Author Archives: Megan Brakeley

Garden Volunteer Hours at the Knoll

Hello! We’re excited to share the spring schedule for Garden Volunteer Hours at the Knoll, which will begin Monday, April 3rd. Please share if you can—better yet, come and join us (and bring a friend!)

Spring 2023 Garden Volunteer Hours will start Monday, April 3rd and run until ~ May 12th* 

More information is at go/knollhours to help get some ideas about what happens in the garden in the early spring, what to bring, and more. This is also our way to communicate “live” status updates about cancellations due to weather, etc.

All are welcome to join us: students, faculty, staff, community members. We hope you will!

Thinking about hosting an event at the Knoll? We have updated the information about Event Hosting for this spring, which lives at go/knollevents.

Here’s to the springing!

Megan and the Knoll intern crew

Pick Your Own Flowers at the Knoll

Zinnias, dahlias, snapdragons, oh my!

All are welcome to the Knoll (located at 152 VT Route 125) to cut your own flowers. Meet the summer interns if you drop by between 9am – 3:30pm, or come at your leisure and find the cut your own “station” outside the garden shed. We provide pruners; suggested donation $0.25/stem.

Visitors are also welcome to explore the new Grazing Garden bed (snacking encouraged), learn about research happening at the farm this summer/fall, walk the labyrinth, and enjoy a stroll through the garden.

(Please note that Cut Your Own Flowers will not be available the 8/29-31 for an event.)

Page One Literacy Program’s Annual Halloween Party

Middlebury College’s Page One Literacy Program invites families to come to our annual Halloween Event on Sunday October 29th from 12-2 p.m. at the Swift House Inn.

Come play games, decorate cookies and pumpkins, read spooky stories and celebrate Halloween. Costumes are encouraged for all ages! Coffee and cider will be provided. We ask that all minors be accompanied by an adult.

Local Events this Fall: Saturday, 9/16 and Sunday, 9/24

Fall in Middlebury is abuzz with action! Check out some of these fun local events open to all:

Saturday, September 16: Community Jamboree celebrating ACTR’s 25th year!

Middlebury, Vermont… A “Community Jamboree” will take place from 11am-2pm on Saturday, September 16th at the Mary Hogan Recreation Park in Middlebury.  There will be live music, family-friendly activities and free safety gear for bikers and pedestrians, including toddler helmets from Frog Hollow Bikes and flashing reflectors from ACTR. Entrance is free.

Community Jamboree was created by Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) who just turned 25, delivered its 2.3 millionth ride and merged with Stagecoach Transportation of Randolph.

Whether you stay for the party or not, please stop by with non-perishable donations for the Stuff-The-Bus food drive, which benefits local food shelves. Stuff-The-Bus donors will get a free ice cream cone and an earful of music performed by Full Share. Once at the Community Jamboree, maybe you’ll linger to meet the Pet Adoption Ambassadors with their four-legged friends; take a bocce tutorial from a Special Olympian; get your face painted by a Girl Scout; admire your child’s skills on the Bike-A-Palooza course, play games with local service organizations or grab a hot dog from the Middlebury Rotary Club’s concession stand.  Food concessions will be priced affordably and all other Community Jamboree offerings are free of charge.

Twenty-five years ago, ACTR had a handful of volunteer drivers who offered fee-based transportation services. Over time, it expanded its volunteer workforce, began serving senior meal sites, made all services more accessible, created 6 public bus routes, grew to a fleet of 21 buses, created 32 jobs and built a Community Transportation Center.

 

Note: the Middlebury Rec Park is located next to Mary Hogan Elementary School on Route 7 (about a 15 minute walk from campus!)

 

Sunday, September 24th: Middlebury Rotary’s First Annual Fall Festival

Middlebury Rotary is hosting their first annual Fall Festival, Sunday, September 24, 2-6 pm on the outdoor lawn behind the College’s Center for the Arts.
Tickets in advance are $10 for adults and may be purchased at the Middlebury Inn, Countryside Carpet & Paint, and Holden Insurance, $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit local organizations in Addison County.

Community Friends seeks area participants

Community Friends, now in its 57th year, pairs children who attend Addison County schools (ages 6-12) with Middlebury College students in one-on-one mentoring relationships. Big brother and big sister pairs are matched based on factors like shared gender identity, interests, age, and transportation availability.

Optionally, mentees and mentors can select to be a part of Manos Unidas, a new wing of Community Friends in partnership with Juntos, a Middlebury College migrant farmworker-student solidarity organization. Manos Unidas matches children and mentors who identify as Latinx and/or Hispanic and would like to engage in mentoring relationships that celebrate and explore shared culture and identity.

All Community Friends and Manos Unidas pairs meet weekly during the academic year to spend time on campus. They might also go for a walk on the TAM, swim in the college pool, or share a meal. All participants also have the opportunity to attend monthly group events, like our annual pool party, an ice-cream making event, and an outdoor field day.

To sign up your child, please complete the Mentee Referral Form available at www.go.middlebury.edu/cf or speak with your child’s school guidance counselor about being referred. Please direct questions to Megan Brakeley at the Center for Community Engagement, mbrakeley@middlebury.edu or the student organization email: comfriends@middlebury.edu.

Please note: it may take a month or more to find the right match. At this time, we have an abundance of female-identifying mentors and no male mentors.

Connect with Community Members – Drop-in fun!

Welcome back for Winter Term, students!

Have interest in connecting with community members of all ages and abilities? Join CSAC, the Counseling Service of Addison County, in some of their open programming. Check out these drop-in opportunities to get to know our vibrant community– and have a lot of fun!

Mondays-

12:00 to 1:00 at 109 Catamount Park- MONDAY FUNDAY!

Bring a brown bag lunch, participate in games, conversation as well as arts and crafts.

Craft donations items are welcome! Bring an idea, a good friend and create something fun with good company!

 

Tuesdays –

11-12 at 109 Catamount Park, Sing-a-long!

Come join us for song and dance on Tuesdays at CSAC- bring an instrument and enthusiasm! Join us for an hour of singing and dancing!

 

Wednesdays – 

1-2 at The Rec Department on Creek Road, Open Gym!

This is a group of peers who enjoy games such as Frisbee, basketball and other indoor activities. Bring a game, a friend and a bottled water to stay hydrated!

3:15-4:30 at 109 Catamount Park, Reading Group

Multi-Level group of individuals that meet up and share a reading adventure together- everyone is a reader in this group! Join for a quick word game or stay for a chapter reading of the current book, WONDER, by Raquel J. Palacio

 

*Note: Catamount Park is off of Exchange Street in Middlebury. You can take the Tri-town Shuttle Bus (fare free) from Merchant’s row (across from Sabai Sabai) to get there.

Have questions or want to get involved? Contact Megan Brakeley at the CCE or Heather Goodale, Community Associates Service Coordinator at CSAC.