June 13, 2013

Governor Accepts Bolton Nordic and Backcountry Land Transfer to the State of Vermont

On June 13 at The Ponds at Bolton, Bolton Valley Access Road Governor Shumlin was handed the property deed of the 1,144 acres of land that host the Bolton Nordic and Backcountry trails today. The land is now successfully purchased, conserved and transferred to the State of Vermont as an addition to the Mt. Mansfield State Forest. Read the press release.

March 21, 2013

We've Met Our Campaign Goal!

The last of the funds needed to purchase and protect 1,100 acres of Bolton Nordic and Backcountry land came in just yesterday. There is still work to be done before the property is officially purchased and protected. VLT and VT Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR) are now working diligently towards an official closing on the property so that ownership will be transferred to the FPR as a part of Mount Mansfield State Forest.

A huge thanks to the Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry for having the vision a short 15 months ago. THANK YOU to the more than 1,200 people, businesses, organizations, and foundations who are making the protection of this amazing recreation land possible! Together, supporters raised more than $1.85 million!

Learn more about what it takes to pull off such an enormous campaign and watch a slideshow of the events over the past year. 

March 13, 2013

$35,000 to go! What happens if we raise more than $1.85 million?

We are within $35,000 of our $1.85 million campaign goal! Donations to the Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry Project will go to the acquisition and conservation of this important property. Those funds raised in excess of our goal will continue to be incredibly helpful to the project.

VLT and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) are creating a "Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry Land Management Fund" for the future care of this land and the quality of the public's outdoor experiences on the property. Donations received after our acquisition goal is met will be added to this Fund.

When the Bolton land is transferred to the State as an addition to Mt. Mansfield State Forest, the State will be issuing a license agreement to the Bolton Valley Resort to continue management of the Nordic and backcountry trail system, and FPR will take on ultimate management responsibility for the property.

The Land Management Fund will be used for physical maintenance and improvements to trails, roads, parking areas, shelters, recreational facilities, and other recreational infrastructure and management needs on the land.

The use of the fund will be directed by FPR consistent with the conservation easement and management plans for the property and in consultation with the Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry.

January 28, 2013

Almost there! 

We are inching closer to our goal every day; as of this week, we have about $75,000 left to raise. Every fundraiser event, raffle, and t-shirt sale gets us closer to the finish line. Every new gift helps close the gap.

Also, if you’re looking for a fun way to support the campaign, SkiRack and Patagonia Burlington have put together a massive raffle to benefit the project! Prizes include a $1,000 shopping spree at Patagonia Burlington, a $500 gift card from SkiRack, a full Rossignol backcountry gear package, an Atlas Snowshoe Package, and a pair of Black Diamond Stigma backcountry skis. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20, and may be purchased online at www.skirack.com. Raffle drawing will be Monday, February 4, so get your tickets now!

 January 2, 2013

Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry Members in the News!

The "Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry" community group has been working hand-in-hand with the Vermont Land Trust to fundraise for the project. An extraordinary collection of dedicated and passionate people, the Friends formed in 2011 in response to the threatened private sale of the Nordic and backcountry land and has been working tirelessly ever since.

And now the Friends are getting some attention in the press! The group's coordinator Ann Gotham has received multiple nominations for the Burlington Free Press's "Vermonter of the Year" award. Heartfelt nominations came from Jerry Lasky, Linda Gionti, and Liz Lee.

And don’t miss this great article about FOBVNB member Clem Holden! Clem is one of the Bolton Backcountry’s “Old Goats,” a small group of dedicated men and women who have been leading the effort to clear and maintain backcountry trails in the area since the late 1960s.

December 10, 2012

Additional $100,000 match opportunity for all donations!

We've successfully matched the $100,000 challenge offered by an anonymous donor last September, but the response from the community was so fantastic that a second anonymous donor has stepped forward and offered to continue the challenge with another $100,000! That means that the next $100,000 in incoming gifts will also be matched on a 1 for 1 basis, extending the opportunity to double the impact of your donation. With only $275,000 left to raise, meeting this second challenge will put us tantalizingly close to our $1.85 million goal.

We’re getting there!  

December 6, 2012

60 bird species identified on the Bolton property!

Bolton backcountry lover and Green Mountain Audubon Board Member Liz Lee led a series of birding walks on the Bolton property last spring and summer.

The experience left her with a deep appreciation for the area and the remarkable diversity of bird and other wildlife that it supports. In all, she recorded 60 species on the property, including 16 species of warblers – the small, often beautiful migrants that travel thousands of miles from the tropics to nest in Vermont each year.

