I love stone tools, and what started with an obsession with making pretty arrows heads has turned into a life long journey to understand how to make and use effective tools that can be used to meet my wilderness living needs.
Getting to Roots
In addition to running classes on our land we will be running some of our children's programs and summer camps at satellite locations and noted in the course description.
Directions to 192 Bear Notch Rd. Corinth VT 05033
Please note: This is not our mailing address. Our mailing address is: 192 Bear Notch Rd. Bradford VT, 05033.
We are located off a dirt road Corinth, Vermont. Be careful using GPS. It can have you cross over from Vershire over Bear Notch, where there is really a swamp and not a road.
From 89
Exit 7 Head South on Exit 7 0.4 mi
Merge onto Vt-62 E 4.4 mi
Turn Right onto North Main St. 0.5 mi
Slight Left onto Washington St. 1.2 mi
Continue onto Us-302 E/E Barre Rd 2.5 mi
At traffic circle, continue straight onto E Barre Rd. 0.4 mi
Continue onto Us-302 E/E Barre Rd/Orange Rd . 6.4 mi
Slight Right onto Vt-25 S 8.5 mi
Turn Right onto Brook Rd 4.3 mi
Left onto Goose Green Rd. 1.0 mi
Take the 1st Right onto Bear Notch Rd. 0.2 mi
Look for the Roots School sign at the first driveway on the right after the bridge.
From 91
Take Exit 16
Turn west onto Vt-25 N 4.9 mi
Turn Left onto Chelsea Rd. 446 ft
Slight Right to stay on Chelsea Rd. 1.7 mi
Continue onto Goose Green Rd. 1.7 mi
Slight left onto Bear Notch Rd. 0.2 mi
Look for Roots School sign on the first right after the bridge.
The school's driveway is the first right on Bear Notch Rd. Look for Roots School sign, set back off the road a little bit on the right. After the bridge on the driveway there is a parking lot to the left, please park there and walk up the driveway till you see the classroom signs, follow these to right to the classroom where we will be waiting to complete registration and start up.
Do not rely solely on GPS. To those relying on GPS systems, they have helped students as much as hindered them. Please take a copy of our directions along with you if you plan on using one, or else risk coming in on the wrong side of Bear Notch Rd. and into a swamp.
Public Transportation
By Plane
From Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Manchester, NH
From Logan Airport, Boston, MA
Lebanon Municipal Airport serves the Upper Valley.
Cape Air (800-227-3247) connects to the Hanover/Lebanon area through New York and Boston.
By Train
Amtrak's Vermonter service from Washington, DC and New York arrives daily in nearby White River Junction, VT. We can make arrangements to pick visitors up at White River Junction, VT.
By Bus
Megabus travels to Montpelier from Boston MA, New York NY, Hartford CT, Amherst, MA, and more.
Greyhound has a route that travels from Boston, through NH, to Montpelier, VT, up to Montreal, and back again.
Dartmouth Coach offers daily service from Boston's South Station and Logan Airport, and occasionally from the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to Hanover and Lebanon.
Stage Coach connects the people and places of Orange and North Windsor counties of Vermont
Pick up
Getting to rural Vermont can have its challenges but we can make it happen. We do pick ups the night before most classes in Montpelier, VT, White River Junction, Vt, or Hanover, NH for $30. Pick ups must be pre-arranged and happen by 8:30 PM.
At the right times, Stage Coach can conviently take you from White River Junction to Bradford, an easy thirteen minutes from the school at which we will be happy to pick you up at no charge.
About the Land
The land has over a half a mile of river frontage and several streams, a beautiful varied forest, rambling topography, and plenty of wildlife. Many lessons in tracking may be found as whitetails, moose, black bear, fishers, bobcats, porcupine, coyotes, foxes, mink, ermine, snowshoe hare, wild turkey, and ruffled grouse, are seen and tracked. Often times we are also lucky enough to catch a hawk circling the pasture and to hear the barred owls calls in the darkness of night. The diversity of plants, trees, and animals make this an ideal place to study and grow.
Camping and Overnight Classes
For overnight classes camping is provided. For students wishing to spend the night before or after course days in order for travel plans to work out, there is a small fee of $5 dollars a night per site. Camping facilities are rustic, limited to tent and tarp set up locations, and outhouses. Parking is available for the duration of your course.
