Northwoods Stewardship Center

CONNECTING PEOPLE AND PLACE THROUGH SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND ACTION.

CONSERVATION CORPS - THE NORTHWOODS CONSERVATION CORPS IS A HANDS-ON CONSERVATION-BASED EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH (AGES 15 - 18) AND EMERGING PROFESSIONALS. CREW MEMBERS ARE HIRED FROM COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING PROJECT AREAS AND ARE PROVIDED WITH HIGH-QUALITY CONSERVATION TRAINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. THE EXPERIENCE PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO EXPLORE CAREER PATHS IN VARIOUS FIELDS OF CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDES A MEANINGFUL WORK EXPERIENCE FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS. IN 2021, WE EMPLOYED JUST OVER 100 CONSERVATION CORPS STAFF! WE WERE EXCITED TO WELCOME BACK IN PERSON TRAINING, WITH THE FIRST EVER ORGANIZATION WIDE COLLABORATIVE TRAINING. IN ADDITION, CONSERVATION SKILL SPECIFIC TRAINING WAS ALSO INCREASED. THIS INCLUDED CERTIFICATE-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDING WILDERNESS FIRST AID AND CHAINSAW TRAINING, AS WELL AS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING AND RESOURCES FOR BUILDING INCLUSIVE TEAMS. NORTHWOODS ALSO RECOGNIZED THE GROWING NEED TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR SEASONAL STAFF, IN A POST-PANDEMIC INFLATED SHORTAGE OF LOW-COST HOUSING. TO SUPPORT THIS CHANGE, IN THE SPRING OF 2021 NORTHWOODS CONSTRUCTED AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN PAVILION, TO PROVIDE A GATHERING SPACE AND COOKING SPACE FOR SEASONAL STAFF. WE ALSO DEDICATED THE BUNKHOUSE FOR SEASONAL STAFF USE. THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, AND ENABLED NORTHWOODS TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN RECRUITING CREW MEMBERS AND LEADERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN ADDITION TO THE REGIONAL PROJECTS THAT BROUGHT CREWS TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS FOR 12 WEEKS OF HISTORICAL TRAIL RENOVATION, TO THE RUGGED AND REMOTE COOS TRAIL, TO KINGDOM TRAILS AND VICTORY HILL FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE SPECIFIC TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND ON TRAIL PATROL AROUND THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM, ALL LOCAL CREWS WERE ABLE TO SPEND A WEEK ON THE NORTHWOODS TRAILS - REPLACING SKIDDER BRIDGES FOR FORESTRY AND RECREATION ACCESS, BOG BRIDGES ON THE HIKING TRAIL, AND INSTALLING EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE. THE BACKCOUNTRY CREW COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF 35 BOG BRIDGES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, AND ALL TOGETHER THE CREWS COMPLETED 51 SOIL RETAINING STRUCTURES TO PREVENT EROSION. AT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE LOCATIONS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND, NORTHWOODS HOSTED 32 CONSERVATION INTERNS. THIS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM GIVES EMERGING PROFESSIONALS FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE WITH DATA COLLECTION, RESEARCH AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION WITH A FOCUS ON WILDLIFE.

