September 26 - October 1, l999

Autumn in Vermont is like a painting in progress, as the colors…green, orange, red, yellow…are more and more intense as the days are shorter.

This Elderhostel was sponsored by Sterling College, a small institution in the "Northeast Kingdom" of Vermont, squeezed between New Hampshire and Canada. It was my second time here, for which I received a prize of a bottle of maple syrup by the ever-attentive coordinator, Vivian Davis, who was accompanied this year by her lovely daughter Katherina. This was my fourth Elderhostel in Vermont; the other times were in White River Junction. Each one is highly recommended. In all, this was my 49^th EH experience, so there were some standards to judge the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

To those kind people who commented on my previous experiences this summer of l999 at Colby-Sawyer College, N.H. where the the indifferent coordinator was sub-standard, and Ferry Beach, Maine, where the facilities were barely above camping, the Vermont adventure almost made up for these previous disappointments. I will never even look at the description of Colby-Sawyer College, N.H. as I believe it is a misleading "rip-off" and I have not hesitated to tell that to Elderhostel in Boston  that I felt cheated. Coordinators should be monitored!!

The program at Craftsbury Outdoor Center included International Folk Dancing, led by the friendly couple, Cy and Lynn Levine, who have collected music and dances from such disparate places as the Balkans and Israel. Cy led early morning nature walks, which were very pleasant and invigorating. Cy is a retired pharmacist who had four years in the US Army as a combat medic, and was very generous with stories and advice. 

The course  on Vermont Villages was led by Dave Linck. Dave taught a number of courses at Sterling College, and knew all the local roads, villages and personalities. He was my canoe instructor last year, and was just as friendly and knowledgeable about area lore as he was before. Evenings were occupied by local personalities represented in film and in person. They included a logging expert, a dairy farmer, a local historian, and Fred Tuttle, a farmer who ran for the U. S. Senate in the Republican primary, and upset the millionaire out of state party candidate, only to lose to Senator Leahy. For the five days of classes, there were four days of field trips, including an extensive tour of an unusual Vermont dairy farm.

An extra was an evening with a roving Russian circus, which was very exciting.

The facilities were dormitory style, or "down the hall" There were only 22 people in the group, and there were no particular problems with this.

The food was prepared with good sensitivity to nutrition and fresh vegetables. If you care to go yourself, it would not hurt to know the name of the lovely chef…cooking by Meredith.

If you do not mind dormitory living, this is one Elderhostel I would heartily recommend. The good Lord willing, maybe I will see you there next year!

Oh, an example of Vermont humor: If you happen to ask how to get to Burlington, Vermont, which is at the other end of the State, the classic answer might be: "Well, if I were you… I would not start out from here!!!"