playground at the East Haven Community Park to provide a safer and more attractive area for residents and visitors to recreate and gather.

Kingdom East School District: Awarded $4,439 for the All Kids Bike program for Kindergarten and First Grade students of all KESD schools. Funds will purchase 22 Strider bikes, curriculum and training that will enable PE Teachers to facilitate learning opportunities for students to ride a bike without training wheel support.

Vermont Children’s Theater: Awarded $4,055 to update the lighting and electrical wiring in the VCT barn. Funds will increase energy efficiency, provide more effective lighting of the space and ensure safety for youth productions and other community groups who use the barn.

Rural Edge Support & Services at Home (SASH): Awarded $3,546 for Fall Awareness and Prevention. This program will integrate fall prevention education, physical aids to help reduce falls, and the opportunity for physical movement and strengthening. Program participants will acquire yak tracks, cane ice picks, and/or portable sand to use on icy surfaces.

H.O.P.E: Awarded $2,500 for their weekly Backpack Program, providing food to children from 8 area schools, and their families who are facing food insecurity.

Town of Lyndon: Awarded $2,460 to dedicate to the multi-year process of converting the vacant, former Town Highway Garage parcel into a public greenspace with river access and connections to local trail networks (KTA, VAST, etc.). These funds will allow weekly mowing and weed whacking to promote an immediate, welcoming space for relaxation and unobstructed river access for swimming, tubing, paddling, fishing, etc., plus the installation of picnic tables and benches to encourage enjoyment of the greenspace, and signage to educate users on “leave no trace” principles and promote community care of the area and environmental awareness.

NEK Backcountry: Awarded $2,300 to purchase trail tools in order to be more efficient in clearing and

maintaining approved glade skiing areas. NEKBC will also purchase lumber to build bridges over sensitive wet areas and add signs for proper parking areas, educating skiers about NEKBC policies and protecting the environment.

Cobleigh Library: Awarded $900 to purchase books about outdoor recreation and nature diversity as well as snowshoes for community members to check out of both the bookmobile and library, encouraging health and wellness through reading and outdoor movement activities.

Kingdom Trails is thankful to all applicants who submitted proposals and we wish all the best in advancing these valuable local endeavors, improving the quality of life for our community. Above all, Kingdom Trails is grateful to our private landowners who so generously allow our trails to cross their beautiful properties. It is because of them that we may continue contributing to our community and offering this program.

To learn more about the new KTA Mini Grant program and how to apply for next year’s cycle, please visit www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant.org

###

Kingdom Coffee Roasters pledges donation to the Darling Ridge Conservation Campaign.

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:44:54 GMT

$5 from the sale of every bag of Trailbuilder Blend coffee will go towards conserving property on Darling Ridge.

We are so grateful to John and Wendy Frye of Kingdom Coffee Roasters located right here in West Burke for donating $5 from every bag of Trailbuilder Blend sold!

Delicious coffee that conserves land, now that's a win, win!

Get yourself a bag- and maybe one for all your friends too, at one of these participating retail locations:

East Burke

KT Welcome Center and Online Store

Cafe Lotti

Lyndon

The Hub Trailside

The Freighthouse

West Burke

Mike’s Gas & Redemption

Firefly Farm

St. Johnsbury

Central Cafe

For more information or to donate directly to protect land on Darling Ridge visit vlt/darlingridge.org

Indigenous Peoples Day

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:26:56 GMT

Honoring tradition in Vermont.

In 2019, Governor Phil Scott signed a bill into law proclaiming the second Monday in October would be celebrated in Vermont as Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day.

At Kingdom Trails, we recreate on the land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange among indigenous peoples for thousands of years. KTA recognizes that Vermont was founded and is built upon lands first inhabited by the indigenous people of this region, the Abenaki, and seeks to honor and acknowledge their ancestors and allies, both past and present.

In July, the Governor signed a bill that allows citizens that are members of state-recognized indigenous tribes to qualify for lifetime free hunting and fishing licenses.

For the people of Vermont, hunting and fishing are a way of life and we consider that tradition to be an integral part of the spirit of our state. With support for our community and the safety of our users, the Kingdom Trail network will be closed for the weekend of 10/24-10/25 for VT Youth Hunting Weekend. This time is meant to help young hunters get the quality training and experience they need. We hope the kids participating enjoy the woods and have beautiful weather that weekend!

In the spirit of Indigenous Peoples’ Day today, and every day we celebrate the beauty and bounty of this land with gratitude for the people that have protected its earth, sky and waters.

Thank you to the KT landowners that continue the generous tradition of shared land use.

For our neighbors to the North, we send our very best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Vermont. Bonne Action de Grâce!

Respectfully,

Team KTA

The Vermont Land Trust and Kingdom Trail Association announce Campaign to conserve land on Darling Ridge

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 10:48:58 GMT

Help conserve 269 acres for public access.

Today, the Kingdom Trail Association and Vermont Land Trust announce a campaign to conserve 269 acres of land on Darling Ridge. “We are thrilled to have an opportunity to secure this special site on the Darling Hill Ridge for permanent public trail access and protection of some of the most beautiful land in the Kingdom,” said Abby Long, KTA Executive Director. “We are now reaching out to all who enjoy Kingdom Trails and want to help us preserve this landscape for future generations.”

In September 2019, a key parcel in the heart of the trail system on Darling Hill Road in Lyndon, went on the market. The land, formerly owned by AOQ, LLC was at imminent risk of being purchased for subdivision and residential development that would have diminished the rural character of the ridge and placed the future of public access to the land at risk. Seeing this threat, the Kingdom Trail Association acted quickly to secure bridge financing to purchase the property and allow time to secure the funds needed for long-term ownership and conservation of the land. At the same time, KTA entered into a contract to purchase an adjoining 40 acre parcel and created a plan to work with the Vermont Land Trust to permanently protect the two properties from future development and ensure public access to the land in perpetuity.

Over seven miles of trails in the KT network and a one-mile segment of a VAST trail, traverse this property, extending through farm fields, descending down to the East Branch of the Passumpsic River. The property’s trails lead to "Heaven's Bench,” a grassy knoll and iconic destination offering panoramic views across the Northeast Kingdom. With streams, wetlands and forests, the land provides wildlife habitat and contributes to clean air and water, while contributing to the unique, rural character of Darling Hill Ridge.

With a total funding need of $671,305 for the purchase and conservation of the two properties, Kingdom Trails is pleased to have secured a $150,000 grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board . The project has already received $291,433 in pledges and donations, including $3,813 donated by Lawson’s Finest Liquids with its release of Kingdom Trails IPA. A second release of this limited edition beer was released last week. Now, KTA in concert with the Vermont Land Trust, is teaming up to raise the remaining $229,872 needed to complete the project.

“We never imagined that we would be launching a fundraising campaign during a global pandemic and recognize the uncertainty and financial hardship communities across the NEK, Vermont and beyond continue to face,” said Tabitha Bowling, Treasurer of the Board of Directors and member of the Campaign Committee. “We also see that public access to the outdoors and recreation are needed more now, than ever. The Kingdom Trails truly provide refuge: a way for people to disconnect from Zoom screens or frontline jobs, safely get outside, get “lost” on a ride or run, and take care of mind, body and spirit. It is hard to put a value on that and we will be grateful for any measure of support—large, small or symbolic—for this campaign.”

For more information, or to make a donation to help the Kingdom Trail Association and Vermont Land Trust ensure that these 269 acres on Darling Hill in Lyndon, Vermont remain undeveloped and open to the public, visit vlt.org/darlingridge .

KTA Network Capacity Study Progress Report

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 18:36:27 GMT

Looking at the past, present and future of the trail system.

As the SE Group wraps up the data collection phase of the Kingdom Trail network capacity study and enters the analysis and design phase. Here's a synopsis of what they've found, and where they found it.

We are grateful to everyone for your participation and input, and that we have this opportunity to work with the SE Group to find out how we can enhance the network's positive impact on our host communities.

O'Reilly's Backyard is a Blast!

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 17:32:25 GMT

The skills area on Darling Hill gets a revamp.

O'Reilly's Backyard - this summer the skills area behind the Wildflower Inn just got a major overhaul with all new trails and upgrades to existing trails and features. This revamped zone has machine built flow trails, skill building features to progress in bridge riding, drops, rock gardens, narrow trees, and everything in between to help bring your riding skills to the next level.

Named after longtime landowners, Jim and Mary O'Reilly, each trail is named after their children and we are so grateful for their support over the years and can't think of a better way to honor them.

Kingdom Trails IPA is Back on the Shelves!

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 15:59:20 GMT

Find it at these participating locations throughout the NEK.

We 're so psyched to announce that Lawson's Finest brewed up another limited edition run of the this delicious brew!

According to Lawson's description "The Kingdom Trails IPA is pale yellow in color, soft and refreshing on the palate with a mild bitterness and an intensely fruit forward and floral nose." All we know, is that people are raving about it and it's selling like hot cakes! It's a great beer.

A portion of each can sold is donated to protecting land on Darling Ridge. This property has almost 7 miles of trails on it and will be conserved by the Vermont Land Trust and Kingdom Trail Association for public access. For information or to donate directly visit vlt.org/darlingridge

Thank you Lawson's Finest Liquids for your generous support and honoring us with this amazing beer.

Find yours at one of these participating locations in the NEK:

East Burke Market

The Orange Rind

The Handlebar Biergarten

Mike's Tiki Bar

NEK Country Store

Burke Mtn Hotel

Willoughby Lake Store

Parker Pie

2020 Circumburke Challenge Will be Cancelled

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 19:48:20 GMT

The Kingdom Trail Association has chosen not to produce the Annual Circumburke Trail Challenge for the second year in a row. While disheartened by the decision, especially during this challenging time, KTA believes that it is necessary to avoid the potential adverse impact the event could have due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the request for an Act 250 jurisdictional opinion currently pending with reference to the Kingdom Trail network. Further regulatory uncertainty exists due to the status of various Act 250 bills being considered by the Vermont Legislature.

The Circumburke Trail Challenge is a 27-mile backcountry course for trail runners and mountain bikers to test their limits. Traditionally Circumburke has been a one-day event that circumnavigates Burke Mt. on a route through state land connecting Kingdom Trails, the Victory Hill sector, and Burke Mt. singletrack in a wild corner of Vermont’s NEK. Participants have embraced the intense physical and mental challenge that the course offers. Previous challenges have brought over 600 racers as well as their families and friends to the area.

This year, with careful consideration for safety, the event had been restructured in partnership with VT State Parks and Recreation to offer multiple date choices, capping registration numbers each day to protect the local community by avoiding a large group gathering, and allow for social distancing on course.

Conceived in 2010, the event has been produced in partnership between Victory Hill and Kingdom Trails to help provide economic support to the region during the Fall tourist shoulder season. With the cancellation of so many recent events and the resulting economic impact facing the area, KTA had been hopeful that Circumburke would provide a timely boost to morale and local businesses.

In 2020, the event was planned to be produced solely by KTA, the Circumburke Challenge has historically served as a fundraising event for the Kingdom Trail Association with a portion of the proceeds designated for access to Vermont state land and dedicated to maintaining and building trails to provide recreation and education opportunities, fostering the health of the local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy.

A part of the route of the Circumburke Challenge passes through a section of the Victory Hill Sector trails, an integral part of the course that is currently closed to bikes due to an ongoing Act 250 Jurisdictional Opinion proceeding. The final decision to cancel the event was made in consideration of the potential for further Act 250 complications for Victory Hill, as well as the potential impact on KTA’s own pending Act 250 Jurisdictional Opinion.

KTA wishes to thank all Circumburkers and our communities for understanding the decision to cancel the 2020 Circumburke Trail Challenge. Those who have registered for the 2020 event will receive a full refund. KTA looks forward to hosting the Circumburke in the future to celebrate epic single track and trail users and to help provide an economic boost during a slower time of year for the economy of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.

If you would like more information on the Circumburke Trail Challenge, please email info@kingdomtrail.org

Network Capacity Study Update

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 16:41:58 GMT

Rider Experience Survey Results

Over the past few months, the SE Group project team has been busy engaging with stakeholders and collecting

data. The project team held 10 virtual focus group meetings with local business owners, town

governments, landowners, trail ambassadors, and other key players. These conversations framed the

existing conditions and illuminated many of the opportunities and constraints going forward. The

project team placed trail counters to measure level of use and conducted a rider experience survey. The

rider experience survey asked respondents about crowding, access, and overall experience during the

summer 2020 season and previous years. Click here to see the results.

Now, the project team is working on the analysis and solutions. The team is developing a capacity figure

for components of the trail system – trails, parking, lodging, and food and beverage. The team is also

looking at the qualitative capacities of landowners, the environment, and community infrastructure.

