Champlain Area Trails Invites Next Generation to Connect with Nature

Pictures from the 2023 Champlain Valley Trailblazers event at DaCy Meadow Farm — Photo from the 2023 Champlain Valley Trailblazers event at DaCy Meadow Farm

Champlain Area Trails (CATS), an accredited land trust, invites the Champlain Valley’s up-and-coming trailblazers and conservationists to connect with nature at a special event on July 24. CATS, founded in 2009, creates and maintains over 98 miles of trails, protects 992 acres of land, and has hosted hundreds of educational events, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

On Wednesday, July 24th, from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM, CATS will host its second annual “Champlain Valley Trailblazers” meet-up at the Twin Valley Outdoor Education Center in Westport. The event brings together individuals under 45, including nonprofit leaders, business owners, agro-tourism workers, young professionals, interns, and seasonal workers interested in trails and conservation in the Champlain Valley.

The evening will feature family-friendly food, hiking, and a game of Capture the Flag. Participants will be able to network with like-minded individuals, learn about CATS’ work protecting land and building trails, and find ways to get involved in the organization’s mission.

“CATS has been working for fifteen years to provide recreational opportunities on trails and save land in the Champlain Valley,” said Torey Patenaude, the Community Engagement and Outreach Manager at CATS. “Our ‘Champlain Valley Trailblazers’ event offers young people in the Champlain Valley of the Adirondacks the opportunity to connect, explore our initiatives, and become part of the movement to support trails and land conservation in our beautiful region. We are excited to invite the next generation of trailblazers and conservationists to our organization’s work.”

The event is free and open to individuals under 45 years old. Registration and more information is available on CATS’ website at champlainareatrails.com.

Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is a non-profit organization, begun in 2009, which creates and maintains hiking and cross-country ski trails in the Champlain Valley that link communities, connect people with nature, and promote economic vitality. In its short history, CATS has developed 35 miles of trails that when added to existing trails, gets it half-way toward the long-envisioned goal of a 30-mile trail loop between Westport and Essex. CATS will extend its trails to neighboring towns and eventually connect them to trails in the Adirondack Mountains, Vermont, and Quebec. Learn more on the CATS website.