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As we wrap up the Centennial celebration, we are filled with a strong sense of gratitude and excitement for the great things ahead. The past year has been a testament to the enduring legacy of Vermont State Parks, and we are deeply thankful for the incredible enthusiasm and love shown by all who visited and supported these beloved spaces. Vermont State Parks are timeless, special, and open to everyone.
At this time of year, we are hard at work on park improvement projects while also focusing on professional development, planning ahead, and preparing training programs for our wonderful staff and volunteers.
I am reminded of my own experience working as a seasonal park employee. Some of my greatest lessons and memories came from those in-park jobs, where the connections we make with visitors, coworkers, and the land stay with us.
Our staff work tirelessly to make these beautiful spaces welcoming, safe, and accessible for all visitors. Their passion for their work is infectious, and they will tell you that the most rewarding part of the job is seeing the smiling faces and bright-eyed kids who visit our parks, along with the unforgettable memories and milestones they help create.
As we prepare for the upcoming season, we are actively recruiting paid staff and campground volunteers to help make this next season the most special one yet. If you’re looking for a rewarding opportunity to work in Vermont's beautiful parks, we’d love to hear from you.
Enjoy this mid-winter issue. Thank you once again for being part of the Vermont State Parks family. We look forward to another unforgettable year!
With deep appreciation,
Nate McKeen, Director of Vermont State Parks
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Now Hiring for the 2025 Season | |
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Work in the beautiful Vermont outdoors with some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Happy customers continuously tell us that our staff are the best around. Our staff say that working for the parks is some of the most rewarding and meaningful work they’ve ever experienced.
Do you enjoy connecting visitors with the natural world through day hikes? Does maintaining a fleet of small engines make your heart sing? Do you love creating a positive team environment in the outdoors? Vermont State Parks are hiring for diverse roles that can help build your career.
Ready to start your next career? Review job openings, read full position descriptions, and learn how to apply at the VT State Parks Employment Page.
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Seeking Park Managers at:
- Alburgh Dunes State Park, Alburgh
- Burton Island State Park, St. Albans
- Camp Plymouth State Park, Plymouth
- Ft. Dummer State Park, Brattleboro
- Half Moon Pond State Park, Hubbardton
- Knight Island State Park, North Hero
- Quechee State Park, Quechee
- Sand Bar State Park, Milton
- Silver Lake State Park, Barnard
- Stillwater State Park, Groton
- Townshend State Park, Townshend
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Seeking Assistant Park Managers at:
- Alburgh Dunes State Park, Alburgh
- Branbury State Park, Salisbury
- Burton Island State Park, St. Albans
- Camp Plymouth State Park, Plymouth
- D.A.R. State Park, Addison
- Ft. Dummer State Park, Brattleboro
- Gifford Woods State Park, Killington
- Lake Carmi State Park, Enosburg Falls
- Lake Saint Catherine State Park, Poultney
- Mt. Ascutney State Park, Windsor
- Quechee State Park, Quechee
- Silver Lake State Park, Barnard
- Smugglers Notch State Park, Stowe
- Townshend State Park, Townshend
- Wilgus State Park, Weathersfield
- Woodford State Park, Bennington
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Additional positions including:
- Park Attendants at State Parks across VT
- Lifeguards at Button Bay State Park, Ferrisburgh
- and more!
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Outdoor Observer: Winter Friends | |
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Crystal-clear cold winter days are best for adventures in Vermont State Parks. I convinced my teenage daughter to head out on the trail at Gifford Woods State Park recently. We were greeted by the dark blue winter sky, pure white snow underfoot, and the greeters of winter forests in New England, a flock of Black-Capped Chickadees.
Chickadees are friendly and curious birds. Because they check out everything in their home range, they are often the first birds that find new feeders. They seem very friendly because their curiosity extends to investigating human beings. Watching them has brightened many dull winter days.
When you think about bird watchers, your mind may conjure up the image of someone with binoculars around their neck, a notebook in one hand, a spotting scope in the other, and a well-worn Sibley Guide to Birds poking out of their back pocket. You may imagine an eccentric person who wakes up far too early to travel hundreds of miles to spot a new bird. If you take time to closely watch birds in their habitat, you will understand the enthusiasm for watching these avian animals.
