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History
The Rivendell Trails Asscoation (RTA)
is a 501c3 non-profit organization charged with the
mission to create and maintain the Cross-Rivendell Trail
as an educational and recreational resource.
The
Cross-Rivendell Trail was first proposed at a Project
Co-Seed conference in 1998. The Rivendell Interstate
School District (Fairlee, Vershire and West Fairlee
VT, and Orford, NH) was still only a concept when Sally
Tomlinson of Orford proposed a cross-district trail
as a way to tie the four towns together physically.
In December 2000, David Hooke of Vershire, who had long
experience with the Dartmouth Outing Club and the Appalachian
Trail, came aboard to lead the project. Jayson Seaman
of Orford, then External Programs Coordinator for Rivendell,
made the connections that permitted Rivendell Summer
Trail Crews to begin construction on the trail. Grants
obtained in 2001 allowed for construction of the Mt.
Cube Section and the planning of the Vermont route,
and with that the project was off and running. When
it became clear that the District needed additional
help to manage the trail over the long term, interested
townspeople formed the Rivendell
Trails Association (RTA) in 2003.
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The
Cross Rivendell Trail is managed through a unique
partnership between the Rivendell Trails Association
and the Rivendell
Interstate School District (RISD),
drawing upon the strength of each organization.
This
includes joint financial support for a part-time
Trail Coordinator position responsible for coordinating
trail and outreach efforts of the RTA as well as
opportunities for place-based education programs
within the RISD curriculum. |
The
RTA oversees the trail, maintains insurance coverage
for trail operations and landowners, sponsors events,
publishes newsletters, and provides information to the
public about the trail. The RTA has over 175 members
(including the 60 landowners who have generously given
permission for the trail) and a Board of 11, including
7 townspeople, 2 Rivendell teachers, and 2 Rivendell
students.
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