EDUCATION, GROUPS & CAMPS - THE EDUCATION PROGRAM SEEKS TO FOSTER A SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS BY PROVIDING DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRING AWARENESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS WITH EDUCATION AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD, AND PROVIDE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PLACE. 2021 WAS MARKED BY A REBOUND FROM THE EARLY ISOLATION AND RESTRICTION OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. FOR OUR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES, NEW EXPECTATIONS WERE SET AROUND THE NECESSITY OF CONNECTION WITH THE OUTDOOR AND EACH OTHER, TO BUILD RESILIENT KIDS, TO OFFER STRESS RELIEF, AND TO REPLACE FEAR AND ISOLATION, WITH JOY AND CONNECTION. IN 2021 WE SAW WHAT WE THINK WILL BE A PERMANENT CHANGE - A RECOGNITION THAT HANDS-ON OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT ENRICHMENT, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL! IN 2021, NORTHWOODS HOSTED 615 STUDENT VISITS FOR WINTER OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND RECREATION AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS RETURNED TO PRE-COVID NUMBERS, WITH MORE THAN 3,000 ANNUAL STUDENT VISITS, AND 125 CAMPERS THROUGH 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER PROGRAMS. WE OFFERED CAMPS IN OUR TWO LOCATIONS AT THE NORTHWOODS CAMPUS IN EAST CHARLESTON AND IN THE HUB FOR REGIONAL OUTDOOR RECREATION IN EAST BURKE. CAMP THEMES INCLUDE EXPLORATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD, BUILDING SKILL AND SENSE OF PLACE THROUGH OUTDOOR RECREATION AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE, FOSTERING INCLUSIVE TEAMS, AND TEAM BUILDING AND LEADERSHIP. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HOST THE LOCAL NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH 4 WEEKS OF ENRICHMENT EDUCATION - WORKING WITH 8 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN THE SUPERVISORY UNION, AND BRINGING 100 LOCAL STUDENTS TO NORTHWOODS FOR A WEEK-LONG NATURE CONNECTION AND EXPLORATION PROGRAM. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOMEMADE, HEALTHY FOOD, IN PART THANKS TO THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY THE USDA. LEADERSHIP REMAINED A KEY THEME THROUGHOUT ALL NORTHWOODS PROGRAMS, A CHARGE LED BY THE EDUCATION TEAM. 12 8TH GRADERS PARTICIPATED IN THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VERMONT RURAL ED COLLABORATIVE AND 13 ADULTS COMPLETED THE NEK LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. BOTH PROGRAMS COMBINED LEADERSHIP SKILLS, NETWORKING, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SENSE OF PLACE AS AREAS TO SUPPORT AND INSPIRE LEADERS. UPGRADES TO THE CHALLENGE COURSE BROUGHT NEW ELEMENTS FOR FACILITATING TEAMBUILDING WITH 32 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. NORTHWOODS FACILITATED IN DEPTH NATURE APPRECIATION AND EDUCATION WITH NEWPORT CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S K-2 GRADERS, WHERE ALL 9 CLASSROOMS AND OVER 150 STUDENTS ENGAGED IN THESE MONTHLY VISITS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE FALL. IN 2021, WE WELCOMED A FULL TIME EDUCATION DIRECTOR TO THE TEAM, AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

CONSERVATION SCIENCE - THE GOAL OF THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM IS TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS, PARTICIPATE IN WORK GROUPS, AND PROMOTE PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, HABITAT ENHANCEMENT, WATER QUALITY, AND OTHER OUTCOMES WHICH HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO EXEMPLIFY GOOD STEWARDSHIP THROUGH GOOD SCIENCE. IN 2021, THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM WORK RAMPED UP SIGNIFICANTLY TO MEET THE INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED CHALLENGES AROUND WATER QUALITY. BY THE NUMBERS, THE CREWS COLLECTED 59.267 GALLONS OF SEED, PLANTED 22,459 TREES, SHRUBS, AND TUBESTOCK, WORKED ON AT LEAST 27 OFF-SITE PROJECTS, HOSTED 3 ECO AMERICORPS MEMBERS, AND BUILT 55 INFILTRATION STEPS (5 SEPARATE PROJECTS).IN 2021, THE LAKE MEMPHREMAGOG WATERSHED WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN IMPAIRED WATERWAY. THIS DESIGNATION HIGHLIGHTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AROUND