Summer In Your Backyard
COVID-19 Notice
Please note that in order to follow the state mandated safety guidelines, “Summer In Your Backyard” (SIYBY) staff will implement safety precautions such as morning health check ins, suggested physical distance and keeping groups of individuals under the number of 25 (max 10 registered campers per day). We will stick to being outside during our time together. We will only allow children inside to use the bathroom. Therefore if there is rain, camp for the day will be cancelled. Parents and caretakers of participants will meet with SIYBY staff at the entrance to the walkway at the community building, where health screening will take place. Adults and children are required to wear a mask at this point. While outside, children will not be required to wear a mask unless we are in a situation where keeping physically distanced is difficult. Click the button below for our Health & Safety Protocol.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Per Vermont Department of Health requirements: Children who arrive from out-of-state need to quarantine for 14 days or be tested at day 7 before entering childcare, summer programs or afterschool programs.
2020 Summer Schedule
Times: 10am to Noon
Where: Outside Community Room at Safford Commons Way, Woodstock VT
Week One:
Monday July 27: Fun with Amy (arts, crafts etc)
Tuesday July 28: Terrific Tuesday (details coming)
Week Two:
Monday August 3: Mindful Monday: (mindfulness with Susan Mordecai from OHF)
Tuesday August 4: Artistree (Finnie)
Week Three
Monday August 10: NPS – Hike up Prosper Trail to the Pogue with NPS Ranger
Tuesday August 11: Live Birds with VINS (Vins 10:30 for 45 min program)
Norman Williams Public Librarian will also read to us each day for last half an hour.
There will be a limit of 10 children per day
Registration is required.
To Register – click here: https://bit.ly/2020summerinyourbackyard
Back-To-School Initiative
Back-to-School Sponsorship
Heading Back-to-School or going to school for the first time can be exciting and stressful for both the children and the parents. We want the children in our community to head back to school feeling confident and excited for the year ahead and also ease a little stress for the families!
Through our work in the Community and our “Summer in our Backyard” initiative, we anticipate the need to help 10 incredible kids get ready to go back to school!
We would like to take these children shopping for their Back-to-School goodies; such as backpack, lunch box, water bottle, stationery, shoes, a back-to school outfit and enjoy a meal out!
How Can You Help?
We are asking for sponsorship to help fund this initiative at any level that you are comfortable with. We estimate the cost to be around $150 for each child.
We are also looking for volunteers who enjoy spending time with children, to join Geraldine on the shopping trip days! Days and times to be determined. Trips will be with about 2 children at at time and you only need to commit to one shopping trip! More if you like Please contact Geraldine if you are interested.
We are accepting pledges, checks that you can drop off at the church or during the offering on Sunday (please note if it is specifically for “Back-to-School”) or you can donate online through our PayPal account. Click here for PayPal or visit www.northchapelvt.org and look in the footer for our Donation Button.
Please help us raise the full $1,500 for these 10 children by the date the kids go back to school: Wednesday August 28th!! The countdown is on!
Please help us to really make a direct impact for these 10 children right here in our community that need the help!
Sponsorship Options as follows:
Complete “Back-to-School” Package $150: includes backpack, lunch box, water bottle, stationary, shoes, back-to school outfit and lunch while out
Clothing: $40
Backpack: $30
Shoes: $30
Lunch box and Water bottle: $25
Lunch: $15 (enjoy a meal out with Geraldine while shopping)
Stationary: $10
You can donate online via PayPal Today or send a check to:
North Chapel
7 Church Street, Woodstock VT 05091
Note: Back-To-School
Strengthening Families, Building Community
Strengthening Families, Building Community, A Project of the North Chapel
Vision: One community where all can thrive.
Mission: To provide experiences, relationships, and resources that advance equal access to holistic wellness for all within the broader Woodstock community–especially children, youth, and families–by working in collaboration with partner organizations and networks.
NOTE:
Since Geraldine’s departure the Ottauquechee Health Foundation in conjunction with Mount Ascutney Hospital have worked to keep many of the programs started at North Chapel alive for the wider community.
Strengthening Families/ Building Community Monthly Reports can be found here.
Strengthening Families, Building Community Brochure
From Geraldine Fowler - Outreach Coordinator - retired
In my 10 plus years of working closely with children and families in our community, what is clear to me is that in order to support our children as they learn and grow it is important that we look to the whole family. The idea behind the Strengthening Families framework, is to increase family strengths, enhance child development and at the very minimum reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect but with a goal of children and youth growing to be thriving, healthy young adults.
