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Summer at Smugglers' Notch Vermont

Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration at Smugglers’ Notch Resort

Activities for all ages!

This year Vermont, New York State and the Province of Quebec are all commemorating the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of the lake that bears his name. Hundreds of events in the area will celebrate the Lake Champlain region’s rich cultural heritage. From June 28 to July 12, 2009 Smugglers’ will participate in Quadricentennial festivities by featuring special events and activities at the Resort that highlight the explorer, the Native Americans and New England in the 1600s.

The following activities and events are included in Smugglers’ popular FamilyFest Vacation Package. These activities and events are designed to appeal to various age groups:

 • Participants enjoying the Resort’s guided hikes, from the challenging High Peak Tour to the River Walk for families, will enjoy learning about the lake’s history and role in the Vermont’s settlement and development, along with some fun facts and suggestions of lakeside attractions to visit.

 • The Friendly Pirate Regatta — a sailing test of a family’s self-constructed miniature floats or canoes ― will offer family-friendly Champlain history and an opportunity to think about the craft that Champlain and his party used for exploration.

 • Children’s programs in the Resort’s Summer Fun University will include craft sessions and learning experiences that tie in to Champlain’s era and adventures. Theme days for the youngest campers will feature adventure and discovery, culminating in the Thursday theme parade when children show off the costumes they have constructed.

 • Popular local band Yankee Chank will perform at the Resort on July 12 at 7:30 pm, following the Smuggsational Family Social. With fiddle, accordion and guitar, the band's music has its roots in the traditional sounds of Quebec.

Fee-based events include:

       • Canoe and kayak trips on the Lamoille River, which flows into Lake Champlain. Guides will acquaint participants with the story of Champlain and how his party used the waterways to explore the New World. Different outings include a morning kayak outing, a canoe or kayak trip to a local winery, and an evening wildlife watch.

       • Scents of Vermont, a program that is part of the Resort’s popular , will feature discussion of the native Abenaki Indians’ use of herbs and other plants through the seasons and the moon phases the Native Americans used to keep track of the seasons. Workshop participants will create their own perfume, room mist spray, bath soak and scented candle.

There are many events going on in the area to celebrate the Quadricentennial. For a comprehensive source for information on events and the culture and history of the Lake Champlain region, please visit www.celebratechamplain.org