The Mad River Valley Community Calendar is The Valley’s most comprehensive events calendar. All are invited to submit their event here:
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The Friends of the Mad River is excited to launch its new series, “Climate and Ecology”! Join us for a foliage hike while learning all about the ways that climate change is impacting our trees and forests. This is the first in a series of monthly outdoor adventures that focuses on how our watershed and […]
Are you curious about what a floodplain is and why you hear that term in almost every discussion on flooding and climate resilience? Then, join Friends of the Mad River and Ned Swanberg of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) to learn about what floodplains are, why they are so important to health […]
In partnership with the MRV Libraries and the Friends of the Mad River, this month’s book discussion is about “Migrations” by Charlotte McConaghy. Set in a future where many animals have gone extinct, the story is about a young woman who talks her way onto a fishing boat and follows Artic terns to Antarctica. Please […]
Curious about wildlife activity now that winter is upon us? Luckily, snow offers us a great canvas to see exactly who is here 🙂 Join Friends of the Mad River and Dave Muska, naturalist and educator, for a workshop on tracking and trailing wildlife, aimed at beginner-level participants. We’ll start at the shelter at Lareau […]
🌿We’re excited to announce our partnership with the Mad River Valley Libraries on a monthly environmental-themed book club. For January, in partnership with the Moretown Library, we’re excited to mix things up and watch a documentary instead! 🌿 We’ll be watching and discussing two documentaries: The first tells the story of the 1972 Rapid City […]
As part of our Winter Flood Series, Friends of the Mad River would like to invite you to an open mic “Moth-inspired” storytelling event on community resilience. Have you experienced the power of community in the face of difficult times? We’d love to hear your story! These stories can be about your personal experiences, or […]
Interested in experiencing nature in a mindful and familiar way? Then join us and Cory Stephenson, a naturalist, and the Moretown Library Director, for a forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) experience. On this gentle nature walk, we will learn more about the trees that inhabit our forests, and through the practice of forest bathing discover which ones […]
Flooding has been at the forefront of our minds in the past year, from the summer floods that mostly spared the Mad River Valley, to the December floods that reminded us that even in the winter, the river will do what the river does. But flooding can also be a learning opportunity. It reminds us […]
Join us for a guided snowshoe trek with a Mad River Glen naturalist as we learn about the ecology and wildlife that call Stark Mountain home! While the trek will focus on bear signs and understanding bear hibernation, we’ll learn more generally about the Green Mountain forest and all its inhabitants. This event is hosted […]
We will discuss the book, The Bear, by Andrew Krivak. A few copies of the book are available now at the Joslin Memorial Library. Please remember to register in advance if you plan on attending the lively discussion.
Join Friends of the Mad River for a unique outdoor experience where you can enjoy cross-country skiing (or snowshoeing) alongside a knowledgeable naturalist! This family-friendly event combines the thrill of skiing with the opportunity to learn about the surrounding nature and wildlife. Our naturalist will guide you through the trails, pointing out interesting flora and […]
Every spring, amphibians migrate from forests to wetlands, following a biological process that often returns them to the same vernal pools where they were born. Their route often traverses roads and they are hard to see by motorists on the dark, wet nights during which they prefer to travel. This is where we come in […]
Join the Friends of the Mad River and the Mad River Valley Libraries for a climate and ecology-themed book discussion. In April, we will be discussing “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan. In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan explores our food choices and their connection to our health and survival as a species and offers a […]
Join us for a book reading and discussion of “Our Better Nature” by Curt Lindberg and Eric Hagan as part of the Tri-Town Conservation Commission Biodiversity Series and the Climate and Ecology Book Club. Grounded in experience and science, Our Better Nature presents readers with stories, essays, and resources to guide and inspire action in […]
Join Friends of the Mad River in collaboration with the Warren, Fayston, and Waitsfield Conservation Commissions for a community tree planting. The work group will set out to various areas to plant native tree species and strengthen riparian buffers. Please bring shovels and work gloves if you have them. This is a great opportunity to […]
Join the Warren Public Library and the Friends of the Mad River for a discussion of Porter Fox’s “The Last Winter: The Scientists, Adventurers, Journeymen, and Mavericks Trying to Save the World.” This nonfiction adventure recounts the author’s travels along the Northern Hemisphere’s snow line along while profiling the climate change experts and activists working […]
Calling all backcountry touring enthusiasts, outdoor recreationists, and those concerned about our changing climate! Join Friends of the Mad River and the Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition for an uphill touring rally and climate-focused ski film fest this Friday. The evening will begin with an uphill tour of Lincoln Peak followed by screenings of climate […]
Join Friends of the Mad River and Moretown Library for a screening of the visually stunning documentary “River” narrated by Willem Dafoe. With gripping music and breathtaking shots of river systems around the world, this film explores the timeless relationship between humans and rivers. There will be popcorn provided! Check out the film’s trailer at […]