Imbalances between the different capacities will be identified and solutions will seek to address

deficiencies and recommend changes in policy and enhancements to system components. Design

alternatives are being developed for several key locations in the trail system such as existing and

potential parking lots, difficult road crossings, and the future welcome center. The project team is

preparing two separate scenarios and these design alternatives for public feedback in late fall. Stay

tuned for more details!

The Race Back to School Goes Virtual!

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 20:13:50 GMT

We are excited to invite you to participate in the reimagined Race Back to School From September 15th - October 15th.

This annual, fun-filled challenge is held on the Kingdom Trails network and encourages walkers, runners, and bikers of all ages and ability levels. All event proceeds are donated to local outdoor youth programming.

T his year we've changed the game a little to make sure everyone is safe and socially distanced!

Instead of competing on a single day, participants will track their mileage over a monthlong period. Starting September 15th and running (no pun intended) through October 15th, runners, walkers, and bikers will compete individually or as a family (who have quarantined together) and track their progress virtually. *

The goal is to achieve the most amount of points!

Points are awarded for each mile traveled while running walking or biking on the KT network from Sept. 15- Oct 15.

Points are ALSO awarded for participation at extra credit fun stations which range from physical fitness challenges to brain teasers.

1,2, and 3 place in all categories will receive prizes.

Individuals and family teams (People living in the same household) are eligible for competition.

Participants will download and use the Ride With GPS app to monitor their mileage and track progress. Participants will need access to technology for this challenge. If technology access is a barrier to participation in this event- please contact katie@kingdomtrails.org for alternative methods.

So, where can you sign up for this super fun event? So glad you asked!

You can register now on our Eventbrite page . Tickets for youths (5-15) are $10 and $20 for adults (16+)

Please make sure to register for the appropriate category (on foot or on a bike).

In order to monitor and track mileage, participants will download and use the Ride With GPS app. More information, including how to join the leaderboard, will be given after registration. If you'd like to get a head start, download the app today and get your account set up!**

The Race Back To School is also an opportunity for school fundraising! Participants may choose to solicit and collect pledges for points accrued. Download the pledge packet here or email katie@kingdomtrails.org to receive a packet in the mail, and start fundraising for your school today!

If you have any questions or need help with eventbrite or Ride With GPS, please send a message to katie@kingdomtrials.org.

Happy trails!

*All participants must agree to adhere to Kingdom Trails COVID-19 policies.

** If technology access is a barrier to participation in this event- please contact katie@kingdomtrails.org for alternative methods.

Another New Trail?!

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 16:48:17 GMT

The Burklyn Trail is open!

Adding 1.3 miles to the section of trails on the North end of Darling Hill, this trail circumnavigates the Inn at Burklyn property as it sneaks through hay fields and forest providing great beginner terrain and stunning views.

Please remember that if you need to travel on the road, it is important to stay to the side and ride single file. Please park only in designated Kingdom Trail parking locations.

Thank you to the Inn At Burklyn and Inn At Mountain View Farm for opening their property to this trail.

Volunteer Work Day Accelerates Re-opening of Trails

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:37:57 GMT

Blood, Sweat, and Volunteers.

On Saturday, July 25th, a group of about 20 volunteers and staff met on the ridge for a socially distanced volunteer work day led by CJ Scott and Ethan Kascenska.

The sun was shining, the hornets were buzzing (literally, it seems like every work day uncovers a ground nest), and good vibes were abundant.

Thanks to the hard work of these dedicated KT enthusiasts, the following trails are now reconnected, re-opened and ready to be ridden!

Heavens Bench
Ridge
Sugar Hill
Easy Out
East Branch
Rim

Special thanks to Mike Greenblatt and Kate Spellissy, the new landowners who made it all possible. As always, we are so grateful!

Y ou can check out the updated trail map here . Some photos from the day are below.

Kingdom Trails Network Experience Survey

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 20:09:40 GMT

2020 KTA Mini Grant Program

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:36:47 GMT

The Kingdom Trail Association is thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual KTA Mini Grant program. The purpose of the KTA Mini Grant program is to provide funding for projects that will advance the mission of Kingdom Trails while expressing our gratitude to the communities that host us. It is because of our 99 private landowners that we are able to offer this opportunity to foster the health of our local community.

The mission of the Kingdom Trail Association is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. We strive to accomplish this mission by offering quality, non-motorized, multi-use trails for all levels of ability, conserving the natural diversity and heritage of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom through collaboration and stewardship.

What makes our communities and trail network one of the greatest destinations in North America are the generous landowners who allow Kingdom Trails to manage and maintain trails through their beautiful properties. Our 99 landowners play a key role in vitalizing our region, providing a quality experience, and a healthy outlet for local residents and visitors.

The KTA Mini Grant program will award funds to projects that benefit the communities of Burke, East Haven, Kirby, and Lyndonville, the towns where Kingdom Trails currently exists. Funds will further Kingdom Trail’s mission, increase the capabilities and capacity of other local organizations and groups, focus on developing a sustainable economy and improve the quality of life for people in these communities while promoting diversity and inclusion.

For the 2020 KTA Mini Grant program, $25,000 will be available. Requests for funds may not exceed $5,000 per project. Applications are due by 4PM on Friday, September 25, 2020. Applications will then be read and scored by the KTA Mini Grant Committee. Funding decisions will be made no later than 1 month following the submission deadline.

The KTA Mini Grants will be awarded once a year. Grant applications will be available for download at https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant . If you would like to be on the Kingdom Trail’s grant distribution list, or if you have any questions regarding the process or eligibility of the grant process, please see further details on the website or email grants@kingdomtrails.org .

KTA Monthly Membership

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 15:02:39 GMT

NEW this summer, KTA is offering a Monthly Membership option

If you haven't heard yet, we're excited to let you know that we are now offering monthly KTA memberships!

The KTA mission is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. We are able to do so with the support of our annual and monthly members.

The change from day memberships to monthly memberships this year was a conscientious decision by KTA for many reasons. A one month membership encourages multi-day trail use while easing congestion at the Welcome Center and in the village of East Burke. By eliminating the daily ticket and wicket system, we will increase efficiencies, streamline service, reduce waste and take better care of Mother Earth.

Monthly membership is also a great deal! As an adult, for the same price as previously purchasing 2 day memberships plus $5, a $35 monthly membership now gives you access to the trail system for 30 days! In addition, if you decide to use the trail system again after that month, you have the option to redeemed your month membership and upgrade to an annual membership, giving you year round trail access!

We love to see kids and families out there, therefore the youth monthly membership prices are extremely affordable and even free for kids 7 and under! Additionally, we want to remind Northeast Kingdom residents that with an NEK residential billing address, your monthly or annual membership is available at a discount.

Month Membership Rates

Monthly Individual Adult (age 16+) - $35
Monthly Individual Youth (ages 8-15) - $15
Monthly Family (relatives currently living in the same household) - $65

NEK Resident Month Membership Rate

Monthly NEK Resident Adult (age 16+) - $25
Monthly NEK Resident Youth (ages 8-15) - $10
Monthly NEK Family (relatives currently living in the same household) - $50

All Children 7 & Under: FREE

All Adults Over 70 years old: FREE

KTA seeks to keep our membership rates affordable and accessible for all!

Please purchase your memberships online and in advance as our Welcome Center remains closed. Simply have a copy of your confirmation receipt available when you visit KTA, as our ambassadors will ask to see it in order to check the date of purchase before you enter the network. Month memberships are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase.

Thank you for supporting our community and trails!

Kingdom Trails IPA Available at NEK Locations!

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 21:17:17 GMT

The Kingdom Trails IPA is on the shelves!

It all began last year with an invitation to the Wizard's Workshop- Sean Lawson's small batch brew spot. An early spring day found the KTA staff and a few friends from Mike's Tiki Bar (we figured they knew about beer :) learning from Lawson's Finest Liquids ' Brew Master himself! Sean laid out the hops and skillfully (patiently) advised us as we crushed and sniffed and discussed- searching for the perfect recipe to conjure long days in the saddle and cold brews in the river, with the right ABV- not too much and not too little... 6.2%. With Sean's guidance, it turned out amazing! Pale yellow in color, soft and refreshing on the palate with a mild bitterness and an intensely fruit forward and floral nose, we think it's the perfect apres IPA!

The beer turned out so well that Lawson's decided to brew it again! We are incredibly grateful to announce that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this year's Kingdom Trails IPA will support the conservation of land on Darling Ridge in partnership with the Vermont Land Trust. Please consider donating !

Cans of this tasty brew can be found at participating locations throughout Vermont, and in the Northeast Kingdom at the locations listed below.

Wildflower Inn

NEK country store

East Burke Market

Burke Mountain Hotel- View Pub

Mike's Tiki Bar

The Handlebar

The Foggy Goggle

The Hub Trailside

Burke Public House

The Orange Rind

Lyndonville Redemption

Craftsbury General

Marty's First Stop

Coles Discount Beverage

Willoughby Lake store

Lake Parker Country Store (Parker Pie)

Willey's Store

Black Lives Matter

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:49:44 GMT

Recognizing the complicity of silence in the long struggle for racial justice and equality, we understand our responsibility to speak up, to include our voice in this important conversation and to say Black Lives Matter. In its simplest form, recreation is about movement, and we are humbly awakened to the movement that is underway. Kingdom Trails stands in solidarity with protestors across the NEK, as well as throughout our state, nation and the world, who are walking together, raising their voices together, rallying together, standing together, marching together, and even riding together, as protesters are using their bikes to fight racism , demand meaningful and lasting change. There are few cases in our culture where racial disparity is more pronounced than in outdoor recreation. Further, we take for granted the carefree spontaneity and privilege many of us enjoy when we go for a jog, ride, or walk on our trails--it is not a life threatening proposition. As an organization with a mission of providing public access and offering a safe and welcoming environment to recreate, we realize we play a critical role in helping to dismantle systemic racism.

With profound humility and commitment to deeper learning, we will challenge our assumptions and biases to make sure our trails are welcoming and safe for all. Further, we need to better understand how to actively participate in building a just organization, ensuring a just experience for all.

So we return to the notion of movement. Words are not enough, we need to act. As such, we recently sought support and counsel from the In Solidarity Project’s Outdoor Diversity Pledge to help us identify steps we can take as an organization in creating a plan to establish programs and initiatives around diversity and inclusion in the greater outdoor recreation community. These action items will range from exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion education for our KTA team and Board of Directors to presenting representative efforts that welcomes and comforts new users to KTA. We commit to sharing our progress with the Outdoor Diversity Pledge Team, as well as our own community, to hold ourselves accountable to the goals we have set through this pledge.

We will also look forward to taking part in discussions and other initiatives with fellow Vermont outdoor organizations in their pursuit of equity and inclusion. We are inspired by the statements and stories from our friends at the Vermont Mountain Bike Association , Green Mountain Club , Craftsbury Outdoor Center , Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance , and others. Kingdom Trails will also seek guidance from regional organizations such as the NEK Collaborative , as they have shared opportunities for reflection and dialogue in our immediate Northeast Kingdom region.

We recognize that our commitment won’t solve our challenges overnight, but it is the first step toward building a more inclusive organization, hopefully leading toward a more inclusive and representative outdoor recreation community. As it states in our new Ride with Gratitude Code of Conduct, care for others, "If someone needs help, we help. If someone needs encouragement, we share our enthusiasm. And if it's going to make the situation better, we dismount. Be nice, yield to others, and give a smile."

We welcome your feedback. And above all, join us. Feel free to share your thoughts and add your voice to the conversation.

We are so grateful, The KTA Team & Board of Directors

KTA Preparation for Future Opening in Response to Governor Scott's "Play Smart, Play Safe"

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Wed, 06 May 2020 19:48:17 GMT

The Kingdom Trails Team has been inspired by the resolve, compassion and resourcefulness

demonstrated here locally and around the country and to our north during this time of

unprecedented challenge and struggle, and we realize and appreciate more than ever the

sanctuary that being outdoors provides.

We have been encouraged recently with Governor Scott’s slow turning of the spigot to reopen

Vermont’s economy safely and responsibly. Just the other week the Governor released his

“Work Smart, Stay Safe” addendum to his executive order, allowing for limited outdoor

businesses to resume under specific conditions. This allowed our Trail Crew to begin

maintenance for if and when Kingdom Trails may be allowed to open for public use.

Today the Governor turned the knob a bit more. He announced the addition of “Play Smart, Play

Safe” to his order. Trail networks around the state will be allowed to open for public use.

