Welcome to the Upper Valley!

Friendly communities. Beautiful natural surroundings. Fresh, local food. Businesses and nonprofit organizations that care about the place we call home. There’s a lot to love about the Upper Valley!

Vital Communities is here to help you get to know the region. Explore the resources below to find ways to connect with your community today.

Explore the Upper Valley

Valley Quest is an award-winning, place-based education program that uses treasure hunts to celebrate community, natural history, cultural sites, stories, and special places. Discover the Upper Valley’s hidden gems on one of our 200+ Quests.

Want to support the local economy when you shop? Check out our Local First Alliance member directory to find local restaurants, retail shops, service providers, and more. Look for the logo and Think Local First!

Think Local First

Find a Local Business

Eat Valley Farm Fresh

Find Local Food

Our online guide is the easiest way to find local food and farm products in the Upper Valley. Simply indicate the product or service you’re looking for and we’ll give you a detailed list of all the local places to find it.

Whether you’re commuting to work or heading to school, we make it easy to figure out how to get there with resources for carpooling, active commuting, and local public transit. You can even calculate the annual cost of your commute.

Get Going!

Find Transportation Options

Sign Up!

Join the Discussion

Looking for an easy way to keep in touch with your neighbors and what’s happening in your town? Our local community email discussion lists allow members to post and respond to messages about their town. Join your local list to get connected—and if you don’t see it on our list, check with your town about whether there’s something similar for your community.

Lifelong Learning

The Upper Valley is the perfect place to continue your building your education, your professional network, and yourself.

Vital Communities’ program Leadership Upper Valley provides UV residents with a comprehensive knowledge of leadership and volunteer opportunities within the Upper Valley. Classes meet once a month for ten months.

OSHER@Dartmouth is a lifelong learning institute within Dartmouth College dedicated to educating Upper Valley residents with year-round study opportunities.

The Learning Lab (TLL) is a nonprofit organization in Woodstock, Vermont that brings together an array of valuable courses, from art to history to dream analysis, and is open to the entire community.

Upper Valley Young Professionals (UVYP) brings the Upper Valley community of young professionals together for educational opportunities and social networking events in the area.

Adventures in Learning at Colby Sawyer College is dedicated to helping adults expand their education and knowledge of the world in an informal, no-pressure setting.

Want to Volunteer?

Whether you’re new to the Upper Valley, or you have lived here for a while, you may be looking for new ways to volunteer. Fortunately, here are plenty of ways to give back to this region.

By becoming a box monitor for the Vital Communities’ Valley Quest program, you can explore the area around you while making sure Valley Quest boxes are in place and ready to be found by other Questers.

The Valley News, the news source of the Upper Valley, runs a volunteer section in which new (and continuous) volunteer job opportunities are listed, making applying for some of them as easy as clicking “apply.”

Once a year Hypertherm, in conjunction with the Hypertherm HOPE Foundation, hold a volunteer fair in an effort to encourage Upper Valley residents and Hypertherm employees to volunteer their time with local nonprofits.

Remember to check out our calendar to find even more volunteer opportunities within the Upper Valley.

Get the News!

Want to know what’s going on in the Upper Valley? Then get the news!

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Vital Communities Program News

Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley

Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more

2nd Annual Curb The Car Day - Friday, May 17!

On May 17, 2019 the rest of the country is celebrating National Bike to Work Day, but here in the Upper Valley we’ll be taking it a step further with our second annual Curb The ...more

Keeping Your Dollars Multiplying in the UV!

When you spend money at locally owned businesses, it is pretty easy to understand that those dollars directly impact the local economy as they keep local businesses in business. The local multiplier effect is less ...more

12th Annual Roundtable - May 7

You're Invited! The 12th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable is Tuesday, May 7, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathering of local energy volunteers is open to all, whether you serve on an energy committee, wish to ...more

Eat. Meet. Buy. Flavors of the Valley 2019 Vendors are here!

Check out the hottest new vendors and returning favorites! Samples are listed if the vendor has provided sampling information. Vendors will also have many delicious items for sale! April 7, 11 am - 3 pm at Hartford ...more

April Meet-Up Series for Beginning Farmers

We have an exciting project for new farmers in the White River valley portion of our region! The High Meadows Fund is supporting a series of free peer-to-peer gatherings for beginning farmers to build community and learn. ...more

Dazzlingly Reflective, 80's Style

We love pairing style with nighttime visibility, so we've ordered REFLECTIVE SLAP BRACELETS to reward people who bike or walk to Flavors of the Valley on Sunday, April 7! If you bike and walk to the ...more

The Benefit of B Corps

Certified Benefit Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. Society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of ...more

Intern with Valley Quest!

Are you passionate about the Upper Valley? Do you feel motivated to share our region’s special places with the community at large? Love working with people of all ages? Vital Communities is looking for a ...more

Apply for a Farm to School Mini-Grant!

We are excited to announce the 2019 mini-grant program from Vital Communities' Upper Valley Farm to School Network! Funding is available to both Vermont and New Hampshire schools. Start dreaming up your farm-to-school projects—we want ...more

Thinking Local First

Shop or Buy Local First is a common call to action. The threat to local businesses with competition from online commerce is real and growing, so it is important to patronize local businesses if we ...more

Get your bike, boots, or shoes ready!

Get your bike, boots, or shoes ready! From our friends at Local Motion comes the Winter Edition of Vermont's Bike-Walk Challenge, February 1 to 8! Simply record two bike or walk commutes in the Go! Vermont app ...more

Seeking Bids from Solar Installers by Nov. 30

Vital Communities is teaming up with Kearsarge Climate Action to launch a Solarize Kearsarge campaign in spring 2019, following on the tails of the upcoming Weatherize Kearsarge campaign launching in January 2019. We are seeking proposals ...more

Thank you, Ben!

