While many of you enjoy spending time cruising on the water, we wanted to take a moment to mention how you can take some time this off season to get in the water and support a great Vermont organization.

We had the pleasure of getting in touch with Chris Bernier, Director of Marketing & Development at Special Olympics Vermont, to learn more about their upcoming Penguin Plunge and how you can jump into one of the best events taking place on the water this time of year. Here is some information he shared with us regarding this frigid fundraiser:

The Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge began in 1995 with only 15 individuals and has since grown to become one of the largest winter events in Burlington, VT.

In 2009, over 1,200 participated in the three Penguin Plunges around Vermont to raise awareness and donations for the 850+ athletes of Special Olympics Vermont.  This event is Special Olympics Vermont’s largest fundraising event and makes up over ½ of our annual budget.

Over the last 15 years, brave Vermonters, from businessmen and women to school children, have arrived on the Burlington waterfront in February to raise money and take a running jump into the icy waters of Lake Champlain.

Here are some dates and further information regarding each location:

• January 30: Penguin Plunge – North Bennington, North Bennington, VT
• February 6: Penguin Plunge – Burlington, Burlington, VT
• February 13: Penguin Plunge – Newport, Newport, VT

We are very thankful for all the dedicated workers, volunteers and supporters of VTSO and we hope you take part in the action while contributing to a very valuable cause here in Vermont.

Our friends at the ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center are asking members of the Lake Champlain and Vermont communities to take some time completing their new survey . This survey is an opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas about Lake Champlain and tell them a little about how you spend your time and how you use social media.

Burlington Boatyard is one many local lake stewards (LCI, LCSC, Outdoors Magazine to name a few) that understand the essential role social media plays in promoting environmental and ecological awareness in both our local lake community and other watersheds around the country. We ask that you take a moment to provide your insight, opinions, thoughts and concerns with ECHO via this survey, and appreciate your continued support for all of us who strive to make positive impacts on Lake Champlain and beyond.

Media Summary

“Will Fish For Fun” Kids Derby is an open fishing derby for kids up to the age of 14 from anywhere or from any means. Our goal is to give them a connection with nature. This is a free event with no restrictions. The grand price is a Lifetime Vermont State Fishing License (for the oldest age group only). It is held and headquartered at the Burlington boat house every year, the Saturday after Labor Day (September 12th this year). Fishing is limited to the Burlington Waterfront from shore. Only kids are allowed to fish, and parents are encouraged to coach by all means. There is a coaching crew but our coaches can get overwhelmed very quickly. People who are interested in becoming coaches can apply directly with the Event Organizer, Pete Thayer (send requests to “therocknvt@yahoo.com”).

The derby kicks off at 8am, rain or shine, and ends at 11:30am. We are happy and proud to have Charlie Papillo from WVMT Radio’s “The Charlie and Ernie Show” on AM620 weekdays early morning, not only hosting our derby, but also helping us promote the event and gain sponsorship, and in general keeping the kids smiling.

If you and your children would like to participate, go to the website www.willfishforfun.com, and click on the Contact Us page to fill out the information for each child (we need it for t-shirt and pole sizes). Once the information is submitted, you will receive an email containing your registration paperwork, which you will need to bring on the day of the Derby.

Last year we had a moving line with over 100 kids in it for over an hour. Need to get’em kids fishing. We have given away over 300 fishing poles since our start 2 yrs ago and we hope to be able to buy and give away that many this year alone. We are doubling the bait order, which is partly donated by Hog Island Bait in Alburg, so nobody will go wormless. Junior’s Italian, which has been supporting us since our 1^st derby, is also donating again this year.

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Please take a moment to read this BoatUS release below, regarding on the water safety and your wake. you may also follow BoatUS on twitter, at @BoatUS.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., August 26, 2009 – Boat wakes – those long, frothy, V-shaped waves trailing from the stern of a powerboat as it slices through the water – have a sinister side.  When other vessels encounter them, they can hurt people. They can make people angry, and they can bring the wrath of law enforcement, for good reason.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) recently looked into the issue of boat wakes by combing through the insurance claims case files, where swampings, broken teeth, and back injuries are found. “You avoid being the recipient of gestures from other skippers by using a little common sense and courtesy,” says BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. “This means coming completely off plane when you enter a no wake zone or anywhere your wake could compromise the safety of other boats,” he adds.

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Gerry Hartley, a friend of ours here at Burlington Boatyard and an avid Lake Champlain fisherman, has started his own blog about some great fishing experiences he shares with his wife Cathy and the many fishing friends he has made over the years.