Kingdom Trails is pleased with this announcement. Outdoor recreation is an important part of

our region’s economy and crucial to people’s physical and mental well-being, especially amidst

this time of crisis.

However, Kingdom Trails cannot stress enough how vital it will be for us to tread cautiously. We

understand outdoor recreation activities may increase the potential for increased transmission of

COVID-19 if proper precautions and guidelines are not in place or followed to mitigate that risk,

even as restrictions ease. The health and safety of our landowners, staff, community, and

trail users comes first.

Currently Kingdom Trails is still closed due to mud season conditions, yet this in between time

will come to an end soon. When we do believe we can open, we will be taking a very

conservative approach and want to stress that operations will not go back to ‘normal.’ Due to the

Governor’s orders, along with protocol from the Agency of Commerce and Community

Development and the Dept. of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, Vermonters should only partake

in local outdoor recreation opportunities and are encouraged to stay close to home. The

Canadian Border remains closed, lodging is not available until mid-June, and out-of-state

visitors are still being asked not to come to Vermont for recreational activities, and if they do,

they must self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving.

There will also be specific rules to recreate responsibly on our trails that follow physical

distancing, health and sanitation measures in accordance with VDH, CDC and ACCD

guidelines. These rules will even include proper parking procedures at trail access points. Our

expanded and improved Ambassador Program will safely be able to assist trail users in

navigating these new policies. The Kingdom Trails Welcome Center will not be opening for in

person sales or interactions. We will only be selling Annual Individual and Family Memberships

online through our website. A comprehensive reopening plan with safety guidelines is currently

being worked on and will be available in the near future.

Further, Kingdom Trails will be seeking feedback from our 97 private landowners and

communities that so graciously host our trails. We respect and depend upon their generosity

and our hope is that they will be comfortable with our plans and strict guidelines for opening.

Thank you for your understanding, patience and continued support as Kingdom Trails begins

the process of opening cautiously and responsibly for all.

Abby Long

Executive Director

Kingdom Trail Association

Equipping Swimmers For Success In The Northeast Kingdom

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:28:01 GMT

The story of KTA Mini Grant Recipients: Northeast Kingdom Aquatics

It all started with a vision and two passionate individuals that had the drive to build a community youth USA Swim team. Coach Ted Chitambar and Coach Julie Tower-Pierce put their heads together and went to the drawing board, dedicating countless hours into developing Northeast Kingdom Aquatics that currently practices at Northern Vermont University pool. The first years started out small, but the experience that was had by swimmers and their families was profoundly positive. This attracted other parents and community members to become involved with helping foster the growth of this team. For the last two years swim parents Sarah Jewell Foster and Karri Willy along with many other supportive team members began to network and help manage. This year the team doubled in size from 30 to 60 participants from ages 6-18. They have grown into more skilled, confident swimmers and are competing in USA Swim meets all over Vermont.

Just as the 2019-2020 season was about to begin, it was learned that the Kingdom Trail Association (KTA) was offering a Mini Grant Program to our community. This turned out to be at the exact right time. The college learned that their lane lines were unsafe for use and had been pulled from the pool. A few weeks from the first practice, the team was faced with this huge safety issue. It was decided that the team would apply for the grant in hopes that they could be replaced. Thus, plans for the project “Equipping Swimmers for Success” was born. KTA kindly awarded enough money to cover the lane lines and they were in the pool a short time after the first practice.

The project “Equipping Swimmers for Success”, has successfully met all goals and objectives defined in the grant application. The lane lines gave a safe environment for swimmers and the season got off to a great start. As mentioned above, the team's growth this year was substantial which meant a need for more equipment. The team’s kick boards, pull buoys and fins were subpar. Due to the incredibly generous donation which covered the lane lines entirely, it allowed other fundraising monies to go to the purchase of this equipment. The biggest fundraiser for the team is the annual Swim-a-thon. The lane lines made it possible for more swimmers to be in the pool at one time and the team raised over $2500.00 making this the most successful fundraising event yet.

Throughout the course of this season, all swimmers improved on their skill dramatically and the participation in statewide USA Swim meet competitions was more than ever before. Many swimmers improved on personal times and there were even several swimmers to qualify for both the Regionals and Silvers meets. The swimmers increased skill, technique and confidence were all observed over the course of the season. The sportsmanship and healthy friendships that developed were also some of the highlights noted by many spectators and parents.

The team hosted the annual Swim Your Heart Out Home Fun Meet with the participation of three local teams from both Vermont and New Hampshire. This turned out to be a huge success, especially because there were plenty of lanes designated with beautiful new lines! The project has also provided community members with more opportunity for lap swimming during open swim. NVU Athletics Director, Chris Gilmore has shared a lot of positive feedback from their regular swimmers! It is the hope that the team will continue to grow and even work together with other local programs like Power’s Park. This could help to possibly extend the season in the future.

“Equipping Swimmers for Success” has provided the tools necessary for many years of continued growth. On behalf of Northeast Kingdom Aquatics, thank you KTA! As Coach Julie Tower-Pierce would say, “It takes a community to grow a swim team.”

Network Capacity Study Visioning Survey Results

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 12:55:13 GMT

The public's vision for Kingdom Trails and local quality of life are the driving force in this study.

To kick off the study and collect public input, KTA hosted a Visioning Open House in Burke and an online survey for residents and users unable to attend. The open house and survey received an outpouring of responses, with over 200 people attending the open house and over 950 people taking the online survey.

Open house attendees and survey respondents shared their existing and desired future experience with Kingdom Trails, high priority goals for the project, issues they've experienced, and ideas to improve the experience. Key takeaways of the results are available on the Kingdom Trails Network Capacity Study site under the Visioning tab. The full results document is available at this link .

KTA COVID-19 Response Statement

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 17:16:31 GMT

To our Landowners, Community, and Trail Enthusiasts,

The Kingdom Trails Team hopes you and your loved ones are staying safe during these uncertain times.

As you know our trails are currently closed due to mud season conditions. There is still snow out there, yet it is melting fast. We are always closed during this in between time to protect the natural resources and future conditions of the trails. We are grateful to all for respecting the land and this closure.

The Kingdom Trail Association has also decided to remain closed, until further notice, due to these unprecedented times we are all experiencing. Together with the Vermont Trails & Greenway Council, Vermont Trails Alliance, and Vermont Dept. of Forest, Parks & Recreation, Kingdom Trails and other trail networks around the state have evaluated the current status of our recreational trail systems in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Scott’s Executive Order to ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe.”

The primary directive from the Governor is to protect the public health and safety of Vermonters. We are in the middle of a health emergency, and to avoid the spread of COVID-19 we must stay at home as much as possible.

The Governor has deemed the Outdoor Recreation sector as non-essential , even naming Mountain Bike establishments. Trail work and maintenance are not considered critical activities pursuant to the Governor’s Order and are therefore prohibited. If certain trails cannot appropriately be prepared for safe public use and properly maintained for environmental quality, we believe they should not be used for recreation. Doing otherwise creates risks to trail users and natural resources and our shared long-term goals for getting back out there on our epic trails.

As many of you know our trail network is made possible by 97 private landowners. We respect and depend on the generosity of these landowners and the communities that host us. We do not want to encourage an excess of trail users on their lands and in our communities during this emergency.

Trail use can also create unnecessary risk of injury at a time when our sole focus should be on supporting Vermont's efforts to combat the COVID-19 crisis with all available medical resources and not diverting them to emergency response actions. We do not wish to place our volunteer Burke Fire Brigades or Lyndon Rescue first responders in harm’s way, nor take essential equipment and time away from our medical professionals at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, NVRH, for what could have been an avoidable injury.

Please know Kingdom Trails truly believes exercise is crucial during this trying time. VT Dept. of Forest, Parks, and Recreation has suggested to stay local, within 10 miles, and that State Park roads, State Forest roads and other durable, wider trails on state lands may be appropriate for exercise during the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order. Check FPRs website for more information about recreation opportunities. We do encourage you to get outside, exercise, and follow the FPR's department guidance , informed by the CDC and VDH, on how to do this safely and responsibly.

Kingdom Trails will continue to evaluate when it is appropriate to prepare and open our trails for the 2020 season. This decision will be made with guidance from the state of Vermont and other Vermont trail networks such as The Long Trail, VAST, VMBA networks, VASA, Vermont Huts, and The Catamount Trail, and in conjunction with the Governor’s Orders. These decisions will be made based on the health and safety needs of our landowners, community, and trail users.

Even though we are currently closed Kingdom Trails is grateful to still be able to offer support to our local community. Last week we donated $25,000 to the COVID-19 relief efforts to local organizations directly serving our community members during this unprecedented time of need. We encourage our trail users to join us in saying thank you to our landowners and our local communities by making individual donations to these organizations. Even members of the Board of Directors and Staff have committed to contributing individually along with KTA. Join us in Giving Together to greaten the impact.

Kingdom Trails is truly appreciative for your understanding and patience.

Please stay happy and healthy!

Abby Long

Executive Director

Kingdom Trail Association

Supporting The Community That Supports Us

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 14:42:40 GMT

Kingdom Trails donates $25,000 to organizations directly serving community members during this time of unprecedented need.

We encourage all to donate along with us by Giving Together

The Kingdom Trail Association is contributing $25,000 in support of COVID-19 relief efforts in our direct communities of Burke, East Haven, Kirby, and Lyndonville, Vermont. Our aim is to amplify the efforts of nonprofit organizations in our region that are addressing the impact of the coronavirus through emergency medical services, food access, and other basic needs.

Kingdom Trails knows that our trail users are drawn to the area for epic outdoor recreation experiences, stunning landscapes, and welcoming Vermont villages. Nevertheless, the Northeast Kingdom remains the poorest region of the state, with the lowest median household income, and vulnerable populations such as seniors and one in three children is food insecure. We can help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic with immediate and direct support of organizations on the front lines.

Coronavirus is named as such because its molecular structure looks like a crown. Let’s reclaim the crown for the Kingdom, as a force of good in our community. Kingdom Trails is asking those who enjoy our trails to join us with further individual donations to any or all of these community organizations. Help us say thank you to our landowners and the communities that have been hosting you and our trails for the past 26 years. We’re proud to say that members of the Kingdom Trails Board of Directors and Staff have also committed to contributing individual donations along with the organization. Giving Together has a greater impact. We are beyond grateful to all those working so hard to serve those in need.

$7,500

NVRH - Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital

1315 Hospital Dr. St. Johnsbury, VT - 802-748-8141

Providing clear, consistent advice and communication, as well as direct medical care if COVID-19 is suspected. NVRH, the local hospital in the area, is dedicated to improving the health of all people in the community, and to providing compassionate care. NVRH provides high quality healthcare services focused on community needs at the lowest cost consistent with excellent care.

Donate at: https://nvrh.org/

Or mail: NVRH Philanthropy Department PO Box 905 St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

$5,000

NEKCA - Northeast Kingdom Community Action

115 Lincoln St. St. Johnsbury, VT - 802-748-6040

62 Cross St. Island Pond, VT - 802-723-5276

Serving grab and go breakfasts every day 8am - 9:30am. Open 8:30am - 4pm for food, fuel, utility, housing, and childcare assistance, plus navigation of other needs. NEKCA is committed to empowering those who seek assistance to improve the quality of their lives. They provide direct program activities, referrals, advocacy and education in a non-judgmental manner to the people of the communities in the Northeast Kingdom.

Donate at: http://nekcavt.org/

Or mail: NEKCA 70 Main Street PO Box 346 Newport, VT 05855

$2,500

H.O.P.E. - Helping Other People Everyday

136 Church St. Lyndonville, VT - 802-626-3228

By appointment only, HOPE is providing services for Emergency & Homeless Crisis, their Diaper Bank, and they are coordinating with area schools to continue getting meals to school-aged children through their Backpack Program. Contributions of non-perishable food, diapers, and monetary donations are needed.

Donate at: https://www.hopevermont.com/

Or mail: H.O.P.E. P.O. Box 403 Lyndon Center, VT 05850

$2,500

Faith in Action

101 Main St. Lyndonville, VT - 802-626-1212

Community members can call and arrange pick up or if needed, delivery, of food. Faith in Action’s mission is to eliminate hunger and offer socially enriching programs to the communities of the Northeast Kingdom by providing residents in need with programs that deliver food, promote social connections, increase self-sufficiency, and instill hope.

Donate at: https://www.faithinactionvt.org/

Or mail: Faith in Action PO Box 515 Lyndonville, VT 05851

$2,500

Burke Community Meal Site

Community Building - 212 School Street West Burke, VT - 802-467-3423

Homemade meal and food delivery Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Donations can be mailed: Burke Senior Meal Site 212 School St., West Burke, VT 05871

$2,500

Lyndon Area Senior Meal Program

The Darling Inn - 76 Depot St. Lyndonville VT - 802-626-8700

Meals on Wheels Monday thru Friday.

