vermont

I will stay in Vermont forever because I would not leave my family because they are important to me. I would miss their kisses and having fun with them. I want to stay with my family and be together forever. I don't want to miss anything or feel separated.

I love Vermont. It is where I grew up and I have so many memories here. I don't know how I could leave. Vermont is very beautiful with it's Green Mountains and maple trees. Seeing a fawn run across the field is the most soothing and beautiful thing in the whole world.

This is my home, and it will be forever. I enjoy the changing seasons; spring, summer, fall and winter. Every Vermonter is lucky because tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes almost never happen here. That is another reason why I love Vermont and want to stay.

What's better than a good winter snowstorm or a humid summer day spent on a Vermont lake? There are probably many reasons Vermont is important to people. Some people want to come here and make a living or raise a family. There are a variety of reasons why I love Vermont.

One reason Vermont is important to me is because I love to visit a "real" old fashioned Vermont Country or General Store. There are still a few around where you can get an idea of what things were like in the eighteen and nineteen hundreds. I like to see how they were set up when people used to come in and buy groceries. I also think they are important to me because country or general stores are different than other types of shops and they all have a different style that makes them look and feel unique.

Vermonter for Life
Maggie Haesler - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

Imagining living somewhere other than Vermont is a very hard thing for me to do. With our scenic Green Mountains surrounding us, and our big, beautiful Lake Champlain to the west, Vermont has an affect on one's heart that cannot be taken away.

What does it mean to be a Vermonter? Well, to me, being a Vermonter means having pride in our wildlife. It also means tough, because of our long, grueling winters that almost seem like they’ll never end. I also think that being a Vermonter means being active, because of the skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and water sports in the warm summer months.

When the leaves turn, and start to fall and the frost graces the ground on early Sunday mornings, my mother and I head up to the bard to get the horses ready. Once we have everything packed up we put the horses in the trailer and drive up into the hills of Vermont to partake in the century old tradition of Fox hunting. When we arrive numerous trailers are parked in rows like sweet corn before its cut. Off in the distance the sound of hounds grace my ears to be met with the site of the hound truck pulling into the field. When all is ready and the hunt master is aboard we thunder off, down the field and disappear into the woods guided only by the sound of howling in front of us. Through mud and up steep slippery slopes, our horses trudge on. Though the scenes are beautiful from the tops of remote hills, high above the valley, there is little time to gaze, for before you know it you’re galloping down the other side, back onto the muddy trails following the one in front of you.

Hi, my name is Daniel Sanville and I am 13. I’ve been living in Vermont my whole life and I think its great. Vermont is a great and colorful place to live. In the fall the leaves turn all these different colors and many people take pictures of these views. They turn out beautiful and many people buy these pictures. These pictures aren’t like a little bit of money. These beautiful pictures go from $60 up to $100.

What it means to be a Vermonter is a wonderful life and great responsibility. Being a Vermonter is great and wonderful. If there is anyone out there that doesn’t want to be a Vermonter then they don’t know what it is like. If you’re not a Vermonter then you should definitely become one.

If I had the power to change Vermont it would be make deer hunting longer and also make it so no one is unemployed. The reason I would do this is because I love deer hunting and that people need money so its very important that they get it.

I like living in Vermont because it is a small, beautiful, special state. Playing outside is one of my favorite things to do in any season.
I love to swim, and Lake Champlain is a wonderful place to go swimming in the summer with friends. Many of the parks in Vermont where we swim also have playgrounds and places to have picnics. Sometimes we take our canoe and kayak on the lake as well!
The beautiful pond in our backyard is another place where I really enjoy playing. I have spent many hours playing at the pond and in the woods behind our house. I like to catch frogs, but I let them go. One time in the summer, I got stung by a lot of yellow jackets near the pond. My arm swelled up, and it really hurt! Even though I got stung, I still like to play near the pond, and I am still happy that I live in Vermont!

