Hinesburg Town Forest Tree Farm of the Year Celebration

Celebrate the Hinesburg Town Forest —Vermont’s 2026 Tree Farm of the Year!

Join us for a day in the woods celebrating this special community forest and the people who care for it. Through guided walks and a mountain bike tour, we’ll explore the forest’s wildlife, history, recreation, and active stewardship—and see firsthand how the Hinesburg Town Forest is being managed for multiple values and future generations. After a morning in the woods, we’ll gather back at Hinesburg Town Hall for lunch and the official Vermont Tree Farm of the Year Award presentation. There are options for all ages and interests.

Registration Details

Registration is limited, so sign-up soon to ensure your spot! There is a suggested donation of $25 per adult to help cover about 75% of event costs, but you can pay what you are able.

Register by September 11th.

Agenda

8:30–9:00 AM | Registration & Refreshments — Hinesburg Town Hall

9:00–9:30 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:30–10:00 AM | Travel to Trailheads by bus with Guides

10:00 AM–12:30 PM | Guided Walks, Woods Experiences & Mountain Bike Tour

12:30–1:00 PM | Return to Hinesburg Town Hall

1:00–2:00 PM | Luncheon (provided with registration)

2:00–2:30 PM | Vermont Tree Farm of the Year Award Presentation

Choose Your Morning Woods Experience

Walk #1: Forestry & Birding

Guides: Brandon Benedict, Chittenden County Forester; Harris Roen, Consulting Forester; Steve Hagenbuch, Audubon Vermont

Trailhead: Economu Road

Join us for a fun and educational walk through the Hinesburg Town Forest. Chittenden County Forester Brandon Benedict, Hinesburg Town Forest management plan author Harris Roen, and Senior Program Manager at Audubon Vermont Steve Hagenbuch will lead participants through diverse areas of the property. These include mixed northern hardwoods, Norway spruce plantations, and early successional habitat.

We will see forest management goals and implementation first-hand. These practices balance wildlife management, timber production, forest health, recreation and other factors. We'll also discover old cellar holes and other signs of former settlement. Hinesburg Town Forest was the first location used for Foresters for the Birds and has a long history of management for bird habitat. Steve will discuss bird habitat throughout and how active forest management can enhance these conditions. Come see this all first hand!

Walk #2: Reading the Forest — Exploring the History of the Land

Guides: Bob Heiser, Vermont Land Trust; Pat Mainer, Hinesburg Town Forest Committee

Trailhead: Hayden Hill West

Distance: ~2 miles, with 400ft of elevation gain

Every forest has a story. This walk will explore clues on the landscape that reveal how the land has changed over time and how its history continues to shape the forest we see today. We will discuss the human use of the Hinesburg Town Forest, acknowledging Native American land use, early settlement, the sheep boom and bust, and how modern dairying led to the abandonment of the "hill farms." We will also explain the creation of the Town Forest, past and present threats, management planning, and how the recent 2022 addition and conservation efforts led by the Vermont Land Trust shape its future.

Ride (not walk) #3: See the Forest on Wheels

Guide: Adam Morse, Fellowship of the Wheel

Trailhead: Hayden Hill East

Skill Level: Advanced intermediate to expert

Distance: Approximately 4–5 miles, with up to 1,000 feet of vertical ascent

Experience the Hinesburg Town Forest from a mountain biker’s perspective. Along the ride, we’ll make stops—not only to catch our breath!—to learn about the history of Fellowship of the Wheel and its partnership with the Hinesburg Town Forest on trail maintenance, recreation, and forest management. Participants will drive or carpool to the Hayden Hill East trailhead.

Walk #4: Reptile & Amphibian Exploration — Family Friendly!

Guides: Stevie Spencer and Kate Kelly, Town of Hinesburg

Trailhead: Lincoln Hill Road

Recommended Ages: 5+; younger children are welcome to participate as appropriate.

Bring the family and explore the places where forest and wetlands meet! We’ll search for, identify, and learn about amphibians and reptiles while exploring the different microhabitats they depend on. Along the way, we’ll learn how amphibians and reptiles move between habitats, keep an eye out for trees, birds, and other wildlife, and talk about ways families can improve wildlife habitat on their own land.