Donations can be mailed: Lyndon Senior Meal Program 76 Depot St. Lyndonville VT 05851

$2,500

Lyndon Area Food Shelf

51 Elm St. Lyndonville, VT - 802-626-5705 / 802-626-5586 / 802-626-9977

All community members in need are welcome every Wednesday 10am - 2pm. Come to the door, knock and someone will come out to assist you, handing off a pre-made meal bag, following social distancing guidelines. Both non-perishable food and monetary donations are appreciated.

Food donations can be dropped off before 1:00p on Wednesdays.

Donations can be mailed: Lyndon Area Food Shelf PO Box 609 Lyndonville VT 05851

Giving Together

###

Burke Area Chamber Restaurant Updates

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:43:06 GMT

Take out and gift cards available.

BURKE AREA RESTAURANT INFO March 2020

Below is a partial listing of known restaurant offerings in and around Burke. Some

restaurants are closed, however, you can still support them by ordering gift cards. This is a

really tough time for our restaurants so we hope you will support them and order out when

you can. Thank you! Bon Appetit!

SENIOR MEAL SITES

Burke Senior Meal Site, 212 School St., West Burke

Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9am-1:30pm

Phone: 467-3423

Call for take out or delivery

Darling Inn Meal Site (Meals on Wheels), Lyndonville

Phone: 626-8700

Call for take out or delivery

OPEN FOR TAKE OUT

Auntie Dee Dee's Homemade VT Baked Goods, 185 Mountain Rd., East Burke

Hours: This Sat noon - 3pm, but may change

Phone: 535-1206

Website: check facebook, online ordering coming soon

Cafe Lotti, 603 Route 114, East Burke

Hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-2pm/Fri-Sun 7am-4pm

Phone: 427-3633

Website: www.cafelottivt.com

Cafe Sweet Basil, 32 Depot St., Lyndonville

Hours: Wed and Fri 11:30am-2pm/Wed, Fri, Sat 5:30-8:30pm

Phone: 626-9713

Website: www.cafesweetbasil.com

Freighthouse Market & Cafe, 1000 Broad St., Lyndonville

Hours: Mon-Wed and Sat 6:30am-5:30pm/Thurs-Fri 6:30am-6pm/Sun 7am-5:30pm

Phone: 626-1400

Website: www.thelyndonfreighthouse.com

Gil’s Bar & Grill at the WilloughVale Inn, 793 Route 5A, Westmore

Hours: call, unsure of take out options

Phone: 525-4123

Website: www.willoughvale.com/dining

Lyndonville Bagel Depot, 721 Broad St., Lyndonville

Hours: Mon-Fri 5am-2pm/Sat 6am-2pm/Sun 7am-1pm

Phone: 626-3574

Website: Check facebook page

Miss Lyndonville Diner, 686 Broad St., Lyndonville

Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-2:30pm/Fri-Sat 8am-8pm/Sun 8am-3pm

Phone: 636-9890

Website: Check facebook page

Mosaic, 930 Broad St., Lyndonville (take out and drive through)

Hours: Daily 11am-6pm

Phone: 626-9306

Website: www.mosaicfood.com

NEK Country Store, 466 Route 114, East Burke

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-8pm/Sat-Sun 8am-8pm

Phone: 626-4611

Website: check facebook page

OPEN FOR TAKE OUT AND DELIVERY

Hoagie's, 6583 Memorial Drive, Lyndonville

Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm/Fri 11am-10:30pm/Sat 11am-10pm

Phone: 626-1177

Website: www.hoagiespizzapasta.com

Delivery towns: Call for options

Lyndonville House of Pizza, 93 Broad St., Lyndonville

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-10pm/Sun 11am-9pm

Phone: 626-4500 or 626-5315

Website: none

Delivery Towns: Call for options

The Pizza Man, 663 Broad St., Lyndonville

Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm/Fri - Sat 11am-10pm

Phone: 626-4766

Website: www.thepizzamandelivers.com

Delivery towns: Burke, Lyndonville, St Johnsbury, parts of the following towns: Concord,

Danville, East Haven, Kirby, Newark, Sheffield, Sutton, Newark

CLOSED, Gift cards available

Burke Mountain - all restaurants closed. Call 626-7400 to purchase gift cards.

www.skiburke.com

Burke Publick House - Call or message on facebook to order gift cards. 626-

1188. www.burkepub.com

Foggy Goggle Osteria - Call or message on facebook to order gift cards. 427-3500.

Juniper's at the Wildflower Inn - gift cards for the Wildflower Inn and Juniper's Restaurant

can be purchased at www.wildflowerinn.com/gift-cards or by calling 802-626-8310

Temporary Closure Until Conditions Improve

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 14:07:55 GMT

Due to icy conditions, trails are temporarily closed.

It seems as though spring insists on making an early appearance this year and over the last week or more the trails have certainly taken it pretty hard. We had been able to lightly groom the Nordic trails for the past week or so but after Tuesday nights rain, the trails have gone from marginal conditions to down right dangerous. While there is some snow cover, a vast majority of the trails are loaded with ice and for the safety of everyone we are opting to announce that the trails will be closed until further notice after a thorough inspection of the current conditions. With a forecast of up to .5" of rain, high winds, mild temps today and the long range forecast also calling for warm temps through next week there is little chance of the conditions improving. Unless there is a major change in future forecasts and we have an outlook of substantial snow, we will be closing the trails for winter operations until further notice. There are also numerous areas where it's down to bare ground, so as the trails thaw we also run the risk of trail damage and wish to protect the natural resources along with keeping the safety of our users in mind.

WEATHER REPORT by Nor'Easter Weather Consulting

Today:

Mix of rain/snow turning to all rain. Windy. Highs in the mid to upper 30’s. Southeast to west wind at 15-25 mph.

Tonight:

Rain/snow showers are possible to begin the overnight. Lows drop to the upper 20’s. West wind at 15-30 mph.

Saturday:

Mostly cloudy and breezy. Highs in the low 30’s. Northwest wind 10-20 mph.

Saturday night:

Decreasing clouds. Lows in the mid to upper teens. Northwest wind 5-15 mph.

Sunday:

Partial sun with highs in the low to mid 20’s. Northwest wind 5-10 mph

Sunday night:

Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid teens. Calm wind.

CHECK CONDITIONS

If you would like to get the most up to date trail condition alerts sent directly to your smart phone, just download the Trailhub app and create an account with KT fat biking, Nordic, snowshoe, and MTB trails as your "favorites." You will get a notification each time we update conditions and push out an alert.

Always check out the latest trail status and updates here on the trail conditions page of the our website .

KTA Trail Access Updates

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:13:14 GMT

Time for a new favorite loop!

As you may have heard, there is restricted access to mountain bikes on a portion of the Darling Hill section of the KTA network. While this does change some of the routes you've been accustomed to over the years, there are still plenty of trails available for a great ride! And this may bring an opportunity to think outside the box and get creative to customize a new favorite loop.

The restricted access to the traditionally Fatbike groomed trails on the east side of Darling Hill, offered KTA the opportunity to expand our winter grooming operations to a whole new section of the network in the White School sector. This area has lent itself very well to the new winter use, and the trails have become better and better over the course of the season! If you like Sky Dive to Swan Dive in the summer time, you're gonna love it on your Fatbike in the snow!

Below is the current winter map. During the winter time, KTA manages and maintains a smaller section of trails than during the summer months when the network expands. Trails that have been removed from the winter map have been done so at the request of the landowners, whom we respect above all else. We ask that you abide by the landowner's requests and refrain from accessing the summer trails by fatbike in the winter. Even one person who thinks the restriction doesn't apply to them can create ripples that can have lasting negative effects on our network for this season and in the future.

Please help us to be stewards of the natural resources on private land by educating anyone you may come across. We are always working to develop new trails to enjoy. We ask you to follow the rules of the trail and help KTA maintain a positive impact on our community.

Grooming Report 3/6

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 19:20:49 GMT

There is still plenty of coverage to get in some skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking this weekend!

The snow pack has taken a bit of a hit with the recent mild temps but there is still plenty of coverage to get in some skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking this weekend!

The windows for solid riding surfaces can be pretty narrow this time of year and if temperatures drop for long enough to set up the trails, early morning rides are ideal. Evening temps look to be cold enough to make for some pretty solid trail surfaces both Saturday and Sunday morning. Once the strong March sun gets higher in the sky and daytime temps rise to above the freezing mark the surface tends to loosen up and can create some challenging conditions. If you find yourself compromising the trails too much on your ride, consider turning back.

Please remember to keep an eye out for where fat bikes are restricted. There are signs on the trails in the appropriate locations and if you have any questions please stop in to the Winter Welcome Center.

GROOMING

The mild weather can often present challenging conditions to groom as the snow pack changes and surfaces become variable with the fluctuations in temps. The groomers will be out working the trails in order to create the best conditions possible and hope that Mother Nature will help out and do her part by providing some cooler temps to help set up the trails for the weekend.

WEATHER REPORT by Nor'Easter Weather Consulting

Today:

Increasing clouds with an isolated rain or snow shower developing in the late afternoon. Highs in the mid 30’s. Light east wind.

Tonight:

Rain/snow shower are possible to begin the overnight. Lows drop to the teens. North wind at 5-10 mph.

Saturday:

Mostly sunny and breezy. Highs in the upper 20’s. North wind 10-20 mph.

Saturday night:

Partly cloudy. Lows in the low teens. Light wind.

Sunday:

Mostly sunny with highs near 40. Light wind.

Sunday night:

Increasing clouds. Lows in the low 30’s. Calm wind.

CHECK CONDITIONS

If you would like to get the most up to date trail condition alerts sent directly to your smart phone, just download the Trailhub app and create an account. Set KT fat biking, Nordic, snowshoe, and MTB trails as your "favorites" and you will get a notification each time we update conditions and push out an alert.

And of course you can always find the trail status and updates here on the KT website.

THANK YOU LANDOWNERS!

Winterbike Recap

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 18:18:26 GMT

"The New Chapter"

My how we've grown up!

This year represented a new chapter for Winterbike. We had a new host venue, new partnerships, new trail layout and a new approach to shaping the event. Though a raucous hoard of 500 plus riders would have been fun, we settled on a "Quality not quantity" motto for year nine. The result? The event had a vibe reminiscent of simpler times. Times when you could connect with just about every attendee to ride and celebrate.

We are so thankful to the beautiful village of East Burke and its locals for the being such gracious hosts and to the landowners for extending such courtesy. Thank you for allowing trails and riders on your property!

This year was also unique in that we received the most outstanding support from vendors, collaborators and sponsors we've ever had. Thank you so much to our presenting partners Burke Mountain Resort, Clif and Lawson's Finest liquids for making this event possible. In addition, big thanks to our supporting partners at Mike's Tiki Bar, East Burke Sports, Cafe Lotti, East Burke Market, Specialized, Kingdom Adventures, Craftsbury General Store, Bourne's Energy and Minus33.

Lastly, thank you! For many of us, the event is more like a holiday then a festival because it attracts friends and family from near and far. Thanks for keeping the vibe and roots of the event alive! Thanks for celebrating cycling, exchanging stories, and making new memories with us.

We appreciate the vote of confidence you place in us year over year. So, folks, here's to Winterbike 2020 and beyond. Thanks for helping writing a new chapter.

Next year's event will be held on February 20, 2021 and capped registration for 250 people is already live! From now until April 30th, we are running an early bird special for general admission which includes lunch, a beverage and all the good times that you can handle! Visit the registration link below to sign up today.

Sincerely,

The MTBVT & KT Crew

Depot and Church Downtown Satellite Gallery

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:37:53 GMT

Brought to you by the Lyndonville Downtown Revitalization Group.

The Satellite Gallery VT opened in July 2019 with the help from a KTA Community grant and support from NVU-Lyndon. It was designed as a community and event space that would enhance the creative economy of the NEK and provide some artistic projects to benefit all. The Satellite has held 7 monthly shows featuring Vermont artists. Visitors from all over have stopped in to see the shows.

Open Mic nights and Singer Songwriter nights have featured local musicians and NVU-Lyndon music majors.

The Satellite Gallery and Community space is at 71 Depot Street in Downtown Lyndonville. The windows are always lighted and displays change regularly. There are First Friday Art Openings each month attracting community for wine, snacks and great art.

Bi monthly life drawing classes are held on Tuesday for $10 to pay for the model. All are welcome and encouraged to drop in.

The first of many community dinners was held before the Catamount Arts performance focusing on immigration stories. Dinner was a Middle Eastern Feast provided by the Spice Box.

