V E R M O N T

From its beginning in 1943, the Vermont Governor's Conference on Recreation has been designed to bring together Vermonters who share an interest in parks, trails, recreation, open space & leisure opportunities. Sixty plus years later, we invite our colleagues from throughout New England and beyond to join us as well. Each year, the Conference Committee strives to plan a schedule of educational programs of interest to the diverse group of professionals, board & commission members, volunteers, students & other interested citizens who come to gain new knowledge & skills. The Exhibit Hall has grown to host as many as forty vendors, providing a great chance to meet face-to-face with a variety of recreation product suppliers. The Governor's Conference is a great networking opportunity for students, volunteers, professionals and commercial vendors. The day's events include a "Best of Vermont" Silent Auction that boasts 200+ items, nearly 20 different educational sessions to choose from, and a nationally recognized keynote speaker.

The 67th Annual Vermont Governor's Conference on Recreation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Lake Morey Resort and Conference Center in Fairlee, Vermont, with a full day of pre-conference programs and activities on September 28, 2010.  

The Vermont Recreation and Parks Association offers discount tickets to the Great Escape (Glens Falls, NY), Six Flags New England (Agawam, MA), and the Bromley Sun Mountain Adventure Park (Manchester Center, VT). People will save a significant amount of money and time at the gate by purchasing their tickets through this program. Throughout Vermont, 40+ local park and recreation departments, organizations and associations partner with VRPA, to provide these deeply discounted tickets to their customers. The tickets are “good any day” the parks are open during the 2009 season.

Created in 1975, the Hershey's Track and Field Games is the largest youth sports program of its kind in the United States and Canada. Meets take place in every state and every province in North America, and the grand finale, the North American Final Meet, takes place in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The goal of Hershey's Track and Field Games is to introduce children to physical fitness through basic events like running, jumping and throwing. But the program also strives to encourage children to reach their potential and develop a sense of accomplishment. For more information, click here to go to the Hershey Track and Field website.

The VRPA is proud to host the Vermont State Hershey Track Meet for boys and girls ages 9-14, in partnership with the Vermont State Hershey Coordinator, Mark Berry. Six Vermont athletes are chosen each year to participate in the national finals in Hershey, PA, on the basis of the results from the state meet.

The 2010 Vermont State Hershey Track Meet will be held on Saturday, July 10, 2010 at Essex High School. Any team or individual athlete intersted in competing in the 2010 Vermont Hershey Meet must submit a Commitment Form by June 25, 2010.

See attachments below to download the 2010 Vermont State Hershey Meet Packet and other related files:

In addition to the Hershey State Track Meet, the VRPA hosts a second state track and field meet each summer, for boys and girls ages 7-14. In addition to providing a second opportunity for a state level competition, the age groupings for this event allow 7 and 8 year old athletes to compete which is not the case at the Hershey Meet.

Since 2009, St. Johnsbury Academy has joined forces for this event as our corporate sponsor and the meet is now called the VRPA St. Johnsbury Academy State Track Meet.

The 2010 event will be held on Saturday, July 24th at St. Johnsbury Academy.