![\"Ski](\"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Ski-Press-Release-2015.2.5-PHOTO-300x225.jpg\")
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The NorthWoods Community and Mother Nature teamed up to start the year with a better-than-ever\u00a0ski season here at the Center. In winter, cross-country skis are THE vehicle for outdoor study and\u00a0exploration, but our equipment had been in poor repair. On our 25th birthday in 2014, we made a wish\u00a0to update our ski fleet to better serve young children and novice skiers, and you helped make it come\u00a0true.<\/p>\n
NorthWoods 2014-2015 Winter Education received grants from the Vermont Community Foundation\u2019s\u00a0Northeast Kingdom Fund, Ben & Jerry\u2019s Community Action Grants program, and The Norcross Wildlife\u00a0Foundation, and additional support from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. With their help, we added 30\u00a0pair of new or gently used skis with NNN bindings, 37 pair new and gently used boots, and 23 pair\u00a0poles\u2014all in a mix of kid and adult sizes for use by school groups, winter camps, and local families.\u00a0These grants also helped NorthWoods offer community programs like Skiing Naturalist: Signs, Track &\u00a0Habitats and facilitate more than 1600 student days for over a dozen area schools\u2014allowing us to\u00a0deeply discount these ski and outdoor programs, which enhance local education with beyond-the-classroom science, orienteering, and wildlife appreciation. Added resources also helped keep key trails\u00a0groomed\u2014essential for ensuring a positive connection to the nordic experience that keeps young\u00a0stewards coming back for more.<\/p>\n
NorthWoods Education Director Maria Young was thrilled to get the Northeast Kingdom on skis. \u201cWhen\u00a0people shake their heads about Vermont\u2019s winter weather, my first question is: Do you ski? And too\u00a0often,\u201d says Young, \u201cthe answer is no. I\u2019m excited that more NEK kids and community members will\u00a0explore NorthWoods territory by ski, thanks to this great support.\u201d<\/p>\n
The buzz created by community support and the great trail conditions inspired more of you to enjoy\u00a0NorthWoods public trails network this winter, and the reviews were sparkling! Our February Winter\u00a0Open House over the Presidents\u2019 Weekend brought old and new friends from across the Kingdom with\u00a0their holiday guests to try out the new fleet\u2014and it was our pleasure to help fit skis and boots and serve\u00a0up the hot cocoa!<\/p>\n
Repeat sign-ins on the trail logs and a busy trail donations box say so much\u2014thanks for making this\u00a0winter a win for NorthWoods. Stay tuned for announcements about the Winter Kick-off event in\u00a0December and Winter Day Camps coming soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"