12/27/11 by admin | Uncategorized | No Comments »
Art in the Wild is a unique art camp experience brought to you by the partnership of the Upper Valley Land Trust, the AVA Gallery, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. This program gives children a chance to explore art and nature in a distinct and special way. To read about some of last year’s adventures click here.
Art in the Wild Campers explore the Jackson Conservation Area
This year we are pleased to join in partnership with AVA and VINS to offer this camp again; and as a special thank you we are able to offer our members a discounted rate! Please see details of the camp below – we hope to see you this summer!
Art in the Wild – Ages 6–9
July 30 – August 3; Monday–Thursday, 9:00am–4:00pm; Friday, 9:00am–3:30pm; Five all-day classes
To register, please call (802) 359-5000 x221, email camps@vinsweb.org, or click here to enroll online via the VINS website.
Full-Day Tuition: $279 /members of either AVA, UVLT or VINS; $310 /non-members
Chock full of hands-on projects, games, and outdoor experiences, Art in the Wild will teach children to observe and respond to the patterns, forms, and colors of nature. With faculty members from both AVA and VINS sharing art and environmental expertise, kids will explore woods, meadows and wetlands, while learning about plants and animals in their native habitats. This outdoor session will take place within walking distance of AVA, on the Jackson Conservation Area in Lebanon, acquired and conserved by the City of Lebanon and the Upper Valley Land Trust, and in AVA’s Children’s Studio.
Art in the Wild – Ages 10–13
July 30 – August 3; Monday–Thursday, 9:00am–4:00pm; Friday, 9:00am–3:30pm; Five all-day classes
To register, please call (802) 359-5000 x221, email camps@vinsweb.org, or click here to enroll online via the VINS website.
Full-Day Tuition: $279 /members of either AVA, UVLT or VINS; $310 /non-members
Chock full of hands-on projects, games, and outdoor experiences, Art in the Wild will teach children to observe and respond to the patterns, forms, and colors of nature. With faculty members from both AVA and VINS sharing art and environmental expertise, kids will explore woods, meadows and wetlands, while learning about plants and animals in their native habitats. This outdoor session will take place within walking distance of AVA, on the Jackson Conservation Area in Lebanon, acquired and conserved by the City of Lebanon and the Upper Valley Land Trust, and in AVA’s South Studio.
12/19/11 by admin | Uncategorized | No Comments »
On December 16, the Upper Valley Land Trust and landowners Graham Colditz & Patti Cox conserved over 250 acres of scenic and productive land on South Road in Canaan, NH. Like many properties UVLT has protected, this land has deep roots in history. Every property has a story but the story of this land is particularly special. Its journey from early settlement in 1766 to its conservation in 2011 is traceable with an unusual amount of detail and continuity.
A large tract within this now-conserved property was granted to a gentleman named Thomas Miner in 1761 as one of the original 62 grantees named in the Town Charter from King George III to Governor Benning Wentworth; ultimately, Thomas Miner became one of the first people to permanently settle in that part of New Hampshire. Tired of life in the city, Miner gathered up his family in 1766 and left Norwich, Connecticut to head north to his land in Canaan. He described his thoughts of the new lands and the opportunities that stretched out before them in these quotes borrowed from the book History of Canaan, NH by William Allen Wallace, published in 1910:
“I’m going to get out er this, and try the bears and wolves for neighbors, and live on fish and venison…. this new road we are traveling is dotted all along with fragrant flowers, and the great trees, always stretching their long arms out before us, are calling us to our new destiny. We are started upon the long road. We are young, and life which a few months ago, seemed like an old wornout coat, now rises up all before us.” ~ Credited to Thomas Miner in History of Canaan, NH
Thomas Miner and his wife had seven more children in Canaan and lived to see the town grow around them. They are buried in the historic Cobble Cemetery which exists within the conserved property. Thomas Miner’s grave is marked with a modern headstone commemorating his military service in the Revolution; the town places a flag at his grave every Memorial Day to honor that service.
The historical farmstead has been restored by the current landowners and cattle still graze the fields. The forests are managed as a certified New Hampshire Tree Farm and streams that enter Gulf Brook and the Indian River add to the diversity and richness of the natural resources on the property. With proximity to other conserved and public lands, including Mount Cardigan State Park, this special place contributes to the traditional rural character of Canaan. Graham Colditz & Patti Cox are proud to conserve their property and ensure this land and its history remains intact as a place of inspiration and wonder for future generations.
12/08/11 by admin | Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Lesson One – Do Your ‘Homework’
You may have thought your days of assigned reading followed by a quiz were over, but if you are a volunteer monitor for the Upper Valley Land Trust you are wrong – in the best way possible.
