Summer Associate: Montpelier Parks and Trees VISTA Volunteer

The mission of the Montpelier Parks & Trees Department is to steward Montpelier's parks, trees, and natural spaces for the enjoyment and health of all. Some of our key focus areas include: -Flood recovery and resiliency: in 2023 the City experienced devastating flooding that impacted many of our Parks and natural resources. Since then our priorities have shifted to fixing and upgrading our natural resource to be more flood resilient. -Access to the outdoors and healthy lifestyles: we maintain over 500 acres of parks and 25+ miles of trails. These resources provide opportunities for all our residents to enjoy the outdoors and all the mental and physical benefits that accrue from spending time outside. -Economic Development: Our natural resources are also one of the key economic engines for the City of Montpelier. Part of our mission is to grow Montpelier¿s outdoor recreation economy and help the City have a more vibrant future. -Poverty alleviation: We provide summer youth employment opportunities for high schoolers. This opportunity provides valuable income for local youth, as well as training and exposure to a variety of fields including carpentry, trail building, arboriculture, and conservation. -Food security: Our Feast Farm program is targeted at providing food for our most food insecure neighbors. All the food we grow on the farm is donated to the food pantry and supplies much needed fresh produce.