Lewis Creek Association’s Mountains to Mouth: An Exploration of the Watershed
Celebrating Ferrisburgh in 2026
Sunday, October 11th
LCA’s Annual Party will explore the watershed from Mountains to Mouth, celebrating the natural, cultural, and landscape history of Ferrisburgh. There will be morning field trips, followed by lunch & music, afternoon walks, and more! Join friends and neighbors for all or part of the day.
Location: North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church Pavilion (227 Old Hollow Rd, North Ferrisburgh) and other nearby locations.
In the morning (8:30 AM - 11:45 AM), field trips will explore the Ferrisburgh Town Forest, or discover macroinvertebrates in Lewis Creek and learn about knotweed management efforts nearby.
The afternoon will begin outside at the North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church Pavilion with lunch, remarks, and music by The Hokum Brothers! from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (lunch and refreshments provided or bring a picnic).
From 2:00 - 3:30/4:00 PM, join one of two walks along the Lewis Creek. We hope you can join us!
Field Trip Information and REgistration BELOW
(Please register to receive important updates
and meeting locations):
Ferrisburgh Town Forest Exploration
8:30-11:30 AM
Explore Ferrisburgh’s magnificent Town Forest on the shoulder of Shellhouse Mountain with Brandon Benedict, County Forester. Enjoy a ramble through diverse natural communities, including a forested clayplain swamp and, if time and energy allows, a chestnut oak woodland. This parcel was donated to the town by the family of renowned author Rowland Robinson. Bring your enthusiasm, curiosity and natural history knowledge so that we can learn together. The town forest is accessed via a moderate 1.3 mile hike with some steep and difficult sections. Expect extensive bushwhacking.
Under the Microscope - What lives in a river? Anytime between 10:00 AM and 11:45 AM
What lives in a river? Many people would answer “fish”. But the fish depend on the food web which includes macroinvertebrates, or bugs! Come and join macroinvertebrate specialist Janel Roberge from Saint Michael’s College to explore the amazing macroinvertebrate community in Lewis Creek. All equipment will be provided for this all-ages event. If you own waterproof boots by all means bring them, but if you would like to remain high and dry, Janel will provide bugs from the creek that you can observe using microscopes. Family Friendly Activity!
Manual Japanese Knotweed Control Anytime between 10:00 AM and 11:45 AM
Learn from LCA staff about our work manually controlling Japanese knotweed along Lewis Creek. Visit one of the sites where we have been managing knotweed for three years, and learn how this can be done (with some persistence!) over time and without herbicides. After your visit to learn about knotweed, head to the creek to learn about macroinvertebrates!
North Ferrisburgh History Walk with Jean Richardson 2:00-3:30 PM
The North Ferrisburgh Village is a classic example of an early Vermont settlement at the junction of waterfalls and a through road. Arrowheads found here attest to the presence of Abenaki, but most of today’s landscape is the result of European settlement and the woolen industry around the upper waterfalls of Lewis Creek. This walk will look at the old dams, mills, and early houses. We will talk about the Quakers who settled here, the plants they brought with them, and the changed ecology and economics over time. Expect a walk of half a mile to a mile on a mostly paved road. Be prepared with a safety vest and/or bright colors so you are visible.
Lewis Creek Restoration & Wildlife Walk 2:00-4:00 PM
Join LCA's Kate Kelly and board members for a walk along Lewis Creek to a nearby property where LCA has planted trees and shrubs in conjunction with partners at Champlain Valley Trout Unlimited and Audubon Vermont. This land was formerly agricultural, and is now being restored to shrubland and a riparian wooded buffer; more planting will be done at the site this fall. Learn more about the rare bird and wildlife species that use this area. Plan on a hike of at least 2 miles, possibly off trail; bring water, hiking shoes, and binoculars if you have them!
MUSIC
The Hokum Brothers All things to all people! Hokum Pronounced: ˈhō-kəm (HOE-kum) Pretentious nonsense : Bunkum. “Outrageous or absurd material often accompanied by slapstick”
Rare and original, their songs are catchy and integrated with humour; their lyrics speak of true-life experiences with a thread of the earliest cultural fabric we call American Vaudeville. The Hokum Brothers offer up an eclectic mix of original, catchy tunes (some full of satire), along with a few covers from the 1920s - ‘60s. Recent appearances include Tanglewood, Flynn Center, Vergennes Opera House, Festival of Fools, and Mt Foolery.
