Trail Network to Remain Open for Youth/Novice Hunting Weekend
October 14, 2021
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.
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 ### 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 Dirt Party a Success
KT is taking action—on the trails and in the Statehouse!
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.
Why does this matter?
Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy generates $2.1B annually, nearly 5% of the state’s GDP, that's 2nd in the nation after Hawaii (Go VT!) KT alone drives $10M in economic impact annually. Therefore, the state must recognize and incentivize these generous private landowners, including the 106 who make KT possible and allow public access to trails.