The 7 elementary schools of Kingdom East Supervisory are having a gallery show for the month of February with lantern making workshops for kids and adults to get ready for our annual Lantern Parade in Lyndon in March 5th.

March will feature a juried show called “Magic of Light” with classic films being shown every Wednesday night with the help from NVU- Lyndon Animation and Fine Arts.

Follow on Facebook at The Satellite VT and on Instagram.

The NVU-Lyndon Graphics Department should have the website ready soon!

Additional help has been provided by Community National Bank, Burklyn Arts Council, and Passumpsic Bank.

2/28 Grooming Report

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:14:45 GMT

This will be a great late winter weekend to head out for some Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking!

The past week has been challenging to keep the trails in top shape with the above normal temps and wet precipitation. Heading into the weekend we received about 4-5" of snow and returning to more seasonable temps to help set the trails up for much better conditions! This will be a great late winter weekend to head out for some Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking! As the calendar turns to March, the sun gets higher in the sky and daytime temps often trend to above the freezing mark, which means the best times to ride are early in the morning after the trails have had the time to set up after the groomers have been out the evening before. If you find yourself compromising the trails on your ride, consider turning back. Please remember to keep an eye out for where fat bikes are restricted. There are signs on the trails in the appropriate locations and if you have any questions please stop in to the Winter Welcome Center.

GROOMING

The past week has seen temps well above freezing, slightly reducing our snowpack and making for challenging grooming conditions. Yesterday's high winds caused many blowdowns are debris that the groomers will be tending too while they are out grooming. Please be aware that conditions may be variable after yesterday's wind and warm temps with mixed precipitation. The trails should set up nicely with the frigid night temps and will be in great shape for the weekend and the crew will be out getting the trails in prime shape for the next day.

WEATHER REPORT by Nor'Easter Weather Consulting

Today:

Snow showers likely with gusty wind. Temperatures in the low 20’s. West-southwest wind 10-20 mph gusting to 35 mph. Snow accumulation of 1-3” possible, though it will be blowing and drifting.

Tonight:

Snow showers possible. Otherwise mostly cloudy. Lows in the low teens. Southwest wind 10-15 mph.

Saturday:

An early snow shower or two, then mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper teens with a southwest to northwest breeze at 10-15 mph.

Saturday night:

Mostly cloudy. Northwest breeze at 5-10 mph.

Sunday:

Partly sunny and warmer. Highs in the low to mid 20’s. Light west wind.

Sunday night:

Partly cloudy. Lows in the single digits. Calm wind.

CHECK CONDITIONS

If you would like to get the most up to date trail condition alerts sent directly to your smart phone, just download the app and create an account with TrailHub and set KT fat biking, Nordic, snowshoe, and MTB trails as your "favorites" and you will get a notification each time we update conditions and push out an alert. Otherwise you can always check out the latest trail status and updates here via TrailHub from our KT website.

Fat Bike Conditions

Nordic Ski Conditions

Snowshoe Trail Conditions

Feel free to share!

Valentines Day Grooming Report

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 22:20:54 GMT

Trails are in excellent condition and the forecast looks great!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We have a lovely stretch of great conditions ahead of us! Since the storm that brought us about 8" of fresh snow at the end of last week, temperatures had been a bit on the mild side which had not allowed for the trails to fully set up, but has made for some good snow packing to create a solid base. Trails are dialed right now though!

GROOMING

The groomers been packing the trails all week and will be out through the day today into this evening. The trails are set up nicely and will be in great shape for the weekend. The crew will be out late afternoon/evening both Saturday and Sunday getting the trails in prime shape for the next day. Give 'em a high five if you come across them :)

WEATHER REPORT by Nor'Easter Weather Consulting

Today:

Decreasing clouds, breezy and very cold. Highs in the single digits. Wind 10-15, gusting to 20 mph from the northwest. Wind chills <0.

Tonight:

Partly cloudy. Cold. Lows -16 to -12. Light wind.

Saturday:

Becoming sunny. West to southwest wind at 10–15 mph. Highs in the mid to upper teens.

Saturday night:

Increasing clouds and breezy. Southwest wind 15-25 mph. Lows in the mid teens and may rise.

Sunday:

Mostly cloudy and warmer. Highs in the mid to upper 20’s. Isolated afternoon snow showers.

Sunday night:

Snow showers possible with minor accumulation. Mostly cloudy. Lows in the low to mid teens.

CHECK CONDITIONS

Please feel free to share this with anyone you feel should be up to date with this information.

THANK YOU LANDOWNERS!

Network Capacity Study Visioning Survey

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 13:43:25 GMT

If you could not make the workshop, you can still give your input.

Last night we hosted a public workshop to gather information towards the future of the Kingdom Trail network. We are so thankful for all of the people that came to give their input and show support. This process feels necessary and we are beyond grateful that productive avenues of communication are open and moving everyone towards a common goal that supports the community's needs.

If you were unable to make the workshop, then you can still give your input by visiting the Network Capacity Study website and filling out the Visioning Survey here .

Pursuing Purchase & Protection of Darling Ridge Property

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:20:17 GMT

Kingdom Trail Association is pursuing the purchase of 2266 Darling Hill Road Lyndonville, VT, a property formerly owned by Ariel Quiros and currently under Receivership.

Kingdom Trails Board of Directors has chosen to pursue this purchase of the 250 acre property as it hosts miles of iconic trails at the center of the KTA network. Kingdom Trails’ principal goal in purchasing is to maintain those trails and protect this land from development. As there are use restrictions on a portion of the property that includes the residence, Kingdom Trails does not plan to place a Summer or Winter Welcome Center at this location.

Kingdom Trail’s mission is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of the local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. By purchasing and protecting this stunning property, Kingdom Trails will add value to our neighbors on Darling Ridge, help preserve our community’s natural resources, scenic landscape, and the outdoor recreation opportunities that exist on this parcel.

Together with the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Kingdom Trails is exploring opportunities to conserve and protect approximately 240 acres of this land in perpetuity.

Winterbike 2020!

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:32:49 GMT

The 9th annual Winterbike Fatbike Festival

About Mountain Bike Vermont

Mountain Bike Vermont (MTBVT.com) is an online magazine, events promoter, apparel company, and rolling party starter. MTBVT’s dual initiative is documenting and promoting the Green Mountain State’s burgeoning cycling community. Visit MTBVT.com for info on our annual event series, shop our online store, and peruse new and archived articles. #MTBVT

About the Kingdom Trail Association

The Kingdom Trail Association (kingdomtrails.org) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy.

KTA strives to accomplish this mission by offering 100+ miles of quality non-motorized, multi-use, all four seasons, and all level of ability trails.

2/7 Grooming Report

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 13:59:01 GMT

Weather report and grooming plan for this weekend

Conditions have been pretty nice lately and this latest storm is bringing in some more snow to help freshen things up. We received about 3" of snow yesterday and currently there is a pretty good glazing of ice on top of the snowpack. It looks like the snow changeover should occur around 10-12pm today but may mix with sleet for some time. As the heavier precip advances, we’ll start to see more snow work in with and additional 4-8". Trails will be soft until they are properly packed and have had time to set up. Please remember to keep an eye out for where fat bikes are restricted. There are signs on the trails in the appropriate locations and if you have any questions please stop in to the Winter Welcome Center .

GROOMING

The groomers were out yesterday and will be out again today and this evening. The trails should set up nicely overnight on Saturday as the temps drop. There will be gusty winds on the backside of the storm so there may be some drifting snow until the grooming crew has the chance to knock out the drifts.

WEATHER REPORT by Nor'Easter Weather Consulting

Today:

Overcast with freezing rain, changing to sleet, and eventually snow. Heavy accumulating snow possible through the afternoon. Northwest wind 5-10mph, gusting to 30 mph in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 20’s, may fall in the afternoon.

Tonight:

Snow ending, mostly cloudy. West wind at 10-20 mph. Lows in the single digits.

Saturday:

Decreasing clouds and cold. Highs in the low teens. Wind out of the west at 10-15 mph.

Saturday night:

Mostly clear and very cold. Lows from -10 to -5. Lighter wind.

Sunday:

Mostly sunny with a cold start. Highs eventually get into the low 20’s. Light wind.

Sunday night:

Increasing clouds with scattered snow showers by morning. Lows in the upper teens.

CHECK CONDITIONS

Fat Bike Conditions

Nordic Ski Conditions

Snowshoe Trail Conditions

THANK YOU LANDOWNERS!

The Torchlit Trail Experience is Back!

katie@kingdomtrails.org (Katie Carroll) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 20:33:13 GMT

Join us again this Saturday for a Scavenger Hunt with The Northwoods Stewardship Center.

This Saturday, 2/8, check in at the Winter Welcome Center anytime between 5pm - 7pm and our friendly staff will point you in the right direction.

This family friendly event is FREE for KTA Members and $5 for Non-KTA Members.

There will be hot chocolate and a warm fire as well as a lantern-lit path. Don't forget to dress warm and bring a headlamp for a competitive edge!

We Are Hiring

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 12:36:20 GMT

Director Of Finance And Administration

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1994, and through the generosity of over 90 private landowners, the Kingdom Trail Association (KTA) provides and maintains education and recreation opportunities for residents and visitors through 100 miles of world renowned non-motorized trails spanning four Northeast Kingdom Vermont towns. Based in Burke, VT, KTA is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration to join its management team.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director of Finance and Administration will be a strategic thinker, and as a member of KTA’s management team, will report to the Executive Director (ED). The successful candidate will employ a ground-up, hands-on approach and be a participative and collaborative manager who will oversee and handle the organization’s finance, business planning, cash flow, and budgeting activities, as well as further develop and scale KTA’s internal controls and financial management tools in support of its strategic plan and long-range financial stability. Additionally, the Director of Finance and Administration will assist the ED with human resource and operational administration such as further developing as well as managing the KTA’s benefits program.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Financial Management

Manage and execute all bookkeeping activities including managing the Chart of Accounts, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, classing invoices, tax reporting and payments and monthly Account Reconciliation.
Compile analyze and present financial reports and materials in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements; collate financial reporting materials for Executive Director, Treasurer, Finance Committee and BOD, and oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting. Serve as the organization’s liaison to the Treasurer and the Finance Committee.
Oversee and manage year-end close and tax preparation, including W-2s, 1099s and preparing Form 990 for external review. Secure bids and conduct preliminary review for auditing services. Coordinate and lead annual audit process, liaise with external auditors and the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors; assess any changes necessary.
Oversee and lead annual operational and capital budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the ED, Treasurer, Finance Committee and team managers; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes; and keep management team and Board of Directors abreast of the organization’s financial status.
Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting.
Manage and oversee all banking, loan servicing and investment relationships and reporting requirements. Ensure investment and debt policies are followed.
Implement a robust contracts management and financial management/ reporting system; ensure that the contract billing and collection schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.
Conduct internal review of KTA’s financial controls. At the ED’s direction, update and implement policies and accounting practices; create a financial and administration policy and procedure manual and plan annual reviews and updates to the manual in collaboration with the ED, Treasurer and Finance Committee.
Ensure online payment systems are PCI Compliant and that RAFFL remains PCI compliant.
Comply with federal, state and local legal requirements by studying requirements; ensure adherence to requirements; and advising the ED on needed actions.

Administration

Working with the ED, support KTA’s human resources and administration activities by further developing and managing employee benefits and enrollment.
Oversee and administer all insurance plans, quotes, competitive bidding and renewals.
Complete and submit Worker’s Comp audit forms as necessary and required.
At ED’s direction, work closely and transparently with all external partners including third-party vendors, event partners and consultants.
Oversee administrative functions as well as facilities to ensure efficient and consistent operations as the organization scales.
Work collaboratively with and as a member of KTA’s management team.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN YOU

5-8 years of professional experience in bookkeeping, finance and operations management, or equivalent. Experience in the nonprofit sector a plus.
Bachelor’s degree with area of concentration in finance, accounting, economics or quantitative analysis; Advanced Finance or Business Administration degree strongly preferred.
Experience of final responsibility for the quality and content of all financial data, reporting and audit coordination for either a division or significant program area.
Ability to translate financial concepts to – and to effectively collaborate with – programmatic colleagues who do not necessarily have financial backgrounds.
QuickBooks trained and certified. Advance certifications and competency with Excel.
A successful track record in setting priorities; keen analytic, organization and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making.
Experience with real estate closings, land development a plus.
Track record in grants management preferred.
Has preferably overseen a human resources function previously.
Strong communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of KTA.
A multi-tasker with the ability to wear many hats, work in a fast-paced environment and willingness to chip in as needed.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US

● Seasoned staff who are passionate about KTA and our community.