We can do this by Building on 5 Protective Factors. While the North Chapel Outreach Program may not be able to directly implement programing across all of these protective factors, it is important that we understand them and are aware of what is being offered in our community, help families access these resources and where applicable work with the community in filling any needs that arise.
The 5 Protective Factors include
Parent Resilience: Helping parents find ways to manage stress and function well when faced with challenges, adversity and trauma
Social Connections: Assist families in creating positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support
Knowledge of parenting and child development: Ensure that parents understand child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development
Concrete support in times of need: Does the family have access to concrete support and services that address their needs and help minimize stress caused by challenges
Social and emotional competence of children: Can we assist families in making use of opportunities for family and child interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions and establish and maintain relationships
At its heart, Strengthening Families is about how families are supported to build key protective factors that enable children to thrive.
Over the last 2 years, we have been getting to know the community and looking to see what is already being offered and where the needs and gaps may be. Essentially we have been planting seeds and seeing what takes root.
A few of our programs include:
Weekly after school arts and crafts at the Norman Williams Public Library
Afterschool Snacks at the Library
Summer in your Backyard at Safford Commons
Coed Separation and Divorce Support Group
“The Stocking Project”: Holiday gifts for children in need
FREE the Coats! A Woodstock Community Coat Swap
In addition to programing, we have been committed to understanding the needs, resources within the community and working closely with community partners. This is done through representation on the following groups and networks:
Health & Wellness Network (Windsor Central Supervisory Union area)
We are a collaborative network that takes action to address the needs, health, and well-being [of people who live, work, and receive services] in the greater WCSU area.WCSU Youth Risk Prevention Network: project BEST SELF – Strengthening youth through community collaboration.
Woodstock Visioning: Steering Task Force
As an essentially only parent of two younger children, I know first hand both how isolating and stressful it is to bring up children in this community, but I am also aware that the needs of many are not always visible. Families who need support are not only the ones who live in poverty but also are possibly the families who are new to the area and looking for friends and peer interaction, or families who are separated during the week due to out of town work obligations, single parent households, those struggling with aging parents or going through a divorce and many who are affected by the opiod crisis. I am also acutely aware of how blessed we are to live in a community that does offer so many opportunities for children and families. Thank you for supporting our Strengthening Families Program!
Our Supporters
Thank you to the following organizations and people who have helped us along the way, in various forms!
ArtisTree Community Arts Center
Norman Williams Public Library
MBR National Historical Park
Woodstock Athletic Center – Carly Pizzani
Plymouth Cheese Company
Woodstock Community Food Shelf
Twin Pines Housing Authority
Woodstock Farmers Market
Social Justice Actions
It all begins with an idea.
North Chapel: A History of Social Action
Carbon Neutral Task Force
Here, Alex Reisterer is finishing the last space needing insulation on the ground floor of the church.
North Chapels Carbon Neutral Project is still underway.
Since 2014 members of our Congregation have pledged to make our Church Carbon Neutral by 2020. In 2014 and 15 we planted the Permaculture garden and installed 5 nut trees and 6 berry bushes in the backyard to help create some carbon offsets. Each time there has been construction on the attached structures to the Sanctuary we have done our best to insulate the walls and upgrade the windows.
In 2020 we received a grant for $17,000. $10,000. of that grant was to be matched by our Church Community. We were able to match the grant, giving us extra funds to finish all that was on our list to help make us carbon neutral. All 39 lights in the Sanctuary were replaced with LED lights and the walls of the attached structures to the Sanctuary were fully insulated. The two remaining tasks to do on our list are putting another layer of insulation on the ceiling of the Sanctuary, and installing 6 ceiling fans in the Sanctuary. We hope to have this done in the next few months.
Our Permaculture Garden
The North Chapel established a permaculture garden in the space between the church office and the parsonage in 2014. It is thriving today thanks to the committed volunteers.
Strengthening Families and Building Community
North Chapel: A Timeline
1998: Nurtured the birth of Change the World Kids and continue to support their operations.
2005: Co-led Woodstock’s Affordable Housing Initiative that led to the creation of Safford Commons.
2007: For a decade, supported six children in a Cambodian orphanage run by the monks of Life and Hope Association.
2007: Began a church-based environmental activity that grew to become Sustainable Woodstock.
2011-18: Provided direct Hurricane Relief and Support following Irene, (Woodstock 2011), Sandy (New York 2012), Harvey (Texas 2017) and Maria (Puerto Rico 2017).
