Kids VT, Summer 2023

HOP ON YOUR BIKE AND HELP FIGHT HUNGER!

Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the State House Lawn in Montpelier

Sign up for the Point to Point, powered by VSECU, to have fun and help people in Vermont experiencing hunger.

On Saturday, September 23, ride your bike to raise money for the Vermont Foodbank. There will be rides starting at 10 miles, plus music, food, and fun and games for everyone. In fact, get your whole family to register! Every dollar we raise is a meal for Vermont families.

COPUBLISHER/EDITOR

Cathy Resmer cathy@sevendaysvt.com

COPUBLISHER

Colby Roberts colby@sevendaysvt.com

CONSULTING EDITORS

Mary Ann Lickteig

Alison Novak

ART DIRECTOR

Kirsten Thompson

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST Cat Cutillo cat@sevendaysvt.com

EVENTS DIRECTOR

Katie Hodges katie@sevendaysvt.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Kaitlin Montgomery kaitlin@kidsvt.com

PROOFREADERS

Martie Majoros

Angela Simpson

PRODUCTION MANAGER

John James

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Don Eggert DESIGNERS

Jeff Baron

John James

Rev. Diane Sullivan

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Matt Weiner

BUSINESS MANAGER

Marcy Stabile

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Naomi Alfini

Heather Fitzgerald

Julie Garwood

Emily Hamilton

Elisa Järnefelt

Astrid Hedbor Lague

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Daria Bishop

James Buck Cat Cutillo

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Charging Ahead

Is it really time for another issue of Kids VT? The past few months have been hectic and transformative for me as a parent. In the same week in April, our 17-year-old son, Graham, passed his driver’s test and did his first college tour at the University of Vermont.

We had another tour planned the following week, at Norwich University, but an unexpected scheduling conflict meant neither my wife, Ann-Elise, nor I could attend. Graham didn’t want to postpone it, so he went on his own. Drove himself there, toured the campus, talked with engineering professors, met the wrestling coach. Suddenly the prospect of him leaving home got real.

We’d planned to give Graham our 2010 Honda Fit to use as his first car, but we discovered it wouldn’t pass inspection — undercarriage rot. Ugh. So after that Norwich tour, we traded in the Fit for our first electric car, a 2020 Chevy Bolt that we’ll all share. Now I’m trying to figure out rebates and coordinating installation of a Level 2 home charger.

What’s your favorite summer treat?

You just can’t beat a maple-co ee creemee from Vermont Cookie Love.

COLBY ROBERTS, COPUBLISHER

Fresh watermelon on a hot day!

ASTRID HEDBOR LAGUE, CONTRIBUTOR

I love trying out di erent food stands at the Burlington Farmers Market. My favorite warm-weather lunch is the sushi burrito from vegetarian vendor Sustainable Kitchen.

ALISON NOVAK, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

The frozen banana pops dipped in chocolate that my 6-year-old makes from his kids’ cookbook.

CAT CUTILLO, CONTRIBUTOR

daughter,

Meanwhile, our daughter, Ivy, got accepted into the building arts and small engine systems pre-tech program at the Center for Technology in Essex Junction. If all goes as planned, she’ll finish her high school years there. And in lieu of his senior year, Graham is hoping to do the Early College Program next year at the Community College of Vermont.

Ann-Elise and I only just realized that our 12-year relationship with Winooski’s K-12 schools is likely nearing its end, a bit earlier than we expected. It’s a bittersweet transition; the kids barely had time to enjoy their newly renovated campus!

Things are in flux for my Seven Days and Kids VT colleagues, as well. As we planned this issue, art director Kirsten Thompson prepared for her daughter’s college graduation in Portland, Ore. Copublisher Colby Roberts’ oldest is finishing high school. Consulting editor Mary Ann Lickteig is celebrating three graduations — her daughter’s, from college, and her twin sons’ from high school.

At the other end of the spectrum is Seven Days food writer Jordan Barry, who wrote about her morning sickness in the Spring issue. The day before Mother’s Day, a dozen of us gathered for her baby shower.

We’re all looking forward to summer, in part because we need a break! The kids will go to camp or start their jobs. We’ll find time to squeeze in some camping trips, beach days, bike rides, festivals, picnics and creemees. Read on for suggestions for all of the above. On page 14, Heather Fitzgerald writes about one of my favorite camping destinations, Burton Island State Park. I snapped this photo of Ivy there nearly a decade ago. She was scrutinizing the shore, searching for interesting stones.

These days Ivy regularly scans the ground for four-leaf clovers; she sells them on her Etsy site for $2.60 each. Occasionally she spots one with five or six leaves, which she prices a little higher. A few days ago, she discovered a rare eight-leaf clover. After a little online research, she found someone who sold 10 of them for $270 each. Now she’s got dollar signs in her eyes. I’m just marveling at the stunning abundance and grateful to share it with her — for a little bit longer, anyway.

CATHY RESMER, EDITOR/COPUBLISHER

QUESTION CONTRIBUTOR’S NOTE

Rhubarb and strawberry pie, tomatoes, and peaches!

NAOMI ALFINI, CONTRIBUTOR

Maybe more than any particular food or drink, my favorite treat is to drink my morning co ee outside, when the weather is not yet hot, and listen to the birds.

ELISA JÄRNEFELT,

CONTRIBUTOR

NAOMI ALFINI is an early childhood educator, a rights advocate and a mom. She lives in Duxbury with her husband, almost8-year-old-son, a flock of chickens and a great bunch of neighbors.

