Last Updated: 07.Sep.2016

Over the course of the summer we will successively build from the bottom up - from the bedrock - a strong understanding of some of the natural history that makes this place special. Join us for any or all of the free monthly presentations this summer at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. Remaining sessions:

Forest Steward Panel
Tuesday, September 20, 7:00pm
The vast majority of the Black River Watershed is privately owned, meaning the management of the land we all love is in the hands of many different stewards of this land. This September, meet with several of these stewards and learn of the work they are doing on their land to ensure the land thrives and flourishes for generations to come. Presented by Michael Snyder, Commissioner of Forests Parks and Recreation, Jared Nunery, Orleans County Forester, and some of our local forestry heroes.

Natural Disturbances
Thursday, October 6, 7:00pm
Natural disturbance has a critical role in the development of our landscape. Whether disturbance from ice damage to trees in the winter, to windthrow and other damage from summer thunderstorms. However, every now and then a catastrophic disturbance strikes our landscape whose impact is felt for a century to follow. Join Steve Long to learn more about just one of these catastrophic events whose impacts can still be seen in our forests today, over 75 years later. Steve is the co-founder and former editor of Northern Woodlands Magazine and author of the new book, Thirty-Eight: The Hurricane that Transformed New England.

You can download the pdf poster at left to share here.

Need more info? Call us at 802-586-7767 or email Katie.

Previous editions of the 2016 Forestry series:
Geologic History of the Waits River Formation
Tuesday, May 24, 7:00pm
Marjorie Gale, State Geologist and Director of the Vermont Geological Survey will present on the Geologic History of the Waits River Formation. The Waits River Formation is the bedrock which underlies much of the area on the eastern side on the Black River Watershed throughout Orleans County. This bedrock provides nutrients to the soil, that in turn enriches our land, creating the unique forested areas where wildflowers and ramps emerge in the spring, and the cedar swamps that Orleans County is famous for. Come learn more about this bedrock and the geologic processes which impacted and ultimately created the landscape we love.

Natural Communities of the Black River Watershed
Tuesday, June 14, 7:00pm
Eric Sorenson, Community Ecologist with the Natural Heritage Program of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, is the acclaimed author of Wetland, Woodland, Wildland: A guide to the Natural Communities of Vermont. He'll help us understand the Natural Communities of the Black River Watershed. The bedrock and mountains are the oldest features. Soils were created as part of the scraping, erosion of glaciers, and biological activity. Plant and animal species have gone and come over the past 20,000 years, and people have become part of the landscape:  the present natural communities of plants, animals, soils, and ecological processes reflect all of this history and change. We'll explore the diversity of natural communities in the Black River watershed and what they tell us about the past and what we might expect for the future.

The Mystery of the Cedar Swamp
Tuesday, July 12, 7:00pm
Allaire Diamond, Conservation Ecologist, Vermont Land Trust: Mystery of the Cedar Swamp. Orleans County is the cedar capital of Vermont. You cannot travel through the Black River Watershed without seeing a cedar tree, but why does cedar grow so well here? What makes cedar different than other species? Come explore our cedar forests with Allaire as she unveils the mysteries of the cedar swamp.

Native Fish Populations
Tuesday, August 2, 7:00pm
You cannot appreciate the Black River Watershed without also understanding the aquatic world, and the fish that inhabit the streams, lakes and ponds of this area. Rich Langdon, Aquatic Biologist for Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will present on how our native species came to Vermont, and how the past history of glaciation and change in the landscape has impacted the fish that we know and love in our landscape.