● Unmatched community support and enthusiasm for what we/ you are doing.

● Open, casual and vibrant workplace

● Retirement plan

● Paid vacation and holidays

● Sick, family and bereavement leave

● Flexible hours

● Professional education and enrichment

● Steps from the Trails

● Outdoor recreation is encouraged as part of your job

TO APPLY

We are accepting applications through March 1, 2020. Please submit Cover Letter and Resume to:

Kingdom Trail Association

Attn: Board Of Directors

PO Box 204

East Burke, VT. 05832

Or digital submission to:

Board@kingdomtrails.org

Network Capacity Study Public Workshop

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 15:51:14 GMT

The Kingdom Trail Association (KTA) will be hosting a public workshop to collect input on the

community’s vision for the future of the trail system. The KTA, in partnership with the Burke Area

Chamber of Commerce, is working through a community planning process supported by SE Group—a

consulting firm that specializes in community engagement and recreation planning. The year-long

planning process will address region-wide issues and opportunities concerning trail amenities, access

points, community connections, traffic, circulation, and safety. The public is invited to share their

thoughts, ideas, and concerns as the process kicks off to help establish the foundation of the plan. The

workshop will be an open house format with no opening or closing presentations, so attendees may

drop by anytime. This is a family friendly event!

Location: Burke Town School Gym

Date and Time: Tuesday, February 11 at 5:00-7:30pm.

BACKGROUND

Kingdom Trails is a world-class trail system deeply intertwined with the local community. Local

community members have banded together to develop the 100+ mile trail system and 97 private

landowners allow trails to pass through their property. The user experience extends well beyond the

trail network itself to the community fabric and tourism infrastructure that surround it. Users drive and

ride along local roads, visit lodging and restaurants, and can overflow the village parking areas.

Over the past few years Kingdom Trails has become one of the most popular mountain bike destinations

in the United States, with over 100,000 visits per year. Visitation is growing sharply, and annual

visitation grew by 132% between 2013 and 2018. With this growth, the community has experienced

increasing impacts – both positive and negative – from the increasing number of users of the trail

system. The trail system generates tremendous economic impact for the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont

and is a fantastic recreation resource for the community. However, the existing level of use places

pressure on the community, its infrastructure, and the landowners. In December 2019, landowners

along Darling Hill Road chose to revoke bike access to trails on their property due in part to this

increased pressure.

The Kingdom Trail Association (KTA) has been aware of the issues associated with this increasing

pressure and was seeking to address them prior to the landowners’ recent announcement. The

OneBurke visioning process formally identified these emerging issues in 2017 and the KTA has since

sought funding to study and plan for improvement of the system through a community-led planning

process. Parking and circulation issues have been studied in the East Burke Village and the KTA has been

an integral partner, alongside the Town of Burke, in the rehabilitation of East Darling Hill Road.

In 2019, the KTA, in conjunction with the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, applied for and received a

USDA Rural Business Development Grant to help fund a Kingdom Trails Network Capacity Study to help

provide an understanding of the capacity of the trail network and associated community infrastructure.

The study will also contemplate strategies to address the growing number of users and address capacity

imbalances in the system with an eye towards improving quality of life in the region.

In November 2019, KTA and the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce retained the services of SE Group, a

recreation and community planning firm, to undertake the study and planning process. SE Group has

strong experience in analyzing the capacity of recreational systems and leading community-driven

planning processes. SE Group is working with Stantec, a transportation engineering firm, to better

understand the parking, traffic, and crossing issues associated with the trail network.

The study is intended to address issues and capacity of the Kingdom Trails network and enhance the

network’s positive impact on the host communities. This study will explore a new Welcome Center

location, access portal improvements, connections and crossings, and opportunities to disperse users.

Key project elements include data collection on existing levels of use and experience in both winter and

summer, engagement with the host communities, a network analysis that includes traffic and parking,

and conceptual designs for potential improvements.

As the landowners and community are at the heart of the Kingdom Trails system and they are

experiencing this increasing pressure first-hand, input from all will drive this planning process.

Throughout, the project team will seek input from landowners, community members, and users on a

vision, existing issues with the system, and potential improvements. Given the many facets of the

Kingdom Trails network beyond the trails themselves, the study will engage local business owners,

community partners, and other stakeholders as well. The study kicked off in December 2019 and is

expected to wrap up at the end of the summer 2020 season.

The project team has developed the following goals for the project:

Create a safer and less congested high-quality experience for those walking, biking, and driving
Strengthen and broaden the economic impact of the trail network by improving the trail to business connectivity and spreading the economic impact across the region
Relieve the pressure and stress currently being placed on landowners, communities, and road by planning for managed growth consistent with and respecting the quality of life in the communities
Balance the capacities of the system components (trail network, hotels, parking, roads, etc.)
Better disperse use and parking across the trail network and communities
Develop necessary infrastructure to accommodate high use areas including a welcome center, enhanced access portals, trail connections, and on-road infrastructure

To begin engaging the community in this process, KTA is holding a Visioning Open House and Public

Workshop on February 11, 2020 from 5 – 7:30 PM at the Burke Town School Gym. The event is a family-

friendly open house format, where attendees can drop in at any time to provide their input. Interactive

stations will ask attendees about their vision for the trail network, issues they’re experiencing,

amenities, and other opportunities. Large-scale maps will be provided for attendees to indicate pinch

points, challenging crossings, and areas to disperse use away from and to. Members of the project team

and the KTA Staff and Board of Directors will also be available for one-on-one discussions.

Throughout this process, there will be many more opportunities for the public to provide input. An

interactive Storymap website about the study has just been launched on the KTA website. The Storymap

website includes project updates, interactive mapping exercises, upcoming public engagement events,

and opportunities to provide feedback for those unable to attend the Visioning Open House or other

future events. In March and April, the project team will hold Host Community Summits, when the

project team will tour each of the host communities; Burke, Lyndon, Kirby, and East Haven, meet with

stakeholders, and hold community open houses to delve deeper into that community’s specific issues

and opportunities. Following these events, the project team will incorporate all the public input and

analyze data to develop draft solutions to present and review with the public in July. To stay up to date

on the project process and future opportunities, go to www.kingdomtrails.org/networkcapacity

CONTACT:

Abigail Long

Executive Director

Kingdom Trail Association

PO Box 204

East Burke, VT 05832

802.626.0737

info@kingdomtrails.org

Drew Pollak-Bruce

Senior Planner

SE Group

131 Church Street

Suite 300

Burlington, Vermont 05401

802.735.9144

dbruce@segroup.com

John Kascenska

President

Burke Area Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 347

East Burke, VT

802-626-4124

burkechamber@burkevermont.com

Torchlit Trail Times

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:25:18 GMT

After-Hours Fun and Learning.

Thank you to Bobby from The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium for bringing the Night Sky Knowledge!

On Saturday, January 25th, folks of all ages snowshoed, skied, or fat biked on a lantern-lit trail (Sleighride). The hot chocolate was flowing by the fire and Bobby shared his extensive knowledge of Astronomy, Greek Mythology, and New England Natural History.

The best part is that we get to do it all again on February 8th with The Northwoods Stewardship Center!

Thanks again to Bobby, and everyone who came out,

The KT Crew

1/24 Grooming Report

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 22:45:16 GMT

We've had a nice calm week of weather since the last snowfall which gave the crew time to work the trails and get things in primetime shape. The last storm dropped enough snow for us to break trail on the Ware's Davis? trail, bringing our official fat bike trail mileage to 24 miles! We are now grooming everything we set out to maintain this winter and the crew has been working very hard at keeping the trails dialed for everyone. The Nordic trails are in the best shape of the season with 12KM groomed for classic and skate skiing, while snowshoers have almost 40KM of groomed trails to explore. The season is shaping up nicely! This Saturday evening we have our Torchlit Trail Experience from 5-7pm. We hope to see you there! Please remember to keep an eye out for where fat bikes are restricted. There are signs on the trails in the appropriate locations and if you have any questions please stop in to the Winter Welcome Center.

GROOMING

The crew has been out all week keeping the trails groomed to perfection. Conditions will be fantastic heading into the weekend and the crew will be out hitting the trails during the day today and this evening laying down fresh corduroy and tracks for skiers, snowshoers and fat bikes. Please help remind fat bikers to consider waiting to ride until the snow has been packed and groomed and allow for the surface to set up before heading out on ride, and if conditions are too warm and surfaces begin to soften then to consider turning back. During times of moderate temperatures it's a good idea to ride early in the morning or later in the evening while temps are more favorable. The forecast for this weekend looks to be a mix of everything, but the crew will be out making sure the trails are groomed and kept in good shape!

WEATHER REPORT

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

Tonight

Patchy freezing drizzle after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday

Patchy freezing drizzle before 3pm, then a slight chance of drizzle between 3pm and 4pm, then a chance of rain after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Southeast wind 5 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday Night

Freezing rain and sleet likely before 8pm, then sleet likely between 8pm and 9pm, then rain after 9pm. Low around 32. East wind 10 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Sunday

Rain and snow showers likely before 11am, then rain showers likely between 11am and noon, then rain and snow showers likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sunday Night

Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

CHECK CONDITIONS

Open Letter To Community

jay@northeastkingdomonline.com (jay@northeastkingdomonline.com ) — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:33:19 GMT

To the Community:

Kingdom Trails is much more than a network of epic trails: it is the very embodiment of

community. The trails exist because of this community’s vision, will, heart, resilience and

generosity. There’s an incredible culture of sharing and giving that underlies these trails. It’s the

founders of KTA; the private landowners and volunteers; the outdoor enthusiasts and members;

the local business owners and town boards; school groups and visitors alike that complete and

make special the landscape and experience of Kingdom Trails. These tangible and intangible

qualities are what make these trails so special, visiting our area so memorable and why we must

work hard to preserve this remarkable community legacy.

Community is about common ownership . Unfortunately, as stewards of the trails and KTA, we

have been slow to respond to issues and concerns and we acknowledge our lack of voice and

leadership. We sincerely apologize and we take full responsibility. We will not look for excuses,

rather we will listen, and we will act. It is clear that we have insufficiently managed the

exceptional growth of Kingdom Trails, which has placed undue stress and impacts on our

community. We, like many others, have been caught up in the trail network’s economic

successes but have missed the unintended consequences and negative outcomes that growth

brings. We wholeheartedly commit to a change in focus.

Community is about public spirit . The very good news is that there is plenty of spirit and

passion for Kingdom Trails, enough to circumnavigate the earth by bike many times over. Thank

you, truly, for all of your emails, letters, social media posts and phone calls. We hope, through

better and more productive engagement, to positively channel that spirit and passion as we tackle

the issues before us.

There are two immediate ways that we are addressing community engagement. First is through

the creation of a Landowner Committee, advising the Board of Directors, and hosting regular

landowner forums. Yes, we thank them publicly every day and honor them with a celebration

annually, yet it is just that, a party. It is not a conversation nor platform to share feedback and

concerns.

Second, please bring all of that public spirit to bear on the Community Forum Open House we

are hosting on February 11 th at the Burke Town School from 5:00-7:30PM. This is a community

project, in partnership with the Burke Chamber, to solicit ideas, feedback and input on

addressing the growth, infrastructure and capacity issues associated with the trail network.

Community is shared by many or all . A lot of the dialogue on social media centered around

respecting the trails and trail etiquette. There is only one group to call out on this subject and

that is us. We have not done enough to educate trail users. It’s KTA’s responsibility to inform

trail users about proper etiquette while on our trails and when visiting our community. Nothing

undermines goodwill and a culture of sharing more quickly and effectively than a dishonoring of

common values in how we treat one another. In response, we are broadening our current trail

use policy and developing a robust code of conduct. We are exploring ways through the

membership and waiver system to ensure that every user must read, watch and agree to the code

of conduct. We will also be redirecting a substantial portion of our marketing budget to user

education and promoting KTA’s new code of conduct. Additionally, to better enforce trail rules

we will be deploying more trail ambassadors and increasing their presence on the network.

Community is about common enjoyment . We recognize that congestion, particularly on

Darling Hill and other network hot spots, has adversely affected quality of life and enjoyment.

To address this, we have taken action to relocate events such as Winterbike to East Burke Town

Center. We recently announced that NEMBAfest will not be held on Kingdom Trails. Further,

we plan to expand shuttle service around the trail network to help minimize traffic and parking

issues and build new trails to help disperse trail traffic to other areas in Lyndon, Burke and East

Haven, as well as join community-action efforts to reduce the speed limit on Darling Hill to 25

mph. And, certainly, the results of our network capacity and feasibility study will help outline

long term and sustainable solutions to better balance and manage trail use and quality of life for

years to come.