CATHY RESMER

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

Ivy Resmer at Burton Island State Park in 2014

Your Year of Wonder

✓

2023 Big Top Tour Schedule

Greensboro, VT

The Circus Barn

July 1: 1 & 6 PM

Waterbur y, VT

Farr’s Field

July 4: 6 PM

July 5 & 6: 1 & 6 PM

Northampton, MA

Three County Fairgrounds

July 8: 1 & 6 PM

July 9: 11 AM & 4 PM

Presented by North Star: Self-Directed Learning for Teens

Milton, VT

Bombardier Park West

July 11: 7 PM

July 12 & 13: 1 & 6 PM

Rutland, VT

Vermont State Fairgrounds

July 15: 1 PM & 6 PM

July 16: 11 AM & 4 PM

Hanover, NH

Fullington Farm Field

July 18 & 19: 1 & 6 PM

Marshfield, MA

Marshfield Fairgrounds

July 21 & 22: 11 AM & 7 PM

Presented by Marshfield Education Foundation

Wilton, NH

High Mowing School

July 24 & 25: 1 & 6 PM

Waltham, MA

Gore Place

July 28: 1 & 7 PM

July 29: 2 & 7 PM

July 30: 11 AM & 4 PM

Simsbur y, CT

Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center

August 1 & 2: 1 & 6 PM

Presented by Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center

Newbur y, MA

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

August 4: 2 & 7 PM

August 5: 1 & 6 PM

Presented by Theatre in the Open

Portland, ME

Payson Park

August 7 & 8: 1 & 6 PM

Presented by Portland Ovations

Kennebunkport, ME

Rockin’ Horse

August 10 & 11: 1 & 6 PM

Presented by Kennebunkport Consolidated PTA

Fryeburg, ME

Fryeburg Fairgrounds

August 13: 11 AM & 4 PM

August 14 & 15: 6 PM

August 16: 1 PM

Greensboro, VT

The Circus Barn

August 18: 6 PM

August 19: 1 & 6 PM

Special

Photographer Lauren Mordasky snapped this image of her oldest daughter, Evelyn, swimming at home on their farm in Orwell.

In Case You Missed It...

News Vermont families can use from Seven Days

Former Kids VT editor ALISON NOVAK now covers education and childcare for our parent publication, Seven Days . As a former elementary school teacher — and the parent of two teens — Novak draws from firsthand experience to cover her beat, which includes controversial topics such as the debate over whether and how to address PCB contamination in schools. Her stories are often among the most popular on the Seven Days website.

Earlier this month, Novak’s February 16, 2022, cover story, “Local Commotion: National Divisions on Race and Equity Are Roiling Vermont School Boards,” won the FIRSTPLACE AWARD FOR EDUCATION REPORTIN g in weekly newspapers from the New England Newspaper & Press Association; the prize was announced at NENPA’s convention in Waltham, Mass.

Here are a few of Novak’s stories from 2023. Find them weekly in Seven Days or on sevendaysvt.com — or sign up for Kids VT ’s Wee-Mail email newsletter to have them delivered to your inbox weekly.

“Physical Education: Some Vermont Students Are Restrained or Secluded in School, With Detrimental Effects. Should the Practices Be Eliminated? (May 17)

Physical restraint and seclusion are employed thousands of times a year in Vermont’s public and so-called therapeutic schools.

“Compassionate Connections: Empty Arms Fosters Community Among Those Who Have Lost a Baby” (May 10)

Founded in 2022, Empty Arms Vermont offers support to parents who have lost a baby before or after birth. While these experiences are not unusual, few resources exist to help those dealing with them. In this pre-Mother’s Day interview, cofounder Chelsea Levis speaks of the power of sharing grief with others and finding empathy.

“True 802: Teens Who Clean” (May 10)

Several students at Champlain Valley Union High School have worked as part-time custodians, helping the school fill in the gaps amid a shortage of full-time custodial sta .

“A PCB ‘Fix’ at Wilmington School Actually Drives Levels Higher” (May 1)

When elevated levels of airborne PCBs were found in several rooms at Twin Valley Elementary School in late March, state o cials thought that installing carbon air filtration units would reduce the level of toxic chemicals. But instead of finding lower PCB levels, the second round of testing revealed significantly higher levels in every room retested.

“A Matter of Principal: The Tangled Tale Behind the Abrupt Resignation of Middlebury Union High School’s Top Administrator” (April 26)

Novak told the backstory of Justin Campbell’s decision to leave his job.

“Tots for Profits: A French Private Equity Firm Now Owns Six Vermont Childcare Centers. Is it a Harbinger of What’s to Come?” (April 5)

Little Sprouts, a Massachusetts-based company, recently announced tuition hikes at some of the six Vermont childcare centers and preschools it operates. Parents were none too happy — and many didn’t know that the company is actually owned by Antin Infrastructure Partners, a French private equity firm. Experts say such firms are driven by their bottom line more than by what’s good for families, and more could try to gain a foothold in Vermont.

“Chemical Crossroads: Lawmakers Consider Pausing Vermont’s Ambitious, Costly and One-of-a-Kind Plan to Address PCBs in Schools”

(March 22)

How many PCBs are too many PCBs? Burlington has opted to rebuild its high school rather than try to remediate the chemical contamination. But experts warn that Vermont’s standard for dangerous PCB concentrations is way out of line with the federal one and could lead to the costly scrapping of more buildings.

“Helping Hands: A Mental Health Agency in Washington County Provides Doula Services to Families — Free of Charge”

(March 1)

Washington County Mental Health Services is employing federal funds to provide doulas, the nonclinical birth workers who for decades have tended to expectant parents, in an e ort to address an increase in anxiety and depression among pregnant and postpartum Vermonters.

“Precious Cargo: Amid a Statewide School

Bus Driver Shortage, Jackie Terry Rolls Along. Confetti and Prizes Help.” (February 8)

The first clue that Jackie Terry isn’t your typical driver is her bus itself. Every month, she redecorates the interior to reflect whatever holiday is near. To spend a morning school run in Vergennes with Terry is to get a glimpse of someone who embraces this crucial but unglamorous work with a whole heart, playful energy and enough resolve to keep a busload of young passengers in line during the ride.

“Hoax School Shooting Calls Target 21 Vermont

Campuses” (February 8)

Law enforcement descended on 21 schools across Vermont on the morning of February 8 after a spate of hoax calls reporting shootings on campus. State o cials described the unnerving incidents as a widespread “swatting” event. K

Chelsea Levis, the cofounder of Empty Arms Vermont

JUNE 3

Free to Be

The communities of Essex and Essex Junction celebrate their first-ever PRIDE FESTIVAL this year, with something for LGBTQ folks and allies of all ages to enjoy. The day kicks o with a kidfriendly Drag Story Hour with Emoji Nightmare and Katniss Everqueer reading picture books, performances by other local artists and Essex High School musicians, a colorful roller disco, and a family dance party with DJ GAYBAR. Saturday, June 3, 1-5 p.m., at Maple Street Park in Essex Junction. Free; donations accepted. Info, essexvtpride@ gmail.com, essexvtpride.org.

