Join us!

Because little kids don't always like driving long distances, we'll keep the activities local. Adventures will be regular, so that families can plan around them, and led by fellow parents.

Most adventurers will meet at 10AM. If you want to participate in an adventure, please contact the adventure leader ahead of time. Make sure to bring adequate snacks and clothing. Little adventurers can get pretty chilly sitting still in a pack or sled, so be prepared!

If you want to lead an adventure, talk to Dave and Lexi at yac@gmcmontpelier.org or 229-9810

Help us promote YAC by giving YAC Posters (pdf) to your friends.

Adventure Schedule
Sunday September 27- Stroll through Chickering Bog, East Montpelier. Kids Easy. Shawn Keeley. 229-0933
Saturday October 10 - Explore Middlesex Notch, Middlesex. Kids Easy. Matt Krebs. 485-4312
Sunday October 25 - Climb Burnt Rock Mountain, Fayston. Kids Difficult. Lexi Shear. 229-9810
Saturday November 14 - Walk Hope Cemetery, Barre. Kids Easy. Dave Blumenthal. 229-9810
Saturday December 5 - Winter Ramble and hot drinks in Waterbury. Kids Easy. Mike Wetherell. 223-8493

Past Adventures and Reports
July 11, Saturday - Afternoon canoe trip to Wrightsville Reservoir followed by a barbecue on the beach, Middlesex. Kids Easy. Lexi Shear, 229-9810
June 13, Saturday - Hike in Allis State Park, Randolph. Kids Easy-Medium. Matt Krebs, 485-4312
May 17, Sunday - Splish, splash, waterfall! Walk to Bingham Falls, Stowe. Kids Easy. Michael Travis, 229-0173
April 18, Saturday - Bikes and wheelies on the Montpelier Bike Path. Kids Easy. Dave Blumenthal, 229-9810
March 22, Sunday - City Ramble through Barre, ending at LACE for brunch. Meeting time 9:30. Kids Easy. Mike Wetherell, 223-8493
February 22, Sunday - Learn to Ski at Morse Farm. Sledding, too! Kids Easy. Lexi Shear, 229-9810
January 24, 2009, Saturday - Winter Romp in Weisner Woods, Stowe. Kids Easy. Mike Wetherell, 223-8493
December 14, Sunday - Ramble in North Branch Park. Kids Easy. Dave Blumenthal, 229-9810
November 8, Saturday - Hunt for leaves in Hubbard Park. Kids Easy. Matt Krebs, 485-4312
October 26, Sunday - Hike up Little Deer Mt, Groton State Park. Kids Medium. Shawn Keeley, 229-0933
October 5, Sunday - Hike up Mt Elmore. Kids Difficult. Dave Blumenthal, 229-9810
September 21, Sunday - East Montpelier Town Forest in Adamant. Kids Easy. Mike Wetherell, 223-8493
June 14, Saturday - Hike up White Rocks. Kids Difficult. Lexi Shear, 229-9810
May 18, Sunday - Nature trails at Barre Town Elementary School. Kids Easy. Dave Rubel, 839-0357
April 13, Sunday - Mud season road walk in Calais. Kids Easy. Dave Blumenthal, 229-9810
March 16, Sunday - Climb the tower in Hubbard Park. Kids Easy. Shawn Keeley, 229-0933
February 9, Saturday - Snowshoe in Groton State Forest. Kids Medium. Matt Krebs, 485-4312
January 26, Saturday - Learn Cross Country Skiing at Morse Farm (trail fee), Montpelier. Sledding too! Kids Easy. Lexi Shear, 229-9810
December 15, Saturday - Winter stroll in Waterbury, with bonus sledding and hot drinks, 9:30AM. Kids Easy. Mike Wetherell, 223-8493
November 18, Sunday - Hike in North Branch Park, Montpelier. Meet at the town pool parking lot at 10AM. Kids Easy. Dave Blumenthal, 229-9810
October 28, Sunday - Explore Mallory Brook, E. Montpelier. Kids Easy. Lexi Shear, 229-9810
September 23, Sunday - Mountain stroll to an overlook on Spruce Mountain, Plainfield. Kids Easy. Mike Wetherell, 223-8493
June 23, Saturday - Hike Moss Glen Falls, Stowe, Kids Medium, Mike Wetherell, 223-8493
June 2, Saturday - Forest tramp to Eagle Ledge, Worcester, Kids Medium, Dave Blumenthal, 229-9810
May 19, Saturday - Hike Irish Hill, Berlin, Kids Medium, Mike Wetherell, 223-8493
May 6, Sunday - Walk at Berlin Pond, Berlin, Kids Easy, Shawn Keeley, 229-0933
April 21, Saturday - Walking with swamp monsters in Chickering Bog, East Montpelier, Kids Easy, Lexi Shear, 229-9810
April 1 - Spring Ski/Walk to Smugglers’ Notch, Kids Medium, Cara Robechek 229-5919
March 18 - Winter Wander in Weisner Woods, Kids Easy, Mike Wetherell 223-8493
February 18 - Learn Cross Country Skiing at Morse Farm, Kids Easy, Dave Blumenthal 229-9810
February 3 - Snowshoe Spruce Mountain, Kids Difficult, Matt Krebs 485-4312
January 13 - Snowshoe Hubbard Park, Kids Easy, Alyssa Krebs 485-4312
January 6 - Snowshoe North Branch Park, Kids Easy, Dave Blumenthal 229-9810
December 9 - KICKOFF! - Paine Mountain Hike & Cocoa Slurp, Kids Medium, Lexi Shear 229-9810

