Old Folks in the Old Growth

Saturday, October 14, 1 – 4 p.m.

Join Third Act Vermont for a gathering and walk at Gifford Woods State Park, 34 Gifford Woods Rd., in Killington on Saturday, October 14, 1 – 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Gifford Woods contains one of Vermont's few remaining old-growth hardwood tree stands. It has many grand-sized sugar maple, beech, yellow birch, white ash, and hemlock. Members of Third Act VT are learning how healthy forests naturally sequester and store carbon, and that current forest management policies need to be revised to maximize the amount of CO2 forests can both remove from the atmosphere and store.

Taking time to simply be in nature can be an important step in our personal climate action. To that end we'll meet at the picnic area behind the Ranger's Station and have a brief talk by Tim Stout about carbon in old and mature forests. We'll stroll along the park's nature trail, which explains the features of an old growth forest. Then, if you would like, we'll have an opportunity to explore the old-growth forest unguided. Finally, we'll gather to share observations of the woods and write postcards to your local legislators about forest management policies.

This Third Act VT event is open to anyone who is interested, so bring a carpool of folks, young and old. The park's per-person day-use fee is $5 for ages 14 and up, $2 for ages 4 to 13, and free for kids 3 and under. If you are 62 or older you can get a Green Mountain Passport from your town clerk for $2 which lasts a lifetime and will get you into state parks for free. Pets on leash are welcome in the park.

Third Act Vermont has a mission to inspire Vermont elders to take action on the climate crisis and democracy through education, advocacy, and camaraderie.

For more information or to RSVP (requested, not required) by October 12, contact Laurel Green laurel1planet@gmail.com