To see Liz’s complete bird species list for the Bolton backcountry, click here.  

September 10, 2012

$100,000 donation recieved. Plus another $100,000 in matching funds!

We had a great time at our Annual Celebration last Saturday at the Ponds at Bolton Valley, a stone's throw from the Nordic and Backcounty land. But best of all was the tremendous news that the campaign to save Bolton Nordic and Backcountry has just received an anonymous $100,000 gift! This remarkable generosity means that we are now 75% of the way to our $1.85 million goal. That's certainly cause to celebrate!

To top it off, a second anonymous donor has just come forward with an extraordinary challenge for the community: they will match every dollar raised to protect the Bolton land this fall on a 1:1 basis, up to $100,000. That means that the next $100,000 that we raise will be immediately doubled. So if you haven't already made a gift in support of the campaign to save this spectacular place, there's no better time; contribute today!

 August 28, 2012

Thanks for a Great Race to the Top!

We had a great day at the Catamount Trail Association's "North Face Race to the Top" on Sunday. Between CTA's $5,000 contribution and the sponsorship pledges collected by race participants, we raised over $8,500 to help protect the Bolton Nordic and Backcountry land. Many thanks to all the participants who asked their friends and family to sponsor them, and congratulations on a great race!

 August 20, 2012

Businesses and Organizations rally behind campaign!

In addition to the many private individuals who have stepped up to support the campaign, a number of organizations and businesses have thrown their full weight behind the Bolton project with generous financial contributions. These organizations include:

The Catamount Trail Association
Trout Unlimited
Lake Champlain International
Main Street Landing Company
The Orvis Company
Skinny Pancake

Others are getting involved in the campaign with in-kind support, or by helping to spread the word about the project to their own customers, members or supporters:

July 12, 2012

$25,000 grant received from the Bafflin Foundation!

The Bolton campaign recently got a big boost from the Bafflin Foundation with a $25,000 grant to support future stewardship of the property. The Foundation's mission is to continue the lifetime efforts of Lois Orswell to support the arts, animals, plants and the earth. Ms. Orswell gave generously to environmental causes throughout her life. Many thanks to the Bafflin Foundation and to everyone who has supported the project so far!

June 18, 2012
Lots of Opportunities to get on the Land

Check out our Bolton events page. We are adding new events all the time. Birdwatching, tracking, ecology tours.. there are a lot of ways to experience the backcountry during the summer.

May 11, 2012 
$800,000 VHCB Grant Awarded!

Great News! The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board awarded a $800,000 three-year grant  toward the Bolton Valley Nordic & Backcountry project. Since 1987, VHCB has provided grants and loans to non-profit organizations, towns, and municipalities for the development of affordable housing and the conservation of agricultural and recreational land, natural areas, and historic properties. Visit the VHCB website.

This grant goes a long way toward making this project possible. We still need to raise $1,050,000 from the public. Please consider a donation today!

May 10, 2012
Race to the Top for Bolton Backcountry!

The Catamount Trail Association’s annual “North Face Race to the Top of Vermont” will be Sunday, August 26. This spectacular run, bike, or leisurely hike to the summit of Mt. Mansfield attracts over 700 participants each summer. Because CTA has selected us as a beneficiary of the event this year, racers can raise money for VLT by asking their friends and family to sponsor their participation. All proceeds raised through this pledge program will go to the campaign to protect the Nordic and Backcountry land at Bolton Valley. Learn more!

May 8, 2012
Birding at Bolton

Liz Lee is a Green Mountain Audubon Society Board member and a lover of Bolton Nordic and Backcountry. She and GMAS are leading a series of bird walks on and around the property this spring, summer, and fall; their goal is to compile a species list for the land. The two-mile walks cover a wide variety of habitats. Join her for a morning ramble through the Bolton backcountry and discover the area's wildlife! When is the next walk?

April 9, 2012
$35,000 Awarded by Conservation Alliance!

Great news! The Conservation Alliance has awarded a $35,000 grant in support of our campaign to conserve 1,161 acres of Nordic and Backcountry land at Bolton Valley. The Alliance is a national organization of outdoor industry businesses who support community-based conservation efforts. VT members are Ibex, Darn Tough, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Broudy/Donohue Photography, Pale Morning Media, Pinnacle Outdoor Group, and Teko. Visit the Conservation Alliance website.