Growing up In Vermont

Vermont is one of the few states to have a day devoted to the youth. Vermont Kids Day allowed me to feel appreciated and nurtured as a child, as well as all the other activities available to me. My family rented an apartment in the Old North End in 1999 when we moved to Vermont and I attended H.O. Wheeler Elementary School, where there was a diverse body of students and many opportunities for children. The after school programs included Spanish, art, Tae Kwon Do, cooking and dance lessons, etc. In the summer, drama, swimming, tennis, science camps and baseball were also offered.

I Love Vermont
Zachary Trono - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

I love Vermont. I would not live anywhere else in the world. I have lived in Vermont all twelve years of my life and plan on staying many more years, in this wonderful state I call home. I love Vermont in many ways from the beautiful rolling hills of the Green Mountains to the small farm villages.

Vermont: My Home
Daphne Plante - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

Vermont is a beautiful place in the United States. From spring to summer, and fall to winter, the seasons hold many surprises! From the sweet taste of syrup, to actually making it yourself, you’ll always love it! The seasons here are the best. In spring, you can play in the slushy snow. In summer, you can spend a relaxing time by the pool, basking in the sun. In fall, you can jump in all the leaves or scare someone for Halloween! And in the winter, you can ski, snowboard, or just play in the snow! You'll be living your life to the highest level, and, as a Vermonter, you'll always belong here. This state holds many secrets only known to the people who live in Vermont.

Vermont and Vermonters Thomas Robinson - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School Vermont is a very amazing place, but to be a Vermonter is even better. Vermonters are the luckiest people in America. Vermont has incredible mountains and fantastic views that make Vermont the best state there is. Although there are not a lot of people in Vermont, it is still a great place.
The most important thing to everyone who lives in Vermont is that they can buy and use a lot of things from local towns. If everyone in Vermont bought from local farms and businesses, the farmers and businesses would earn more money so the economy would be even better than it is. Recently, Burlington was declared to be the cleanest city in America, and Vermont was voted the healthiest state!

Vermont’s Beauty
Nathan Comai - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

Have you ever been to Vermont? If you have, you probably know it is a very beautiful place with beautiful weather and an amazing blue lake. If you haven’t come here before, you probably should. Vermont is a very fun place with lots of things to do in the summer, winter, and the fall.

The One and Only Green Mountain State
Natalie Franklin - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

How many places could you wake up to the twittering of birds outside your window, a clear blue sky, and the smell of fresh maple syrup drifting up your stairs??? Not many, well at least none of the other places are as special as Vermont. Vermont is just one of those areas where there are no cars zooming by, or factories polluting the air. Vermont is made up of cows, activity, and peace. Some people think Vermont may be a small, simple place compared to New York City. They’re wrong. Vermont is unique, like a pink elephant, it is one of a kind.

My Home, Vermont
Alissa Stone - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

Living in Vermont is very special to me. I love every morning waking up to see the beautiful mountains, stepping outside and feeling the cool breeze. I love looking out over the lake and seeing the sunset behind the purple mountains. This is something many people take for granted but they shouldn’t. My home, my Vermont, is one of the most beautiful things to me.

What Vermont Means to Me

Elliott Mitchell - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

If you live in Vermont, what does it mean to you? For me, I don’t think there is anything better than waking up at 6:00 a.m. to go skiing on a freshly groomed trail, glistening in the new dawn light. Or, maybe playing in the snow with your dog, trying to wrestle yourself away while he tries to steal your hat and rip it up into shreds! Or, you can go to a nearby general store, so your dad can get his morning coffee, while you go looking for Vermont-made maple candies. Yum, my favorite!

The Perfect Home - Vermont
Maddie Turnau - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

What does it mean to be a Vermonter? What is the most important thing to me about living in Vermont? How has growing up here affected my outlook? I have never really thought about these questions before, but now as I think about it, there are many reasons why I am lucky to be living in such a perfect place, Vermont.

Vermont
Aryn Hall - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

Vermont. What a strange name, as in vert or green, and montagne or mountain. Vermont is my home, as it is to many others. I hope that in ten years only a few things will have changed, and that me, myself, living here, is not one of those things.