2018: Initiated Strengthening Families, Building Community as a series of local programs.
2018, 2019: Attended statewide rallies and worked toward safer communities with GunSense VT and Extinction Rebellion.
2020: Following the death of George Floyd, North Chapel members and friends created the display on our front lawn and lead local and regional demonstrations, vigils, and events.
GunSense rally on the front lawn of the State Capital. 2018
Anne Macksoud, Stephen Leslie, and Anne Dean get ready to partake in a rally at the State House organised by Extinction Rebellion. 2019
Memorializing Black lives in front of North Chapel. 2020
Change the World Kids demonstrate on the Green in Woodstock. 2020
Government and Spiritual leaders on the Green in Woodstock, 2020.
A team stands atop the debris left from the house behind them in the wake of Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island. Winter 2012
GunSense rally on the front lawn of the State Capital. 2018
Stephen Leslie and his horse draw attention from Extinction Rebellion rally participants.
Judith Taylor at a rally and vigil on the Woodstock Green in the wake of the death of George Floyd. 2020.
Praying for change.
We had the opportunity to show our solidarity and our unity at Vail Field. The community came together to lay out a “Heart of Flowers” organized by Jay Kelly. 2020.
“The Heart of Flowers”
Poem By Wendy Ann Smith
A Queen Ann’s lace border unfurls
as the foliage heart fills a field.
This symbol is richly outlined by
fearlessly blooming flowers:
poppies of remembrance
rhododendrons of courage
awareness from the Bleeding Hearts
for the black lives taken;
Togetherness exudes from peonies,
contemplations by lilies of the field
and the compassionate daisies.
All are colorfully seeking peace
in their search for love and healing.
Social Justice Initiatives
It all begins with an idea.
“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” - Dr. Cornel West
Please see the dozens and dozens of links at the bottom of this page to see different ways you can become involved in the important work of a wide variety of local and national organizations devoted to social justice.
The Seven UU Principles
We strive to offer opportunities for our church community to participate in local, regional, and national events, and to share information about causes, action opportunities, organizations, and publications which relate to upholding our Seven UU Principles.
I. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
II. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
III. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
IV. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
V. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
VI. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
VII. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
A History of Social Justice Activists
North Chapel has a history of offering opportunities for our church community, encouraging active participation in local, regional, and national events, and sharing information about causes, action opportunities, organizations, and publications which relate to upholding our Seven UU Principals. To read more about our past efforts, click the button below.
Climate Justice - Embracing Solutions Together
Our North Chapel Climate Justice section explores how we ALL can be part of the Climate Solution: Individually * in small & large groups at church * in wider communities * in our state * nationally * globally
“If you want to plan for one year, plant rice. If you want to plan for 10 years plant trees. If you want to plant for 100 years educate children.” –Confucius
Climate Action Links - Local
Sustainable Woodstock - if interested email Michael Caduto at director@sustainablewoodstock.org
Weatherization and Sustainable energy projects
- Window Dressers: Need volunteers to assemble window inserts for low-income households. Please contact Jenevra Wetmore at: programs@sustainablewoodstock.org
- Proposal for community group (including WUHS students) to encourage planning group to design new WUHS to be net-zero!
Sign up for newsletter by emailing director@sustainablewoodstock.org
East End Park - they have a wide range of volunteer projects, from fundraising to social media, to event planning. Visit https://www.woodstockcommunitytrust.com/eastendpark to sign up for their newsletter and/or reach out to Mary MacVey at mmacvey23@gmail.com for more information
Subscribe to the UV Climate Action listserv here: https://lists.vitalcommunities.org/lists/info/uvclimateaction
View calendar of UV sustainable events and add it to your google calendar https://tinyurl.com/UVSustainableEventsCalendar
There is a monthly sustainable living Tea & Talk that is the first Sunday of each month and is advertised in the UV listservs. They also have a Google Group so folks can send each other info/questions in between meetings. If you would like to join, you can email Liane at L99Liane@aol.co
“Sorrow for the Earth” by Joan Columbus
Climate Action Links - National
CLIMATECHANGERESOURCES.ORG
This is the hub for the world of climate change.
It is a portal to all worthy sources of information and action. It is designed for people who are interested but not yet deeply versed in the consequences of climate change. It is a place to sort things out: Truth (what is really happening), Consequences (the result of our actions), Mitigation (how we can fix it) and Adaptation (what to do with what we can’t fix).
