Graduation

Kingdom Trails: Hidden treasure

“Welcome to Kingdom Trails in Northeast Vermont, a multiple-use trail system unlike any other and recently voted as the best mountain bike trail network in North America by Bike Magazine in their annual Reader's Poll,” reads the home screen from kingdomtrails.com. Kingdom Trails Association was founded in 1994 by local residents and businesspeople with a goal to encourage recreational use of the Northeast Kingdom that is ecologically sensitive and promotes the natural beauty of the region. The Kingdom Trails network is headquartered out of East Burke, Vt. next to the Pub Outback restaurant. The main shop is small but don’t let that fool you; with the help of 55 cooperating landowners, Kingdom Trails has grown to the largest mountain biking trail network in the area. Kingdom Trails offers an array of mountain bike trails in the green seasons and Nordic skiing in the winter months. The Northeast Kingdom is perfect for this sort of adventure because mountains and rivers offer all sorts of terrain. Not only is the community involved, but they have visitors from all around the world with great testimonials of the network. Hailey B. from Boston, Mass. said, “The best mountain biking in the U.S.!” Matt C. from Manchester, Vt. said the trails were worth the investment. “It’s pay to play but well worth the cost because they employ locals and keep the economy rolling all winter.” Not only does the Kingdom Trails offer biking, but often times area athletic teams and cross-country teams come up to the trails for advanced training by running the trails for conditioning, and cooling off after in the swimming holes in the Passumpsic River. Kingdom Trails also has connection to the college, as Tim Tierney, the Executive Director of the trails, coaches the men’s lacrosse team at the school. Tierney was also a member of his town’s school board and was a former high school soccer coach. Kingdom Trails and their employees have strong ties to the Kingdom and have always been there to serve its members. Kingdom Trails does not just exist as the best mountain bike trail network in North America, it exists as a driver to the community and its economy, and helps ordinary people to better connect themselves to the beautiful nature that surrounds them. For more information about Kingdom Trails, call (802) 626 0737, visit their website, or swing in the shop in East Burke, right next to the Pub Outback.

Kingdom Trails

Final Project Ideas

Kingdom Trails and Mountain Biking: We can take some still-shots of Burke Mountain and the biking trails that they offer, and then take some video of bikers going through the trails, going off the jumps, and whatever else they might be doing. The idea for the project is how to correctly bike and where to bike. All group members will be working on the video and pictures.

Video Project 2

For the second video project, our group is going to the Lyndon Dog Pound to talk to Cindy Cady, the Lyndon Animal Control officer. We will talk to her to see what her job is like, how many animals she is dealing with, and how the adoption process works, along with other topics. Kristin and Jesse will take the camera to interview Cindy Patrick will edit the video and write the paper

Revised synopsis

Group 4 has decided to do a video on Black Bears. Vermont State has had a rising issue with Black Bear population. Bears have been traveling closer to non rural areas in search of food. We will video tape black bears hanging out in the back yard Kristen’s family friend. Bears have been coming to this house for a few years now eating out of the bird feeder. The story will tell about a recent bear attack and what one can do to take caution. It will also address the rising issue of black bears in the state of Vermont. We will be using natural sound from the bear rummaging through the yard. There will also be an interview going as the video plays. The video will mostly be natural sound. Some music will play at the beginning and the end of the video. There will be a short introduction with a picture and music. Kristen will shoot the video and do the interview Patrick will edit the sound and the video Jessie will write the story

Video Project 1

Vermont has several laws to protect wildlife. Over the years, black bears have been a rising issue.

Though black bears are known as carnivores, they are true omnivores. Their food sources include plants, small animals, seeds and insects. When spring time comes around, food is scarce. The bears often travel closer to resident’s homes in search of plants and seeds.

 There have been several cases of black bear attacks in the state of Vermont. The bears get into bird feeders and gardens of homes around the state. There have also been several cases where home owners spot the bears and feed them. The bears may seem harmless at first but they can get quite aggressive.

On May 30^th, 2011, a woman was attacked in Cabot, Vermont.  Jessica Miller claims she was trying to shoo two cubs off of her back porch when her cat ran outside. She immediately grabbed her cat which resulted in the cat letting out a dreadful cry. When the mother bear heard the cat’s cry, she reacted as if one of her cubs were in trouble. The bear attacked Miller leaving her with claw and bite marks on her leg. Miller had apparently been feeding the bears for a few years. She was previously warned by the states game warden not to feed the bears. She claims she had not been feeding the bears that year and it was simply a mishap.

Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife officials says that bears have been poking their noses closer to non rural areas in search for food. Officials claim that the bears usually will not attack unless provoked. They strongly advise that residents take caution to the bears.

Bird feeders should only be used during the winter seasons and garbage cans should be put in a location where the bears cannot get into them. If one see a bear or come in contact with it one should keep their distance and holler at the bear until it leaves. Stay indoors until you are positive that the bear has left the premises. 

It is also advised that all pets and animals are kept inside because bears will eat just about anything that crosses their paths.  Pet food and grills will also attract these bears. The black bear usually will travel around so if you hear a neighbor mentions a bear sighting don’t ignore it.  To avoid a bear attack take all of the previous precautions.