I wake and here birds singing, the sun shines brightly on my face, and I know, I'm home. I get out of bed, yawn and throw on my bathrobe. I walk down the stairs, to the sounds of my little brothers and sisters laughs. I go outside and here dogs barking happily in the park. I walk to the end of the drive way to pick up the paper as friendly voices say hello. This is my life in Vermont.
To be a Vermonter doesn't mean being a farmer, or a "Hillbilly". Being a Vermonter means much more than that. It means to live with courage, to care for all our neighbors, and to take on any obstacles that are thrown our way. It means to give others a fair chance, and hold our heads up high. It also means to have faith in all our work, learn from our mistakes, and to always head in the right direction.

I have lived in Vermont ever since I can remember. My mother was born and raised in the rumble of Massachusetts, while my dad was born and raised on a farm in the heart of Vermont. Both coming from completely different backgrounds, they settled down closer to where my father grew up. When I was born, we moved around quite a bit, but never very far. I wish I could say that I was born and raised in Vermont, but I can’t.

Vermont for me is not only a home but also a lifestyle. Growing up in Vermont, one of the main things that you cope with is needing to plan activities according to the seasons and weather. For instance, the outdoor activities that go on in this state are strongly based on the weather. Being a Vermonter means being able to withstand the freezing twenty below weather of January, to the ninety-five degree temperatures in July, to the muddy roads in March. Living here ten years from now, (that’s hard to think about), at the pace that our population in the United States is growing, you never know what your home town will be like in a decade. Many things are important to me in Vermont, the biggest being how well I know my friends and community. If you go down to the local Co-op you know or at least recognize the people working and shopping there.

My parents talk about moving, and I just roll my eyes. “Never.” I tell them, ignoring when they say that maybe, a time will come when I don't have a choice. “Until I graduate high school,” I say, “I'm not leaving Vermont.”
With the economy the way it is and IBM laying off workers everyday, conversations like that happen a lot. Although my parents complain about the cold, the isolation, and the smallness of the state we live in, I know that in their heart, they don't want to move either. They just like teasing me about it.
Vermont has one of the smallest populations in the country. Only Wyoming has less people, and even Wyoming has a bigger city than Burlington—the smallest largest city in a state.
Vermont is a state where once, cows outnumbered people. It's a state where sometimes, you have to stand on park benches to get service for your cell phone, and where the state capital doesn't have a McDonald's.
And that's why it is what it is.

Vermont? Why Vermont?
Kurt Weidman - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

Vermont? Why would you pick Vermont to live in when there are so many other places to go? Well, there are many reasons why you should live in Vermont. Why would you want to live anywhere else when Vermont’s an option? Burlington, Vermont has just been named the healthiest city in the United States of America! Wow! That’s incredible!!! What is one thing you would change about Vermont? If you could live here in ten years, would you live here or not? What is the most important thing about living in Vermont?

Vermont: My Home
Noa Urbaitel - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

It’s a matter of opinion whether you like where you live, but I can tell you, I love where I live. I was born in Vermont and I have never lived anywhere else. Some people think that when you have lived in one place for your whole life all the excitement has worn off. You think you have seen everything there is to see, heard everything there is to hear, and tasted all the foods there are to taste, but the fact is, there is always something new in Vermont.

A True Vermonter
Katie Bedell - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

What exactly is a true Vermonter? Are they just people who live in Vermont? Or, are they people who love Vermont for what it is? Well, let me tell you, you don’t just become a sincere Vermonter overnight.
If you are a real Vermonter, Vermont has changed your life. It shouldn’t just be where your house is. It should have made your life improve in some way. It could have made you think about living healthier, or got you looking at the big picture and how we need to save our Earth from global warming. It could have done everything from teaching you how to ski, to helping you come up with an idea to stop world hunger. Vermont has done a lot for me. It really made me think about recycling and trying to make our world a better place. Has Vermont done anything for you?

