Many Hands Make Light Work

Stronger Together

One of the things I have come to appreciate most during my first year at MALT is the incredible spirit of partnership that defines Addison County. Every week, I have the opportunity to meet people who are generously giving their time, expertise, resources, and passion to make this community a better place. Whether it's conserving forests, maintaining trails, educating the next generation, supporting local businesses, or helping neighbors in need, there is no shortage of organizations and individuals working toward a stronger, healthier community.

That spirit is something worth celebrating.

MALT has an ambitious vision for the future. Through land conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental education, we are working to protect the landscapes that make Addison County such a special place to live, work, and play. We aspire to be a regional leader in conservation—but we also recognize that no organization achieves meaningful change alone.

This summer has been a wonderful reminder of what is possible when we work together.

We were recently honored to receive a $150,000 grant from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, an investment that will allow us to expand our conservation program and reflects confidence in MALT's vision for the future. Beyond grant funding, VHCB also partnered with us by providing two AmeriCorps members this year, adding valuable capacity to support our trail stewardship, conservation, and public programs while helping develop the next generation of conservation professionals.

We also signed a new partnership with the Hannaford Career Center, which will create opportunities for students to gain hands-on workforce experience while helping steward MALT's conserved lands. Throughout the summer, youth from Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) joined us on the trails, making meaningful contributions while building crucial skills and confidence.

On the Trail Around Middlebury, partnerships continue to make all the difference. We're working with the Addison Central School District (ACSD) to create a safer trail alignment and setback near the middle school, while the Jackson Trail renovation has benefited from the hard work of our own trail crew alongside an outstanding week of support from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. A $10,000 grant from Athletic Brewing and tools from the Rotary club and North Country Trail Association helped make these improvements possible.

Our partnerships extend into higher education as well. Students from Middlebury College and the University of Vermont have joined us this summer through internships supporting trail stewardship, conservation, GIS, and environmental education. Middlebury College also provided drone-based LiDAR mapping of one of our conservation easements along Otter Creek, giving us valuable information to guide future stewardship.

Partnerships also make our programs safer and more resilient. This summer, we worked closely with Middlebury Regional EMS (MREMS) to strengthen our emergency preparedness and response planning for camps, trail users, and volunteers. We are equally grateful to Champlain Orchards, which generously provided one of their buses to serve as a storm shelter for our summer camp participants and later hosted MALT's Board retreat. Their generosity reflects the strong sense of community that makes Addison County such a special place.

Finally, we're thankful for the many organizations that help amplify and strengthen our work, including United Way of Addison County, Otter Creek Audubon Society, Otter Creek Child Center, and the Addison Independent. Each partnership—large or small—helps MALT better serve our community.

When people ask what will make MALT strategy successful, my answer is simple: PARTNERSHIPS. Every conserved acre, every trail improvement, every child discovering nature for the first time, and every volunteer day are made possible because people and organizations choose to work together.

Thank you for being part of that community. Together, we're building something that none of us could accomplish alone.

With gratitude,

Kevin Fox
Executive Director
Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT)

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Here’s your guide to this month’s e-news:

Jackson Trail Upgrades
TAM Reroute
Thank you, CSAC
Trail Work Round Up
Summer Camp Updates
Upcoming Events
Trail Volunteer Day

Jackson Trail Upgrades

If you're familiar with the Jackson Trail, you've probably noticed the curbing that lines the downslope side of the trail. If you've hiked it this summer, you may also have spotted a few new braces attached to that curbing.

In June, Owen, John, and I installed braces along the downslope side of the curbing to reinforce it and help protect the trail tread from erosion. The added support has made the curbing significantly sturdier and should extend its lifespan for years to come.

We also built a new stone staircase on the north side of the Jackson Trail. Owen has extensive experience constructing stone staircases through his work with the Green Mountain Club, and he put those skills to work on a particularly steep section of trail. He taught me how to build a stone staircase and how to use a rock bar to move and position large rocks. It's a skill that definitely takes some practice, but Owen makes it look effortless.

As Archimedes famously said, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." I'm pretty sure he came up with that after watching Owen work a rock bar.

This past week, we were joined by a crew from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps to replace weakedned sections of curbing and install new curbing along the trail. The new curbing was constructed in an L-shape so that the buried portion is anchored by the weight of the soil, creating a stronger and more stable structure. We also reinforced each section with rebar, making the curbing incredibly solid and durable.

