Explore VINS

Motivating individuals and communities to care for the environment through education, research, and avian wildlife rehabilitation.

Welcome to VINS

The VINS Nature Center is open daily from 10am – 4pm.

All outdoor exhibits are open: Raptors, Songbird Aviary, Adventure Playscape, Nature Trails, and the amazing Forest Canopy Walk. Our indoor exhibits are open: Birds Are Dinosaurs, Forest Exhibit, and Reptile Room.

We highly recommend prepurchasing your admission tickets. We welcome all walk-ins.

Masks are encouraged, but not required.

Contact Us

Nature Center Hours

VINS Nature Center
10am to 4pm Daily

Wild Bird Rehab is Open
Accepting Calls Only
802.359.5000 x212
8am to 4pm

"My daughter and I enjoyed our visit yesterday very much. You continue to do outstanding work to preserve the natural world and educate people about your mission. I was very inspired by all that I saw and experienced. I wanted to share a photo of the volunteer that inspired me with her kindness, wealth of knowledge, and expertise in the care and handling of the amazing birds currently on site."

VINS Nature Center Visitor

"A must-visit! Perfect for social distancing - very safe and still so much to explore! The bald eagles were the highlight...and

the birds-are-dinosaurs exhibit is extremely well done, and the canopy walk is gorgeous (and easy even with little children)."

VINS Nature Center Visitor

"Fun place to go to and take your kids, close encounters with some of the most iconic birds - bald and golden eagles, snow owls etc., canopy trail is really cool."

VINS Nature Center Visitor

"Wonderful place for a day trip! Educational and amazing! Great staff that are helpful and very knowledgeable."

VINS Nature Center Visitor

"Awesome place to visit! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the birds are beautiful. The new treetop walk offers spectacular views of the surrounding pond, and the tall tower is a little scary! Come prepared to wear a mask and follow the safety guidelines set by the institute. Staff is very dedicated to making your visit a safe one!"

VINS Nature Center Visitor

Artist Exhibition – Owls

MARCH 1 – MAY 31 – Visit the VINS Nature Center and experience the beauty of owls through the artwork of painters Betsy Smith and Diana Clegg Brown. Both artists are inspired by the natural world and wild creatures, including the owls they paint!

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Amphibian Adventure

MARCH 26 – Why did the salamander cross the road? Join a VINS educator to find out on an amphibian adventure! Learn what makes amphibians such amazing animals by playing games to see if you can hop as far as a frog or if you can find your way to a vernal pool. Then get ready for the annual spring migration!

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Virtual Owl Friday: Wild at Heart’s quest to save species from extinction

MARCH 31 – This virtual presentation will focus on their Burrowing Owl Recovery Project which has built over 6000 artificial burrow habitats and provided homes for more than 2500 Burrowing Owls, and their work establishing captive-breeding protocols for the proposed Threatened Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.

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Shop the Nature Store

Visit our online store for t-shirts, hats, books, bird guides, and more!