At a reception held at Smuggler’s Notch State Park on August 23, 2007, Governor Jim Douglas officially appointed the Vermont State Park Task Force which will be chaired by Sugarbush Ski Area Owner Win Smith with VYCC President Thomas Hark. Read the coverage by VPR (PDF) and the Burlington Free Press (PDF) to learn more!

The Governor and Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources have charged the twenty-member task force with taking a hard look at Vermont’s State Parks and determining what direction the parks should go in the future. The task force will develop concrete strategies and proposals for moving forward which include youth, education, and making parks the hub of their local communities. It is expected that the work of this Task Force will create a blue print for the future of the Vermont State Parks!

The VYCC and the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation have enjoyed a 22 year partnership, and the VYCC currently manages four state parks- Allis, Elmore, Lowell Lake and North Hero. Corps Members and Crew Leaders engage in significant conservation and community leadership opportunities in their responsibilities for all park operations, and we look forward to continuing and potentially expanding this valuable partnership to engage youth in improving Vermont’s park system.