JULY 4

Baby, You’re a Firework

The Warren FOURTH OF JULY PARADE, a beloved Mad River Valley tradition, returns this Independence Day with a wild and wacky (and alcohol-free) party. A float-filled parade, a street dance outside the Warren Store, kids’ activities and a stunning fireworks display at Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak make the day one to remember.

Tuesday, July 4, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m., at various Warren locations. Free; donations accepted. Info, 498-8545, madrivervalley.com.

Save the Dates

Fun stuff for families this summer

BY EMILY HAMILTON

JULY 14 & 15

Creativity Runs Wild

Every kind of artist gets their moment in the sun at the WATERBURY ARTS FEST, an annual extravaganza for Vermont craftspeople. There’s a block party on Friday, featuring live music by the Grift and a beer garden for the grown-ups, and a packed vendor market on Saturday with open-air jams from Soulstice.

Friday, July 14, 5-9:30 p.m., and Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 5 Pilgrim Park in Waterbury. Free. Info, 793-6029, waterburyartsfest.com.

JUNE 7-11

All That Jazz

The BURLINGTON DISCOVER JAZZ FESTIVAL celebrates its 40th birthday with five days of tunes and togetherness. Myriad live performances delight audiences of all ages, from local high school bands playing on the Church Street Marketplace to the opening and closing day headliners: recent winner of the Grammy for Best New Artist Samara Joy, and hometown hero Myra Flynn.

Wednesday, June 7, through Sunday, June 11, at various Burlington locations. Free; fee for some events. Info, 863-5966, flynnvt.org.

JULY 15

Hey There, Delilah

It’s all good at DO GOOD FEST, National Life Group’s annual benefit for Branches of Hope, a fund that o ers financial support to cancer patients. This year, the music festival is headlined by Plain White T’s, and beloved Vermont blues act All Night Boogie Band open. Saturday, July 15, on the lawn at National Life Group in Montpelier. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-3334, dogoodfest.com.

AUGUST 5

Dog Days

Man’s best friend is the toast of the town at Dog Mountain’s SUMMER DOG PARTY, a late-summer bash sure to delight the four-legged and twolegged alike. Live music, food, and games for pups and people take over the mountaintop at this rain-or-shine gathering.

Saturday, August 5, noon-4 p.m., at Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury. Free. Info, 800-449-2580, dogmt.com.

AUGUST 23-27

Night at the Movies

The ninth annual MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL returns to tickle the fancies of cinephiles young and old. Though the full lineup of films won’t be announced until August 1, viewers can expect a diverse array of exciting, boundary-pushing works screening all around town.

Wednesday, August 23, through Sunday, August 27, at various Middlebury locations. $14-60; $50-125 for festival passes. Info, 818-406-3492, middfilmfest.org.

All Night Boogie Band

Lakecia Benjamin

Summer Dog Party at Dog Mountain

Waterbury Arts Fest

Middlebury New Filmakers Festival

COURTESY OF ANGIE LOW

COURTESY OF GORDON MILLER

MEALTIME BY ASTRID HEBOR LAGUE

Eight Day Trip and Dining Adventures

Our sweet little state has lots to offer in the summer, from beautiful mountains and natural areas to unique and interesting museums to well-maintained bike paths and plenty of unique places to shop and stroll. There are also many wonderful places to eat along the way.

Here are just a few day trip and dining suggestions, culled from my family’s favorites and from tips I crowdsourced on social media. Some of these places are only open seasonally, others offer yearround delights. Consider visiting them in the season to come. Bon appetit!

GRILLED CHEESE AT THE MELTDOWN

83 Washington St., Barre, 622-8277 or @themeltdownbarre on Facebook

The grilled cheese sandwiches at the Meltdown Grilled Cheese and Tap Room in Barre are so good that I’m happy to drive an hour for them. Its menu of imaginative takes on the basic, kidfriendly staple includes lobster; cauliflower parmesan-crusted; and apple, fig and brie options — along with sides, salads, soups, and a truly scrumptious mac and cheese.

Diane Hood, the incredibly sweet co-owner, took the time to chat with us on a recent visit and told us that the Meltdown’s classic grilled cheese sandwich comes with a maple syrup dip because that’s how her son (now grown) always wanted it as a kid.

When we went, the dessert special was a Boston cream cheesecake ($12). We were full from our grilled cheeses (Montréal smoked meat, $17, and spinach artichoke, $16) but took the cheesecake home to enjoy later. Another plus: ample outdoor seating if the weather allows. Sometimes there’s even live music.

Pair with a visit to:

• Kitty Korner Café — for coffee, baked goods and petting the kitties!

• Vermont Granite Museum

• Hope Cemetery

BREAKFAST AT THE SPOT

210 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, 540-1778 or thespotvt.com

Despite its laid-back surfer décor and vibe, the Spot in Burlington offers quick, friendly service and unique menu items. On a recent visit, I enjoyed a delicious cup of coffee ($2.50) and the Rincon, a vegetarian breakfast burrito with avocado and a side of home fries ($14). Simply delightful.

On the kids’ menu: the Sand Dollar, one pancake topped with powdered sugar ($5); the Single Fin, one egg served with one slice of buttered toast ($4); and the Waimea Bay, a cheddar cheese quesadilla served with salsa and sour cream ($12). Great fuel for a day of walking around Shelburne Museum.

Pair with a visit to:

• Shelburne Farms or Shelburne Museum

LUNCH OR DINNER AT RED PANDA

161 Church St., Burlington, 489-5479 or orderredpanda.com

Adventurous eaters in search of authentic Nepali, Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine should stop by Red Panda in Burlington. My 17-year-old son told me that it is, unequivocally, his favorite restaurant.