Join Friends of the Mad River and Joslin Memorial Library for the February climate & ecology book club meeting! We will be reading “The Serviceberry”, a new novel from Robin Wall Kimmerer, the author of “Braiding Sweetgrass”. There will be insightful, guided discussion and delicious snacks on offer at the meeting. Copies of the book […]
Join Dave Muska of Ondatra Adventures and Friends of the Mad River to explore the art of wildlife tracking. In this class, you’ll be introduced to basic tracking skills and concepts such as clear print identification, gait & track patterns, animal sign as well as techniques to develop and further your skills of tracking. The […]
You wouldn’t want to miss Friends of the Mad River and Warren Library’s March Climate & Ecology Book Club! Join us to delve into the fascinating world of beavers with Ben Goldfarb’s “Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.” Eager takes a humorous and riveting exploration of the science of these […]
Is your septic aging? How do you deal with wastewater management at home? Join Cristin Ashmankas with the Department of Environmental Conservation to discover how on-site wastewater treatment systems work and the various kinds of systems installed in Vermont. Learn why newer systems are no longer the septic systems of the past. Understand the regulatory […]
Calling all backcountry touring enthusiasts, outdoor recreationists, and those concerned about our changing climate! The Climb It for Climate series is returning, brought to you by Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition and Friends of the Mad River in collaboration with Protect Our Winters and Sugarbush Resort. This unique event series is focused on bringing together […]
Join Friends of the Mad River for the next installment of our Climate & Ecology Expert Series as we welcome author and environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb for his presentation “Dam It: Partnering with Beavers to Heal the Planet”. Register for this virtual event at https://tinyurl.com/fmrbeaver. In his book “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers […]
Join Moretown Library and Friends of the Mad River for a nature movie night featuring David Attenborough’s “A Life on Our Planet”. In this moving film, celebrated naturalist and nature documentarian David Attenborough recounts his career, the devastating natural changes he’s seen during it, and his vision for our path forward. Full of both grief […]
Join Friends of the Mad River and Joslin Library for the May meeting of the Climate & Ecology Book Club to discuss “Birding to Change the World” by Trish O’Kane. In this uplifting memoir, professor and activist Trish O’Kane shares the lessons that birds teach us about life, social change, and environmental protection. A limited […]
Come down to the river for a morning of family friendly exploration activities with Friends of the Mad River and Audubon Vermont. We’ll explore the connection between birds and rivers, spending time learning about the habitat along rivers, the birds that live there, and the river creatures that they eat. We’ll have the chance to […]
Riparian buffers and upland forests provide valuable habitat for a wide variety of birds as well as playing a crucial role in protecting water quality and river health. Restoration projects are a meaningful way that landowners can improve their riverside and forest habitat. During this workshop, we will tour a private property that was planted […]
Join Friends of the Mad River and the Mad River Valley Planning District to learn from our neighbors along the Winooski River about flood resilience in their communities and ours. The evening will begin at 5:30 with a community gathering, featuring flatbreads from American Flatbread (by suggested donation) and drinks at the bar. At 6:15, […]
Join Beth Kendrick, Board Certified Art Therapist from ArtRoots, PLC, Marcy Bucheit from the Friends of the Mad River and Mother Nature for a mindfulness and journaling workshop that invites you to slow down, observe, and connect deeply with the natural world. Through sketching, writing, and grounding techniques, we’ll explore how the observation of and […]
Are you curious how you could improve the health and quality of your land? Join Friends of the Mad River and Audubon Vermont for a landowner workshop, designed for those interested in learning more about land stewardship, especially in the context of bird habitat and river systems. During this workshop, we will explore a landowner’s […]
Come spend your morning with Friends of the Mad River and the Mad Birders as Jeannie Elias (she/her) of the Mad Birders leads us in a birding walk. No experience birding required; please bring binoculars if you have them. We will search for a wide variety of species as we wander along a beautiful wetland […]
Friends of the Mad River and Vermont Master Naturalist are hosting a field day! In the morning, select from one of four guided walks that explore the natural history of our Valley: 1. Scrag Mountain Town Forest – Waitsfield 2. Boyce Town Forest Time Travel Ramble – Fayston 3. Wetland Walk – Waitsfield 4. Lincoln […]
Climb It For Climate – Fall Rally Event Details: The Activist Athlete with Carolina Rubio MacWright Sunday, October 12th @ Lincoln Peak during Sugarbush Community Days Join Friends of the Mad River, the Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition, and Sugarbush for a beautiful fall foliage hike followed by an inspiring conversation about collective climate action. […]
Join local author and Knoll Farm shepherd extraordinaire, Helen Whybrow, for a discussion of her recent publication, The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life. The book has garnered wonderful press and has even been longlisted for the National Book Award.
Staycations, microadventures, homegrown challenges… what does it mean to find adventure in your own backyard? In a time of uncertainty, and with clear climate consequences to far-flung adventures, how do we find joy and create memories in the place we call home? Join Friends of the Mad River, the Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition, and […]
