Mission & Strategic Programs - Northern Forest Canoe Trail

[Adopted 11/09] 

Our Mission:

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a 740 mile inland paddling trail tracing historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine. NFCT connects people to the Trail's natural environment, human heritage, and contemporary communities by stewarding, promoting, and providing access to canoe and kayak experiences along this route.

Our Vision:

NFCT is internationally regarded as the preeminent water trail organization in North America, serving an international market of paddlers and recognized as a model for water trail development and management. NFCT provides trail access, meaningful trail experiences, trail mapping, trail construction and stewardship, but in addition, it differentiates itself by the depth of programs and involvement within the communities such as rural tourism development, and youth paddling programming.

Our Values:

We believe It is essential to:

Support the region's economic vitality (increase paddler visits to trailside towns and their businesses).
Strengthen trailside communities and extend our role as convener and supporter.
Build a community of northern paddlers.
Support stewardship and conservation of the natural world through which the trail passes.
Support the land owners who are enabling the trail to remain a continuous and viable asset of the Northern Forest.

We believe it is important to:

Provide access, and promote responsible paddlesport recreation as a means to engage people directly and pass on timeless values.
Use paddling as a vehicle to help youth engage with and learn about the natural world.
Honor the Native American roots of the trail and their contribution to the area.
Foster international camaraderie, unity and understanding.
Collaborate with other organizations in accomplishing shared goals.
 

We deliver the above mission, vision, and values through the following Program Areas:

1. Waterway Stewardship

2. Rural Economic Development

3. Connecting People and Place