Nocturnal Explorers
JANUARY 17 – Experience the night through your senses and learn how our local wildlife experience the night-time a little bit differently. Play games, test your color vision, learn about different types of light after dark, and meet one of our education owls!
Owl Prowl
JANUARY 23 & MARCH 6 – Celebrate Winter in Vermont! Explore the natural world as we hike the beautiful trails at the VINS Nature Center and prowl for owls. Find out “Whooo’s” out there making raucous noises in the nighttime forest and discover the secret life of New England’s nocturnal residents. Weather permitting, we will explore this wintry world on snowshoes.
Beginner Snowshoe Workshop
FEBRUARY 1 – Would you like to get outside in the winter but worry about not having the right gear? Not sure how to stay warm while spending time outdoors in the snow? Join VINS volunteer, Doug Cohen, for a class that will help you enjoy the outdoors comfortably and safely this winter. This class is perfect for anyone looking to learn how to enjoy the winter season.
Robert Frost Through the Seasons: Winter
FEBRUARY 5 – 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.
Superb Owls
FEBRUARY 7 – Learn about the stats of “owl” of your favorite players at Superb Owls! Meet our ambassador owls and discover what makes them such tough competition in the fields. Play games to learn what it’s like to hunt as an owl and take a closer look inside the food chain through an owl pellet dissection. Round off the evening with an owl prowl on the VINS nature trails in search of wild owls. After the prowl, treat yourself to some Superb Owl snacks!
Pokémon Go Birding!
FEBRUARY 14 – Professor Oak needs your help to “catch” real-life Pokémon at VINS! Join the Great Backyard Bird Count by photographing birds at our feeders, then report your findings to our team of Pokémon scientists for identification and fun facts. As a reward, you’ll receive collectible cards for each species you discover and contribute to real-world bird research!
Fairy Hunts
FEBRUARY 21 – 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.
Winter Wildlife Celebration
FEBRUARY 21 – Vermont’s wildlife endure even in the coldest season! Discover how creatures like songbirds, raptors, reptiles, and reindeer survive the snow with activities like the Great Backyard Bird Count, winter games in the Hawkfly, and an up-close visit from the Vermont Reindeer Farm. Meet the resident VINS wildlife and uncover the wonders of winter!