December-March/April
Winter Camping can be very demanding and intensive. It is not our intention for people to focus their attention on camping while at most of our courses, so students may sleep in the yurt or shop during the colder months. It is an open communal space so please plan accordingly. Perhaps best called indoor winter camping, there is ample room for folks to roll out a mat and sleeping bag. Please expect to help stock firewood if you are staying in the yurt. Classes where winter camping is required will make it clear in the course description.
Food
For classes that are not listed as an overnight, please bring your lunch with you for the day.
For overnight classes, meals are provided from the start of the class to the end. We seek to provide high quality food and full, well rounded meals. Nearly all of the food we cook is local and/or organic, and prepared to be delicious. Please make us aware of any special food needs in advance of the class when registering. We can accommodate vegetarian, gluten free, egg free, pork free, and dairy free diets. If you have other unique or intensive dietary restrictions, we may not be able to accommodate you, and would recommend you to both contact us and plan on bringing yourself extra food. We always recommend to all students to bring snacks to help keep you comfortable, focused, and happy with your brain and body sated.
Please check your confirmation letter for specific gear requirements for your course, this is just the basic list that applies to almost all courses.
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Note Book and Pen
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Weather appropriate clothing and footwear. This includes rain gear, and clothing that can get wet and/or dirty.
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Water bottle; One liter at least.
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A bandanna, or piece of fabric that can act as a blindfold
Overnight Classes
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A insulate pad, therma-rest, or camping pad to elevate you off of the ground while you sleep
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A tent or tarp set up to keep you and your belongings dry. We can rent out tarps and line for $10.
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A sturdy bag to hold your belongings and keep them dry
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Mug or thermos
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Toiletries
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Sleeping bag that is rated for cold weather
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Plate, bowl, and utensils. Please don't forget this
What you may want to bring:
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Camera-stills only, no videos
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Snacks
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A towel and bathing suit, if during the summer months
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Tape recorder
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Tools and materials pertaining to the class
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Something to sit on when the ground is wet or covered in snow
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If you bring insect repellent, we ask that it is DEET free. We have natural alternatives.
Do NOT bring the following to any Roots School Classes:
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Fire Arms
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Drugs
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Fire works
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Pets
A carving knife is a good item to have on hand for classes. If you don't own one and want to, we would recommend a 2”-5” blade, non-folding, and sharp. We will have knives to borrow for the duration of the class. If you would like to purchase one from us, we might have some Frost/Mora of Sweden knives for sale.
Please pack in a way that allows you to comfortably carry your gear to your campsite. When packing, make sure that you take care of your basic needs so as to focus on the class. Furthermore, small comfort items such as snacks, extra extra socks, and so on can be the needed thing.
Course Enrollment Requirements and Cancellation Policy
All courses are filled on a first come first serve basis. The size of each class will be limited to a number that allows participants to receive an exceptional level of experience and education. Unless a class is specifically for children or families you must be at least 18 years old to attend all Roots School courses. If any person under 18 would like to attend a class please call Roots School and speak with us personally. Each student must sign a liability waiver prior to participation in a class. A non-refundable deposit is required with your application form; the remaining balance will be due on the first day of the class. If you cancel your reservation for a class two weeks prior to the start of the course, you will be able to transfer the full amount of your deposit to another course. The transferable deposit may be applied toward the cost of another course within 12 months of the original course date. If Roots School is not notified of your cancellation two weeks prior to the class, you will be charged the full amount of your deposit. Please allow two weeks for the office to process your registration form and deposit. Your reservation will be confirmed when you receive a letter with additional course information and registration confirmation. Full refunds are made in the unlikely event that we need to cancel a course. If a course is canceled Roots School is not responsible for any additional cost due to the cancellation or date change.
Payment
Please send in the application form with a deposit. Deposits vary according to the course and are listed on our website. Your deposit will be applied toward the cost of the course; the remaining balance will be due on the first day of the class. We accept cash, traveler’s checks, checks, money orders, and credit cards online only. Please make checks payable to Roots School LLC.
Privacy Statement
All personal and medical information included in the registration form is used only by Roots School. E-mail and mailing addresses are never shared or sold with any other organization and will only be used by Roots School LLC.
We look forward to a great class!