Autumn Wildlife Celebration
Saturday, September 13 / 10 AM – 5 PM

Celebrate the start of fall at VINS! Admire the trees with a stroll along our canopy walk or learn all about what wildlife is up to during this season of change at a program in the HawkFly. Join us for fall crafts, or test your tree identification skills in a fun game, learn about migration with a local biologist from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, or explore ways to help protect our beautiful home. Immerse yourself in nature and have some fall fun!

Schedule of the Day:
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Fall Crafts – Be inspired by the beauty all around us with some crafts inspired by nature, like leaf-rubs and migrating birds! (August Pavilion)

10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Exploring Energy – How can we harness the wind to create electricity? How hard is it to light a lightbulb? The Vermont Energy Education Program has many fun hands-on activities to explore how energy works and where it comes from! (August Pavilion)

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Every Contact Leaves a Trace – Join water scientist Brooke Winslow for an activity station exploring the fibers we leave behind from our favorite shirts, sweaters, and socks, as well as what we can do to minimize our impact on the environment. (August Pavilion)

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Natural Wonders – Join us on a journey of discovery through the wonders of the natural world. Designed for families with young children, this short interactive program explores a range of engaging topics including animals of New England, animal engineers, and local habitats.. (Neale Pavilion)

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Raptor Migration – Which raptors stay here all winter long and how far do others go during their annual journeys? Learn about the amazing migratory species that call VINS home. (Hawkfly)

12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Tree Games – Can you identify all the trees in the forest? Test your knowledge and learn how to tell the difference between some common species. From maples and oaks to hemlocks and pines! (August Pavilion)

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Forest Walk – Come wander through the woods with us! Our trails are teeming with a variety of plants and wildlife. Learn to identify the plants that support our diverse fauna while keeping your eyes out for signs of animal activity and if we’re lucky, perhaps we’ll spot some critters too! (Meet at the Canopy Walk entrance)

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Forest Walk – Come wander through the woods with us! Our trails are teeming with a variety of plants and wildlife. Learn to identify the plants that support our diverse fauna while keeping your eyes out for signs of animal activity and if we’re lucky, perhaps we’ll spot some critters too! (Meet at the Canopy Walk entrance)

1:00PM – 1:45PM
Bird Migration Research – Migration is a spectacular natural phenomenon that researchers have just scratched the surface of. Advancements in technology now permit for formerly impossible questions to be asked and answered. Learn about where the birds go, and how they get there, in this presentation by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies’ Kevin Tolan. (Neale Pavilion)

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Forest Walk – Come wander through the woods with us! Our trails are teeming with a variety of plants and wildlife. Learn to identify the plants that support our diverse fauna while keeping your eyes out for signs of animal activity and if we’re lucky, perhaps we’ll spot some critters too! (Meet at the Canopy Walk entrance)

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Songbird Aviary Tour – Visit VINS resident songbirds and learn how you can help the birds in your backyard. (Songbird Aviary)

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Raptor Feeding Time – Ask VINS staff and volunteers your questions about our resident raptors on exhibit while they get their dinner. Meet at the Golden Eagle enclosures! (Raptor Enclosures)

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Raptor Migration – Which raptors stay here all winter long and how far do others go during their annual journeys? Learn about the amazing migratory species that call VINS home. (Hawkfly)

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM:
Hawk on the Walk – Enjoy the forest from the treetops as our Harris’ Hawk glides between the branches. (Canopy Walk)

For more information, contact us at 802.359.5000 or info@vinsweb.org.