This summer we had the privilege of working with Ben Fletcher, pictured second from left. Ben brought an incredibly well suited array of skills to Vital Communities and was a boon to the Valley Quest ...more

Lebanon Area Businesses - Join us on Sept. 27

So many small businesses in the Upper Valley are burdened with high energy costs. And not enough time to do anything about it! We've got some good news for you. A group of Lebanon residents are ...more

Bird and Quest

The Vermont Center for Ecostudies lists 382 species of bird that occur in Vermont, whether year-long resident or migratory visitor. The VCE’s Vermont Atlas of Life citizen science operation has recorded sightings of 332 of ...more

A Lot Lighter with More Hands: Leadership Upper Valley

On the bright, sunny morning of June 13, Cobb Hill was waking up, and the soon-to-be graduating 2018 Leadership Upper Valley class was just arriving for their final meeting. Before the ceremony at Harpoon Brewery, ...more

Longevity & Commitment: Keynote Remarks from Heroes & Leaders 2018

Editor's Note: Many thanks to Kevin Peterson, Director of Economic Development for the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, who offered the keynote speech at our May 3 Heroes & Leaders celebration. Read his complete remarks ...more

What's Happening

Calendar

	May 2019
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	2 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	3 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Spring Business Leaders Housing Breakfast Spring Business Leaders Housing Breakfast Starts: 7:30 am Ends: May 3, 2019 - 9:00 am Location: Hilton Garden Inn Hanover Lebanon, 35 N Labombard Rd, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA Description: The Spring 2019 Housing Breakfast will include opportunities for local and state level engagement, an update on the local real estate picture, plus great networking. All in a new venue at the Hilton Garden Inn. More details... • •	4 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •
5 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Herrick's Cove Wildlife Festival Herrick's Cove Wildlife Festival Starts: 10:00 am Ends: May 5, 2019 - 4:00 pm Description: Visit our Valley Quest table and start on Vital Communities' 2019 Super Quest at the annual Herrick's Cove Wildlife Festival in Rockingham, Vermont! Check out the exhibitors, live animals, and nature walks at this family friendly educational environmental event presented by Ascutney Mountain Audubon and Vermont Fish and Wildlife. Collect your first Super Quest stamp of the year right on site! More details... • •	6 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	7 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable Starts: 5:00 pm Ends: May 7, 2019 - 8:00 pm Location: Fireside Inn & Suites West Lebanon, 25 Airport Rd, West Lebanon, NH 03784, USA Description: An annual chance for our region’s energy committees to network with their counterparts in other towns, hear updates on local energy initiatives, and think creatively and collaboratively about our region’s most pressing challenges. This year’s event will feature discussion on transportation, the largest portion of our region's carbon footprint. Get details at vitalcommunities.org/energyroundtable. More details... • •	8 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Leadership Upper Valley - Environment Day Leadership Upper Valley - Environment Day Starts: 8:00 am Ends: May 8, 2019 - 4:00 pm Location: VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, VT Description: This is a Vital Communities Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2019 event. If you'd like to apply for next year's LUV Class, please contact Rob Schultz at rob@vitalcommunities.org. LUV alumni are welcome at current year classes with advanced notice. Please contact Rob for details. More details... • •	9 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Monthly (13th) No Plastics Day Monthly (13th) No Plastics Day Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 9, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... • •	10 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	11 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •
12 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	13 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	14 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	15 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	16 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	17 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Upper Valley "Curb the Car" Day! Upper Valley "Curb the Car" Day! Starts: 6:00 am Ends: May 17, 2019 - 6:00 pm Description: Take the bus, walk, bike, carpool, vanpool or telecommute to work today! Stay tuned for details. More details... • •	18 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •
19 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	20 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	21 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	22 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	23 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... UVTMA Monthly Meeting UVTMA Monthly Meeting Starts: 4:00 pm Ends: May 23, 2019 - 5:30 pm Location: Lebanon City Hall, North Park Street, Lebanon, NH (unless otherwise noted) Description: We meet in the West Meeting Room, by the City Council Chambers. We typically NO NOT meet in August and December. More details... • •	24 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	25 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •
26 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	27 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Vital Communities Holiday Vital Communities Holiday Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 27, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... • •	28 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	29 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •	30 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... Heroes & Leaders Celebration Heroes & Leaders Celebration Starts: 5:30 pm Ends: May 30, 2019 - 9:00 pm Description: Vital Communities’ annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration this year honors individuals who have added to the Vitality of the Upper Valley. Reserve your seats for this 25th anniversary event today! All proceeds from the dinner benefit Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities. More information and tickets: https://vitalcommunities.org/leadershipuppervalley/heroesandleaders/ More details... • •	31 Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Vermont Bike Challenge: Participate during the month of May! Starts: 12:00 am Ends: May 31, 2019 - 11:59 pm More details... •

Welcome to the Upper Valley!

Friendly communities. Beautiful natural surroundings. Fresh, local food. Businesses and nonprofit organizations that care about the place we call home. There’s a lot to love about the Upper Valley!

Vital Communities is here to help you get to know the region. Explore the resources below to find ways to connect with your community today.

Other Work of Vital Communities

Publications

Board of Directors

Our Programs

Valley Quest

Transportation

Leadership Upper Valley

Valley Food & Farm

Local First Alliance

Energy

Advisory Council

Vital Communities Program News

What's Happening

Calendar

May 2019

Photo Gallery

More Information

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