National Groups
Third Act - https://thirdact.org/ - For folks over 60
Join a working group based on location and/or experience (e.g. educator, veteran, faith)
Sign the pledge to close your accounts (or refuse to set up an account in the future) with four major banks if they don’t divest from fossil fuel projects by the end of 2022: https://thirdact.org/what-we-do/banking-on-our-future/
Check out these two projects, which both have a vast amount of information and actions related to climate change, regeneration.org and drawdown.org
Visit UU Ministry for Earth online at uuministryforearth.org.
Sign up for their newsletter to learn of classes and opportunities through UUA
Individual Actions
- Talk to your friends and family. Even without explicit conversations, your words and actions have an influence on others. Make them count by setting a good example and get people thinking.
- Vote with your dollars by purchasing and consuming more sustainable options whenever possible. Every choice counts (whether it costs money or not)! Our collective choices make a huge impact.
- Vote with your fork too. Eating a plant-centered diet can have a huge impact as actions taken 3x per day adds up quickly!
- Now that gas and oil use are potentially in decline, they are trying to push oil use for new plastics instead. Don't let them! Reduce your plastic use wherever possible by using bulk bins or switch to brands that use non-plastic containers. There's no money in it if there's no demand.
- Did you know floss is often made of plastic?? You can get compostable floss made with silk and packaged either in cardboard or a reusable glass bottle instead!
- Reuse paper grocery bags as produce bags in your fridge - they work great and you don't have to get fancy cotton ones. Compost them when they get too ragged or dirty.
- Learn how to properly store food to keep it fresh. Food waste is a major contributor to climate change, even if you are composting the stuff that went bad before you could get to it. (Think of all the inputs and shipping that went into getting it to you in the first place!)
- If you have property, change your lawn management - less grass, less mowing and mow on the highest setting when you do. There is so much lawn space in the US and it's space that has the power to draw down carbon if allowed to grow more. You can also put in pollinator gardens. Plant native varieties that will especially help with early and late food opportunities.
- Get involved with local "invasive" mitigation teams. Our bugs and birds did not co-evolve with invasives and thus they provide little to none of what is needed to support them. In NH we have garlic mustard pulls in May and alerts were put out for wild chervil and purple loosestrife later in the year as well.
- Or get involved with local planting teams like the Apple Corps which plants trees and berries around the Upper Valley.
- Use as little tilling as possible in your own garden and ask your local farms about their practices. Share that you are interested and supportive of no-till and other regenerative agriculture practices. (Get people thinking!)
- For people who have money to spare, you can pay monthly to offset your carbon footprint or make a one-time payment to offset big-impact items like flights. I use "GoClimate" which funds a variety of projects, not just tree planting. (Tree planting is good and all, but it isn't always done right, it could burn in a forest fire, and we need to try to solve this from lots of different angles if we want a shot.)
- There are a lot of great books being published about climate change, climate mitigation, regenerative agriculture, and various aspects of sustainable living these days. Check your local library and your library's digital offerings. I have been using Lebanon Library's digital service, Hoopla, to check out audiobooks on such topics and I still haven't run out after a year!
- There are a number of free annual summits and web-events on various topics as well. I know of several about gardening/agriculture and plant based eating, but there are plenty of others out there too. For example, NYC's Climate Week conference has been online for the last 2 years. There are talks on just about any climate topic you can imagine. I have a spreadsheet of links to some previous recordings for anyone interested.
-Shut off your outside lights at night. It messes with nocturnal insects like moths and, if they aren't eaten by a predator, they spend the whole night attracted to the light instead of foraging for food like they are supposed to. Less moths means less caterpillars means less food for baby birds, means less birds that make it to adulthood, etc. If you like song birds, shut off your lights at night and encourage your neighbors to as well.
Online Social Justice Action Links - National
To our knowledge, none of these organizations or announcements are linked to a political party or candidate (in accordance with UUA guidelines).
We encourage you to offer any support you can give to organizations of particular interest to you. Please contact office@northchapel.org with more suggestions for these lists.
ACTION MANUALS AND GUIDES
101 WAYS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
The Indivisible Guide Peoples Action
SOCIAL ACTION ORGANIZATIONS
Progressive Change Campaign Committee
Color of Change -Corporate Accountability – Join the Global Campaign
Local, State & National LGBT Resources
CIVIL LIBERTIES
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
American Friends Service Committee
Unitarian-Universalist Service Committee
DISASTER RELIEF
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Union of Concerned Scientists
IMMIGRATION/ REFUGEE SUPPORT
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Resettlement Program
Welcoming All Nationalities Network of the Upper Valley