Vermont’s community sunscreen program, as part of the Skin Cancer Taskforce, which first launched in 2018 in 18 Vermont State Parks and 8 municipal locations continues to gain momentum with additional community park and recreation sites scheduled for free sunscreen dispenser stations, thanks to the collaborative efforts of VTAAC, Dartmouth Cancer Center, UVM Cancer Center and IMPACT Melanoma, the nation’s leading non-profit dedicated to melanoma prevention and early detection. In 2023, 12 parks and recreation sites across the state were chosen to receive a free sunscreen dispenser and in 2024, the program continued to expand. 16 new sites were selected to receive a free sunscreen dispenser, along with all 12 local health offices throughout the state.
Vermont has the nation’s third-highest incidence rate of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Vermont also has the highest rate of melanoma in New England. According to the Vermont Department of Health, exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds is a major risk factor for developing melanoma.
The purpose of these free sunscreen stations is two-fold: to provide easy access to SPF 30 sunscreen as well as remind Vermont residents and visitors that sun protection is critical to their optimal health and sun safety is in their hands — quite literally.
Scroll down for a map of the free sunscreen sites across the state, sun safety communications resources, and program evaluation details.
2025 Sun Safety Social Media Toolkit For Sunscreen Dispenser Recipients
Download the toolkit for access the following:
- Toolkit Guide (explains the content of the toolkit & provides sample sun safety social media messaging)
- 6 Tips to Reduce Skin Cancer (downloadable social media images)
- Sun Safety for Kids (downloadable social media images)
- Four images of the sunscreen dispenser (to use in promotional materials)
Let us know if you use this toolkit on social media or in the press by emailing Hanna Snyder, Coalition Coordinator, at coordinator@vtaac.org.
Want More Sun Safety Resources?
Map of Free Sunscreen Dispensers in Vermont
Full Sunscreen Dispenser Recipient List
| County | Recipient Year | Site Name | Organization Name |
| Addison | 2023 | Town of Bristol Recreation Field | Town of Bristol Recreation Department |
| Bennington | 2023 | Lake Paran | Paran Recreations INC |
| Bennington | 2024 | Arlington Lions Club Pavilion | Arlington Lions Club |
| Caledonia | 2023 | Powers Park | Village Improvement Society, Inc. |
| Chittenden | 2024 | Milton Family Park, Cathedral Square Elm Place | Cathedral Square Elm Place |
| Franklin | 2023 | St Albans Drop-In Center | Spectrum Youth and Family Services |
| Franklin | 2023 | Hard’ack Recreation Area | St Albans Recreation |
| Franklin | 2023 | St. Albans Town Bay Park | Town of St. Albans |
| Franklin | 2024 | Enosburgh Public Library | Enosburgh Public Library |
| Franklin | 2024 | Highgate Parks and Recreation Sports Arena | Highgate Parks and Recreation |
| Franklin | 2024 | Swanton Public Library | Swanton Public Library |
| Grand Isle | 2024 | Camp Ta-Kum-Ta Pool | Camp Ta-Kum-Ta |
| Lamoille | 2024 | Lamoille Center for Integrated Services | Capstone Community Action, Inc |
| Lamoille | 2024 | Lamoille Family Center | Lamoille Family Center |
| Orange | 2024 | Creative Spirits Children’s Center | Creative Spirits Children’s Center |
| Orleans | 2024 | Barton Community Giving Garden | Barton Community Giving Garden |
| Orleans | 2024 | City of Newport Prouty Beach Campground | City of Newport |
| Orleans | 2024 | North Country Hospital – The Wellness Center | The Wellness Center (NCH) |
| Orleans | 2024 | Craftsbury Outdoor Center | Craftsbury Outdoor Center |
| Rutland | 2023 | White Memorial Park & Pool | City of Rutland Recreation and Parks |
| Rutland | 2023 | Northwood Pool | Rutland Town Recreation |
| Rutland | 2023 | Crystal Beach | Town of Castleton |
| Washington | 2023 | Barre City Rotary Park – Municipal Swimming Pool | City of Barre, Vermont |
| Washington | 2024 | Green Mountain Community Fitness | Green Mountain United Way |
| Windham | 2023 | Retreat Farm | Retreat Farm, LTD |
| Windham | 2023 | Living Memorial Park | Town of Brattleboro Rec & Parks |
| Windham | 2024 | Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development | Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development |
| Windsor | 2024 | Edgar May Health and Recreation Center | Edgar May Health and Recreation Center |
Sunscreen Dispensers from Selected Sites
2024 Program Evaluation
To understand the implementation and effectiveness of the program, a survey was sent to all past sunscreen dispenser recipients. The sunscreen dispensers were well received and convenient. Modeling the application of the sunscreen by site staff, such as lifeguards, encouraged the use of the dispensers and sun safety behavior by community members.
2024 Site Survey Results Brief can be found here.
