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

May 31, 2024

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

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

By Jodi Flanagan • October 27, 2025

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 .