Equipping Swimmers For Success In The Northeast Kingdom
April 28, 2020
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.”
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.
