In the early summer, a VYCC Wilderness Crew embarked on a project to enhance the West River Trail between Ball Mountain Dam and the Winhall campground in Jamaica, VT. The crew built bridges and rock crossings over several streams, relocated the trail in several areas, and installed trail structures, including cribbing, stone steps, and culverts. These structures will enhance public safety and enjoyment of the trail in all seasons and conditions. When completed, this project will provide an important link on the Upper Section of the West River Trail.

The VYCC has been working in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation to improve the West River Trail since 2000, highlighted by the construction of a switchback trail over Ball Mountain Dam, which was completed in 2003. To learn more about how nine years of VYCC crews have contributed to the enhancement of the West River Trail, contact John Leddy at john@vycc.org or view photos of this incredible project!

For four new Instructors on the VYCC Agriculture and Natural Resources team, it’s back-to-school time! For two of them, their summer crews wrapped up just in time to dive into the school year planning. VYCC veteran Sarah Hays will use her experience from leading several VYCC crews in the past year in her new role as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Instructor. She will work closely with Instructor Zach Gilhooley on the Mt. Mansfield Union High School program that is based at the Leadership, Education & Training Center. Students at Lamoille Union High School will be led by Instructors Rebecca Francisco, a summer 2007 VYCC Crew Leader, and Calley Hastings.

Student-interns from both Agriculture and Natural Resources programs will complete community-based projects rooted in the landscape and traditions of Vermont while simultaneously immersed in a dynamic curriculum that ties the work projects to learning.

Partnerships with Mount Mansfield Union High School, Lamoille Union High School, Smokey House Project, and the University of Vermont Extension Office and funding from the legislature currently provide this opportunity to 10 students from each partner high school.

If your school would like to host one of these year round programs please contact Harry Frank, Leadership & Education Director at harry@vycc.org.

In 2005, the VYCC joined the Green Mountain Club in the effort to relocate a section of the Appalachian Trail near Thundering Falls in Killington, Vermont.

The goal of the project was to reroute a half mile of the trail through a more remote area rather than having it coincide with a public road. Eight VYCC crews worked on the project over a three year span, building spectacular rock staircases, breaking new trail, building boardwalks, and making an overlook to the Falls accessible to those with disabilities. A few finishing touches will be made next summer in order to make the entire section accessible for all. A special thanks to all of the alumni from those crews that worked so hard on this project!

Read more about this project in the September-October 2007 issue of A.T. Journeys, which features an article about the Thundering Fall reroute. For more information on how to sponsor a VYCC crew contact John Leddy at john@vycc.org or visit our Projects webpage.

The Farm and Nursery A* VISTA position has been created to design and implement a plan for the West Monitor Barn property in support of all programs at the VYCC. The goals for the position are to establish vegetable and native plant production, incorporate the work and learning from the farm and nursery into the experience of all corps members and collaborate with internal and external partners. This position is part of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program which currently runs crews at three area high schools with plans to expand the reach of the program state-wide. The VYCC farm and nursery will serve as a model for program expansion. The Farm and Nursery A*VISTA will report to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Manager and work closely with the Instructors and Director of that program.

VYCC HQ Positions

VYCC Instructor

The purpose of the Essex Center for Technology (CTE) Instructor position is to work with a team of professionals to develop and deliver an applied learning educational model which technical centers statewide can adopt to enrich their own educational programs. This position’s primary role will be to co-lead a team of eight students during the fall and spring of the school year in a series of work based learning units. This person will work with a licensed CTE instructor to develop educational units, tie them to Vermont’s Educational framework, and evaluate the students. The VYCC instructor will help develop and employ policies, be one of the point people for school-to-VYCC communication, and oversee program objectives. The instructor will work closely with VYCC’s Technical Skills Program to accomplish the goals of the applied learning model. This is an ideal position for someone interested in being on the creative front lines of a significant educational initiative in Vermont. VYCC Instructor Job Description .pdf

Conservation and Community Leadership Program Program Coordinator - CCL Program Program Coordinator Job Description .pdf

The Program Coordinator position is a full-time, program management position that involves supervisory and administrative responsibilities. The successful candidate must feel at home both in the field and in the office. The Program Coordinator position will play a key role in program planning and preparation in the off season and serve as direct front-line managers for field-based state park crews during the summer season (April - October). The VYCC currently operates several Vermont State Parks located in the Champlain Islands and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Each park is managed by a residential VYCC crew of Corps Members (age 17-24) and one to four adult leaders. Corps Members are trained in all aspects of park management, from grounds maintenance to visitor programming. In Addition the CCL program fields fall crews to complete high priority conservation work in the months of September - November.

