Hello VYCC Alumni and friends,

Happy Autumn! We are writing to let you know that the 2008 Alumni Rendezvous has been postponed until December when the VYCC will be hosting a large holiday event at the West Monitor Barn. We hope you will join with us as alumni, project sponsors, community members, donors, staff, and members of the VYCC Board of Directors get together to celebrate the successful completion of our 23rd season. We will be sending out more information about the event in the near future. We apologize for the late notice and look forward to seeing you in December!

Cheers, The VYCC

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) is again seeking transportation enhancement projects for our crews. We are looking ahead to the 2009 field season and anticipate receiving funding from the Federal Highway Administration and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. With this funding, the VYCC will complete high-priority conservation projects that match at least one of the transportation enhancement activities listed on the back of this memo.

12 Transportation Enhancement Criteria and more information (PDF)

Project Proposal Form (PDF)

If your project is eligible and selected, you may receive the following:

• One fully-funded VYCC crew of up to eight crew members and two adult leaders
• Reimbursement for some or all materials used on your work project
• High-quality, long-lasting improvements to your community resource

If you are interested in making improvements to paths and trails that serve as community connectors and green space linkages, do not delay; we have a limited number of crew weeks available. Please see the “Hire a Crew” section of our website at www.vycc.org for more information or to view a printable project proposal form. Please mail the completed project proposal form with the requested additional information to our office by November 3, 2008.

If you have a project which needs to be completed, but you feel it does not meet the transportation enhancement criteria listed on the back of this memo, VYCC crews are also available on a cost-share basis. Please visit our website for more information on this option.

Again, the application deadline for transportation enhancement project proposals is November 3, 2008.

Please call John Leddy if you would like to discuss project ideas or for more information about the application process. We look forward to receiving your application.

John Leddy
Operations Director
802-434-3969 ext. 137

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation in partnership with the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council will be hosting the Second Annual Vermont Trail Symposium on Saturday, October 18th, at Groton State Forest. The day will consist of a number of skill building workshops presented by trail professionals from around the state. We will also honor individuals and organizations who have dedicated countless hours of time energy towards the cause of recreation. Come join us for a day of dirt, fun, and celebration!

Please visit www.vermonttrailsandgreenways.org for more information or e-mail our very own Justin Kenney at jkenney@vycc.org.

The VYCC has wrapped up its summer season but that doesn’t mean the work is completed! September 15th marked the first day of the Conservation and Community Leadership Program fall calendar. The fall season launched with a crew headed to Greensboro to complete trail work at Barr Hill and Long Pond Natural Areas in partnership with the Freeman Foundation, the Greensboro Conservation Commission, and The Nature Conservancy. Over the next few weeks three CCL fall crews will complete 14 weeks of conservation projects around the state.

School is in session for our VermontFutures School Program Crews! The VYCC is now operating five school crews throughout Vermont. Partnerships with local schools include The Center for Technology – Essex, Mount Mansfield Union High School, Lamoille Union High School, Woodstock Union High School, and Champlain Valley Union High School. Over 50 high school students from around the state will be participating in the School Program this year completing projects in agriculture and natural resources in and around their home communities.

Visit the School Crew Leaders webpage and learn more about the amazing people leading these crews!

Our summer field season ended on August 17^th with 12 crews returning to the Leadership, Education & Training Center at the West Monitor Barn to hand in their green shirts and say goodbye to the VYCC for the summer. Each crew gave a presentation to an audience of parents, headquarters staff, Corps Members and Crew Leaders from 2008. Below are some photos from the 2008 Field Season.

Out of nearly 100 submissions from non-profits throughout the United States, the Catamount Trail Association (CTA) has been selected as one of the top five organizations to share in Redwood Creek’s commitment to preserve, protect, and provide access to the great outdoors. The general public will be urged to cast their votes for one of these non-profit organizations. At the end of the competition the non-profit with the most votes will be granted $50,000 and the runner-up $10,000. The voting can be done by going to the Redwood Creek Great Outdoor Project website where you can place your vote for the Catamount Trail Association. Please vote and encourage other to do the same.

The VYCC has partnered with the CTA on many projects over the years and would be delighted to see them win this award. From constructing bridges in Stowe and Somerset to maintaining and relocating miles of trail, the VYCC has worked on numerous CTA projects since 1995. Please show your support by voting for them in this contest. It will make a difference for the future of the CTA and potential projects for the VYCC!

To participate follow the link below!

http://www.redwoodcreek.com/greatoutdoors/voting.asp