When he and I went to dinner after a walk on Church Street, we shared some vegetable samosas ($5.99) and cheese-stuffed naan, or Indian flatbread ($5.99). He got his usual — chicken tikka masala ($16.99) — and I had a malai chicken curry ($16.99). The restaurant offers different levels of spice from mild to hot, and the mild is quite mild. Both of our meals were served with aromatic basmati rice. We happily finished every bite. If you have not tried Indian food

Burlington Waterfront

Hope Cemetery

The Rincon at the Spot

Poutine grilled cheese at the Meltdown Devyn’s Creemee Stand

before, I suggest you do — and so does my son.

Pair with a visit to:

• Church Street Marketplace

• The Burlington Waterfront

A CREEMEE AT DEVYN’S CREEMEE STAND

Open seasonally. 752 North River Rd., West Swanton, 782-5577 or @devynsdelights on Facebook

In business for 26 years, Devyn’s Creemee Stand in West Swanton o ers

a wide array of frozen treats: creemees, hard ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes and even ice cream cakes made to order. Its 24 flavors of creemees are available in one size only, but daily flavors come in five sizes, from junior to extra large. The junior is plenty big enough for me and a steal at only $2.

On a recent visit, I got my favorite — maple-black raspberry swirl. Want maple sprinkles? Add them to any creemee for an extra $1.50.

Pair with:

• A nature walk at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge

A BAGEL AT HUDDY’S

40 River St., Milton, 338-0776 or @huddysvt on Facebook

A newer addition to Milton’s culinary o erings, Huddy’s sells fresh New York-style bagels, bagel sandwiches, co ee and other treats. I visited early in the morning and enjoyed a co ee ($1.99) with the eponymous breakfast sandwich — sausage, thick-cut bacon, fried egg, cheese, hash browns and secret sauce on a cheddar bagel ($8.29). Just what I needed to get through a hike up Eagle Mountain.

I look forward to visiting again for more and maybe picking up a dozen bagels to go for breakfast at home.

Pair with a visit to:

• Milton Town Forest

• Eagle Mountain

A SANDWICH AT BESSERY’S BUTCHER SHOPPE & DELICATESSEN

1398 North Ave., Burlington, 862-1731 or besserysqualitymarket.com

Open since 1963, Bessery’s has a fantastic assortment of meats and groceries, but it also sells sandwiches, burgers, wings, salads and hot dogs. My friend from Philadelphia

says Bessery’s Philly cheesesteaks are the best she’s had in the area. The burgers are fresh and flavorful, and the fries hit the spot. On a recent visit, I got a bacon cheeseburger ($12.99) with fries (+$1).

If you arrive on a bike after a ride on the Burlington Greenway or the 127 Bike Path by the Ethan Allen Homestead, there’s a small seating area in front of the shop where you can sit and eat.

Pair with:

• A ride on the Burlington Greenway or the 127 Bike Path by the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum

A BURGER AT THE BURGER BARN

4968 Route 15, Jeffersonville, 730-3441 or @burgerbarnvt on Facebook

Featured recently in Seven Days — and for good reason — the Burger Barn in Je ersonville o ers more than 30 di erent versions of its signature menu item along with hot dogs, some sandwiches and seafood options.

But really, go for the burgers. The array includes the popular Ethan Allen — think grilled apples, Cabot cheddar and cranberry-garlic mayo ($9) — and the El Alamo, topped with bacon, deep-fried onion rings, banana peppers, Cabot cheddar and barbecue sauce ($11). All the patties are made from grass-fed beef sourced from nearby Boyden Farm, except the veggie burgers. Be prepared: The Burger Barn is cash-only.

Pair with:

• A swim at Green River Reservoir State Park

• A bike ride on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

• A drive through Smugglers’ Notch

A SWEET TREAT FROM HACKETT’S ORCHARD

Open seasonally. 86 South St., South Hero, 372-4848 or @hackettsorchard on Facebook

You can get a maple creemee almost anywhere, but apple cider slushies are harder to find. You can’t order one until around July 4, but it’s one of my favorite summer treats, and I had to include it on this list.

Hackett’s Orchard in South Hero went through more than one machine trying to find the one that gave just the right texture for the perfect slushie, which is made with cider from the orchard. It’s an unbeatable way to cool down on a hot day.

Hackett’s also has the best apple cider doughnuts around, if you ask me.

Pair with:

• A ride on the bike ferry to South Hero

• A visit to Alburgh Dunes State Park K

Vegetable samosas at Red Panda

El Alamo Burger at Burger Barn

Bessery’s Butcher Shoppe

Alburgh Dunes State Park

Shelburne Farms

ASTRID HEDBOR LAGUE

ASTRID HEDBOR LAGUE

FILE: GLENN RUSSELL

Island Paradise on Lake Champlain

An ecologist reconsiders Burton Island State Park

Many years ago, my family, friends and I canoed from Kill Kare State Park in St. Albans to Burton Island. This was not our first choice. We had been planning to camp at Green River Reservoir State Park in Hyde Park, but the other family’s car broke down on the eve of our trip. So they biked from Burlington, we drove their son and the canoe, and we all met up at Kill Kare, on St. Albans Point. There, we puzzled over how to get the gear, our toddlers and ourselves safely to the island in the minimum number of trips in one canoe.

Somehow, we managed.

We had a great time hiking, hanging out and exploring the vehicle-free island on short, leisurely walks. Our sons discovered a possible nest with egg fragments on the ground at our generous lean-to campsite. But honestly, my ecological brain did not quite get the appeal of the place. Pining for the backcountry feel amid the call of loons at Green River, all I saw were exceptionally flat fields and a young, boring forest.

However, I have friends and neighbors who swear by Burton Island, and my son has expressed interest — something to capitalize on with a 15-year-old! — so I decided it was time to take another look.

I asked my neighbor, who goes with her family every year, what she likes so much about Burton Island. She described a place where everything is just right and “human scale” — canoeing, paddleboarding, little hikes, swimming at the crowded

beach or in a secluded spot on your own.

“Every adventure is the perfect amount of activity,” she said. “Nothing is challenging, but it isn’t boring, either.” When she manages to snag a hard-to-reserve waterfront site, it’s like a “tropical vacation,” she said, adding, “I walk around, and I feel like it’s my own island.” Also, it’s a friendly place, she said. “You have space, but you’re going to meet your neighbors.”