This is not a complete list of action steps or remedies but a start of more to come as there is

much work to do. As Kingdom Trails is a community endeavor, we ask you to continue to share

with us and to be engaged. We can’t bring about another 25 years of success without the

investment of our community. In turn, we promise to be more responsive and transparent as we

roll out plans and address challenges. We intend to do everything we can to regain your full trust

and support.

With gratitude,

Kingdom Trail Association Board of Directors and Staff

Katie Story, Chair, West Burke Abby Long, Executive Director, East Burke

Jake Wheeler, Vice Chair; Landowner, East Burke CJ Scott, Trails Manager, Wheelock

Tabitha Bowling, Treasurer, East Burke Lilias Ide, Marketing & Events Manager, Kirby

Thomas DeCarlo, Secretary, Kirby Erin Donnelly, Operations Manager, Lyndonville

Doug Clarner, Landowner, East Burke

Rob Elmes, Lyndonville

Matt Langlais, West Burke

Elise Lawson, Landowner, West Burke

Harry Morrison, Lyndon

Ann Nygard, West Burke

Thad Richardson, Lyndon

NEMBAFest update

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 20:33:18 GMT

NEMBAfest Statement 1.17.20

NEMBAfest 2020 Will Not be Held on Kingdom Trails

In a combined decision, the New England Mountain Bike Association, Kingdom Trail Association, and

Wildflower Inn, have chosen not to host the 2020 NEMBAfest on the Kingdom Trails network.

The NEMBA organization has chosen to take a year off from producing the festival in order to find a more

suitable location for 2021. The difficult decision came after much discernment and careful consideration

of a variety of factors and the impacts of holding the event again on the Darling Hill Ridge

NEMBAfest is a three-day celebration of all things mountain biking. Festival goers have experienced

over 100 miles of unique trails and terrain, enjoyed a fun-filled, family-friendly weekend of riding,

camping, demo-ing the latest mountain bikes, checking out new gadgets and gear, great music, and local

food & drink from around the region. The event was created to encourage the sport of mountain biking in

order for future generations to enjoy the unique benefits of the sport and trail experience, as well as an

annual fundraiser for KTA and NEMBA, both nonprofit organizations.

A number of factors determined the decision to not host the 2020 NEMBAfest on Kingdom Trails. Last

year the event experienced 4,000 attendees, the largest MTB festival in the Northeast. Although the

contribution to the regional economy was significant, the event was too large for the surrounding

communities. The impact of the event over the 3 days placed much stress and pressure on the rural

Vermont infrastructure and roads. The partners understand this was disruptive to neighbors and the

community as a whole and apologize for the unmanaged growth and size.

Also, as many are aware, there are trails with restricted access to mountain biking on Darling Ridge.

These trails are neighboring the festival location. With the negative impact that the festival had on area

residents and the community, combined with limited access to MTB trails, the partners felt cancelling the

event was in everyone’s best interest.

NEMBA, Kingdom Trails, and the Wildflower Inn wish to thank all the festival goers, industry sponsors

and partners, families, community members, volunteers, the Town of Lyndon, and especially the KTA

Landowners for understanding this decision. It has been an honor to host this incredible event, a privilege

to have the opportunity to welcome all from across the Northeast and beyond to experience these amazing

trails and the beautiful landscape of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

Sincerely,

Philip Keyes, Executive Director NEMBA

Abby Long, Executive Director, KTA

Jim O’Reilly, Owner, Wildflower Inn

Torchlit Trail Experience Take 2 🎬

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 18:45:58 GMT

Ok folks, let's try this again.

The Torchlit Trail Experience is happening on Saturday, January 25th. We've got the fairy lights, hot cocoa, and fire pit, The Fairbanks is bringing the night sky knowledge, so all we need is YOU!

Make sure to bundle up, dig out our snows-ports gear of choice, and join us at The Winter Welcome Center (The Yurt) for some nighttime trail adventures. Headlamps are encouraged.

Respect for trail closures

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 18:23:27 GMT

Please keep your eyes open for these signs.

It has come to our attention that fatbikers have been riding where trail access is restricted to bikes. Please do not ride where bikes are prohibited on the KT network. We ask that folks do not further jeopardize access and disregard landowner decisions.

1/17/20 Grooming Report

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 18:19:33 GMT

Detailed report on what to expect from the weather and the groomers.

The Torchlit Trail Experience is Coming Up!

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:19:15 GMT

Check in any time between 5-7 at the KTA Winter Welcome Center, and we'll point you in the right direction from there.

Hey Folks,

Need something to look forward to after the Holiday slump? KT's got you covered!

This Saturday dig out your headlamps, layer up, and join us for a Torchlit Trail Experience and Star Party. Check in at the Winter Welcome Center and then head out on a glow stick marked trail for a self guided ski, fatbike or snowshoe to a hot fire and hot chocolate in the woods. While you're there, get some knowledge about the night sky with the folks from The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium.

This is a a great, low stress outing for any age!

Don't forget to dress warmly and bring a headlamp or flashlight. The trail will not be fully lit.

It's FREE for KTA members, and $5 for non KTA members.

See you there!

Resolve to Revolve Demo Loops

katie@kingdomtrails.org (Katie Carroll) — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 19:01:19 GMT

Beginner & Intermediate/Advanced Loops

We've got quite the Wintry mix happening now in East Burke, but we're cautiously optimistic about the forecast for Wednesday. If all goes according to plan, the whole network will be open, but we'll have the above loops marked so Resolve to Revolvers can maximize their 45 minute rides.

Resolve to Revolve Updates

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:01:00 GMT

Location, Bikes, and Passport to Prizes

Resolve to Revolve is right around the corner! If your New Year's Resolutions include more Fatbiking, come to the Resolve to Revolve Fatbike Demo Day on January 1st. This annual event is an awesome way to try Fatbiking for the first time, or figure out what your next bike will be!

The fun starts at 9am on New Year's Day, and we've got a few updates for this year's event:

Location

This year we're excited to announce that demos will be available behind The Orange Rind, right next to East Burke Sports in town. They'll open at noon with food and drinks. There will be music and firepits and general merriment!

Your event ticket will get you 1 free TBD beverage at the afterparty which starts at 4pm.

Bikes

East Burke Sports and The Village Sport Shop (The Hub) will be providing demos.

From East Burke Sports:

TREK Farley 7 --> 2 small, 3 medium, and 2 large

Don't forget the kiddos! 2 Specialized Fatboy 24" and 1 Fatboy 20" will be available.

From The Village Sport Shop:

Salsa Beargrease Carbon SX --> 1 medium and 1 Extra Large

Salsa Mukluk SX Eagle -->1 extra small, 1 small, 1 medium, and 1 large

Signs To Watch Out For

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 20:09:50 GMT

Please heed the signs and respect trail closures

You will see these signs in areas where bikes are prohibited. Please respect access restrictions.

Winter Trail Map

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 19:59:42 GMT

Snowshoe, Ski and Fatbike Trails

Winter Trail Network Update

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 03:11:50 GMT

Looking forward to this winter!

Kingdom Trails would like to once again express a deep appreciation for all the landowners who make up the KTA network. It is important for all to remember that our trails exist solely because of them and the access they allow on their private land. This is a privilege, not a right, that our organization, community, and trail users cherish for its recreational opportunities, social and health benefits and economic boost. We must always show them the utmost respect, exemplify ideal trail etiquette, and gratitude for this gift.

We have seen the outpouring of comments and concerns on social media in response to our recent news and we thank you all as we are listening and learning. We understand this is a time of change, but make no mistake KTA is alive and well, with our entire network of trails still to enjoy! We are continuing to maintain and build trails to carry out our mission and provide the incredible trail experience all users have come to love, while also understanding and striving to amend the concerns of our landowners and community.

This year we celebrated our 25th Anniversary and we are so excited for the next 25 years. Especially as our winter season is upon us! We finally have a hardy snow base and we will be ready to open for winter activity Saturday, December 21st! Trail conditions will be consistently updated at kingdomtrails.org through TrailHUB. As usual, KTA winter operations will be at the KTA Winter Welcome Center on Darling Hill at 2079 Darling Hill Rd. Lyndonville, VT, next to the stunning Wildflower Inn.

Fatbiking

Of course, we will continue to offer our world renowned groomed fatbike trails on the Southwest and Southeast ends of Darling Hill as well as Uptown, Kitchel and Herbs, an awesome 13 miles. Plus, new this year, we will be grooming the White School area of the trail network, adding another 7 miles for fatbiking to enjoy!

Nordic Skiing & Snowshoeing

All winter trails will be open to snowshoes and Nordic skiing. Nordic operations will remain the same as past years as KTA will continue to groom 12 KM on the Northwest side of Darling Hill for classic and skate skiing, plus we welcome skiing and snowshoeing on all fatbike trails.

Winter Events are all a go!

Resolve To Revolve Fatbike Demo Day

January 1st, 2020

9AM-4PM on Kingdom Trails

Torchlit Trail Experience

January 11 and February 8 , 2020

6-8PM Check in at the KTA Winter Welcome Center for the evening’s activity

Winterbike Fatbike Festival

February 22, 2020

8AM-4PM on Kingdom Trails

Darling Hill Update

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:29:16 GMT

Trail access changes on Darling Hill

Recently three Darling Hill landowners notified the Kingdom Trail Association that they no longer wish to provide bike access on their properties.

We fully respect their decision, as it is their private property and they have the sole right to determine the use of their land. We are beyond grateful to each of them for allowing Kingdom Trails access over the past 25 years and continuing to allow Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, jogging, and horseback riding.

Kingdom Trails understands the concerns for the pressure and stress the continued strong growth in trail use and area visits has put on landowner’s properties as well as the roads and small villages where trail access exists. While the success of the trails has brought meaningful economic benefit to the area, challenges and tension points exist around traffic, congestion and pedestrian safety of residents and visitors alike.

Kingdom Trails fully recognizes these issues and we are taking action.

This past July, we were awarded a USDA grant for a Network Feasibility and Infrastructure Study. The study, through engaging our landowners and community, along with a systems approach, will advocate possible ideal Welcome Center locations, needed parking, access portals, assess traffic to recommend safe flow and dispersion methods, pedestrian crossings, as well as trail network capacity balance. The study will explore how trails, integrated with economic development, enhance visitor experiences, support local workforce, and most importantly improve residents’ quality of life. Kingdom Trails believes this study will aid in addressing many of the concerns community members and landowners currently have.

This study will be completed by the end of season 2020. In the meantime, we continue to strive toward mitigating congestion and creating a safe community. Kingdom Trails is working collaboratively with the Town of Burke to reconstruct East Darling Hill Rd. The project consists of new subbase, drainage and asphalt, plus a 5-foot bike lane for uphill cyclists. Additionally, KTA purchased two parcels of land adjacent to the road. This acquisition will secure a critical trail connection for KTA, ensuring that trail users will be able to have an off-road option instead of using East Darling Hill Rd for both uphill and downhill bicycle travel, avoiding a dangerous conflict between cycle and car, increasing the safety of our community and visitors, drivers and riders.

We have also worked hard to spread and disperse trail traffic through new trail development. These new trails are directed well off Darling Ridge headed to East Haven. The Flower Brook connector trail was built this summer to discourage trail users from biking along VT 114 from downtown East Burke to East Haven. KTA also works side by side with the OneBurke committee, exploring options to extend trails to the Burke Town School and possibly West Burke. A similar goal is our work with the Lyndonville Select Board, building a trail to connect to the potential new Lyndon Green Space where the old town garages currently are. These efforts would not only relieve congestion on Darling Ridge and East Burke, but broaden further economic opportunities to our neighboring towns.

While the Kingdom Trails network will be affected by this change in access and connectivity, miles of diverse trail terrain remains for all skill levels that promise a lot of smiles, technical challenges and enrichment with our stunning landscape and host communities. Further, KTA is committed to continuing to provide and enhance the incredible trail experience members have come to expect, as well as striving toward our mission of offering recreation and education opportunities to foster the health of our local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy.

Public Comment SCORP

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 16:47:32 GMT

Public Comment Needed by Dec. 12, 2019 for Vermont's SCORP.

Public Comment Needed for Vermont’s SCORP

What is the SCORP?

The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is a plan which assesses the provision and need for outdoor recreation in a state. States are required to update their SCORP every five years to remain eligible to receive federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well the federal Recreational Trails Program funds. The plan guides outdoor recreation policies, programs and funding for projects.