LEAP (Learn, Earn, and Prosper) VISTA - LEAP VISTA Job Description .pdf

The LEAP VISTA will work with VYCC staff, partners, and local organizations to continue development of a residential work experience program that will engage youth with visual disabilities and develop job skills and career paths for each participant. This VISTA will be responsible for laying the groundwork for program continuation and expansion in the form of manuals, database improvements, and volunteer recruitment that will aid the growth of this new VYCC Program.

Operations A*VISTA - Operations VISTA Job Description .pdf

The purpose of the Operations A*VISTA is to significantly build upon the VYCC’s existing partnership with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR). This person will work closely with both the VYCC’s Operations Department and FPR’s Recreation Trails Grant Specialist to administer and implement trail projects throughout Vermont. This person will dedicate half of their time to FPR project development and half to VYCC project development, logistics coordination, and providing emergency backup support for VYCC crews in the summer, with the possibility of leading a crew during one or both sessions.

Learn more about these HQ positions

We have sold over 140 tickets, but there are still a few seats left at the second annual Denim and Diamonds event on Saturday, October 13th, 2007!

This fundraiser supports our programs, which have grown significantly since our move to the Leadership, Education and Training Center. The event will be comprised of a seated dinner by Dish Catering and live music by the Chrome Cowboys, and you will also have the opportunity to place bids at the silent auction or try your luck at Games of Chance. It is an event not to be missed!

We are still looking for a few good silent auction items to help round out our offerings. Gift certificates, tickets, jewelry, furniture and more are welcome, and all proceeds from the auction will directly benefit the Corps! For more information, to buy tickets, or to make a donation, check out the event website, or contact Polly Goddard at 802.434.3969 ext. 130.

All VYCC Supporters will receive a special invitation for this event in the mail. If you would like a free Donor Days pass to visit any of the four VYCC-run State Parks between August 20 – 26, 2007, please make your donation online today. If you are already a VYCC Supporter and have not received your Donor Days pass, please call Patrick Kell, Development Manager, at (802) 434-3969 ext. 112. Thank you!

The following is a list of the four VYCC-operated State Parks

What do Elmore State Park, Allis State Park, North Hero State Park, Lowell Lake State Park, and Jamaica State Park have in common? In each of these VYCC managed parks, you will be greeted by a friendly face in a VYCC uniform!

Each year, VYCC encourages our donors to visit our parks and capture a little of the magic themselves. Together with the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, VYCC invites you to join us for Donor Days during the week of August 20-26, 2007. We will be mailing letters to all of our 2006 and 2007 donors in early August, which will serve as free admission for up to four people for one visit!

If you are not a donor, please make a donation today to support the VYCC’s conservation and education and education programs for Vermont youth! For more information, please contact Kate Villa at 434.3969 ext. 110 or kate@vycc.org.

Earlybird tickets purchased before August 1, 2007 will receive a 10% discount for the second annual Denim & Diamonds event on Saturday, October 13th, 2007! This event will support program expansion since our move to the Leadership, Education & Training Center. With a seated dinner by Dish Catering, live music by the Chrome Cowboys, a fabulous Silent Auction, and Games of Chance, it’s an event not to be missed!

We are looking for donations of items for our silent auction – gift certificates, tickets to sports or cultural events, and other fabulous items that will help us raise much needed dollars for our year-round and summer program expansion — so please keep the VYCC in mind when at your favorite business, and ask them to donate to the silent auction!

Check our event website for silent auction donation forms, to purchase tickets, or for more information, or contact Polly Tobin Goddard at 802.434.3969 ext. 130 or polly@vycc.org.

Building on the success of the 2006 Leadership Retreats, VYCC hosted a mid-session retreat for all Community Crews during which each crew planned sustainability projects that Corps Members can complete in their home communities in the coming months. Corps Members designed six projects, including cleaning up a local park to create a skateboarding park, holding a Fall Sustainability Festival at the Statehouse to educate legislators and the general public, and highlighting river cleanup by hosting a press conference while removing a junk car from the Winooski River.

If you would like to learn more about the Montpelier Community Crew’s Sustainability Festival, attend, or have your organization host a booth, please let us know and we will put you in contact with organizers!

To learn more about our Community Crews, and the work they do to conserve and improve Vermont communities, please click here!