Amenities include the Burton Island Bistro store and café, boat moorings, a marina complete with WiFi, and

Find more information about Burton Island at vtstateparks. com/burton.html, and check out the Vermont State Parks’ list of kid-friendly hikes, camping how-tos and suggested weekend itineraries at vtstateparks.com/ family-fun.html.

bathrooms with flush toilets and coinoperated showers. There’s also a nature center sta ed by an interpreter known as “Nature Nate.” The park opens Memorial Day weekend and closes for the season in mid-September.

You don’t need your own boat to make the trip — we canoed for fun. Most people arrive on the Island Runner ferry, which leaves from Kill Kare. Reservations are recommended. Since there are no cars on the island, kids have the freedom to bike to the store on their own for a snack.

“It’s safe — you can go have fun and play in tra c without there being any tra c,” said Ryan Baker Dunn, Vermont State Parks’ northwest regional facilities and projects manager. “Kids can explore and be independent outdoors without much risk.” That’s one of his favorite things about the park. Plus, he said, it has the best sunsets.

I’m also reconsidering my ecological assessment. Burton Island’s young forests o er an opportunity to think about the cycle most of the state’s forests have been through. The island hasn’t always been a vacation spot, its website says, and it hasn’t always been named Burton Island. It’s called Isle of White on 18th-century maps and Potter’s Island on 1874 Lake Champlain navigation charts. St. Albans resident Jesse Welden, who worked for Ethan and Ira Allen, is said to have cleared and farmed on the island. C.C. Burton used it for pasture in the 1840s, and Sidney Burton owned it through the early 1900s and leased it to tenant farmers. The land has nurtured cows, pigs, sheep, chicken, beans and peas. Sidney Burton built a hunting and fishing camp there in 1902; subsequent owners continued to lease the island to farmers and to summer there. The state bought the island in 1962 and opened the park in 1964.

Vestiges of the island’s agricultural past remain. Visitors may spot old fence lines, rusting agricultural equipment and a barn foundation.

A road once connected the island to the mainland, Dunn said, allowing farmers to load their wagons and take their animals to market. It’s still visible today during late fall, when the water is lowest. State o cials considered building up the road to construct a causeway, but they decided that an island with no cars would make a better park. The state bought Kill Kare, a former boys’ camp, in 1967, to provide easier access to the island. Now a day-use park itself, Kill Kare provides parking, a boat ramp, a ferry dock and a breakwater to support Burton Island. Ferry service started in the 1980s.

Not surprisingly, Burton Island is a very popular camping destination. Campsite reservations can be made 11 months in advance starting at 9 a.m. on the 15th of the month (or the first business day after the 15th.)

We don’t plan that far in advance at our house, so we’ll be clicking “Create Availability Notification” on the website and hoping to make it out there before the end of the summer. Or we might just settle for a day trip instead. Maybe we’ll see you there! K

Heather Fitzgerald teaches field ecology and environmental science at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester and the Community College of Vermont.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEATHER FITZGERALD

Standing at the water’s edge at Burton Island State Park

The Island Runner ferry

Making s’mores over a campfire

Inspecting rusted farm equipment

FILE PHOTO: DAN BOLLES

Family-Friendly Flying

Tips and tricks for traveling with children through Burlington International Airport

BY JULIE GARWOOD

Flying with kids can be an anxietyinducing experience for even the most seasoned traveler. As a mom of two toddlers, I know firsthand the challenges and stress that come with navigating an airport with young children.

However, if you’re departing from Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport — also known by its airport code, BTV — you’re in luck. The 14-gate facility is newly renovated and has been designed with young children in mind. It features several amenities that can make the time you spend there a whole lot easier.

I’ve flown in and out of BTV a few times — and gotten a behind-the-securitycheckpoint tour with my camera in tow. I’ve compiled a few travel tips that I hope will make your family’s airport experience not just bearable but even enjoyable, no matter what boarding group you’re in.

THE KIDS ZONE

If you’re traveling with young children, there’s one feature of the airport that you won’t want to miss: the Kids Zone. It’s located post-security and accessible from all gates. With several playscapes, a table for coloring, a busy board and rocking chairs for caregivers, it’s an ideal spot to pass the time before a flight, whether your little ones need to burn o some energy or simply need a place to relax before boarding.

Before you leave, make sure to look up and admire the mesmerizing ceiling. The changing lights, clouds and other nods to air travel will get kids excited for the journey ahead!

MAMAVA PODS

Seeking a private space to feed your baby? BTV’s Mamava lactation pods are an excellent choice. You might have seen one of these before: Burlington-based Mamava has installed its freestanding lactation pods in all 50 states. You’ll find them in hospitals, malls, stadiums and Walmart stores. BTV was actually the very first place to host one.

The pods are accessed exclusively through the Mamava app, which not only

directs you to other Mamava pods at the airport pre- and post-security but also informs you of their availability. Each one can accommodate a stroller, breast pump and even multiple children. Moreover, they’re regularly sanitized and well ventilated to ensure a safe and healthy feeding environment.

THE SKINNY PANCAKE AND HUDSON NEWS

In my experience, keeping kids well-fed is essential to ensuring their happiness before and during a flight. If you forgot to bring snacks for your child or don’t want to carry any through security, don’t worry — there are snack and food options available in the terminal, though you’ll pay extra for the convenience.

Our family’s favorite is the Skinny Pancake, where we typically order crêpes or fries to ward o crankiness. We appreciate the allergy-friendly options on the menu, which cater to our dietary restrictions.

There’s also a Hudson News store post-security where we usually grab some snacks for the plane and any other travel items we might have forgotten.

MORE BTV TRAVEL TIPS FOR FAMILIES

• Covered parking is available right next to the terminal. It’s very easy to get inside with kids without being exposed to the elements.

• There are a few quiet areas both pre- and post-security where kids can feel free to roam without fear of disturbing others, particularly in the new wing upstairs, just past the security checkpoint.

• We recommend bringing your stroller with you, as it makes getting through security and waiting in the terminal that much easier. We usually check ours right at the gate so we have access to it immediately on arrival, as well.