Vermont Affection
Sophie Judge - Grade 6
Charlotte Central School

I have always thought of Vermont as a tranquil place. It is small, rural, and mostly untouched by stacked skyscrapers and crawling traffic. It is cut off from the rest of the world which makes it truly special to me. That is why growing up in Vermont has affected my life in many ways, and why I often reflect on the important reasons why I like living here.
Being raised in Vermont has affected me a lot. I have learned many things about nature, farming, and people. I also get to have first hand experiences when I learn about things in and out of school. Living here has given me a sense of right and wrong, and the true meaning of freedom. Since Vermont is so distant from the outside world, I am not exposed to bad influences, and I can grow up peacefully, surrounded by natural beauty.

President Calvin Coolidge said it best when he gave a speech praising his home state:
"I could not look on the hills of Ascutney or Mansfield
Without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me…
Vermont is the state I love…."

Vermont is my home. It is my state. I want to tell you what growing up in Vermont has meant to me, what Vermont means to me as well as some of my most vivid memories.

Growing up in Vermont its beauty surrounds you and its climate shapes you. It really doesn’t matter what the season is. In the summer, looking at the silver water when the heat and humidity engulf you, jumping into a cold brook or pond makes life beautiful just as sledding or building snow forts do in fifteen inches of snow.

Ten years down this long and forever twisting and winding road of life, that to most of us, seems to uphold no end, who knows where I will be? The possibilities are endless and all seem to have a promising and certainly fulfilling future, however some, for me at least, have no happy ending in sight. I do know for certain where I want to be in the years to come, and hopefully my goals and dreams do not further shift from their already unstable position. The things I would love to do are plenty, and seem so easy to get to, yet they are so far away when you really look at it.

The most important thing to me about Vermont is the snow. Without it, we would not be Vermont. The skiing, the snowboarding, even the Chine’n. Chine’n is the Vermonter word for snow machining.

The blizzards bring people together. They make us think about things. When we get snow days, my friend and I have movie days.

Sometimes we go sledding or just watch the snow fall from their big windows in her living room. Just thinking about the hot chocolate makes my tongue taste the rich flavor and feel the snowflakes melting on my eyelashes and cheeks.

One specific memory pops out to me. Courtney and I were six or seven. I went over to her old house and we immediately suited up in our snowsuits and thick winder boots. It was almost too sunny to be wearing our marshmallow-like jackets and woolen socks.

Instead of sleds, we used cookie sheets. They were cold metal, but nothing to the sweating snow on the ground below us.

The cool whisps of the night seep through the crisp trees. The calm before the storm. Within two hours, the storm of the century would be howling outside my window. But, for now, it was quiet. No howling winds, no trees falling; just quiet. Vermont is a place of extremes. One hour it will be as hot as Florida, the next hour the icy-breath of Alaska will be present. Finally, I let myself drift off to sleep.

The cold, crisp air chills my body walking through the woods. Even with my hat and coat I feel the piercing air bite at my side. I lift my head up to see a deer cautiously nibbling leaves at the ground. I sight through the fog; then shoot. My heart starts pounding and thoughts of how it must feel to be that innocent deer fill my head. The deer collapses along with my heart. I look down not knowing whether to be sad or excited. I get up and run towards the helpless animal lying there dead on the forest’s floor. I lift its head up and whisper “sorry”, thinking that maybe it would wipe away my guilt. But then, I think wouldn’t the deer do the same? Kill something to help provide a meal for its family.

I love Vermont’s seasons. There are always changes to look forward to. They are all different and special in their own ways. In most places there is just summer and a colder season they call winter, but here we have constant change. People usually say there are four seasons, but I say we have six. Here they are.
First, comes mud season dreary and wet. The white of winter melts away, leaving a brown landscape. It’s the time for cleaning the house and catching a few last runs before the skis are put to bed. I have to put away the winter gear and bring the summer stuff out. The trees are covered in maple sugar buckets, and I can smell the steam as it floats out of the sugar houses.