July 20th, 2024 | by Kelly Ault
Welcome to Quench'd, Kelly! Kelly Ault is the executive director of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA). VOBA works to strengthen, expand, attract, and retain the outdoor recreation economy businesses in Vermont. All of us cyclists and outdoors enthusiasts --Vermonters and non-Vermonters alike-- benefit from access to outdoor recreation as a whole and the local groups like VOBA that make it possible. Today, with climate change ever-present, Kelly's story is especially important: she asks us to look at how we, as lovers of the outdoors and therefore participants in the outdoor business economy, can help create a climate-ready outdoors.
It was July of 2023, a few days after a historic 100-year flood swept into Vermont’s downtowns and villages across the state, deluging businesses and homes and carving trenches in trails and rivers. Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier was an unusual beehive of activity. Inside the unlit shop, groups of volunteers carried piles of gear, apparel, and accessories out the back door. From behind my shovel pushing mud along the shop’s wood floors, I saw my 19-year old sons carrying disintegrating boxes of unbuilt bikes. In the parking lot, customers and community members washed and organized inventory on tables and tossed unsalvageable items into dumpsters.
On the flood event’s one year anniversary, Vermont flooded again. Although the impact to many communities and infrastructure feels all too familiar and the challenges ahead similarly daunting, the differences in today’s story arc are unmistakable: A leveling up of Vermonter generosity and people coming together in new ways to help those in need; a leveraging of collective resources; a heightened stewardship ethic in building better systems; and, an elevation of the conversation about climate change.
I’m witnessing this shift firsthand as the executive director of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, a nonprofit organization that represents the highly diversified sector of retailers, manufacturers, resorts, creatives, trail builders, guides, lodging, and hundreds of businesses and organizations interconnected with Vermont’s landscape and unique recreation places. Outdoor businesses have long had to navigate extreme and unpredictable weather and long been problem solvers of the most pressing sustainability issues of our time. Now, they are doubling down.
Welcome to Quench'd, Kelly! Kelly Ault is the executive director of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA). VOBA works to strengthen, expand, attract, and retain the outdoor recreation economy businesses in Vermont. All of us cyclists and outdoors enthusiasts --Vermonters and non-Vermonters alike-- benefit from access to outdoor recreation as a whole and the local groups like VOBA that make it possible. Today, with climate change ever-present, Kelly's story is especially important: she asks us to look at how we, as lovers of the outdoors and therefore participants in the outdoor business economy, can help create a climate-ready outdoors.
It was July of 2023, a few days after a historic 100-year flood swept into Vermont’s downtowns and villages across the state, deluging businesses and homes and carving trenches in trails and rivers. Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier was an unusual beehive of activity. Inside the unlit shop, groups of volunteers carried piles of gear, apparel, and accessories out the back door. From behind my shovel pushing mud along the shop’s wood floors, I saw my 19-year old sons carrying disintegrating boxes of unbuilt bikes. In the parking lot, customers and community members washed and organized inventory on tables and tossed unsalvageable items into dumpsters.
On the flood event’s one year anniversary, Vermont flooded again. Although the impact to many communities and infrastructure feels all too familiar and the challenges ahead similarly daunting, the differences in today’s story arc are unmistakable: A leveling up of Vermonter generosity and people coming together in new ways to help those in need; a leveraging of collective resources; a heightened stewardship ethic in building better systems; and, an elevation of the conversation about climate change.
I’m witnessing this shift firsthand as the executive director of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, a nonprofit organization that represents the highly diversified sector of retailers, manufacturers, resorts, creatives, trail builders, guides, lodging, and hundreds of businesses and organizations interconnected with Vermont’s landscape and unique recreation places. Outdoor businesses have long had to navigate extreme and unpredictable weather and long been problem solvers of the most pressing sustainability issues of our time. Now, they are doubling down.
Kelly speaking at a VOBA event in Burlington, VT
Kelly speaking at a VOBA event in Burlington, VT
The outdoor sector is perfectly positioned as a change maker for climate resiliency efforts now and into the future. Outdoor businesses are leading the way from their rural and urban locations, busily innovating outdoor products and recreation facilities, and lending their voice to policy proposals that invest in climate action measures.