• Pack a few empty water bottles for your kids. You can fill them using the convenient waterbottle filling stations once you’re past security. We always make sure we have water on our flight.

• Rocking chairs are available all over the airport, both before and after security. They’re great for parents of newborns, especially, who wish to rock their babies to sleep before heading onto a flight.

• We usually package our snacks in clear gallon-size ziplock bags when going through security, in case there are any questions. We also opt for the smaller, 3-ounce food/applesauce pouches.

• Breast milk is allowed through security and is exempt from the “limited quantity” rule of 3.4 ounces.

• Because of these amenities, our family arrives one and a half to two hours before a scheduled flight. We’ve never had to wait in long security lines, despite traveling at various times; however, we’ve heard that the lines can get long, particularly before early morning flights.

JULIE GARWOOD

The Kids Zone

Mamava pod

PHOTO: JULIE GARWOOD

YOGA STUDIO

BTV airport o ers a serene yoga space on the second floor, pre-security, for young yoga enthusiasts and their caregivers — or anyone seeking a moment of tranquility before embarking on a hectic travel day. It includes a few yoga mats and rollers. The soft lighting and beautiful hardwood floors create a peaceful atmosphere that allows you to forget you’re even in an airport.

THE LITTLE LIBRARY

If your kids love books, they’ll enjoy the tucked-away library shelves on the second floor — pre-security — where they can take a break and read a few stories before or after a flight. Curated by Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library, the small selection includes titles for both children and adults. On our last trip, we each found something to read for a few minutes before heading to our flight. It includes rocking chairs so you can get cozy, much like you would at your town library! K

The Skinny Pancake

The Little Library

YOGA STUDIO

BTV airport o ers a serene yoga space on the second floor, pre-security, for young yoga enthusiasts and their caregivers — or anyone seeking a moment of tranquility before embarking on a hectic travel day. It includes a few yoga mats and rollers. The soft lighting and beautiful hardwood floors create a peaceful atmosphere that allows you to forget you’re even in an airport.

THE LITTLE LIBRARY

If your kids love books, they’ll enjoy the tucked-away library shelves on the second floor — pre-security — where they can take a break and read a few stories before or after a flight. Curated by Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library, the small selection includes titles for both children and adults. On our last trip, we each found something to read for a few minutes before heading to our flight. It includes rocking chairs so you can get cozy, much like you would at your town library! K

www.mscvt.org

A child-centered alternative education, dedicated to the philosophy and teachings of Maria Montessori.

Children ages

18 months to age 12

*A prequalified, 5 STAR program accepting Act 166/ Universal PreK funding.

Barre, VT

All inquiries: info@mscvt.org or (802)-479-0912

On any given day, there are approximately 1000 children and youth here in Vermont who are cared for by foster families. Foster care provides birth families time and support necessary to help them get back on their feet.

Through foster care, children of all ages, needs and backgrounds are given the compassion, understanding, and stability they need until they can reunite with their families. But when reunification is not possible, some of these children become eligible for adoption.

Welcoming a child or teen into your home, whether for a short time or a lifetime, helps them to heal, grow, learn new things, and make lasting connections.

If you have ever considered foster, respite or kin care, you can find out more online at: dcf.vermont.gov/fsd/foster, or, contact Carrie Deem at 802-735-6042. You may also email her at carrie.deem@vermont.gov

The Skinny Pancake

The Little Library

Greer Sargeant, Postmodern Doula

AA few days after Aisha Mueller gave birth to her second child, a familiar feeling of anxiety crept up on her. She recognized the unwelcome emotions she had experienced during her first pregnancy and in the months after the child’s birth. She said she felt like she was drowning.

“With my first, my mental health was really stretched, to put it lightly,” she said. “I had severe anxiety and OCD, which started when I was pregnant with [my eldest son], about halfway through the pregnancy. Even after he was born, it persisted. It kind of closed my world.”

Wanting to get ahead of the problem this time, she asked her husband, Matt Winter, to find a postpartum doula — a trained professional to support her before, during and after the birth. The very next day, Greer Sargeant, who owns Postmodern Doula, was sitting in Mueller’s bedroom in Shelburne, a place Mueller fondly described as her “nest” in those early newborn days.

“Seeing her come in was instant relief,” Mueller said. “I’m someone

who finds it hard to ask for help, partly because I’m an introvert and partly because sometimes we feel we need to push through.”

For the next two months, Sargeant helped with dishes; laundry; feeding the family cats; playing with the baby’s big brother, Aidan; and holding newborn Idris so Mueller could shower or nap.

Sargeant fit Mueller with a baby carrier that wouldn’t exacerbate her back problems and helped to institute a nap routine for Idris.

Five months after Idris’ birth, Sargeant sat in Mueller’s living room and told her that the best part of being her doula was helping to affirm all the things that Mueller was doing right by saying such supportive words as, “You’re so sweet to your baby, and you talk so kind to him. Even just the way you would change him — you would chat with him and look into his eyes. There’s a reason he’s such a happy baby.”

Becoming a doula was Sargeant’s teenage dream. She pinpointed the career for herself at 16 after watching a documentary that showed raw footage of birth, with women “standing in their own

power” instead of the usual “medicalized, emergency baby stories on TLC.”

Sargeant, now 27, launched her business, Postmodern Doula, in 2019. She was a recent graduate of the University of Vermont, where she had taken classes about disparities in medical care and the impact of bias and racism on the health outcomes of people of color and queer families.

Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multiple factors contribute to that disparity, including “variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.” The CDC also reported that mental health is the leading underlying cause of all pregnancy-related deaths.

Sargeant, who’s Black, learned that when doulas were a part of births for these folks, the patients had better outcomes.

“And I was like, that’s where I’m meant to be. That is exactly it,” she recalled. There aren’t any statistics tracking how many doulas are working in Vermont, but Sargeant said she’s one of just a few Black doulas in the entire state.

“I definitely work with a lot of queer families, a lot of families of color, single parents by choice, families that have different histories, whether that be mood disorders or maybe they have a disability. Folks that historically feel underrepresented or less seen, I tend to find a compatibility with being their doula,” Sargeant said. She also frequently works with people who want to have a vaginal delivery after having had a child delivered by cesarean.

