As you arrive here in the Mad River Valley, the most prominent feature you cannot miss is our lush green mountains. We have an abundance of nature’s splendor, wide open vistas and breathtaking views as far as the eye can see. Do not miss the opportunity when visiting in the summer and fall to witness this stunning landscape. From the famous Warren Falls to the secret swimming spots only the locals know, we will let … [Read more...]
Preparing for Summer
For those who aren’t familiar with the term, Mud Season is Vermont’s unofficial ‘fifth season’, falling between winter and spring. Sunnier days, melting snow, and April showers cause New England’s rural dirt roads and hiking trails to become soft and mucky. Despite the inevitable muddy boots, the season is as much a sign of spring as green grass, blue skies, and chirping birds. Just as winter is fading away, … [Read more...]
Snowshoeing in the Wilderness
“Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again. And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit” UNKNOWN It is fortunate that the Vermont wilderness offers a wide array of activities and interesting … [Read more...]
A Tour of the Winter Facilities
During the summer, True North students are making their way through the beautiful green mountains in a nomadic wilderness therapy model. As the seasons change, however, True North students find themselves at Windridge, our winter base camp. The use of the camp’s buildings and infrastructure is crucial to the operations of our winter program. Upon arriving to Windridge, the first building students and guests … [Read more...]
Young Adult Winter Activities
Staying Active Wintertime in Vermont provides an endless amount of opportunities to stay active and continue to explore the outdoor world. At True North, our young adults go on various day trips and multi-day expeditions that help to develop a love for the quiet beauty of a snowy winter day. From snowshoeing along a frozen river to downhill and cross-country skiing, our young adult groups find plenty of ways to … [Read more...]
Resilience in the Cold
After particularly cold nights in the Vermont hills, mornings can be noisy. Trees creak and snap as the first sunlight reflects off of the bright snow and starts to melt ice particles. Occasional wind gusts nudge branches at the tops of trees into motion, dropping a bit of snow near the top, which upsets the next snowy branch below, escalating step by step into an avalanche of powder thundering down out of the pines … [Read more...]
Winter Activities in the Mad River Valley
When you first arrive here in the Mad River Valley, it’s hard to miss that Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas hover above us. They offer the most obvious winter activity, but what if you are not here to ski? Luckily our unique local establishments offer everything from fine dining, to shopping, to adventures on Icelandic horses! What, in Vermont? Yes, the nearby Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm offers year-round … [Read more...]
New Year’s Neuroscience: Goal Setting
As the calendar year winds down, we acknowledge one of the most widely accepted and practiced ceremonies in cultures throughout the world: marking the passage of time by setting intentions for the coming year. New year’s resolutions are grounded in a belief that growth and maturation are not only possible, but within our grasp. We look to the past, recognize our human imperfections, and then turn to the future, … [Read more...]
Celebrating the Winter Holidays
Just a few days after the longest night of the year, the holiday season acts as a beacon of light to our True North family. This morning, members of our friendly staff worked together in the kitchen preparing a home cooked meal to celebrate the holidays. As they moved about indoors, the final snowflakes from last night’s storm danced their way to the thick white blanket that covers the rolling Vermont hills … [Read more...]
True North Celebrates Thanksgiving
As sunlight made its way to the floor of the Mad River Valley, and the students were just waking up, True North staff bustled around the kitchen of the Inn at the Windridge Winter Campus making last minute Thanksgiving preparations. Hens were cooked, stuffing was heated, gravy was poured and even handmade whipped cream with a touch of Vermont maple syrup was crafted. In the days leading up to this annual feast, … [Read more...]
True North Prepares for Winter
While the squirrels, chipmunks, and other woodland creatures hurry and scurry to prepare for the winter season, the trained eye can also find the TN Operations Department scampering through the woods and trails of Windridge, our Winter Campus. Sprucing up the many buildings that are used throughout the winter, for everything from workshops to graduations, is the first of many winter preparations. Six … [Read more...]
Senses Come Alive
Like all of the seasons in New England, Fall is a time for change. When the seasons change so do our behaviors and our senses perk up. These transitions can be a time to reflect on the previous season and get excited for the upcoming season. This is my favorite time of year to be in the woods of Vermont. Vermont is more than 75% forests and many of them are extremely wooded. As the leaves fall from the trees, the … [Read more...]
End of Summer YA Journal
End of Summer YA Journal As the summer comes to a close, we begin to enjoy cool autumn nights and beautiful Vermont scenery before we prepare for the winter season. Simultaneously, we begin the process of reflecting on the summer, re-tracing our steps through the forests and lakes that we hiked, canoed, and climbed through all summer long. With this in mind, we look back at some of the expeditions that our Young … [Read more...]
