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Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical ParkA view of Mount Ascutney and its neighboring rolling hills from a tree-lined autumn meadow. NPS Photo.
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Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
Forest Festival Weekend

September 26-27, 2009
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Held in conjunction with the Vermont Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival.



The following Forest Festival programs are free of charge.

 
A park ranger in an orange hardhat and orange ear protectors watches as a portable saw mills a thick log.

Jon Gilbert Fox

Sustainable forestry

Both Days - Saturday and Sunday

Portable Sawmill Demonstration
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Pony Shed Pasture

  • A local sawyer will mill logs from the forest, to begin the process of making different wood products, building materials, and furniture. See logs transformed into lumber before your eyes.

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Meet at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center

  • Ride in a horse-drawn wagon with a park ranger to explore areas of the forest. The wagon will leave from the Carriage Barn Visitor Center area and head to the Pony Shed Pasture, where you can see a sawmill in action and explore a unique tree trail. Return trips are also available.
 

Walking Stick Wood Crafting
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Pony Shed Pasture

  • Children will be able to make their own walking stick, which can become a lifelong companion and a record-keeper of travels and hiking adventures. Listen to a park ranger read the beautiful story of Daniel and His Walking Stick by Wendy McCormick.

Open House and Garden Days
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Meet at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center

  • Explore the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion and gardens at your own pace. See art, architecture, gardens, landscape, forests, exhibits, and more. Guided tours will be held at 10:00 am and 11:00 am.
 
A man in a green shirt holds a wooden tool in each hand; in front of him are blocks of various kinds of wood: maple, walnut, cherry, poplar.

Jon Gilbert Fox

Woodcrafting

Woodcraft Demonstration
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Carriage Barn Visitor Center

  • Join a variety of Vermont woodworkers as they create unique wooden products and discuss the art and value of their craft. Bowls, baskets, furniture, and other woodenwares will be made for all to see.

Advance Preview of Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea
11:00 am and 3:00pm
Forest Center

Join a ranger for a one-hour multi-media journey through the heart of America's national parks including an advance peek at Ken Burn's new film The National Parks: America's Best Idea, which premieres Sunday, September 27th. Experience the untold stories and human drama associated with the birth of our national parks and the breathtaking magnificence of their splendor.

A Walk Among the Giants: Tree Discovery Walk - Self-guided

  • Take a self-guided family-oriented walk among 10 of the most common trees in New England. A brochure of fun facts will introduce you to these trees – learn how to identify them, how animals depend on them for food and shelter, and how we use the trees’ lumber as part of our everyday lives. Brochures are available at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center.

Artist in Residence Open Studio and Exhibit
Location: inquire at Carriage Barn Visitor Center

Meet landscape painter, Susan Metzger, who will demonstrate her art and discuss her work. Enjoy the stunning photographs of last year's artist, Barbara Bosworth, on display throughout the park.

Junior Ranger Program – Self-guided

  • Children ages 7-10 can earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing indoor and outdoor activities. Learn about the history of the park and how to be stewards of our special places. Brochures are available at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center.

Junior Ranger Program – Ranger-led
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Meet at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center
Maximum 20 participants - call 802-457-3368 ext 22 for reservations

  • Children ages 7-10 can earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing indoor and outdoor activities with a park ranger. Learn about the history of the park and how to take care of special places. A self-guided version is available throughout the weekend at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center.                                             

Forest Quest – Self-guided

  • Seek out treasures hidden in the Mount Tom Forest. Activities and riddles will reveal clues to help you unravel the forest’s mysteries. Appropriate for all ages. Brochures are available at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center.

The Future of the Forest
Hikes begin at 1:00pm
Pony Shed

Join the Windsor County Forester for a one-hour hike and discussion on the history and sustainable forestry practices for the Mount Tom Forest, the oldest managed forest in the United States.

Forest Stewardship 101
Ranger-led hike begins at 2:30pm
Self-guided hike to the field stations from 2:30pm to 4:00pm Forest Center

Create a legacy for future generations! Join forestry experts to learn about sustainable woodland management that can help you improve the health of your forest. These field workshops will introduce various management approaches for water quality, wildlife, invasive species, and carbon sequestration. Meet professionals from the Agency of Natural Resources, Vermont Woodlands Association, American Forest Foundation, White River Partnership and other forest stewardship organizations. Get great resources that you can take home an use to help you be a forest steward.

              

 

Saturday Only Events

Understanding the Forested Landscape
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Meet at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center
Maximum 15 participants – call 802-457-3368 ext 22 for reservations

  • Wander the woods with Walter Poleman, field naturalist at the University of Vermont. Discover the park’s diverse forest communities as you learn to analyze soils, identify plants, and interpret history etched in the land. There will be a one-hour program indoors followed by a two-hour walk. Snacks provided. Please bring water and wear comfortable footwear.

 
Three children and a park ranger sit in the shady grass and work on Junior Ranger actitivies.

Jon Olender/Rutland Herald

You can earn a Junior Ranger badge with a park ranger or on your own

 

 

Sixth Annual Vermont Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival

Held at the Union Arena in Woodstock, September 26-27, 2009 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Admission is $7 per person (18 and older)

  • Fine furniture and wood products demonstrations
  • Live music
  • Woodworking demonstrations
  • Local food 
  • Hands-on activities for kids

For more information call 802-747-7900 or visit www.vermontwoodfestival.org


 

Shuttle service is available. Experience both events by taking advantage of our free shuttle service - a 30-minute loop from Union Arena to the park, with stops in downtown Woodstock and at the Billings Farm & Museum.

View of Woodstock village from Mount Tom's South Peak; the village and person in foreground are framed by autumn foliage. NPS Photo.  

Did You Know?
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP offers day hikers nearly 20 miles of carriage roads and trails. Located about a mile from the park, hikers can easily access one of the nation's premier foot trails, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which extends over 2000 miles from Maine to Georgia.

Last Updated: August 28, 2009 at 14:57 EST