Her services are customized to each family and can include birth doula support, daytime postpartum care and childbirth education. She offers low-cost childbirth education for Black families. She helps families navigate their own parenting styles, from how they feed their children — by breast, chest or bottle —to what name they want their children to call them, be it papa, mama, apa or mapa.

“I don’t have a prescribed idea of what’s going to work for each family, and I’m very eager to hear the language that fits for them and make them feel comfortable in their home and then adopt that and use that myself,” she said.

Sargeant always uses the neutral language “pregnant person,” rather than “woman” or “mother.”

“Not every pregnant person is going to be a mother. Some people are pregnant because they’re a surrogate,” she said. “Some people are on all different spectrums of the gender expression, so that language doesn’t fit for them.”

Sargeant said that when language doesn’t reflect an individual’s gender identity, it can make them feel unsafe, unheard and more likely to feel traumatized by giving birth.

“I think that I became aware that these things were happening somewhat through my own experience. Particularly my experience of being a queer woman of color and being in places where people would make assumptions about me based on the color of my skin,” Sargeant said.

Sargeant has worked with more than 150 families; this year more than 50 percent of her clients are returning families she assisted with an earlier birth. When Sargeant works as a birth doula, she offers education to prepare a family for the arrival of a newborn. She wants to learn specifically what their

Vermont Visionaries

CONTINUED FROM P. 19

dream birth experience would be. She’s present during the entire birth day or days, at home with a midwife or at the hospital. During the birth, she gives comfort that could range from a massage to repositioning to help facilitate labor. If a partner is there, she offers comfort to them, too. She’ll help family members ask questions and glean information from doctors, nurses and midwives.

Seeing her come in was instant relief.

“My goal is always to try and slow things down, where it’s safe, and give the voice back to the family,” she said. “My goal is to measure what a good outcome is, based on what each individual family is hoping for in their birth journey.”

The Maschmeier family has leaned on Sargeant as a birth and postpartum doula for both of their babies. Their youngest child, Maggie, was born a few months ago in the living room of their South Burlington home.

“As the laboring person, I felt like she was able to read my mind and know what I needed without me being able to even put that into words. That was really helpful,” Morgan Maschmeier said. “Every birth has surprises, without a doubt. She has her doula bag — it’s like a little Mary Poppins bag — with answers for all the surprises.”

Maschmeier recalled the contents of Sargeant’s bag: a small fan for hot flashes, ginger for nausea, honey packets if she needed sugar, as well as the essentials for

Sargeant herself, who spent 18 hours at their house for their first child’s birth.

“For us, starting off our parenthood journey with confidence, knowing that we had the birth we wanted, we felt empowered to make decisions for our children going forward ... She’s a friend of ours. She feels like family. She’s the best,” said Maschmeier, who works as a pediatric nurse.

Maschmeier was so struck by the role Sargeant played that she decided to go into doula training herself and also signed up to be part of the volunteer doula program at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she works.

“I’ve gotten to give back a little bit what she gave to us, which makes me feel really good. She was the inspiration for that,” Maschmeier said.

Sargeant takes on no more than two pregnancy cases with babies due in the same two-week period. Once a client reaches 37 weeks, Sargeant is ready for a call at any hour — she sets a special ringtone for each and alerts her backup, doula Jessilyn Dolan, who trained Sargeant. She prepares to spring out of bed at a moment’s notice in the middle of a snowstorm. In fact, she said, falling barometric pressure means that babies are more likely to be born during a storm.

“I have great snow tires on the car, a high-sitting SUV, so that I can make it no matter what. I think I’m probably just as good at 3 a.m. as I am at 3 p.m. ... It’s definitely not a nine-to-five life. ‘Business-hours doula’ is not really a thing,” she laughed. “But that’s totally OK with me. I love the unpredictability of my life.” K

Starting this summer, Sargeant will be teaching childbirth education classes at Lakeside Pediatrics in Burlington and will offer a reduced rate for Black families. For pricing and more information on her services visit postmoderndoula.com.

Sargeant with Aisha Mueller and her baby Idris Winter

AISHA MUELLER

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BY VERMONT AUTHOR KELLY SARGENT

Vermont State-Owned Historic Sites bring history to life through kids’ workshops, guided nature and history hikes, historical reenactments, hands-on exhibits and special events for all ages!

• JUNE 18 - Nature Play with Little Ones at Justin Morrill Homestead

• JUNE 23 & JULY 21 - Silent Film Nights at Calvin Coolidge Historic Site

• JULY 8 & 9 - Revolutionary War Encapment at the Hubbardton Battlefield

• AUGUST 6 - Hike into History at Mount Independence

• AUGUST 12 & 13 - Bennington Battle Weekend Celebration at Bennington Battle Monument

“SUNDAE MAN”

anxious families

decades, though his reason

mystery.

concerning

loved

JUST FOR

Coloring Contest!

Three winners will each receive four passes, four Champ creemees and animal stickers from ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Send Kids VT your work of art by August 1. Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 5 and younger, (2) ages 6-8 and (3) ages 9-12. Winners will be named in the Fall issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com with “coloring contest” in the subject line, or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

SPONSORED BY:

Each age category winner will receive:

• 4 ECHO passes

• 4 Champ creemees

• ECHO animal stickers!

The judges were bear-y impressed by all of the imaginative submissions we received for the Spring issue’s coloring contest. Beatrice, 12, projected a socially conscious message for an endangered species. Colby, 7, captivated us with a pawtrait of a bear that included splendid attention to detail. Ellie, 4, enchanted the judges with spectacular use of color on a rainbow-eyed bear adjacent to a bright castle on the hillside. Thanks to everyone who entered! We can’t wait to see what creations you’ll come up with next.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

MIRABELLE

Emma, 5 Burlington

RAINBOW BEAR

La’Mya Patterson, 2 Essex

LUCY Lucy, 4 Cabot

THREE STRIPES PANDA

Sawyer Slack, 3 Elmore

PANDA PATCH

Walter Jackson, 6 Colchester

PANDA ZOO

Rowan Crawford, 8 Jericho

PANDA FOUND FRIENDS

Scarlett Elsa Lalonde, 6 Johnson

RAINBOW PANDA

Georgette Villeneuve, 7 Bakersfield

BEAR WANTS WINTER

Seraphina Leafe, 11 Lyndonville

WELCOME SPRING COLORS

Adriana Bibeau, 12 Essex

PARADISE PANDA

Lucinda Crosby-Tilton, 9 Burlington

PATIENT PANDA

Scout Gray, 9 Middlebury

TOP TITLES THE CLOUD FARTING BEAR River Monte, 8, Burlington

WORLD FULL OF COLOR Jack Eaton, 10, Worcester

SUPER TEDDY Sawyer

Coping With Eco-Anxiety

BY NAOMI ALFINI

Feeling overwhelmed by the looming threat of climate change? You might be suffering from climate or ecoanxiety. The newish term encompasses both specific concerns, such as relentless heat waves and droughts, and general distress over mass extinction and an uninhabitable planet.

