Environment and Wildlife
Camp DREAM/Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Collaboration
Kids build trails while having summer camp experiences.
Camp DREAM provides summer camp experiences to low-income youth from Vermont. The DREAM program is entirely devoted not only to increasing access to wilderness experiences for low-income children in Vermont, but also to allowing all Vermonters to enjoy the same kinds of experiences through the public trail facilities that they are constructing.
This project involved DREAM and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps working together to establish a safe, one-mile beginner mountain bike/cross-country ski trail as well as the construction of a 0.25 mile-long boardwalk to provide educational access to a Class-II wetland,which will be used as an interpretive trail.
This project required building, maintaining, and upgrading 3,520 feet of trail surface to reduce erosion. It also required the design and construction of 45 puncheon bridges through the wetland area as well as re-vegetating the area around the trail work to reduce the environmental impact.
Eight Corps Members and two Crew Leaders from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps spent two weeks completing this project. Additionally, while assigned to this project, the crew conducted a program to educate the public about the Camp DREAM trails, public use of the trails, and trail work as it relates to conservation, service, and education.
The program also covered what life on a VYCC crew is like while completing high-priority conservation projects and spike camping in the Vermont woods for four weeks. Over 50 people attended this program. The program also covered what life on a VYCC crew is like while completing high-priority conservation projects and spike camping in the Vermont woods for four weeks. Over 50 people attended this program.
More winners of this award
2014: Navajo Lake State Park BOR Trail Rehabilitation - New Mexico
2013: Seneca Bluffs Trail and Trailhead Facility - Maryland
2012: Swords Park Trail (Phase 2) - Montana
2011: Middle Run Valley Bridge - Delaware
2010: Leave No Trace Program - Washington
2009: Highbridge Park Project - New York
2008: Crestone Needle/Humboldt Peak Project - Colorado
2006: Four Corners Farm Conservation Easement - New Hampshire
2005: Cascade Trail Project - Maryland
2004: Lake 22 Trail Construction Project - Washington
2004: Yellowstone Wildlife Area Equestrian Trail - Wisconsin