Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Rotating Education Station
2025-06-13 13:00 - 13:30, 2025-06-14 13:00 - 13:30, 2025-06-15 13:00 - 13:30, 2025-06-16 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
2025-06-13 14:00 - 14:20, 2025-06-14 14:00 - 14:20, 2025-06-15 14:00 - 14:20, 2025-06-16 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
2025-06-13 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-06-14 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-06-15 14:30 - 15:00, 2025-06-16 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
2025-06-13 15:00 - 15:30, 2025-06-14 15:00 - 15:30, 2025-06-15 15:00 - 15:30, 2025-06-16 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.

Hawk on the Walk
2025-06-13 16:00, 2025-06-14 16:00, 2025-06-15 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.

Member Appreciation Evening Picnic
2025-06-13 17:30 - 19:30 | VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, 05059, United States
Member Appreciation Evening Picnic
Friday, June 13 / 5:30 – 7:30 PM
FREE for VINS Members, Registration required
Register today
Your support makes everything we do possible! To express our gratitude, we invite you to join us for a special after-hours event for members-only. Help us kick-off the summer season at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science!
What to Expect:

Exclusive “Behind the Scenes” programming from our Wildlife Ambassador Team
Relaxed evening atmosphere in our beautiful natural setting
Live music and the Pizza Chef beer truck
Open access to the entire Nature Center, including the Forest Canopy Walk and Adventure Playscape for kids

Picnic Options:

Bring your own picnic from home
Purchase sandwiches and ice cream from our Nature Store (with your member discount!)
Pick up a delicious pizza from our event sponsor, Quechee Pizza Chef, on your way in

This event is FREE for members* but please RSVP if you’re planning to attend and include if you’re hoping to purchase a Vermont Snack Shack sandwich from the Nature Store.
Special thanks to our Title Sponsor: Quechee Pizza Chef
Supporting Sponsor: Farrell Distributing Corp.
*Note: This event is for household members only. You may not use a Library Membership to get in.
Need to renew your membership? Click here to renew your membership online before the event to get in for free!
For more information, contact us at 802.359.5000 or info@vinsweb.org.

Birding Meetup
2025-06-14 08:00 - 08:45 | VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, 05059, United States
Birding Meetup
Saturday, June 14 / 8 AM – 8:45 AM
Free – no registration required.
Looking to connect with a community of birders in our area? Want to hone your ID skills with the help of VINS staff? Join us for a Birding Meetup as we observe and track the changes in bird populations.
Meet at the VINS Nature Center for these informal gatherings with fellow birders. The Meetup may take place at VINS or travel as a group to nearby locations such as Dewey’s Pond or the Quechee Gorge to visit the varied habitats of our area.
Get practice with your birding ID, and start building your eBird or life lists. This Meetup is designed for the intermediate to advanced birder who want to hone their ID skills with the help of VINS staff, but all skill levels are welcome.
Held outdoors, rain or shine. Participants should dress appropriately. Field guides and binoculars are recommended. Binoculars will be available to borrow.
For more information, contact us at 802.359.5000 or info@vinsweb.org.

Drawing from Nature Class 1: Feathers and Nests
2025-06-14 09:00 - 12:00 | VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, 05059, United States
Drawing from Nature Class 1: Feathers and Nests
A Workshop with Watercolor and Ink
Saturday, June 14 / 9 AM – 12 PM
General public: $52, VINS Members: $48
Registration required as space is limited. Register Today
Other Drawing from Nature class dates:

Saturday, July 19 – Pollinators and Good Garden Bugs
Saturday, August 16 – Predators of the Sky
Saturday, September 20 – Fall Botanicals

In this year’s first Drawing from Nature class, get up close and personal with feathers and nests to appreciate their wonderful textures and intricate details. We will use this class to practice capturing those textures and details using VINS’ collection of artifacts.
Learn tips and tricks for drawing as well as for creating vivid pages that depict personal natural history experiences. Drawing, sketching, and watercolor, experience not necessary, all skill levels welcome.
This is the first class in our Drawing from Nature 2025 workshops. Join us for one class or the whole series. Sign up for multiple sessions and get a $5 discount on all classes. Use discount code MULTI25 in your cart.
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.
For more information, contact us at 802.359.5000 or info@vinsweb.org.

Natural Wonders
2025-06-14 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-15 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-16 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-06-17 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
2025-06-14 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-06-15 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-06-16 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-06-17 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.
