MLK, an Environmental Leader
January 18, 2021
“We’ve played havoc with the destiny of the world. Somewhere we must make it clear that we are concerned about the survival of the world.” -MLK
BlackCycling.com found this 1967 photo of MLK on his bike. “Yes the Civil Rights leader took time out to get some cycling in. If he did it you can too!”
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Today is MLK Day. It is a day to honor Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy and reflect on his enduring contributions to our nation. King’s mission was to ensure justice and equality. He was central to advancing civil rights through nonviolent activism in the 60s, and his words have echoed ever since, especially this year amidst the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Kingdom Trails shares King’s vision of racial, social, and economic parity, as our mission is to foster the health of our community and regional economy. Exploring our own commitment to diversity and inclusion, and today studying and honoring King’s teachings and his life, we were astounded to learn the powerful impact he has had on environmental justice, a concept Kingdom Trails is deeply passionate about.
Martin Luther King blazed trails for the environmental movement. In a 1951 sermon, “O That I Knew Where I Might Find Him,” King said, “Probably many of us who have been so urbanized and modernized need at times to get back to the simple rural life and commune with nature... We need sometimes to get away from the man-made lights of the city and place our eyes on that eternal light which man can never invent. We need sometimes to close our ears to get away from the noisy tunes of the man-made streetcars and subways and open our ears to the melodious voices of the birds and the whistling sounds of the jostling wind.”
Kingdom Trails builds trails to connect people. We believe that providing public access to the outdoors and trails to recreate, will enable people to lift their spirits, clear their minds, nurture their bodies, and cultivate a sense of responsibility and stewardship for both our community and the natural world.
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Sources & Resources
“O that I Knew Where I Might Find Him!” Sermon, Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. The Ecological Thinker, Drew Dellinger https://drewdellinger.org/martin-luther-king-jr-ecological-thinker/
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-eric-holder-speaks-environmental-protection-agency-s-martin-luther-king
What the Environmental Justice Movement Owes Martin Luther King Jr, Paola Rosa-Aquino https://grist.org/article/what-the-environmental-justice-movement-owes-martin-luther-king-jr/
7/11/26 Community Chat
Canadian Community Month Offers Below Kingdom Trails Kingdom Trails is a world-renowned, community-supported trail network at the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, built through long-standing landowner partnerships and careful stewardship. It remains the central hub of the region’s mountain biking community. As part of Canadian Community Month, Canadian visitors are welcomed with special membership access and benefits designed to make visiting more accessible. Offers: Canadian dollars accepted at par for annual and day memberships purchased in-person at the Kingdom Trails Welcome Center New and current Canadian annual members will receive a complimentary guest day membership to share with a friend or family member, redeemable anytime during the 2026 riding season. Canadians who purchased day memberships earlier this season may upgrade to annual memberships at par, with the amount already paid in USD credited toward the upgrade Please note that the at-par rates will be applied at checkout in USD as a discount according to the current daily exchange rate; the KT Welcome Center is unable to accept Canadian currency at this time.
From the Executive Director: Hi Everyone! Well, July has certainly brought the heat, but luckily here at KT there are plenty of shady trails to choose from. Speaking of trails...we are opening a new one this weekend: "Cheddar Slice" connects the bottom of Butter Tubs to the bottom of the Dashney Loop, creating a roughly 4-mile family-friendly loop and adding another way to connect the Moose Alley and Dashney zones. Connectivity has been a big focus this year, and there is more to come later this season. Thank you to all our generous Landowners, members and supporters. Have a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Fourth of July!! -Georgia Celebrate the Fourth with Us! As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite you to celebrate with us throughout the month of July. If you're riding on Saturday, July 4, be sure to stop by our newly refreshed Welcome Center! We'll be serving complimentary cookies and lemonade throughout the day—a small way of celebrating the holiday and welcoming riders, families, and visitors to Kingdom Trails. Later in the month, join us at Lyndonville's Stars & Stripes Celebration on Saturday, July 18. The celebration begins with the 10:00 a.m. parade, followed by the festival, where you'll find the Kingdom Trails tent. Stop by to say hello, learn about our newest initiatives and chat with our staff about everything happening at Kingdom Trails this summer. The festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and features food trucks, vendors, children's activities, live music, a Rotary BBQ, axe throwing, and more—making it a fun day for the whole family. We hope you'll stop by, say hello, and celebrate with us! CLICK HERE to read the full newsletter.