TOXIC NUTRIENT LOADING AND SPURRED INCREASED STATE-WIDE RECONGNITION AND FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS TO REDUCE THE TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) OF PHOSPHOROUS IN THE WATERSHED. NORTHWOODS WORKED CLOSELY WITH STATE AND REGIONAL PARTNERS THROUGH WATERSHED ACTION PLANNING CONVENINGS, AND TO PRIORITIZE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS. THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM RIPARIAN LANDS AND WATERSHED CREWS WORKED FROM APRIL THROUGH NOVEMBER IN AN EXTENDED SEASON TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS. A NEW PROJECT WITH VERMONT FISH AND WILDLIFE ADDRESSES RIPARIAN HEALTH WITH NATIVE SEED COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION THROUGH HYDRO-SEEDING, WHICH WILL BE USED TO RESTORE RIPARIAN BUFFERS IN LARGE OPEN PLAINS SUITABLE TO THIS EQUIPMENT, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRADITIONAL TREE PLANTING METHODS. IN 2021, THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE CREWS PLANTED TREES AND COLLECTED NATIVE SEED, WITH A WIDE SPECIES DIVERSITY INCLUDING SILVER MAPLE, HIGH BUSH CRANBERRY, AND RED OSIER DOGWOOD TO LIST A FEW. THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE TEAM ALSO ADDRESSED SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC ACCESS TO RIVERS AND LAKES, IN PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM, PARTICULARLY ON THE MOOSE RIVER IN VICTORY, VT. THE CREWS ALSO IMPLEMENTED A WIDE RANGE OF WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - INCLUDING OPEN TOP CULVERTS, INFILTRATION STEPS, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, RIPARIAN BUFFER NATIVE PLANTINGS ETC. IN 2021, THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM INCREASED TECHNICAL TRAINING OF OUR WORKFORCE TO INCLUDE HERBICIDE APPLICATION AND TECHNICAL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. KEY PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, STATE WIDE ORGANIZATIONS, AND MUNICIPAL GROUPS WERE ESSENTIAL TO IMPLEMENTING THESE PROJECTS.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP - THE GOAL OF THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE IS TO PRACTICE AND PROMOTE ECOLOGICALLY SOUND LAND MANAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING FOR FOREST ECOSYSTEMS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF THE NORTHWOODS DEMONSTRATION FOREST, BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO FOREST LANDOWNERS, AND THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. ON THE NORTHWOODS DEMONSTRATION FOREST, IMPROVED SIGNAGE ON THE DEMONSTRATION FOREST AIDED WITH WELCOMING VISITORS TO THE TRAIL AND PROVIDING A SELF-GUIDED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THIS INCLUDES THE FOREST ECOLOGY SIGNAGE ALONG THE LANG BROOK TRAIL, AND NATURAL HISTORY SIGNAGE ON THE GARDNER PATH. THE FORESTRY INTERNSHIP GRADUATED ITS FOURTH SUCCESSFUL COHORT - WITH A FOCUS ON INVASIVE SPECIES, FOREST ECOLOGY, LANDSCAPE LEVEL FOREST HEALTH, AND BUILDING A SET OF BOTH FIELD AND OFFICE SKILLS FOR EMERGING CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS. IN 2021, FORESTRY INTERNS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THE DEMONSTRATION FOREST, CONDUCTING TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT, AND IMPROVING TRAIL ACCESS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HISTORIC HOPKINS HILL TRAIL. ADDITIONALLY, WORK WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE VERMONT LAND TRUST AND THE STATE OF VT FORESTS, PARKS AND RECREATION PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO NETWORK AMONG OTHER NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS. AT THE LANDOWNER LEVEL, IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH OVER 40 LANDOWNERS ON LAND MANAGEMENT GOALS THROUGH CURRENT USE APPLICATIONS, WILDLIFE HABITAT ASSESSMENTS, AND INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL PROJECTS, THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE SOUGHT TO BRING MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO THE PROCESS OF WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ACHIEVE LANDSCAPE SCALE OBJECTIVES, INCLUDING FOREST CONNECTIVITY FOR WILDLIFE, TRAIL COMPATIBILITY FOR RECREATION, AND PRESERVING PUBLIC ACCESS FOR HUNTING.