Rotating Education Station
2025-09-17 13:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-18 13:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-19 13:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-20 13:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-21 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Rotating Education Station
1 PM – 1:30 PM
Something new every day! Take a stroll with one of our experienced educators through the woods or the meadow, learn about what’s going on behind the scenes in the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation and Ambassador Care, or what the research team is working on in the field. We’re excited to highlight the most interesting things happening in the natural world in an interactive and engaging activity each day.
For more information, contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Songbird Aviary Tour
2025-09-17 14:00 - 14:20, 2025-09-18 14:00 - 14:20, 2025-09-19 14:00 - 14:20, 2025-09-20 14:00 - 14:20
Songbird Aviary Tour
2 PM – 2:20 PM
Spend some time in our Songbird Aviary! Our docents 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.
For more information, contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Raptor Feeding Time
2025-09-17 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-09-18 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-09-19 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-09-20 14:30 - 15:00
Raptor Feeding Time
2:30 PM – 3 PM
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.
Held in the Raptor Exhibits.
For more information, contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Predators of the Sky
2025-09-17 15:00 - 15:30, 2025-09-18 15:00 - 15:30, 2025-09-19 15:00 - 15:30, 2025-09-20 15:00 - 15:30
Predators of the Sky
3 PM – 3:30 PM
Take flight with us for an unforgettable experience! We’ll show you the unique nature of some of the world’s most highly skilled predators – raptors! In this live bird demonstration you’ll gain an up-close view and an in-depth understanding of these majestic birds. What makes a bird a raptor? How sharp are those talons? What does an owl’s wing sound like as it moves through the air? Join a VINS Educator and explore these adaptations and meet some of these birds up close.
For more information, contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Natural Wonders
2025-09-18 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-09-19 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-09-20 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-09-21 10:30 - 11:00
Natural Wonders
10:30 AM – 11 AM
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.*
Meet a VINS Educator outside the Forest Exhibit.
*Includes a live animal on Saturdays and Sundays only
For more information, contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Predators of the Sky
2025-09-18 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-19 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-20 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-21 11:00 - 11:30
Predators of the Sky
11 AM – 11:30 AM
Take flight with us for an unforgettable experience! We’ll show you the unique nature of some of the world’s most highly skilled predators – raptors! In this live bird demonstration you’ll gain an up-close view and an in-depth understanding of these majestic birds. What makes a bird a raptor? How sharp are those talons? What does an owl’s wing sound like as it moves through the air? Join a VINS Educator and explore these adaptations and meet some of these birds up close.
For more information, contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Hawk on the Walk
2025-09-19 16:00, 2025-09-20 16:00
Hawk on the Walk
FRI / SAT / SUN
4 PM – 4:15 PM
Keep an eye out while exploring the VINS Canopy Walk at this time. You might get the chance to watch a Harris’s Hawk diving and weaving among the trees!
Held on the Forest Canopy Walk. This program is weather dependent.
For more information, contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Drawing from Nature: Fall Botanicals
2025-09-20 09:00 - 12:00 | VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, 05059, United States
Drawing from Nature: Fall Botanicals
A Workshop with Watercolor and Ink
Saturday, September 20 / 9 AM – 12 PM
General public: $52, VINS Members: $47
This class is full! Join our waitlist here.
We will begin this final class of our 2025 Drawing from Nature Series by exploring the beautiful hues of fall botanicals. Early Autumn is awash in color, from the purple asters, yellow goldenrods, orange pumpkins, and the changing greens and reds of the trees. We will spend our first hour exploring the VINS fields and woods, photographing and collecting inspiration along the way. Then, we’ll bring our references (both photos and botanical specimens) indoors and spend the rest of the workshop creating color-filled art in our nature journals.
Learn tips and tricks for drawing as well as for creating vivid pages that depict personal natural history experiences. Drawing, sketching, and watercolor experience are not necessary, all skill levels welcome.
Participant Details:
Spend a full day at VINS. Purchase discounted admission to the VINS Nature Center for $5. Discount available only to registered participants on the day of the workshop.
This workshop is designed for adults 18 and up. Interested youth 10 and up may participate with an adult. No registration fee required for an adult accompanying a youth participant unless the adult also plans to participate in the workshop.
Suggested Materials:

A water bottle
A high-quality journal with heavyweight, mixed media, or watercolor paper
HB pencil or mechanical pencil,
An eraser
Micron pen size 01 and/or 005
Optional: your preferred art medium such as watercolor, gouache, or colored pencils

Instructor Bios:
Cynthia Moulton
Cynthia finds that observing and recording in a field journal enhances our engagement with the natural world. Teaching courses in ecology, animal diversity and biological illustration at Castleton University for the last 25 years has allowed her and her students to explore science through pen and ink, graphite and colored pencil.
Lois Moulton
Lois has been passionate about science illustration for years, creating numerous personal nature journals from her travels and time outdoors. As an educator at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, Massachusetts, she has been incorporating art as a tool for observation into her science classes since 1995. Lois specializes in watercolor and pen & ink.

Autumn Mushroom Foray
2025-09-20 10:00 - 12:00 | VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, 05059, United States
Autumn Mushroom Foray
Saturday, September 20 / 10 AM – 12 PM
General Public: $45, VINS Members: $40
This class is fully enrolled! Join our waitlist here.
Are you intrigued by the wild world of mushrooms?
Join Ari Rockland-Miller of The Mushroom Forager on a guided tour of September’s wild mushrooms. The workshop will feature a guided foray of the woods around the VINS Nature Center with an eye towards the early culinary treasures of autumn. During the foray, attendees will be introduced to foraging safety, strategy, sustainability, and ethics. Attendees will receive a ForageCast™ handout highlighting distinctive and gourmet seasonal wild mushrooms.
Details for Participants:
Participants should dress for walking in the woods and bring water.
For ages 15+. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Presenter Bio: www.themushroomforager.com/our-team

Chang Memorial Fly Fishing Event
2025-09-20 10:00 - 14:00 | VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, 05059, United States
23rd Annual David Chang Memorial Fly Fishing Event
September 20 / 10 AM – 2 PM
Held at the home of VINS Advisor Judy Callens, White River Junction, Vermont*
This family-friendly event is designed to teach children the sport of fly fishing and the importance of a healthy ecosystem. Fly fishing and fly tying is geared for children 8+ and additional activities are available for younger ages. All children must be accompanied by an adult. This event is free but registration is required in advance.
Registration is now closed.
We look forward to enjoying a beautiful fall day at the Annual David P.C. Chang Memorial Fly Fishing Event.
Inspired by his dedication and love for this catch-and-release sport – and with the knowledge that fly fishing can be enjoyed when rivers, streams, and local water ecosystems are clean and healthy – we take pride in continuing to pass on the sport about which Mr. Chang was so passionate.
We hope you are able to join us at the home of long-time VINS Advisor Judy Callens. In partnership with Trout Unlimited, this free event is an engaging experience for families and friends to tie and cast flies, and explore the fish habitat in the Callens’ pond. Afterwards, enjoy a cookout supported by the Chang family, Trout Unlimited, and VINS. Please register by September 12th so that we have an accurate count for the cookout.
*Directions to the location provided upon registration.
For more information, contact Hannah Gelroth at 802.359.5000 x228 or hgelroth@vinsweb.org.
