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

Renewable Energy Funding for Small Bussinesses

Get the information you need to move forward with a renewable energy or energy efficiency project in Vermont or New Hampshire. Join Ken Yearman, Rural Development Energy Coordinator for Vermont and New Hampshire; a farmer ...more

Renewable Energy Funding for Farms and Small Businesses

Improve Your Small Business Digital Marketing Presence!

Calling all Upper Valley farms and small businesses! Could your business benefit from professional consulting services to improve your marketing? With Rural Development funding, Local First is hosting free marketing workshops AND providing an opportunity ...more

TLC Upper Valley Success!

Local Investing Success with TLC Upper Valley! The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to invest in the businesses, organizations and initiatives that support vital communities in our ...more

Canaan Keeps FarmRaisers Alive

Kale. Carrots. Beets. Potatoes. Powerkraut®! These are just a few of the delightful local foods I've received from Root 5 Farm over the past few months as part of my fall FarmRaiser—a community-supported agriculture (CSA) fundraiser ...more

Efficient Heating in Vermont

Check out this newly produced, six-minute YouTube video on Efficient Heating in Vermont, created by Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission. The video describes the types and benefits of home heating options and describes the current rebates ...more

Nov. 19 Green Real Estate Crash Course

Vital Communities is offering its popular Green Real Estate Crash Course again on Tuesday, November 19, at Service Credit Union, just off I-89 in Lebanon, NH. Earn 3 elective credits in VT and NH. Register online at vitalcommunities.org/greenrealestate This is NOT your average CE ...more

Fall Guided Quest: Trees of Dartmouth Quest

Join Vital Communities' Valley Quest Coordinator Beth Roy on a guided treasure hunt of the trees of Dartmouth. Celebrate fall as we discover many exotic trees around the Dartmouth College Campus and learn about their ...more

A New Quest to Celebrate the Mascoma River Greenway!

Have you been on the Mascoma River Greenway yet? If not, it is time to check it out. I had a fantastic time follwing the new Quest of the Mascoma River Greenway. I took my ...more

Celebrate Farm to School Month With Our Fall Farm to School Forum

Meet Your Local Farm to School Network! The Upper Valley Farm to School Network invites you to gather in your region to build local connections with peers and Farm to School practitioners, and access resources. Find ...more

A New Quest in Pomfret, Vermont

Earlier this summer I had the fortune of working with the amazing staff of the Artistree Community Arts Center in Pomfret, Vermont on offering a Questing Camp. Over the week the campers learned about the ...more

Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead

Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more

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

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

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

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

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

What's Happening

Calendar

	January 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 Vital Communities Holiday Vital Communities Holiday Starts: 12:00 am Ends: January 1, 2020 - 11:59 pm More details... •	2	3	4
5	6	7 Energy Savings Outreach Training (Springfield) Energy Savings Outreach Training (Springfield) Starts: 5:30 pm Ends: January 7, 2020 - 8:00 pm Location: Springfield Town Hall, 96 Main St, Springfield, VT 05156, USA Description: All are welcome! Training will help volunteers understand existing energy assistance programs (weatherization, fuel & electric assistance) to inform our outreach efforts at mobile home parks to promote these programs. FREE DINNER PROVIDED questions contact ana@vitalcommunities.org More details... •	8 Leadership Upper Valley - Economic Development Day Leadership Upper Valley - Economic Development Day Starts: 12:00 am Ends: January 8, 2020 - 11:59 pm Description: This is a Vital Communities Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 event. If you'd like to learn more or apply for next year's LUV Class, please contact Rob Schultz at rob@vitalcommunities.org or visit vitalcommunities.org/leadershipuppervalley. LUV alumni are welcome at current year classes with advanced notice. Please contact Rob for details. More details... •	9	10	11
12	13 Winter Warrior Bike Workshop Winter Warrior Bike Workshop Starts: 6:00 pm Ends: January 13, 2020 - 7:30 pm Location: Norwich Public Library, 368 Main St, Norwich, VT 05055, USA Description: Learn Winter Bike Skills! In this free workshop, get tips and tricks about winter biking from an experienced, year-round bike commuter! We’ll cover how to plan and dress for a winter commute, provide info about snow and ice safety, and teach you how to keep your bike clean. This workshop is held indoors in the library’s community room (no need to bring your bike!). Workshop taught by Vital Communities and sponsored by Local Motion. Light refreshments will be served. Please register by emailing uvtma@vitalcommunities.org. More details... •	14	15 Weatherize Hanover Info Night Weatherize Hanover Info Night Starts: 6:30 pm Ends: January 15, 2020 - 8:00 pm Location: Black Community Center, Hanover Description: Meet and chat with the qualified contractors on the Weatherize Hanover contact list. Vital Communities will also give a presentation on the basics of home energy efficiency and weatherization, including the costs and benefits of investing in air sealing and insulation upgrades. Light refreshments provided. Snow date (if needed) Wed. Jan. 22, 6:30-8 pm at Howe Library (Mayer Room) https://www.hanovernh.org/weatherize More details... •	16	17	18 Energy Savings Outreach Training - CANCELLED Energy Savings Outreach Training - CANCELLED Starts: 10:00 am Ends: January 18, 2020 - 12:30 pm Location: Community Room, Upper Valley Food Co-op, 195 N Main St. WRJ Description: This training has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date to be determine. If you'd like to know when the training will be offered again, please send an email to ana@vitalcommunities.org All are welcome! Training will help volunteers understand existing energy assistance programs (weatherization, fuel & electric assistance) to inform our outreach efforts at mobile home parks to promote these programs. FREE DINNER PROVIDED https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexcZqD0VTDowch-JcskIF51r-j59PDBukzraOdbmXoHMNKQQ/viewform Questions? contact ana@vitalcommunities.org More details... •
19	20 Vital Communities Holiday Vital Communities Holiday Starts: 12:00 am Ends: January 20, 2020 - 11:59 pm More details... •	21	22 Weatherize Plainfield Cornish Info Night Weatherize Plainfield Cornish Info Night Starts: 7:00 pm Ends: January 22, 2020 - 8:30 pm Location: Plainfield Elementary School, 91 Bonner Rd, Meriden, NH 03770, USA Description: Come to the Weatherize Plainfield Cornish 2020 kick-off presentation and learn how you can save money and be more comfortable! Light Refreshments and Door Prizes https://www.plainfieldnh.org/energy/index.html More details... •	23 UVTMA Monthly Meeting UVTMA Monthly Meeting Starts: 4:00 pm Ends: January 23, 2020 - 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... Local First Marketing Workshop Local First Marketing Workshop Starts: 5:00 pm Ends: January 23, 2020 - 7:00 pm Location: The Space On Main, 174 Main St, Bradford, VT 05033, USA Description: Could your local business use advice on how to make the most of digital marketing? Join us for digital marketing workshops AND an opportunity for reduced-rate one-on-one professional consultation to help local businesses and farms improve their digital marketing. Register today for a workshop in Bradford (1/23), Bethel (1/27), or West Lebanon (1/28). https://vitalcommunities.org/localfirstalliance/improve-your-small-business-digital-marketing-presence/ More details... • •	24	25 Weatherize Kearsarge Info Session Weatherize Kearsarge Info Session Starts: 2:00 pm Ends: January 25, 2020 - 3:30 pm Location: Kearsarge Regional High School, 457 N Rd, North Sutton, NH 03260, USA Description: Hosted by Kearsarge Climate Action for residents throughout the broader Kearsarge / Lake Sunapee region. https://vitalcommunities.org/energy/weatherize/ More details... •
26	27 Local First Marketing Workshop Local First Marketing Workshop Starts: 3:00 pm Ends: January 27, 2020 - 5:00 pm Location: Arnold Block, 245 Main St, Bethel, VT 05032, USA Description: Could your local business use advice on how to make the most of digital marketing? Join us for digital marketing workshops AND an opportunity for reduced-rate one-on-one professional consultation to help local businesses and farms improve their digital marketing. Register today for a workshop in Bradford (1/23), Bethel (1/27), or West Lebanon (1/28). https://vitalcommunities.org/localfirstalliance/improve-your-small-business-digital-marketing-presence/ More details... •	28 Local First Marketing Workshop Local First Marketing Workshop Starts: 10:00 am Ends: January 28, 2020 - 12:00 pm Location: Kilton Public Library, 80 Main St, West Lebanon, NH 03784, USA Description: Could your local business use advice on how to make the most of digital marketing? Join us for digital marketing workshops AND an opportunity for reduced-rate one-on-one professional consultation to help local businesses and farms improve their digital marketing. Register today for a workshop in Bradford (1/23), Bethel (1/27), or West Lebanon (1/28). https://vitalcommunities.org/localfirstalliance/improve-your-small-business-digital-marketing-presence/ More details... •	29	30	31

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

January 2020

Photo Gallery

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