Winter Wildlife Celebration
Saturday, February 24 / 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 inspiring 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 Jackson Gillman in a narrative adventure following winter wildlife through the forest. You can also join in for winter games, spot birds 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!

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. (Standing Wave)

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)

10:30 AM, 11 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 at the exit of the Songbird Exhibit; limited to 12 spots; first come, first served)

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
Meet an educator on the hour as they identify birds at the hanging feeders. (Meet at the exit of the Songbird Exhibit)

12:30 PM – 12:50 PM / Songbird Aviary Tour
Spend some time in 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 / A Mid-Winter Night’s Dream
Listen as Jackson Gillman spins a tale of a winter forest adventure tracking an otter, plunging into icy waters, and dancing under the Northern Lights. (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 caregivers 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.

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.