Guidelines of the YAC
Trips are primarily intended for kids 0-6 years old and their old people, although everyone is welcome
Given increased parental involvement, YAC may expand to offer adventures for 7-12 year olds
Safe fun in the outdoors is the most important goal
Adventures will be modified to make the difficulty level appropriate for participants, so its fun
Parents need to know their kid's level of interest and ability
There will be snacktime
Older kids are encouraged to be mentored by experienced adults into taking leadership roles
No dogs please
There is no charge to participate

All kids will receive an Adventure Journal to keep track of the cool things they've done and seen
Young Adventurers who have gone on 5 Adventures will receive a prize
Young Adventurers who have gone on 10 Adventures will receive a really cool prize

Difficulty Scale
Kids Easy - short, flat walks good for most kids able to walk
Kids Medium - hikes up to five miles good for motivated 4-6 year olds and parents willing to carry their kid
Kids Difficult - hikes on trails with rough footing or steady elevation gain, overnights

Guidelines for Leaders
Before each trip:
Talk to parents and make sure they know the plan
Review trip plan maps, etc.
If available parking at the trailhead is limited, insist that participants contact you ahead of time (don't send directions to the e-mail list)
Get adventure journal stamp, extra adventure journals, and trip schedules to give out

During each trip:
Make sure people sign in, so we can keep track of participation. Please ask how folks heard about YAC
Mention that YAC is part of the Green Mountain Club, and encourage membership
Make sure folks have adequate food and clothing
Make sure parents have adequate expectations for what their kids can accomplish
Feel free to alter the trip itinerary to suit the particular participants
Above all: HAVE FUN!

After each trip:
Get the sign-in sheet back to Dave or Lexi
File a Trip Report

A Sampling of Adventures
Leaders, use this list as a source of inspiration!

Bike trailer ride to Wrightsville Reservoir or the Shady Rill picnic area
Bikes and wheelies on the Montpelier Bike Path

Introduction to canoe paddling at Wrightsville Reservoir, BBQ at the beach
Explore wildlife from your canoe at Peacham Pond
Marshfield Dam Reservior canoe/swim
Canoe and snacks at Lake Elmore

Snuffle for black bears at Middlesex Notch, Middlesex, optional search for Owlshead Mountain
Bagluck lunch and cocoa at Taylor Lodge, from Nebraska Notch
Swamp monsters at Chickering Bog
Hardwood Flats hike, Elmore
Spring wildflower hunt towards from Jonesville towards Duck Brook Shelter
Spring wildflower hunt towards the Duxbury Window on the Long Trail
Weissner Woods, Stowe, loops 1.1-1.6 miles, good skiing too
Forest tramp to Eagle Ledge, Worcester
Explore Kettle Pond in Groton State Forest, 3 miles
Stroll on East Montpelier trails
Big Deer Mountain in Groton State Forest, 4 miles
Irish Hill in Berlin
Mt. Elmore, shorter version goes just to the Beaver Pond Trail
East Montpelier Town Forest in Adamant
Visit the animals at Morse Farm
North Branch River Park
Hubbard Park
Orc hunting at Millstone Hill, Barre ($5 fee)
City ramble in Barre followed by lunch at LACE
Spruce Mt, Plainfield
Bald Hill, next to Spruce Mt.
Round Top Hill, next to Spruce Mt, Plainfield
Little River State Park
Allis State Park, firetower and trails
Cotton Brook, Stowe
Bingham Falls, Stowe
Sterling Pond
Owl's Head in Groton State Forest
White Rocks
Paine Mountain, Northfield
Mount Cushman, Rochester
Stowe Pinnacle
Moss Glen Falls, Stowe
Nichols Ledge, Hardwick (after peregrine falcon nesting season)
Burnt Rock Mountain, Fayston

Fun with skis and/or sleds, Smugglers' Notch
Fun with skis, Morse Farm

Overnight to Beaver Meadow Lodge, Stowe
Overnight to Duck Brook Lodge
Summer camp at the Wheeler Pond Camps

YACish Links
Long Trail Activity Book
Nature Rocks
REI's PEAK program for youth
Trips for Kids, Charlotte, NC
Fit Family book
First Treks kids gear store in Stowe
backpacking.net article on Hiking with Children
ADK Kids on the Trail challenge
mtbr.com forum on Families and Riding with Kids
Valley Quest and info on how to make fun treasure hunts

Good Books
Cradle to Canoe: Camping and Canoeing with Children
Fit Family: The Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Years

Questions?
Reach Dave and Lexi at yac@gmcmontpelier.org or 229-9810