The NorthWoods Stewardship Center is pleased to announce the receipt a $5,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation’s Northeast Kingdom Fund. This grant will allow NorthWoods to update and grow their low-ropes course in order to provide expanded features to visitors of all ages from local schools, organizations and businesses around the state.

The current ropes course, located in the Center’s red pine plantation, was installed in the 1990s and is used with more than 1,000 individuals annually.

“With this funding, we will be able to remove old and unused features as well as install new features, following our forester’s recommendations to plan for sustainability for the challenge course and changing forest. Our goal is to be able to offer a more robust challenge course to support NorthWoods mission.” says Education Director Maria Young.

By investing in the Challenge Course, NorthWoods will be able to expand offerings and facilitated activities to groups, schools and organizations throughout the region.

“With more elements, groups that return for multiple visits will have the opportunity to develop teamwork and leadership skills from session to session. We anticipate that this renovation will allow participation to double, and more importantly, increase the effectiveness of our programming in creating more cohesive groups, addressing conflict resolution, and raising empathy, awareness and inclusiveness,” says Young.

The Northeast Kingdom Fund is a permanent philanthropic resource dedicated to supporting the people and communities of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties. Its grants are decided by a committee of local residents, providing philanthropy for the Kingdom, by the Kingdom.