After installing the new curbing, we widened and flattened the trail tread to create a more stable and enjoyable hiking experience for everyone using the Jackson Trail.

We accomplished a tremendous amount during the four days the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps crew was with us, and we're incredibly grateful for their hard work. With their help, we improved more than 180 feet of trail, making a lasting impact on the Jackson Trail.

We recently wrapped up a month long project to build a new boardwalk on the southern end of the Jackson Trail. The old, narrow boardwalk had become warped and weak over time, so we replaced it with a sturdy, four foot wide boardwalk constructed from durable locust lumber.

Black locust is one of the most durable hardwoods available for outdoor construction. It naturally resists rot, insects, and decay without the need for chemical treatments, making it an environmentally friendly choice for trail infrastructure. Its strength and ability to withstand harsh weather means this new boardwalk is expected last close to a century!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this project possible despite the summer heat. Special thanks to Liam, John, the Stewardship Crew, Alice, Egan, and Travis for contributing their time and hard work to help Owen and me bring this project to completion.

Be sure to get out and explore the Jackson Trail to see all of the improvements we've completed this summer. We can't wait for everyone to enjoy these upgrades for years to come!

New to the Jackson Trailhead parking lot on Weybridge Street is a Free Little Library, built by Celi Byer, last year's VHCB AmeriCorps member at MALT.

"The idea to add a free library along the TAM came from TAM builder and longtime volunteer John Derick. Last year, while serving as MALT's VHCB AmeriCorps member, I had the privilege of working alongside John, who became both a mentor and an inspiration. Because of him, I discovered a passion for carpentry that eventually led me to begin an apprenticeship with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. When I told John I was interested in woodworking, he responded the way he always does: with encouragement, generosity, and unwavering belief. He handed me the materials and a building plan, and I got to work. Together, we mounted the library on July 12 near the Jackson kiosk where we hope it will become well used. Building this library with John was incredibly meaningful, and I'm so grateful for his vision, kindness, and care for our community."

Rerouted Portion of the TAM

We have rerouted a portion of the TAM so that it no longer passes behind the middle school or through the parking lot. This change was made with the safety of students in mind. Instead, the trail now exits the Jeffrey Murdock Nature Preserve along the soccer fields, where the North Country Trail also emerges. From there, the TAM follows the edge of the field before connecting to the sidewalk on S Ridge Drive.

Please pay close attention to the trail signs, as the TAM and the North Country Trail split before reaching S Ridge Drive.

A big thank you to John and Celi, who spent one of their Saturdays driving in posts so we could install plenty of signage and make this reroute as clear and easy to follow as possible.

Thank You, CSAC!

In July, a group of kids from the Counseling Service of Addison County came out to Wright Park to help us tackle several important trail projects. They helped create a switchback to reroute a steep section of trail that was experiencing erosion, close trails that had become eroded and hazardous, and widen the trail corridor.

The group worked with us for two weeks and helped us complete projects that were important but had been pushed to the back burner with all of the other trail work on our plate this summer.

Wright Park is one of the most beloved sections of the TAM, and it was wonderful to have this group come out and help us maintain a park that sees such heavy use. Their hard work will make a lasting difference for everyone who enjoys the trail.

Thank you, CSAC!

Trail Work Round up

Here is a consise-ish list of all of the upgrades we have made to the TAM this summer!

Wright Park
- Installed a gravel path from the parking lot through the wetland area
- Switchback / trail reroutes
Otterview Park
- New boardwalk thanks to Hermit Woods Trailbuilders
Otter Creek Gorge
- Linseed oil applied to Beldens Bridge
- Installed a new gravel path from the South Gorge parking lot to the woods, featuring turnpikes and improved drainage to help mitigate wet sections of trail.
- Bucked up and cleared large downed trees on the side of the trail with the help of Limbwalker Tree Service, who generously volunteered their time and chainsaw expertise.
Boathouse Bridge
- Replaced deteriorating decking and applied linseed oil with help from Hermit Woods Trailbuilders
Jeffrey Murdock Nature Preserve
- Rerouted the TAM away from the middle school
Battell Woods
- Installed a turnpike to strengthen the trail tread in a particularly wet area, with the help of dedicated trail volunteers during a volunteer work day.
'97 Trail
- Installed a turnpike to strengthen the trail tread in a particularly wet area, with the help of dedicated trail volunteers during a volunteer work day.
Jackson Trail
- Installed braces to strengthen curbing
- Installed new curbing and widened trail tread with the help of VYCC
- Installed rock stairs on a steep section of trail
- Constucted a boardwalk on the south end of the trail
General Maintainance
- So far this summer, John has spent 30 hours mowing trails.
  - Thank you to Middlebury College and Monument Farms for generously allowing us to store equipment and lumber on their farms!
- Our trail stewards have been a great help in monitoring and maintaining their trail sections.
- When Owen & I aren't working on projects, we are out on the trails opening the trail cooridor, clearing trees, and clearing drainage ditches.