Every good monitoring visit begins when you, as the volunteer, pick up your marbled blue monitoring folder. It feels, and looks, very official with laminated pockets housing reports, background documentation, and a map collection worthy of an explorer.
Tools of the trade: Monitoring folder, GPS, and compass.
The homework element comes in the form of one of the documents enclosed in this folder. The Baseline Document Report, or BDR, is part of the official legal paperwork that goes into a completed conservation easement. The purpose of the BDR is to provide a picture of that specific property at the time it is protected – including physical features, current land use, and conservation resources present. As a volunteer monitor it is your guidebook, painting a picture of what you should expect to see on your visit. If there are specific features of the land that could be a challenge to maintaining its protected status, the BDR will have those too and that is something you, as the monitor, should pay very close attention to. It is helpful to be aware of such things before you arrive on site in the chance that a violation could exist. Knowing what you’re looking at and potentially what you’re looking for is a good idea before you begin. Now, hopefully, the ‘homework’ is not looking all that bad. In fact, it is a chance to really ‘get to know’ the land.
Dangers of trekking with out proper navigation – vague pointing and guessing doesn’t work when you are a monitor! (Me, on Left, and my SCA crew in Arizona. This is where I got my first taste of large scale property management/monitoring.)
Lesson Two – Keep it Safe
Armed with this information, you are nearly ready to set out for your property visit – this would be the ‘quiz’ part. First, make sure someone knows where you are going and how long you expect to be there. This is a policy that UVLT staff members follow and recommend strongly to volunteers. Directions to the site are included in the monitoring folder but you will also need to know where you’re going once you arrive.
A handheld GPS unit can be acquired from the UVLT office that includes the boundaries of conserved properties, but be aware! All maps are imperfect representations of the real thing so it is best to bring along a compass in addition to your GPS and your paper maps to ensure that you are indeed tromping on conserved property and not the next door neighbor’s!
When you arrive be sure to park in a safe area and note where your vehicle is located (this can be done with the GPS). UVLT can provide you with a “UVLT Monitoring Visit” sign to display in your window, another recommended practice. Double check that you have all the gear you need and, if you haven’t already, plan your monitoring route through the property.
Each route will be different depending on the challenges that may/may not exist as well as what was done the year before. The idea isn’t to replicate the same visit from year to year, though you should take that visit under advisement. Rather, your trip is to make sure the property is thoroughly inspected with the overarching goal of your observations being to add to a complete picture of the property over time. Sometimes the land owner or caretaker will come with you and it is great if they do. These visits are an opportunity to keep in touch and maintain a good relationship with them.
“Lesson” Three – Have Fun!
Then, the adventure begins! And while every visit you do may not be action packed it will most certainly be a memorable experience. Since monitoring visits only happen once a year they are critical to UVLT’s ability to properly care for the land we have protected. Out there you, the volunteer, are our eyes and ears, and sometimes we hear some very neat stories. But even if we don’t, and the visit is quiet, it is still your excuse to take a walk in the woods, fields, and farms of the Upper Valley; with your mind and eyes open you might just come away with something better than a story.
Perks!
This is the first post of a series I am writing about my experience becoming a fully trained monitor for UVLT. I came to the Land Trust with some field experience but I knew it was unlikely that the methods I had been taught would be an exact fit for UVLT’s stewardship needs – and boy was I right! I hope you will enjoy learning, laughing, and pondering with me as I collect and nurture the knowledge, skills, and abilities gained from spending time outside.
Anna Slack, UVLT Programs Coordinator, Monitor-in-Training
** If you’re interested in becoming a monitor yourself contact us! **
12/01/11 by admin | Uncategorized | No Comments »
The Monday before Thanksgiving, folks gathered for refreshments and camaraderie to enjoy UVLT’s photo exhibit at the Norwich Public Library. The hi-light of the evening was a special reading by Vermont’s 2011 Poet Laureate Sydney Lea.
He read a lyrical essay, ‘Snowdust’, from his yet-to-be-published work entitled Now Look. His words brought a poignant presence to the photos and added something special to the evening. If you missed it you may click on the notation below to listen to the reading – introductions by UVLT Board Chair, Bob Wetzel. We hope you enjoy it and have a chance to come visit our exhibit ’25 Years of Land Conservation’ through photos at the Norwich Public Library in November and December.
“Without the efforts of the Upper Valley Land Trust and its staff and supporters…of which I have been one…we have fewer and fewer experiences of the sort I mean to render here.”
Syd Lea, ‘Snowdust’ – A Reading on November 21, 2011
A Note: Since this is an amateur recording you may need to increase your volume for the best clarity, but be aware that sounds in the foreground will be quite loud…watch your ears particularly if you listen with headphones! Thank you & enjoy!
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