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Sustainability Quest for High Schoolers

Woodstock, VT
Difficulty: Moderate
Special Features: Energy, Field Trip, Historical, Natural
Walking Conditions: Trail
Duration: 1:30
Season: May-Oct
Bring: Binoculars, Field Guide

Description

“What we have here is a very early experiment in sustainability. It was not just about the renewal of resources but the renewal of the human spirit.”     Rolf Diamant, Superintendent 1998-2011

As the only park in the National Park System focused on telling the story of conservation history, Marsh- Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is working hard to ensure that all aspects of its current operations are contributing to a healthier and more sustainable Park. Projects like its state-of-the–art composting operation and its high efficiency Garn wood boiler heating system are just a few examples of the Park’s sustainable practices.

The Sustainability Quest will lead you on a personal tour of the highlights of the Park’s sustainability program, starting at the Carriage Barn and heading out onto nearby trails.  As you walk, rhyming clues will guide you across the landscape and toward a hidden treasure box.  In the treasure box you will find a logbook in which you can sign your name and record any thoughts you would like to share (and maybe even a sketch or a little poem!).  You will also be able to collect an impression of the hand-carved rubber stamp when you complete the Quest.

Directions

From Interstate 89, take Exit 1. Follow Route 4 West about 13 miles, through Quechee and Taftsville to Woodstock. Turn right onto Route 12 North and bear right after the iron bridge, continuing 1/4 mile. Park in the Billings Farm & Museum parking lot. Use the crosswalk at Route 12 to access the National Park.

Clues and Map

Click here to view/print the clues and map for this quest.

Created

Written by: Delia Clark Additions by: Marissa Jager, Kathleen Robbins, Anne Monk, & 2017 WUHS AP Environmental Science students: Lily Doton, Sarah Fiendstein, & Sarah Yates. Revised in 2020 by staff at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP and Vital Communities.