Plan Your Day

Take flight with us on 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.

Spend some time in our newest exhibit – the 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.

Meet an ambassador animal and hear their story while we learn about the adaptations they have that help their species survive in the wild. Join us for a reptile ambassador on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, or a raptor ambassador on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday!

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.

Take flight with us on 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.

Spend some time in our newest exhibit – the 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.

Meet an ambassador animal and hear their story while we learn about the adaptations they have that help their species survive in the wild. Join us for a reptile ambassador on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, or a raptor ambassador on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday!

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.

Take flight with us on 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.

Spend some time in our newest exhibit – the 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.

Meet an ambassador animal and hear their story while we learn about the adaptations they have that help their species survive in the wild. Join us for a reptile ambassador on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, or a raptor ambassador on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday!

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.

Take flight with us on 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.

Spend some time in our newest exhibit – the 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.

Meet an ambassador animal and hear their story while we learn about the adaptations they have that help their species survive in the wild. Join us for a reptile ambassador on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, or a raptor ambassador on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday!

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.

MAY 18 - JUNE 12 - Calling all wildlife photographers! Showcase your stunning Ambassador Animal photos in our annual Wildlife Ambassador Photo Contest. Your winning image could be featured in the VINS Ambassador Adopt Calendar and help inspire conservation efforts across our community. Selected photographers will receive a FREE calendar featuring their work, while retaining copyright to their images. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to share your wildlife photography passion!

Take flight with us on 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.

Spend some time in our newest exhibit – the 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.

Meet an ambassador animal and hear their story while we learn about the adaptations they have that help their species survive in the wild. Join us for a reptile ambassador on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, or a raptor ambassador on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday!

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.

JUNE 12 - Join VINS Executive Director Alden Smith to explore the poetry of Robert Frost.  Each session will be dedicated to reading and interpreting poems relevant to the season. These workshops will involve gentle trail walking through the woods and meadow of the VINS Nature Center, visiting natural spaces reminiscent of locations Frost wrote about. Poems will be sent to participants in advance of each session for those who want to read the poems ahead of time. The workshops will include walking, presentation, and discussion.

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.

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!

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.

Spend some time in our Songbird Aviary! Learn ways you can make a great habitat for these important creatures in your own backyard.

Join our raptor care-givers for feeding time! Learn about the habits and history of each of the resident raptors at VINS.

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!

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!

JUNE 13 - 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!

JUNE 14 - Meet at the VINS Nature Center for these informal gatherings with fellow birders.  The Meet-up 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.

JUNE 14 - 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.

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.

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!

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.

Spend some time in our Songbird Aviary! Learn ways you can make a great habitat for these important creatures in your own backyard.

Join our raptor care-givers for feeding time! Learn about the habits and history of each of the resident raptors at VINS.

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!

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!