Upcoming Events
Join us for family-friendly events at the VINS Nature Center throughout the year!
Animal Crossing: VINS!
JUNE 28 – Tom Nook needs your help! There’s a whole new village spanning the habitats at the Nature Center and the animal villagers have plenty of chores for you to do; cleaning up their environment, restoring habitat, and completing surveys for community science, and of course, no chores go without compensation
Fairy Hunts
JULY 4 – Where do milkweed pods become bathtubs and beds, and acorn caps become dinnerware? In Fairy Town at VINS, of course! Join the Fairy Court to help search the forest for our hidden fairy friends in a scavenger hunt adventure. Learn about and connect with the natural world and discover a little magic along the way. You never know who is waiting for you behind the next tree or resting under the next bush.
Moth Ball
JULY 18 – Ever wonder what that bug is fluttering around your porch light at night? Join a VINS educator on the Forest Canopy Walk at night for the chance to observe, ID, and learn all about moths and nocturnal insects through the simple and fun technique of moth fishing. While waiting for our fluttering friends, meet one of our owl ambassadors who depend on these insects for food and learn how to help out insects near you!
VINS Survivor
AUGUST 1 – Stranded in the woods of the Nature Center with little more than the clothes on your back! You and your tribe of castaways must learn to provide food, fire, shelter and water for yourselves. Learn basic wilderness survival skills such as compass navigation, fire building, shelter building, creating a water filter, and foraging for wild edibles all while competing against your rival tribe in a set of team building challenges inspired by the TV show.
Hawkwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
SEPTEMBER 5 – We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hawkwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Join a VINS educator for this magical event where you can choose your classes and learn all about the real world magic of science!
Escape from VINS!
OCTOBER 17 – Solve an escape room like no other at the VINS Nature Center! Put your puzzle solving skills to the test all while learning new facts in our three different themed escape rooms – Forest Forager, Migration Mania, and Prehistoric Predators.
Dinosaur Discoveries
NOVEMBER 14 – Join a VINS educator as we explore dinosaur discoveries! Meet some of T. Rex’s great great grandchildren, and get a chance to touch a living fossil in a program featuring VINS live animal ambassadors. Next brush up on your paleontology skills and join a scavenger hunt for dinosaur bones.