Summer Camp Updates

Summer is flying by, thanks to the many weeks filled with different themed camps. It feels like some sort of nature-based variety show! From Skulls & Bones to Forest Fairies and Spirits, Theater Camp, and Tam Trekkers 2.0, we’ve felt our way through mud, pelts, played silly scat games, discovered secret messages in fairy homes, and — by listening and respecting the forest — found some of the strongest and most resilient kids I have ever met. MALT kids are made differently, and we honor that!

Summer is full, summer is here, summer is beautiful, and summer is muddy. We appreciate everyone who’s come out to our camps, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings!

We still have a few spots open in our new summer camp: Camping by the Creek!

Do you like to camp- or have you always wanted to try? Tucked away in the Otter Creek Gorge at a secret forest shelter we call the Gazebo! Each day we’ll head into the woods to set up camp, gather around the fire, and spend the day exploring! We’ll cook over the fire, forage for what’s in season, take longer adventure walks, learn fun primitive skills, and enjoy peaceful moments in the forest. This camp is perfect for curious kids who love adventure, imagination, and being outdoors!

Camping by the Creek runs August 17-21 and is for children ages 8-13

Upcoming Events

Middlebury Area Butterfly Blitz with Vermont Center for Ecostudies

WHEN: THIS SATURDAY, August 8th 10:00am-2:00pm

WHERE: Meeting location at the Middlebury Rec Center

COST: FREE!

WHO: All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult

Scientists want to know what kind of butterflies live near you. Come join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the Middlebury Area Land Trust for a day of butterflying near Middlebury, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We will meet at the Middlebury Rec Center at 10 am to select teams and travel in groups to various sites in the Middlebury, Salisbury, Shoreham, and Bridport area to conduct butterfly surveys for the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. We will have options for low intensity (roadside surveys, minimal walking) or medium intensity (1 – 3 miles of walking).

Grab a friend or come alone and join us for all or part of the day.

Register Here!

Wetland Walk with Zapata Courage

WHEN: Sunday, August 16th from 10:00-12:00PM

WHERE: Wright Park, from the upland area near the parking lot down to the Zigzag boardwalk and wetland area

WHO: Families and people of all ages are welcome.

COST: FREE!

Zapata Courage will lead a guided nature walk at Wright Park, starting from the upland area near the parking lot and making our way down to the Zigzag boardwalk and beautiful wetland. Along the trail, she’ll share the fascinating story of a beaver-influenced ecosystem, show how to identify some common wetland plants, and explore what makes a wetland such a special place. At Otter Creek, she’ll explain how floodplain wetlands help protect our communities while providing habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals across Vermont. This walk is perfect for curious minds of all ages—kids and adults alike will come away with a deeper appreciation for wetlands and the wildlife that call them home.

Register Here!

Friends of the TAM - Chipman Hill

Saturday, August 29th at 8:30AM - Plant identification walk with Monica Przyperhart

Have you ever noticed that the plants and trees change as you hike up Chipman Hill? Join us for a leisurely walk as we identify local plant life and think about why communities change from one spot to another. Register here.

Trail Volunteer Day

We will be holding a trail volunteer day on Saturday, August 22, at Otter Creek Gorge. Volunteers should meet at the Otter Creek Gorge South Parking Lot. The plan for the day is to bring in materials for a new ditch crossing and, if time allows, begin installing it.

Something fun is about to happen! MALT and local photographer Eric Killorin are joining forces to create a unique, interactive community art experience later this month. Everyone is invited to strike a pose, be part of the fun and help create something truly memorable. Stay tuned! In the meantime, check out his webpage!

Stay up to date with all MALT events by following us on Instagram: @middleburyarealandtrust, and our Facebook: Middlebury Area Land Trust, as well as on Front Porch Forum.

Make sure to get out to Jackson Trail to see all of the upgrades the trail crew has been working hard on this summer. Hope to see you out there!