Winter Wildlife Celebration
Saturday, February 25 / 10 AM – 4 PM
Included with general admission to the VINS Nature Center

Celebrate the wonders of winter at the VINS Nature Center with a fun-filled day of family activities!

Fairy Court is ready to greet you as you begin your journey through the woods to hunt for fairies. Visit with the Vermont Reindeer Farm for an up close experience with this amazing arctic species. Be first in line to claim a seat for the chance to have an up close encounter with a chickadee and join Moose Biologist, Nick Fortin, to learn about how the magnificent Moose tackles winter. As you go about your day take a moment to watch as a snow sculpture comes to life! You can also join in for winter games, bird on the canopy walk and attend a program to learn how raptors survive winter. Snow or no, it’s sure to be a great way to discover the wonders of winter!

Schedule:

10 AM – 1 PM / Reindeer Fun
Visit with the Vermont Reindeer Farm and meet one of these spectacular animals and learn about how they are adapted for the arctic landscape. (Next to Neale Pavilion)

10 AM – 2 PM / Fairy Hunts
Come visit the Fairy Court for an adventure sprinkled with the magic and wonder of forest fairies with a visit from our Fairy Grandmother and friends. Wearing wings is encouraged! (Forest Exhibit)

10 AM – 3 PM / Winter Games
Part of surviving chilly winter conditions is staying active! Join us in celebrating wildlife with exciting activities for the whole family. (Hawkfly)

10 AM – 4 PM / Ice Sculpture
As you go about your day take a moment to watch Tony Perham and Katie Runde, Snow Sculpting Champions, as they create a piece of art from ice!(August Pavilion)

10:30 AM, 11 AM, 11:30 AM, 12 PM / Chickadee Landing Station
Join a VINS educator for this unique chance at an up-close encounter with a wild songbird at our specially-designed feeding station. (Meet every half hour at the exit of the Songbird Exhibit; limited to 12 spots; first come, first served) (Songbird Exhibit Exit)

10:30 AM – 11 AM / Breakfast with Turtles
Meet Turt and Jersey, VINS ambassador Turtles, as they have their morning stroll and breakfast and chat with an educator about how reptiles survive winter. (Neale Pavilion)

11 AM – 11:30 AM / Raptors in Winter
Join us for an intimate encounter with live Raptors and learn about how they’ve adapted to our cold winter months. (Neale Pavilion)

11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM / Birding on the Canopy Walk
Meet an educator on the hour out on the canopy walk as they identify birds at the hanging feeders. (Forest Canopy Walk)

12:30 PM – 12:50 PM / Songbird Aviary
Spend some time in our newest exhibit – the Songbird Aviary! An educator will familiarize you with this special group of birds and point out the ways you can make a great habitat for these important creatures in your own backyard. (Songbird Aviary)

1 PM – 2 PM / Winter Ecology of Moose in Vermont
Join Nick Fortin, Deer & Moose Project Leader at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, as he discusses how Moose, a northern species well adapted for deep snow and cold temperatures face additional challenges in Vermont. (Neale Pavilion)

2 PM – 2:30 PM / Raptors in Winter
Join us for an intimate encounter with live Raptors and learn about how they’ve adapted to our cold winter months. (Neale Pavilion)

2:30 PM – 3 PM / Raptor Feeding
Join our raptor care-givers for feeding time! Learn about the habits and history of each of the resident raptors at VINS as you watch them enjoy their daily meal. (Raptor Enclosures – Bald Eagles)

*Note: The nature trails are not maintained. Snowshoes are available for use at the Nature Store.

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