Hiking through Gifford Woods that day, my daughter and I heard the distinctive calls of a flock of Chickadees. We heard their call that sounds like “fee-bee” with the second note lower than the first. You can also commonly hear their distinctive “chickadee-dee-dee” call.
We heard those calls and decided to become bird watchers. This is what you need to do to take a close look at birds in their habitat. I looked for a low tree to stand under—we found a small spruce that provided some shelter. I began to make a “pssh….pssh…pssh…” noise with my mouth over and over, very quickly Chickadees started flying in closer and closer.
Chickadees are our companions on winter days. They do not mind the cold, they stick around rather than migrate like some other birds. I love watching them fly closer and closer, calling back at me. The flock at Gifford Woods landed around us on the small spruce branches, calling back to me and to each other. There is nothing more thrilling for a child than seeing wild animals close up. Actually, there is nothing more thrilling for an adult either!
Head out into the Vermont woods and look for these winter friends yourself. You will see Chickadees in any habitat with woody shrubs and trees. Watch for them at your bird feeders or call them in close and get a close look at them. When you stop to watch them you will discover that they are mesmerizing to watch and delightful to listen to.
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Chickadee by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Then piped a tiny voice hard by
Gay and polite, a cheerful cry
“Chicka-dee-dee!” saucy note
Out of a sound heart and merry throat
As if it said, “Good day, good sir!
Fine afternoon, old passenger!
Happy to meet you in these places
Where January brings few faces.”
Rebecca Roy, Parks Interpretive Program Manager
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First Day Hikers Start 2025 on the Right Foot | |
Vermonters all over the state kicked off 2025 outdoors exploring state land with enthusiastic hike leaders thanks to the First Day Hike Program. Volunteers led 13 hikes in State Parks and State Forest locations from Brighton State Park in the north, to Woodford State Park in the south. These 13 hikes saw 150 people hike a total of 507 miles to get 2025 started on the right foot! | |
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We have limited stock of commemorative 100th Anniversary merchandise for sale in our online shop. Hats, shirts, patches, pins, and more!
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Season Preparations Underway | |
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Vermont State Parks prides itself on providing high-quality customer service as well as clean and up-to-date facilities. With 55 state parks, our park system is equivalent to the 5th largest municipality in the state, featuring miles of pipes, complex wastewater systems, and nearly 1,000 insured structures. To ensure visitor safety and enjoyment, we must balance the need to upgrade facilities while allowing you to enjoy the parks all season long.
To achieve this balance, we undertake significant maintenance and upgrades during the off-season. After the operating season ends, park facilities may look a little different as they undergo necessary transformations to better serve our visitors. From removing hazardous trees to updating maintenance shops and updating park roads, our dedicated staff works tirelessly to ensure your next trip is the peaceful getaway of your dreams. For example, at Underhill State Park, aging water pipes were replaced and drainage for the park road was updated to improve water quality from runoff in accordance with the 3-Acre Rule (seen in the image above).
We look forward to welcoming you back to experience these improvements firsthand and to continue enjoying the natural beauty and tranquility of Vermont State Parks.
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The Gifford Woods State Park maintenance shop reached it's end of life and a new structure is being built to better support the dedicated park maintenance team that takes care of the structures and systems in state parks - from water systems to electrical. | |  |
The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) crew builds a new woodshop at Brighton State Park. This important partnership with VYCC improves the parks capacity to make needed repairs while also investing in the skill sets and careers of young people in Vermont. | |
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We're feeling incredibly grateful for our donors! In 2024, thousands of donors from all 50 states supported Vermont Parks Forever, the foundation for the state parks. With your help, we'll grant park passes to those underrepresented in the outdoors, revitalize nature education, provide student internships, and enhance and protect Vermont's 55 state parks. Thank you!
If you meant to make a gift and haven't yet, it’s always a great time to support the state parks!
Vermont Parks Forever, the Foundation for Vermont State Parks
info@vermontparksforever.org | 802.917.1719 | www.vermontparksforever.org
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