Land Acknowledgement

The Abenaki have continuously occupied the land Europeans came to call Vermont for 13,000 years. The first of the Abenaki to arrive saw the last of the glaciers in our state, they tracked woolly mammoths up the slopes of the Green Mountains, they watched California condors scavenge scraps from these kill sites, and they competed with polar bears belugas on the frigid coastline of the Champlain Sea. Open tundra gave way to hardwood forests. The mammoths, polar bears, whales, and Champlain Sea disappeared, but the Abenaki remained, stewards actively engaged with the changing land. We acknowledge the Abenaki and their continued presence on the land.

We acknowledge also that the Abenaki, have and continue to endure a 400 year struggle for recognition, land, and autonomy in the face of European colonization. We acknowledge the Abenaki’s long history of stewarding and caring for the lands we use to run our programs, and that this land is the traditional, unceded territory of the Abenaki.

You can find a map of the territories of indigenous peoples on North America (and Australia) here and learn more about land acknowledgments here. You can learn more about the different bands of Abenaki in the state here:

Rock Point

The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont and Rock Point Center are our gracious hosts at Rock Point. They have worked over the years to encourage deep connection to the land and we are grateful for their generosity and warmth in welcoming a number of our programs.

**Rock Point is open to visitors outside of programs. The Diocese asks that visitors check in at the main office to obtain a permit before walking the property.**

The Natural History of Rock Point

Because of Rock’s Points incredible diversity of geologic features and associated natural communities, it is a hotspot for birding, botany, tracking, and all other fields within natural history. It’s proximity to UVM and prominence in the region for biodiversity and geology have attracted many students. The Diocese’s own interest in preserving the ecological integrity of the land has resulted in a number of wonderful assessments and reports over the years. Burlington Geographic conducted a survey of the land and published their work here: Burlington Geographic.

Teage also keeps a blog that often features photos about, explorations of, and investigations into Rock Point’s natural history.

Map & Directions

Most of our programs are hosted at Rock Point. For directions to Rock Point from downtown: 

  1. Head north on North St
  2. Head south on Institute Road towards Burlington High School.
  3. Turn right onto Rock Point Rd.
  4. Continue past Rock Point School on left
  5. Continue to trails parking lot on the right, located across from the Diocesan Center Offices.