Contact Us
Scout Trip Rate
$18 per Person
Advanced booking required.
Nature Center Hours
VINS Nature Center
10am to 5pm Daily
Wild Bird Rehab is Open
Accepting Calls Only
802.359.5000 x212
8am to 4pm
Scout Trips to the Nature Center
At the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, your troop will be immersed in a rich learning experience. Our scout trips are designed to work with and enhance your curriculum, making every visit to VINS a valuable experience for your students. All of our Scouts Trips are aligned with Girl Scout, Cub Scout and Boy Scouts of America badges.
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 and your experience at VINS. Troops 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 scout trip, contact Codie Doton, Science Educator, at 802.359.5000 x205 or cdoton@vinsweb.org. You may also fill out the Scout Trip Form.
Note: We require a minimum of 10 scout participants, as well as 2 weeks notice for your chosen lesson date.
Outdoor Classroom
Choose from a variety of topics and work with our educators to personalize the educational experience to meet your students’ needs.
We will work with you around choosing a lesson of your choice with one of our educators and we will also work with you as needed to make sure that our lesson complements your learners best. Please let us know if there is a topic you're interested in even if you don't see it on one of the lists below.
Girl Scouts
Mechanical Engineering
Design, build, and test a model car. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Math in Nature
Find evidence of mathematical theories and practices in nature. Learn More.
Light & Sound
Discover how light and sound waves travel and explore how animals use light and sound to communicate. Learn More.
Animal Adaptations
Make observations about animal pelts, feet, skulls, and wings, then infer how the animals are adapted to survive. Learn More.
Mechanical Engineering
Design, build, and test a model car. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Light & Sound
Discover how light and sound waves travel and explore how animals use light and sound to communicate. Learn More.
Animal Adaptations
Make observations about animal pelts, feet, skulls, and wings, then infer how the animals are adapted to survive. Learn More.
Stream Table
Use our hands-on Stream Table to model stream movement, erosion, human impact, and more. Learn More.
Mechanical Engineering
Design, build, and test a model car. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Light & Sound
Discover how light and sound waves travel and explore how animals use light and sound to communicate. Learn More.
Math in Nature
Find evidence of mathematical theories and practices in nature. Learn More.
Stream Table
Use our hands-on Stream Table to model stream movement, erosion, human impact, and more. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Boy Scouts
Mechanical Engineering
Design, build, and test a model car. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Light & Sound
Discover how light and sound waves travel and explore how animals use light and sound to communicate. Learn More.
Tracking and Animal Signs
Observe signs of animal passage while learning about the art of tracking at VINS. Learn More.
Outdoor Ramps
Complete various force and motion challenges as you investigate ramps and balls. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Tracking and Animal Signs
Observe signs of animal passage while learning about the art of tracking at VINS. Learn More.
Animal Adaptations
Make observations about animal pelts, feet, skulls, and wings, then infer how the animals are adapted to survive. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Math in Nature
Find evidence of mathematical theories and practices in nature. Learn More.
Tracking and Animal Signs
Observe signs of animal passage while learning about the art of tracking at VINS. Learn More.
Birds are Dinosaurs
How is a T-Rex like a hummingbird? Explore the evolution of therapod dinosaurs. Learn More.
Animal Adaptations
Make observations about animal pelts, feet, skulls, and wings, then infer how the animals are adapted to survive. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Outdoor Ramps
Complete various force and motion challenges as you investigate ramps and balls. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Light & Sound
Discover how light and sound waves travel and explore how animals use light and sound to communicate. Learn More.
Math in Nature
Find evidence of mathematical theories and practices in nature. Learn More.
Forest Canopy Walk
Discover animals in each layer of the forest and learn about their interactions on the beautiful Forest Canopy Walk. Learn More.
Stream Table
Use our hands-on Stream Table to model stream movement, erosion, human impact, and more. Learn More.
Habitats Hike
Discover how animals interact with their habitat as you explore the forest, meadow, and/or river's edge at VINS. Learn More.
Geology Hike
Uncover the story of Vermont's geologic past as you hike to the Quechee Gorge. Learn More.
Enhancing Classroom Curriculum with On-Site, Place-Based Education
Explore the natural world with hands-on lessons aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards.