From left, Commissioner Doug Bent of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs teaches Susie Marchand and her daughter Taylor Marchand, 12, of Charlotte to kindle fire by striking sparks from flint and steel into a bed of tinder made from natural fibers during the Abenaki Heritage Weekend at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes, Vermont.
From left, Sophie Leiter, drives a rescue toboggan during a high angle glade rescue training with the Middlebury College Ski Patrol. Working in unison under the supervision of student-elected ski patrol Co-President, Jesse Klinck, the patrol team belays a simulated patient from above, keeping tension on the toboggan rope, while Leiter uses the "Falling Leaf" technique to guide the patient gracefully through a steep section of glades under the Allen trail. Trainings in many varying scenarios of mountain rescue happen every weekend at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl.
As a Nor'easter raged outside, student members of the Middlebury College Ski Patrol passed their time on duty in the warmth of the patrol hut at the top of the mountain, playing Bananagrams, and reading about the history of the Black Plague. Monitoring the radio — on standby — those on duty are always at the ready to assist in an emergency. Sydney Shuster, reading at left, grew up as a competitive mogul skier. Discussing her reasoning for attending Middlebury College, she stated "Skiing was such a big part of my life, that I knew I needed to be somewhere where I could do it all the time. Ski patrol has given me an awesome opportunity to get medically trained and find some of the best skiers on campus and shred with them." Shortly after she had passed the ski patrol training course, Sydney's mother, a former member of the U.S. Ski Team, contracted viral meningitis while they were traveling together. Sydney reflected "Being able to handle myself in those sort of situations and knowing that I can help people in an emergency is really important to me."
Nicole Nelson of the band Dwight and Nicole, also known as "The Voice of Vermont", performs God Bless America during the finale of the Vermont Women's March at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
A protester holds a sign on the Vermont State House steps during the Vermont Women's March at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
Bill McKibben, a founder of 350.org, addresses a standing room only joint legislative session at the Vermont State House in Montpelier, providing testimony regarding the urgency of atmospheric carbon increases and discussing how climate change issues may effect Vermont.
Revelers at 350.org's Moving Planet event pose for a group portrait at the Vermont State House in Montpelier, Vermont. Moving Planet is part of a larger global climate action organized by 350.org to raise awareness about the need to move beyond dependence on fossil fuels due to increasing carbon dioxide concentration in Earth's atmosphere.
Senator Bernie Sanders addresses a crowd gathered at the Vermont State House during the People's Climate March Solidarity Rally in Montpelier. Leading up to the event, Sanders advocated for a unified response to address climate change in national media coverage. The main People's Climate March had an estimated turnout of 400,000 in Washington, D.C.
From left, Commissioner Doug Bent of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, and Chief Shirly Hook of the Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation, applaud after Vermont Governor Phil Scott signs Proclamation 19–043 at the Vermont State House in Montpelier. The proclamation acknowledges historical Abenaki contributions to Vermont, and affirms the heritage of four Abenaki tribes recognized by Vermont state government, in honor of Abenaki Recognition and Heritage Week.
As unseasonable snow falls on May 9th in Barnard, Vermont, Will Langdon takes a series of soil samples from farm fields using a soil plug extractor. Mixing samples from each field together in a pre-washed bucket, he establishes an average soil consistency for each field. The soil samples will be shipped to the University of Vermont Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab for scientific analysis.
From left, Nicole Stuart and Mark Duntemann gather litter found near the banks of Oxbow Road during Green Up Day in Royalton, Vermont.
Amina Bryan, second from left, of South Royalton is cleansed by Violet Cortes, visiting from Big Pine, California, during a sage smudging ceremony that preceded the raising of the Sioux Flag on the campus of Vermont Law School (VLS). The VLS chapter of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) honored Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault II, with an honorary degree from VLS, acknowledging his environmental stewardship. Jacklyn Bryan, mother of Amina, and outgoing Vice President of NALSA, stated, "I left my home on my small reservation in California to come to VLS because I knew they could give me the skills to advocate for underrepresented minority groups like mine. My tribe has unresolved water rights with the City of Los Angeles, and I hope to one day to be a part of that resolution. Coming to law school with this mission made it easy to connect with the issues at Standing Rock. The opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline lead by Standing Rock Sioux was joined by many tribes because so many could relate to a potential violations of the tribe's clean water."
Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault II poses for a portrait on the banks of the White River in South Royalton, after the Sioux Flag raising ceremony on the campus of Vermont Law School (VLS). The VLS chapter of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) honored Archambault with an honorary degree from VLS acknowledging his environmental stewardship, in leading the opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault II, speaking at center, lectures to a standing room only crowd in South Royalton, after the Sioux Flag raising ceremony on the campus of Vermont Law School (VLS). The VLS chapter of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) honored Archambault with an honorary degree from VLS acknowledging his environmental stewardship, in leading the opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during the South Royalton High School Graduation in Royalton, Vermont.
Revelers gather on Green Up Day in Waitsfield, Vermont, for the 350.org Connect The Dots event, part of a global climate action to highlight the urgency of climate change.
Jay Chute, center, and Dani Angel, right, of Northhampton, Massachusetts, walk along the bottom face of the waterfall at Moss Glen Falls in Granville, Vermont, near the top of the White River watershed. The couple said they first met on the sidewalk in Northhampton, then were serendipitously reunited while traveling separately on another sidewalk in Roanoke, Virginia.
Matthew Brault, left, passes pliers to his grandfather Alain Brault, while Jaques Martell, of Berlin, Vermont, shares a joke with them at the Brookfield Floating Bridge in Brookfield, Vermont. Martell and the elder Brault have been friends since childhood, and recently convened again at the first reunion of their 1964 eight grade class at the Able Mountain Campground in Braintree, Vermont. Martell recently moved to Florence, South Carolina, from his hometown Orange, Vermont, to stay near his children. He jokingly mused about his reason for returning to Vermont each summer since, saying, "I'm a hill person, not a flatlander." Matthew Brault, whose team just placed second in his home state's junior bass fishing tournament, said he enjoys the fishing in Vermont much more than in his home state, remarking that Vermont's geography creates more ideal fishing conditions, including, "Cooler weather, clearer water."
Riders participating in the The Ranger begin the steep ascent into the hills of Tunbridge, Vermont, near the beginning of the bicycle race fundraiser. Organized by Alliance for Vermont Communities, the event was hosted at the Tunbridge Fair Grounds in an effort to raise awareness surrounding New Vistas planned development in Tunbridge, and neighboring White River Valley towns.
A rider participating in the The Ranger bicycle race fundraiser passes a farm field while ascending into the hills of Tunbridge, Vermont. Organized by Alliance for Vermont Communities, the event was hosted at the Tunbridge Fair Grounds in an effort to raise awareness surrounding New Vistas planned development in Tunbridge, and neighboring White River Valley towns.
From left, Lisa McCrory and Carl Russell of Earthwise Farm & Forest in Bethel present during the Rural Vermont 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Bethel Town Hall in Bethel, Vermont.
Volunteer firefighters douse charred debris with water pumped from Silver Lake in Barnard, while others work in teams of two, surveying the interior of the home in search of any remaining hot spots after extinguishing a house fire. Departments from Barnard, Broad Brook, Bethel, and South Royalton, responded to the fire at 6243 Route 12, adjacent to Barnard's First Universalist Church. Barnard Fire Chief Scott Mills was optimistic that the structure might be repaired, glad that no one was injured, and said "Everyone did a fantastic job," in their efforts working together during the emergency.
Amber DeBord, center, of Hartford, Vermont, has visited the Tunbridge World's Fair with her family and friends every year of her life. She reminisced, "It's a family tradition," while waiting in line for the Air Force One ride.
Members of the congregation proceed to light candles, sharing light from candle to candle, during Christmas Eve services at the East Barnard Church in Barnard, Vermont.
A protester places a candle on the Vermont State House lawn after the Rise Up and Stand Solidarity Vigil in Montpelier, Vermont.
