Contact Us
Field Trip Rate
$10.50 per Youth
Free for School Staff
$12.50 per Parent Chaperone
Reservations required.
Nature Center Hours
VINS Nature Center
10am to 5pm Daily
Accepting Injured Birds
8am to 5pm Daily
802.359.5000 x212
Field Trips to the Nature Center
At the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, your students will be immersed in a rich learning experience. Our field trips are designed to work with and enhance your curriculum, making every visit to VINS a valuable experience for your students. All of our field trips are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.
VINS has been a leader in environmental education since 1972. Our staff have a wealth of experience and knowledge in outdoor education, the natural sciences and teaching methods. We’ll work with you to deepen the connections between your learning goals in the classroom and your outdoor exploration at VINS. Classes are able to explore the VINS campus before and after their lesson and enjoy on-site educational programs at no additional cost. Hold your Field Trip in our Outdoor Classroom for an immersive forest experience.
To schedule a field trip, contact our Lead Experience Navigator at 802.359.5000 x221 or fill out the Field Trip Form.
- VINS Field Trips will maintain all health guidance, as well as direction from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, as it relates to public outdoor spaces.
- All Field Trips to the VINS Nature Center will take place in our open-air, Outdoor Classroom or our new August Pavilion (outdoor).
- Seating in our Outdoor Classroom or August Pavilion will allow for social distancing between students, chaperones and educators.
- VINS Educators and Field Trip participants will wear masks at all times (required for any unvaccinated participants per VINS policy).
- Hand sanitizer and/or handwashing will be provided for Field Trip participants to use before and after handling materials.
- All materials will be sanitized prior to and after use.
Outdoor Classroom
Choose from a variety of topics and work with our educators to personalize the educational experience to meet your students’ needs.
SELF-GUIDED FIELD TRIP
Explore VINS
Explore the trails, exhibits, and enclosures on your own.
FALL/SPRING FIELD TRIP
Forest Monitoring
Investigate how our forests are changing over time.
FALL/SPRING FIELD TRIP
Forest Canopy
Explore an ecosystem in the forest treetops.
FALL/SPRING FIELD TRIP
Animal Adaptations
Explore how animals have adapted to their ecosystem.
FALL/SPRING FIELD TRIP
Geology Hike
Examine our changing earth at the Quechee Gorge.
FALL/SPRING FIELD TRIP
Home Sweet Habitat
Discover where animals make their homes in the forest.
WINTER FIELD TRIP
Animals in Winter
Delve into the winter adaptations of animals.
WINTER FIELD TRIP
Owls in Winter
Owls have amazing adaptations for survival in the winter.
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP
PreK Lessons
Excitement through nature play and discovery.
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP
Falcon Focus
Examine the fastest, most agile predators in the world.
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP
Birds Are Dinosaurs
Journey through 250 million years of avian evolution.
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP
Stream Ecology
Experience the power of moving water with our Stream Table.
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP
Energy In Ecosystems
Learn the importance of an interconnected community.
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP
Raptor Biology
Dive into the diverse adaptions of raptors.
YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIP
Climate Change and Bird Migration
See how climate change affects all organisms -- including birds.
Enhancing Classroom Curriculum with On-Site, Place-Based Education
Explore the natural world with hands-on lessons aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards.