Co-Sponsor: North Wood Stewardship Center

Classroom Location:
North Woods Stewardship Center
154 Leadership Drive
East Charleston, VT 05833

Mailing Address- P.O. Box 220, East Charleston, VT 05833

For more information about workshop logistics--including the on-site food and lodging options, contact Jayson at jayson@northwoodscenter.org

NorthWoods is a non-profit organization dedicated to stewardship of the region’s human and natural communities through education and action. The center works with all ages through five program areas: Education, Land Management,Conservation Science, Outdoor Recreation, and Conservation Service. Visit North Wood Stewardship Center for more information and photos.

Located at the heart of Northern Forest, this region is celebrated for its diverse wildlife, scenic mountains and lakes, and self-sufficient rural communities. From the Center north to the Canadian border (12 miles) and to the south are nearly unbroken northern hardwood and spruce-fir forests, home to moose, bobcat, fisher, mink, and a host of other wildlife. Nearby to the east are the village of Island Pond (pop.850) and the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge. To the west these forests transition to small farms before reaching the shores of Lake Memphremagog at the town of Newport (pop. 5,000). The rustic 6,000 square foot main lodge at the North Woods Center features a stone fireplace, natural wood interior, skylights, and spaces for both large and small groups. South-facing windows and a deck overlook a view of the diverse Clyde River wetlands and the 3,315 foot Bald Mountain beyond. The Center utilizes 3,000 acres of forest, fields, lakefront and riparian areas for our program activities. Most of this acreage is permanently protected by conservation easements. They also maintain 30 km of trails, and have canoes and mountain bikes (as well as binoculars and field guides) on hand for exploring the region’s natural wonders. An Adirondack-style lean-to and tent sites are available for overnight visits.

Class Details:
Class will run from approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day of class.  Please plan to arrive at the classroom no later than 8:45 on the first day so that the instructors can check you into the class. Lunch will be from approximately 12:00-1:00 pm each day, in addition to a short morning and afternoon break.

The PV Design and Installation workshop will have four days of classroom lecture and two days of tours and hands-on, mock-installation labs.

Transportation and Travel:

Closest Airports:
Click on the following links for driving directions from each of the airports
Burlington International Airport (BTV) in South Burlington VT (2 hours drive)
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2.5 hrs)
Manchester Airport (MHT), Manchester, NH (3 hrs)
Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, MA (4 hrs).

Bus Stations: Burlington (2hrs), Montpelier (1.5 hrs), and White River Jct. VT (1.5 hrs) – are all served by Vermont Transit and Greyhound

Train Stations: Amtrak serves St. Albans (2 hrs), Montpelier (1.5 hrs) and White River Jct. (1.5 hrs).

Other:
If there is sufficient interest (5-10 people), NorthWoods will provide a van pick up and drop off from Burlington International Airport in South Burlington Vermont on Sunday May 11th at 12 pm and Sunday May 18th at 12 pm). Cost is $40/person each direction. Contact Jayson at NorthWoods for more information (phone number and e-mail above)

Nearby Lodging:
For links to over twenty Bed & Breakfasts, Motels, and Inns within 30 miles of NorthWoods, visit the local accommodations page on the North Woods Stewardship Center website ($40-$150/night).

The Clyde River Hotel in Island Pond, VT (802-723-5663), which is 8 miles from NorthWoods, has offered 10% off the price of each room for participants of this workshop. To get this discount, just mention your participation in our course to the receptionist. Prices (pre-discount) for double occupancy with bath start at $69/night, and a Grand Room costs $130/night for triple occupancy.

On-site Camping Option ($20-$25/night) - The fee for a tent site, lean-to space, or floor space is $20/ night. This price includes use of the main facility (hot showers, limited kitchen use and food storage, high-speed internet connection, trails, swimming pond, and scenic deck for relaxing). North Woods also has tents available for $5/ night.

Area Home Lodging Option ($30+/night) - Several community members have offered to provide accommodations in exchange for a donation to NorthWoods (suggested minimum donation is $30/night). These homes are located from 4 to 30 miles from the Center. Contact Jayson at jayson@northwoodscenter.org

Food:
An on-site meal plan that includes 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 2 dinners will be available for $130 per person. We will be working with a caterer and co-op who specialize in healthy, locally-grown foods. Breakfasts will include coffee, tea, juice, and some combination of pancakes, French toast, eggs, oatmeal, bacon, granola, yogurts, and fruit. Lunches will include soup, salad, sandwiches, and fruit. Dinners will include both meat and vegetarian options, with savory side dishes and decadent desserts. We are also planning one pot-luck dinner during the week that will include neighbors who are interested in PV or haveinstalled systems at their homes. We encourage students to participate in the meal plan as it’s a great opportunity to network with fellow students and SEI staff, and the dining area is conveniently located close to the classroom space. Please note that you must sign up for the whole meal plan and cannot be credited if you miss a meal. This plan requires a minimum number of participants, so you must register in advance! Contact Jayson at jayson@northwoodscenter.org

Alcohol policy- Participants may obtain their own beer or wine for consumption (in moderation) on the site.

Weather:
In mid May life across the region is emerging from the long northern winter with enthusiasm. Moose are giving birth, early spring wildflowers are blooming, and newly-arrived warblers are marking their territories with song. High daytime temperatures at this time can range from mid 40s to mid 70s, with night-time lows often dipping to or below freezing. Rainy weather is always a possibility.

What to Bring:

Classroom: Please bring a pen and pencil and a notebook for notetaking and a calculator. You may want to bring black, red and green colored pencils for schematics.

Install: Since we will be doing an install at an actual jobsite, close-toed shoes with good tread are required. We recommend that you bring a hat, raingear, sunscreen and a water bottle, in addition to layers of work clothes to account for changing weather temperatures. We encourage you to bring your own tools, but it is not necessary. Tools could include: wire strippers, sidecutters, tape measure, screw driver, needle-nose pliers, pencil, utility knife, and a cordless drill. Please label tools with your name or some distinguishing mark ahead of time to ensure that you get your tools back at the end of class.