His most recent story and pictures describe his time out on the UVM research vessel Melosira, where many are learning valuable information about the health and issues of Lake Champlain water quality and its fishery.

Please consider reading more from Gerry on his blog, here.

This weekend, Burlington Boatyard is volunteering for Lake Champlain International as they hold the 28th Annual Father’s Day Fishing Derby on Lake Champlain. As one of many proud LCI sponsors, we have had the chance to be involved in a variety of ways, from the hustle and bustle of prepping the equipment heading out to the twelve weigh stations, to the headquarters tasks like recording every fish caught and constant follow up with those volunteering out on the road. But, aside from the hands on tasks that need attention, we are fortunate enough to experience the deeper meaning of what an event like this does for the community.

What brings excitement to a competitive derby angler? Prepping your boat, tackle and mapping the hot spots the day before? Having multiple lines hit while trolling your “secret” locations on Lake Champlain? Battling it out with the big one in anticipation of what’s on the end of your line, and if it’ll be the one that lands you the top spot on the board? Yes, all this and more is what typically runs through the mind of those who take part in a derby of this scope and involvement. However, with the LCI Father’s Day Derby, there are many more thrills and excitement that revolve around family, friends and community.

Father’s get a chance to spend a weekend with their kids teaching them about the sport of fishing, or experience all over again the feeling they had when catching their first “big one”. Friends take to the lake and see firsthand the positive effects the lamprey treatment initiatives have had on the revitalization of Lake Champlain when they have bigger and healthier fish on their line. Lake communities teem with activity, as well as local charities are benefited with programs like Share the Catch where residents can donate food items by dropping them off at any of the twelve LCI weigh stations. What happens during this particular derby is unique, and without a doubt focuses on benefiting the conservation, education and celebration of the wonderful resource that is Lake Champlain and its community.

We are lucky to be a part of the some 80 volunteers it takes to facilitate an event of this size and intricacy, and with 5500 anglers coming to Vermont from over 30 states, that is no simple task. We meet members of local businesses, fellow sponsors, our boaters and their families, learn about event planning and the list goes on. Most importantly though, we are able to take a few days to experience all the great things taking place around the Vermont lake communities with an organization that continues to dedicate their time and resources to making Lake Champlain a better place in the present, and for the future.

Good luck to all the LCI anglers this weekend and happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

-The Burlington Boatyard Crew

Be sure to stay in touch with LCI by becoming a fan on Facebook, following them on Twitter, reading their blog and contributing to the forum, and watching more on YouTube.

You may also stay connected with BBY on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and forum.

On November 13, the University of Vermont Wakeboard Club held a showing of the video, The Truth at Brennan’s, a local pub and bistro located at UVM in the Davis Center. The Truth showcases the remarkably talented Liquid Force Wakeboarding Team as they display their extraordinary abilities out on the water. Liquid Force is a company dedicated to bringing wakeboarding, wakeskating, and wakesurfing into the spotlight in the world of professional sports.

There was a great showing for this premier, as many students came out to support their peers in the club. Burlington Boatyard, a local online company devoted to connecting the Vermont marine community, made an appearance and showed their support for the cause. Guy Mitrano, CEO of Burlington Boatyard and UVM alumnus (’06), spoke with students and voiced ways in which they could assist and become a member of the up-and-coming UVM Wakeboard Club. He also manned the sponsor table, giving away free, floating key chains and displaying the BBY-UVM Wakeboard Club video produced this fall. This was one of BBY’s first actions taken in being the group’s initial major sponsor, and was produced this fall.

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Recently, Burlington Boatyard has come in contact with a group of energetic and dedicated students at the University of Vermont, who are organizing a wakeboarding club which will allow for the promotion of the sport, as well as Lake Champlain being a great resource right “down the hill”.  

We have asked club President, Nicole Ullian, to reach out to all members of the Lake community – marinas, local businesses, individual boaters, and so on – to inform us all of their progress, needs and goals as they go through the process of recognition.

I invite you to read more on who they are, what they plan to do as a club, and more over, how they plan to be a positive group within the community to promote and contribute to the area.

-Guy

Hello World! We are a group of students attending the University of Vermont working to establish the UVM Wakeboarding Club. We’re in the process of recognition at the university and are seeking your help and support, which will enable us to launch in the spring of 2009.

 The club currently has over 100 interested members, some of which are expert riders and others who have never ridden before! Our goal is to get those students who are interested in wakeboarding out on the water and riding as much as possible. This will enable us all to  learn, progress, and most importantly, both UVM students of today and those of the future will be able to enjoy beautiful Lake Champlain and all it has to offer. 

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