My own climate anxiety ratcheted up in 2017. Before the pandemic, we were already spiraling at a breakneck pace through natural disasters and man-made catastrophes — waves of refugees, bitter social divisions and hate were seemingly on the rise worldwide.

I was living in Vermont’s wet green mountains with my husband and toddler, closely following news of the alarming wildfires in California, my childhood home. For weeks, my beloved redwood groves and vineyard communities burned while my loved ones slept in shifts with evacuation bags at the door.

And yet for many folks around me in Vermont, the climate crisis still felt far away. In the dissonance between what they couldn’t imagine and what I couldn’t stop imagining, I began to feel a deep sense of isolation and desperation. Not surprisingly, this affected my parenting.

My climate anxiety showed up as doom-scrolling on my phone, insomnia, distraction, irritability and frequent crying — or, more aptly, intrusive crying. I’d be OK, making breakfast or reading bedtime stories, and then suddenly I’d be choking on tears.

It was hard to be fully present for my 4-year-old during that time. For example, when he chattered excitedly about the rainforest — his new obsession, which coincided with a tsunami of wildfires in the Amazon — I’d shut down. Usually, I latch onto his interests and encourage them to support his growth and development, but I couldn’t match his enthusiasm for the topic.

Another example: I couldn’t stay present with my family during special occasions like winter holidays, consumed as I was with worry for climate refugees and asylum seekers trapped along the southern U.S. border. Regardless of whether I managed to seem fine to everyone else, I wasn’t authentically

accompanying my loved ones in joy and connection.

The cumulative effect of my anxiety was a pervasive sense of stress that made it hard for me to show up as my best self, particularly during the daily moments of mundane parenting challenges, such as a tricky morning transition. The whole process of dressing a toddler, finding my keys and remembering to bring all the things became messier and more fraught when my subconscious was simultaneously questioning my child’s odds in a future of scarcity and conflict.

Early childhood experts know that young children develop skills to regulate their emotions through the experience of processing big feelings with their primary

and actions in relation to climate change, parenting and stewardship. There, I learned to think about emotional regulation as a kind of hinge.

The hinge theory, according to GGN facilitator Kristin Klingelhofer, basically goes like this:

In our brains we have the limbic system, which keeps track of whether we are safe, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for higher-order thinking and learning. The limbic system gets priority. If it senses danger, it cuts off the circuit to the prefrontal cortex, which can send us into flight/fright/freeze mode — also referred to in the theory as “flipping your lid.”

According to Klingelhofer, this approach to understanding regulation will help us raise children who will be better able to cope with the uncertainty of climate change.

It’s not that kids won’t experience distress. They will — they’re living in the same world we are. “The goal can’t be that we avoid hardship; that’s too fragile,” she says. “The goal is that, with this way to help children heal and get back to their brain, it will help them be resilient, empathetic, creative, clear-thinking people who can plan long-term and even be joyful in the face of it.”

caregivers. We do it aloud with them — by pausing and breathing to still any unhelpful impulses, naming emotions, interpreting the situation with balance, practicing apologies — and we also model it as we process our own big feelings. So what did my struggle to regulate my climate anxiety mean for my child, and what could I do about it?

I set out to explore this question last year through a fellowship with Vermont’s Association for the Education of Young Children, a professional organization for early childhood educators, focused on the subject of young children and our planet. The journey brought me to Good Grief Network, a nonprofit that creates “spaces to gather in community, process the painful feelings and realities of our time, and commit to meaningful action.”

I joined one of GGN’s online support groups and began spending a couple of hours each week with 12 other parents for guided discussions about ways to understand and manage our emotions

To close the lid and reconnect the prefrontal cortex, we need to strengthen the hinge. The goal is to make the act of closing the lid, or returning to regulation, feel more familiar. A strong hinge would enable me to accept the full range of my feelings instead of being paralyzed by them.

In fact, the hinge is our built-in healing mechanism. Experiencing and expressing our feelings in appropriate ways allows us to move through them. What does it look like to strengthen one’s hinge? For adults, it means finding spaces to process our vulnerable feelings with other adults or by ourselves, whether we need to cry, talk, make art, physically move or meditate. These are things we need to do without our children so that we’re better able to regulate when we’re with them. If we give these things to ourselves, then we’re more available to give our children loving limits within which they can release their pentup feelings and return to their connected brains.

“They’ll flip their lids,” she adds, “but after borrowing our calmness in the moment so many times, they’ll learn to access their own over time.” That’s how working through our climate anxiety can help our kids learn to manage their own.

“This is some of the deepest activism we can be doing as parents, as early childhood educators,” Klingelhofer says. “This is laying the groundwork that is going to be so important for whatever we’re going to be facing in the future. I would call it climate activism.”

For me, the thought that by working on my own regulation skills I’m doing something important to help the children in my care deal with a future of climate change makes me feel better, and less anxious. For now, I’m focusing less on fear about passing anxiety to children and more on hope to nurture their regulation skills by tending to my own. K

Find Alfini’s full blog from the VTAEYC Exchange Fellowship at vtaeyc.org/tag/ Naomi-Alfini.

A mom and early childhood educator explains what she learned about managing her fear of the climate crisis

I’d be OK, making breakfast or reading bedtime stories, and then suddenly I’d be choking on tears.

Fin and Naomi studying a monarch butterfly