Hey kids and parents!
Want to explore the world and make friends?
Join the Young Adventurers Club

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
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

Introduction to canoe paddling at Wrightsville Reservoir
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
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
Visit the animals at Morse Farm
North Branch River Park
Hubbard Park
Orc hunting at Millstone Hill, Barre ($5 fee)
Spruce Mt, Plainfield
Bald Hill, next to Spruce Mt.
Round Top Hill, next to Spruce Mt, Plainfield
Little River State Park
Cotton Brook, Stowe
Sterling Pond
Owl's Head in Groton State Forest
White Rocks
Paine Mountain, Northfield
Mount Cushman, Rochester
Stowe Pinnacle
Moss Glen Falls, Stowe
Sterling Falls Gorge, Stowe, 3.1 mile loop
Nichols Ledge, Hardwick

Fun with skis, 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

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