Waterbury Winterfest wraps up Wanderlust 2021

March 13, 2021 | By Roger Clapp 

Flag's up to hold a tiny snowman atop a mailbox from Team OurTribe. Thanks to Heidi Hall.

Be sure to save those food scraps for compost and document for a Winterfest challenge.

Team Doodle wins for best (dog-approved) snow fort. Thanks to Amy Hoekstra.

Team Cherry makes a jigsaw puzzle.

Winning Team Cherry makes a contribution to the Waterbury Area Food Shelf as part of his challenge. Thanks to David Rye.

Team MadTom embraces an added degree of difficulty by making snow angels while wearing snowshoes. yes, that's Crossett Brook Principal Tom Drake.

Team Walden 3 makes a dog-approved snow fort. Thanks to Shawnee Perry.

Team WILCAF finds a haiku approved by mascot Pokey. Thanks to Serena Wilcox.

Lesson for the day for Team KEEM is a haiku followed by outdoor adventures. Thanks to Molly Dubois.

Team J Dutton included their suffragette mascot with their haiku entry. Thanks to Jan Gendreau.

Dogs can help make snow angels too. Members of Team Gendimes make some under a bluebird sky atop the Waterbury Dam. Thanks to Janelle Gendimenico.

Many participants added a mascot, Team Bear's wears a Waterbury sweatshirt in their photo submissions.

The Winterfest haiku challenge was popular.

Some creative participants made ice cream from snow. What's not to like?

A classic challenge leads to two snow people in this village front yard.

For 10 years Waterbury Winterfest has encouraged a growing number of participants from the community and beyond to discover the magic of a Waterbury winter. 

This year, organizers had to screw on their thinking caps to come up with a plan that complied with COVID-safety protocols. So leadership team member Eric Weeber worked with Vermont Parks Department Ranger Chad Ummel to develop the Wanderlust Challenge with more than 75 options for individuals and families to explore, create, give back or just hunker down from the end of January through February. 

Eager for a new creative outlet during the pandemic, the community responded to this new scavenger hunt challenge, posting more than 1,190 photos to document their participation. We received shots of wild turkeys crossing yards, dogs at the dog park, kids catching snowflakes on their tongues, and people knitting a pair of mittens, summiting nearby mountains and shoveling their neighbor's walk. 

During the month of February, 50 teams competed for weekly prizes provided by 16 local sponsoring businesses. Special prizes were awarded for best homemade game, best dance video, best snow fort, and best ice cream made from snow. 

Justine Myers pulled in top honors in the "Name that Fat Bike" contest. An all-weather two-wheeler was recently purchased by Waterbury Winterfest for the public to explore Waterbury trails at reduced rates and will now be known as "Winterfest Wander Wheels" or WWW for short. For more information, go to  WaterburyWinterfest.com.

The Winterfest leadership team would like to thank all participants and sponsors supporting this year's unique approach to winter activity. We look forward to further supporting Waterbury recreation through our grants program this spring and a rebound to in-person events next Winter 2022. 

Roger Clapp is part of the Waterbury Winterfest leadership team along with Brenda Caforia-Weeber, Billy Vigdor, Natalie Sherman, Louisa Hayes, Eric Weeber, Rich Hayes, Bill Minter and Amy Scharf.