Memphremagog Community Maritime

Over the last four years, a group of hard-working and dedicated residents and business owners have come together and formed the Memphremagog Community Maritime Corporation. A Vermont Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation with a clear vision dedicated to ensuring the Northern Star remains woven into the fabric of our community. Together with your help, we can ensure the Northern Star continues to sail on Lake Memphremagog for many generations.

Our boat, the Northern Star, is named after the star Polaris, also known as the North or Northern Star. This star is steeped in mythology and history, a constant bright and easily recognized light in the sky, guiding travelers north. The star does not rise or set, remaining in almost the same spot year-round. Other stars circle around it. It was an integral part of the Underground Railroad, a beacon helping escaping slaves who followed the Drinking Gourd (the constellation Big Dipper) travel north to freedom.

And now it guides us north on our lake Memphremagog. We hope she also guides others north to our region. This lake has a long history of its own – one that the group wants to share with visitors and locals. Stewardship of our waterways and watersheds is vital for the survival of the planet and the Northern Star is an integral part of this.

Just as the name of the boat is not a coincidence, nor is the name of the organization. Our goal is for MCM to be truly a community based and run group, with locals in Newport and the rest of the NEK feeling pride of ownership and the responsibility that goes with that. All of our cruises will have an environmental component, even the pleasure parties will be made aware of where they are sailing. Other cruises will be more specifically educational incorporating information about environmental factors, ecological information including astronomy facts! We will be partnering with educational facilities throughout Vermont and Quebec.