And, industry is linking arms with key partners committed to this shared purpose - recreation, conservation & equity organizations and municipal, state & federal entities. These partners have already been working together across Vermont and state lines to steward equitable natural and human communities.
Although the path ahead is long and winding, I see forward momentum in transitioning our economic, social and infrastructure systems to be climate-ready.
I’m hopeful that the outdoors can be the same source of quality of life for future Vermonters as it has for me and my family as we continue to find adventure, friendships, growth, and renewal on mountain bikes in Vermont forests and out in the world beyond.
So, let’s keep up the good work together.
Help flood-affected communities
Seek out coordinated efforts in your community to help as every effort makes a difference. Lend a hand or make a donation.
Support the outdoor community
Local businesses and nonprofit organizations are the essential backbones for our recreation systems.
Join or donate to a member of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council or a local conservation organization
The outdoor sector is perfectly positioned as a change maker for climate resiliency efforts now and into the future. Outdoor businesses are leading the way from their rural and urban locations, busily innovating outdoor products and recreation facilities, and lending their voice to policy proposals that invest in climate action measures.
And, industry is linking arms with key partners committed to this shared purpose - recreation, conservation & equity organizations and municipal, state & federal entities. These partners have already been working together across Vermont and state lines to steward equitable natural and human communities.
Although the path ahead is long and winding, I see forward momentum in transitioning our economic, social and infrastructure systems to be climate-ready.
I’m hopeful that the outdoors can be the same source of quality of life for future Vermonters as it has for me and my family as we continue to find adventure, friendships, growth, and renewal on mountain bikes in Vermont forests and out in the world beyond.
So, let’s keep up the good work together.
Help flood-affected communities
Seek out coordinated efforts in your community to help as every effort makes a difference. Lend a hand or make a donation.
Support the outdoor community
Local businesses and nonprofit organizations are the essential backbones for our recreation systems.
Join or donate to a member of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council or a local conservation organization
Support municipalities and state outdoor recreation and conservation
National, state and town forests, parks, waterways, wildlife areas and other public lands provide health and wellness benefits to Vermonters and visitors as well as protect biodiversity values and prevent forest fragmentation.
Champion climate action
Vermonters are leading conversations about climate change and being bold in proposing solutions for a climate - ready future. Your voice matters. Be an advocate!
Kelly Ault has served as the executive director for the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance since 2019, after co-founding the organization focused on strengthening Vermont’s outdoor economy with industry leaders. She moved to Vermont in 1995 after receiving a Masters in Environmental Policy and worked as a non-profit executive on issues involving land conservation, sustainable forestry, and nature- and culture-based tourism with the Northern Forest Alliance (Appalachian Mountain Club) and on early childhood issues for the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance. In her free time, she finds adventure and camaraderie mountain biking and skiing in Vermont’s Green Mountains as well as mountain bikes around the world with her husband while watching her college-age sons race mountain bikes professionally.
Support municipalities and state outdoor recreation and conservation
National, state and town forests, parks, waterways, wildlife areas and other public lands provide health and wellness benefits to Vermonters and visitors as well as protect biodiversity values and prevent forest fragmentation.
Champion climate action
Vermonters are leading conversations about climate change and being bold in proposing solutions for a climate - ready future. Your voice matters. Be an advocate!
Kelly Ault has served as the executive director for the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance since 2019, after co-founding the organization focused on strengthening Vermont’s outdoor economy with industry leaders. She moved to Vermont in 1995 after receiving a Masters in Environmental Policy and worked as a non-profit executive on issues involving land conservation, sustainable forestry, and nature- and culture-based tourism with the Northern Forest Alliance (Appalachian Mountain Club) and on early childhood issues for the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance. In her free time, she finds adventure and camaraderie mountain biking and skiing in Vermont’s Green Mountains as well as mountain bikes around the world with her husband while watching her college-age sons race mountain bikes professionally.
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