In a few short weeks, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail will mark a major milestone: its 25th anniversary. That’s 25 years of stewardship, community engagement and helping people discover the woods and waters of the Northern Forest.
As we prepare to celebrate, we’ve been thinking about what ties our work together. Whether it’s building a new access point on the Missisquoi River, hosting symposiums to provide paddling instruction for paddlers young and old in Saranac Lake, or establishing a new race in the beautiful Rangeley Lakes region of Maine, one word emerged as the defining through-line across all of our programs: access.
Accessibility recently became a major focus for the NFCT. A partnership with the Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance program of the National Parks Service helped us study the accessibility of waterway access infrastructure on and near the canoe trail. We also entered into a partnership with five organizations under the umbrella of the Vermont Trails & Greenways Council to form the Vermont Trail Accessibility Hub, an initiative funded by the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative that aims to provide resources and information needed to make Vermont’s trails more accessible to more people. On the ground, we improved a launch and campsite on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway to be wheelchair accessible.
Inclusive access is a defining trait of all our work. Our races are community gatherings more so than competitive ventures — opportunities for people to challenge themselves alongside other paddlers. Our community paddles are most frequented by less experienced paddlers who want to explore new territory with more seasoned, skilled outdoor enthusiasts. Our adult and youth symposiums help beginners hone skills so they’re better equipped to get out on the water and enjoy themselves. And our stewardship projects all aim to enhance safe access to the water, whether it’s a wide, gentle-sloped stone staircase leading to the river or new boardwalks that provide better footing on long portages.
When you support our work with a charitable gift, you’re helping open a world of possibilities to all paddlers, from the grizzled veteran trippers to the young kid who has never spent the night in the woods before. As we prepare for our 25th anniversary, we hope you’ll support expanded paddling opportunities for all with a year-end gift to our Mission Fund.
Thank you for all that you do.
