The 2012 Web Auction is now live!  Take a look at all the amazing adventures and opportunities offered in support of VRC’s mission.  And many thanks to our generous sponsors and donors – please support them many fold! Bidding ends on Earth Day (April 22nd).

2012 Web Auction Features:

•  Over 20 outdoor experiences, including a sea plane ride, a sail on Lake Champlain, a fly fishing trip and lesson, and a kayak tour of the Mad River, to name a few!
• Many gift certificates for restaurants, magazine subscriptions, and museums for the whole family.
• Exclusive opportunity: 1 week at an Adirondack camp for 20 people!

Keep checking often as new items will be added.  Bidding starts Monday April 9th and ends Sunday April 22nd (Earth Day!)

A great opportunity has arisen to enhance a Healthy and Vibrant Missisquoi River Community.  Nine acres of river front land is available to create a permanently conserved river access park just south of the Enosburg Falls Bridge of Flowers and Light.  With your support, a currently “posted” property can be transformed into a five acre public park with over 1,500 feet of river frontage.

As of April 9, 2012, with help from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the Fields Pond Foundation, the Enosburgh Conservation Fund and private donors, we have already raised 85%  of the $189,250 necessary for protecting this public access.  With your help we can raise the remaining $27,787  by May 1, 2012.  Several large donations and many small donations will get us to our goal.

Amongst many benefits, this project will:

• Offer two affordable housing building sites to Habitat for Humanity;
• Protect permanent public access to the Missisquoi River;
• Restore fishing access to long-time small mouth bass habitat and to waters stocked with Trophy Trout since 2007;
• Restore permanent access to a Northern Forest Canoe Trail put-in and take-out that will be safer and more attractive to paddlers, thus increasing river tourism and associated community benefits;
• Create a permanent public park.

Please donate today to help make this project a success.

A Healthy and Vibrant Missisquoi River Community depends on protecting the special places known and loved, and keeping them public treasures forever.  Every gift is important.

Lydia comes to VRC with eight years experience as an environmental educator, four years experience implementing waste reduction and organics reclamation programs in central Vermont, and two years experience directing the Land Stewardship Program at the University of Vermont, where she earned her Master’s in Natural Resources.  She co-chairs the Middlesex Town Forest Stewardship Committee, and is committed to conserving and stewarding land and water resources in Vermont.  Welcome aboard Lydia!

“The depth and breadth of the work of this year’s nominees indicates a deep commitment to Vermont’s natural resources, including habitat, wildlife and enjoyment of Vermont’s natural resources,” said CVPS spokesman Steve Costello.

This certainly describes Stephan’s contributions to VRC over the last 17+ years.  The award will be decided in April.  Best of luck Stephan, and thank you for all your hard work and good humor!

• Initiate efforts to help conserve a “Swimming Hole in Every Town” throughout Vermont;
• Pilot citizen stewardship of the Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail campsites and boat access sites.

Watershed Grant support will help VRC develop these efforts, which will result in long-term improvement of public access to Vermont’s swimming holes and stewardship of the Paddlers’ Trail.  More info about how you can get involved coming later this summer!

Mad River Corridor Easement – Waitsfield

Jordan & Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity River Corridor Easement, LaPlatte River – Charlotte

Fat Rooster Farm River Corridor Easement, Second Branch of the White River – Royalton

Haines River Corridor Easement, North Branch of the Winooski River – Worcester

A great opportunity has arisen to enhance a Healthy and Vibrant Missisquoi River Community.  Nine acres of river front land is available to create a permanently conserved river access park just south of the Enosburg Falls Bridge of Flowers and Light.  With your support, a currently “posted” property can be transformed into a five acre public park with over 1,500 feet of river frontage.

As of April 3, 2012, with help from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the Fields Pond Foundation, the Enosburgh Conservation Fund and private donors, we have already raised $152,818  of the $189,250 necessary for protecting this public access.  With your help we can raise the remaining $36,432  by April 15, 2012.  Several large donations and many small donations will get us to our goal.

Amongst many benefits, this project will:

• Offer two affordable housing building sites to Habitat for Humanity;
• Protect permanent public access to the Missisquoi River;
• Restore fishing access to long-time small mouth bass habitat and to waters stocked with Trophy Trout since 2007;
• Restore permanent access to a Northern Forest Canoe Trail put-in and take-out that will be safer and more attractive to paddlers, thus increasing river tourism and associated community benefits;
• Create a permanent public park.

Please donate today to help make this project a success.

A Healthy and Vibrant Missisquoi River Community depends on protecting the special places known and loved, and keeping them public treasures forever.  Every gift is important.