Please share you voice, edits and suggestions before December 12th, 2019

Every five years the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan is produced, which is a key piece of the puzzle for the state of Vermont to receive federal funding for recreation projects. After gathering survey data, a draft of the plan has been produced and is open for public comment. The survey tools and responses have been provided for everyone's review and is available at this link:

https://fpr.vermont.gov/SCORP

Your voice in this process is a key component of the SCORP being representative of things the public wants for trails, waterways, hunting, hockey, etc. in Vermont. Kingdom Trails, along with the Vermont Trails & Greenway Council, is encouraging you to take a look at how your interests are being represented - and to submit your thoughts:

As a trail user how do the elements of the plan support your interests?
KTA, as part the VT Trails & Greenways Council, is advocating for private landowner protections from over-regulation. Did you know that over 70% of trails in VT are on private land (99% of KTA's). From your perspective, does the plan commit to private landowner protections enough?
Does the SCORP point out and lift up the value of the trail-based nonprofits in VT that make most the outdoor recreation possible, and sets VT uniquely apart from many other states?
94% of respondents rated outdoor recreation as "very important" or "essential." Is this SCORP accurately reflective of your hopes for outdoor recreation?
If an Office of Outdoor Recreation is created - does the SCORP explicitly state how the invested resources will benefit trail-based organizations in VT?

If you don't have time to read the draft - consider using the following in your comments:

Please add a commitment to engaging Nonprofit trail providers in a long-range trail expansion plan that allows them to effectively raise funds, hire builders.
Please explicitly state the value and importance of protecting private landowners from over-regulation.
The SCORP should include a clear statement isolating a commitment to supporting the value of trail-based nonprofits.
The SCOPR does not share any specificity, benchmarks or timelines attached to the primary goals and objectives - can we get more?
How will an office of Outdoor Recreation benefits trails, trail groups and VT's trail-based nonprofits exactly? This should be stated in the plan.

Save The Date

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:23:57 GMT

Giving Tuesday calls upon the community to unite and give their best to something meaningful. Please consider a donation as you can make a difference!

In giving back to Kingdom Trails, you support our mission to create recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy.

We are so grateful!

Donate today

Winter is here!

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 20:08:41 GMT

Another early winter.

The snow started the day the trails closed for the season and it hasn't stopped since! If it continues like this, we are in for a fabulous winter!

We're Headed To Town!

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 19:46:12 GMT

Permission is given to reach Lyndon green space

Nov. 6, 2019 LYNDONVILLE — Trustees on Monday evening agreed to a request from the Kingdom Trail Association (KTA) for an easement to access village-owned property for a new trail to come closer to the Village.

The new trail will lead from Darling Hill toward the former Lyndon Town Garage as part of a trail expansion to connect to the garage site, which is being transformed in 2021 into a new public green space.

More info

Help Us Pave The Way!

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 15:56:41 GMT

We are grateful for your support.

This past year the Town of Burke and Kingdom Trails came together to undertake a collaborative project to rehabilitate East Darling Hill Rd. We believe this endeavor will restore a main thoroughfare that our community members and visitors value, connecting downtown East Burke and Darling Ridge.

It is because of you, Kingdom Trails is a significant economic driver in the region. Trail users have brought with them economic opportunity and growth, but with that there are challenges around traffic and pedestrian safety. The project consists of the reconstruction, new subbase, drainage and asphalt, plus a 5 foot bike lane for uphill cyclists. Additionally, two parcels of land adjacent to the road will be purchased to secure Kitchel and Herb’s trail connection, ensuring that trail users will have an off-road option instead of using East Darling Hill Rd for both uphill and downhill bicycle travel, avoiding a dangerous conflict between cycle and car, increasing safety of our community and visitors, drivers and riders.

Together, the Town of Burke and Kingdom Trails were thrilled to be awarded a $438,426 Northern Border Regional Commission federal grant! Yet this was not the full amount needed to complete the $956,000 project. Our community still wishes to strive for the full scope of the project in order to assure safety. The Town of Burke has committed $300,000 and Kingdom Trails has put forth $153,000. After a generous donation of $10,000 from Casella Waste Systems and $5,000 from Community National Bank, funding is nearing completion with just $50,000 left to raise!

The Town of Burke and Kingdom Trails would be beyond thankful if you were to make a donation towards this necessary project. Not only would your contribution allow us to complete a successful project, but the impact you would have would be astounding.

We thank you in advance for your donation!

Abby Long & Christine Emmons

Kingdom Trails Executive Director & Town of Burke SelectBoard Chair

Click through here to donate

Trails are now closed for the summer season

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 15:49:11 GMT

The network will open for the winter season as soon as conditions allow

Letter from KTA's Executive Director:

Dear Friends,

Thank you for an incredible 25 th Summer season at Kingdom Trails!

Many of you traveled far and wide or even just around the corner to celebrate, others

supported the trails through memberships, donations and volunteering of time and

energy, 97 of you are private landowners who graciously allow KTA access to your

beautiful properties, and for that we are grateful.

Please know that all these contributions energize Kingdom Trails to strive toward our

mission providing education and recreation opportunities to foster the health of our

community, surrounding environment and regional economy.

We are especially thankful to those who donated to the Pave The Way campaign! Your

gifts allow KTA and the Town of Burke to rehabilitate East Darling Hill Road making it

safer for our community and visitors, drivers and riders. We have only $15,000 left to

raise!

Our 25th Anniversary marks a celebration of the incredible impact that our trails and all

those involved have on this wonderful community. Congratulations everyone and thank

you for your commitment to a successful next season and beyond!

We are so grateful,

Abby

Executive Director

Kingdom Trail Association

KTA Mini Grants Awarded

lil@kingdomtrails.org (Lil Ide) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 15:28:50 GMT

$25,000 dedicated to our direct community

On October 7th, the Kingdom Trails’ Mini Grant Selection Committee met to determine grant awards for the first ever KTA Mini Grant cycle. In its first year, Kingdom Trails received $47,577.18 in funding requests for the $25,000 dedicated to the program. Kingdom Trails thanks the Mini Grant Selection Committee members for their service; they had to make difficult choices among the expansive pool of applicants.

Kingdom Trails awarded grants for 9 projects. Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process, scoring projects on such criteria as community need, impact, sustainability, inclusiveness, public support, and a realistic, effective work plan and budget.

The Kingdom Trails Board of Directors is pleased to announce the following recipients of 2019 KTA Mini Grant awards:

H.O.P.E : Awarded $4,500 to support the weekly Backpack Program, providing food for children throughout the weekends between school.

Fairbanks Museum : Awarded $4,500 for its innovative Earth & Space Science program for 3rd, 5th and middle school students in Burke

Town School and Lyndon Town School, in collaboration with the Kingdom East Afterschool Program.

Lyndonville Downtown Revitalization Group : Awarded $3,000 for the Depot & Church Downtown Satellite Gallery, elevating the area’s creative economy and the arts in a highly visible location.

NEK Aquatic Swimmers : Awarded $2,870 for the purchase of needed pool equipment, such as lane lines and kick boards, to help youth swimmers improve their swimming skills in a safe environment.

Lyndon Institute : Awarded $2,500 for the GO! Get Outside! program, purchasing a yurt to erect on LI’s Binney Woods property to serve as an outdoor, place-based learning classroom for students and the public.

Lyndon Outing Club : Awarded $2,500 for the design and implementation of a potential bike park on the grounds of Shonyo Park where riders can learn and improve skills in a safe, public environment.

Upright Steeple Society : Awarded $2,200 to paint the spire of the York Street Meeting House, an historic public building available for community events, meetings, lectures, and concerts.

OneBurke : Awarded $2,000 for a West Burke Downtown Visioning & Economic Development Study to delineate the community’s expectations and goals for future development.

Enduro World Series comes to Burke!

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 14:07:37 GMT

August 1-2, 2020

Burke Mountain Resort will be host to the sixth round of the EWS on August 1-2, a week before the EWS in Whistler, BC. This is the first time an EWS has been on the East Coast of the United States. Previously, Burke Mountain has hosted three EWS qualifiers and a round of the 2018 North American Enduro Series .

More info on pinkbike.com

KTA turns 25!

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 15:57:13 GMT

A letter from the KTA Board of Director's Chair

Friends,

On September 14, 1994, the Kingdom Trails Association's Articles of Incorporation were signed by the originating Board of Directors - Doug Kitchel, Jim O’Rielly, John Worth, Marilyn Pastore, Jake Wheeler, Stan Swaim, Dixi Nohl, Howard Crawford and Bruce Heinrich. Nine thoughtful citizens rolled up their sleeves on that day and created this incredible community asset that has benefited so many.

For 25 years now the center of our story has been the people along the way-the landowners, volunteers, board members, staff, businesses, partner organizations and members who have contributed to who we are and what we do today. We've all heard the familiar quote "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has". This is the legacy of you all, whether you picked up a shovel, volunteered at an event, sat through long board meetings, donated the use land, time or talents or served as an ambassador to the KT community. Thank you all for what you do, it has made all the difference.

Happy Birthday and Happy Trails,

Matt

The Flower Brook Trail

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:28:06 GMT

Now we can reach our Moose Haven Forest section by trail!

In August of 2019 we announced the opening of the Flower Brook Trail which connects from lower Moose Alley to the Moose Haven Forest trail section of the Kingdom Trail network.

For the full story click through here .

kingdomtrails

Kingdom Trails Names Georgia Gould as Executive Director

Kingdom Trails Names Georgia Gould as Executive Director

4/11/26 Community Chat

Recap of the 4/11/26 Community Chat hosted by the Burke Mountain Club.

KT Community panel with ED candidates

Join the Virtual Community Panel HERE

Green Up Day!

Help us keep our towns clean!

Join us Saturday, May 2nd as we help "Green Up" our community!

3/10/26 Community Chat

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2/10/26 Community Chat

Recap of the 2/10/26 Community Chat hosted by Burke Mountain

FAQ

A lot has happened over the past year at KT

Fat Bike Trails Temporarily Closed

Fat Bike trails Temporarily Closed 1/9/26

Happy New Year!

To read the full newsletter, click HERE .

Kingdom Trails Grooming Report

2025 Winter Trails Opening Day

To view newsletter with live links, click here

2025 Summer Season Closed October 31st

To view newsletter with live links, click here

Bear Den Partners, Owners of Burke Mountain, Make Unprecedented $100,000 Gift to Kingdom Trails, Securing Northeast Kingdom’s Recreational Future

About Kingdom Trails

About Burke Mountain

September Newsletter

To view newsletter with live links, click here

Kingdom Trails Benefit Concert at Burke Mountain

October 18th, 2025 from 7-10 PM

Leadership Transition Announced at Kingdom Trails and the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative

Cannondale Becomes KT's First Corporate Sponsor

Cannondale Dirt Party a Success

KT is taking action—on the trails and in the Statehouse!

Chers voisins du Nord

Vous êtes toujours les bienvenus à Kingdom Trails

You are always welcome on Kingdom Trails

KT Trails are Open!

To view Newsletter with live links click through here .

Kingdom Trails awarded a VOREC 2023 Community Grant to support inclusive programming!

Darling Hill and White School Trails to OPEN Friday May 3rd.

To view Newsletter with live links click through here .

KT Welcomes New Members to the Board of Directors

Marking the end of an era!

Solar Eclipse 2024

April 8th

Taking action at the Statehouse!

“Fight for the things that you care about. But do so in a way that will lead others to join you.” -Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Celebrate Acts of Service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is; What are you doing for others?” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reflections from the 2022 KT Mini-Grant Program!

The Joy in Mountain Biking

Finding joy on the trails!

KT Winter Trails are OPEN with Early Season Conditions

To view Newsletter with live links click through here .

From the mountains to the ocean, everyone has a story….

Everyone has a story to tell!

2024 KT Winter Operations

BOD Retreat ReCap & Strategic Plan Update

The Future is Bright!

2023 KT Mini-Grant program awards 10 area projects!

$27,615 awarded to 10 area projects for our 5th Annual KT Mini-Grant Program!!

KT Costume Contest!

October 28-31, 2023

Annual Membership Sale and Season Closing Date Newsletter

Enjoy Late Fall on the Trails!

Trails to Remain Open for Youth/Novice Hunting Weekend

Sharing the Outdoors!

Sonny's is OPEN!

New trail in Moose Haven Forest open with temporary re-route.

New Trail, Photo Contest, & More Newsletter

Next year we turn 30!

On a besoin de votre contribution !

Aidez-nous à façonner l'avenir des KT en répondant à notre questionnaire sur la planification stratégique.

Strategic Framework Survey

Help shape KT's future by contributing to our Strategic Planning Survey.

NEK Community Hub Master Planning Continues

Kingdom Trails announces 5th annual 2023 KT Mini-Grant Program!

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is; What are you doing for others?”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.