Hardwick, Vermont

One of the best moments for me at this week’s Community Meals happened around a stream table.

As part of the Atkins Neighborhood Conversations series, Alison Spasyk from Lake Champlain Sea Grant joined us at the Atkins Field Community Meal with a stream table that quickly became a focal point for conversations about watersheds, flooding, rivers, and resilience.

Community members of all ages gathered around the table, asking questions, experimenting with water flow, and connecting what they were seeing to local conversations about flooding, rivers, and resilience.

As residents explored the stream table, conversations ranged from local flooding and Jackson Dam to the broader watershed. One of the things many people forget is that Hardwick is part of the Lake Champlain Basin. The water that falls here eventually makes its way to Lake Champlain, connecting our community to a much larger watershed.

The highlight of the evening came when a resident from the Granite Street neighborhood told me that the stream table helped her better understand concepts that had previously been discussed during a recent public meeting. The presentations had been clear, but as a visual learner, seeing the water move through the model brought those ideas into focus.

Several conversations also turned to Jackson Dam. While the stream table was not intended to model Jackson Dam specifically, residents began using it to think through questions about water movement, storage, flooding, and watershed dynamics. Watching those connections happen in real time was awesome.

Moments like these are exactly why the Atkins Neighborhood Conversations were created. Not everyone can attend a formal presentation or public meeting, but many people are interested in learning more about the issues affecting our community. By partnering with existing community events and gathering spaces, the goal is to create opportunities for conversation, questions, and learning in places where people are already spending time together.

Our next Atkins Neighborhood Conversation is:

DREDGING 101

Dredging is a topic that comes up frequently in Hardwick, especially after flooding events.We’ll be joined by Shayne Jacquith, who brings years of experience with dredging and river work. If you’ve ever had questions about dredging, river management, sediment, or flood resilience, this is an opportunity to ask them.

Monday, June 22, 2026 at 6 pm to 7 pm, Atkins Field Community Meals in the Pavillion at 140 Granite Street

We hope you’ll join us.

The Town of Hardwick and the Center for an Agricultural Economy are hosting Atkins Neighborhood Conversations, a summer community discussion series held alongside the Monday Community Meals at the Atkins Field Pavilion.

These informal conversations are intended to bring neighbors together, share practical information, and create space for questions about flooding, preparedness, recovery, and community resilience.

Location: Atkins Field Pavilion, 140 Granite Street
Community Meal: Mondays, 5:00–6:30 PM
Conversation Begins: 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Conversation Schedule

June 15 — Lake Champlain Sea Grant Stream Table Demonstration
Explore river dynamics with an interactive stream table. Test scenarios like dredging, dams, armoring, and road crossings to see how rivers respond during storms. Hands-on and open to all ages.

June 22 — Dredging 101
An informal conversation with Shayne Jaquith, River Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, about dredging and river dynamics. Open discussion and questions encouraged.

July 13 — Go Bags
Emergency preparedness for households, families, and animals.

July 20 — Flood Insurance
Understanding insurance, claims, and community questions.

July 27 — Update from the Hardwick Resilience & Adaptation Office
An update on flood recovery progress, resilience projects, and what’s next for our community.

Pull up a chair. Share a meal. Join the conversation.