VWS Great Blue Heron overnights are this week. We are celebrating the efforts of participants to prepare for this experience by sharing a story of the day focusing on shelter building! Story of the Day: After sharing gratitudes, a tinder bundle was burst and then coals from the first fire were brought into the second to get it going with birch bark. While all this was happening, we were sipping on birch sap. The main goal of the day was to work on the structures for the overnight. Two people got to work setting up a whole new shelter by lashing a beam across two trees and leaning branches against it. Another person whipped up an impressive lean-to that has debris on it. While another duo lashed together two tripods across which one person put a beam and began leaning sticks. Another person is renovating an already-existing shelter that's been used for years past. We can't wait to hear how the structures feel on the overnight! (fb)

Peacemaking is a forever practice. In fractious, chaotic times we can forget that there are ways of being together that restore relationships, generate new solutions out of our conflicts, and help us to help each other. Join Amy Hyatt over the last weekend in April for Applied Peacemaking and Restorative Relationships. April 26 – 27, 2025 https://vermontwildernessschool.org/peacemaking/ (fb)