Beginning Watercolor Workshop
MARCH 22 – This class will explore the fundamentals of watercolor using raptors as models. Artist and VINS educator, Kelly Gadouas, has been painting with watercolor for over 25 years and will share tips and tricks for using this medium. This class will introduce several watercolor techniques including wash, wet brush, and dry brush to help students produce realistic-looking paintings and develop a color palette inspired by the beauty of nature.
Amphibian Adventure
MARCH 22 – Why did the salamander cross the road? Join a VINS educator to find out on an amphibian adventure! Learn what makes amphibians such amazing animals by playing games to see if you can hop as far as a frog or if you can find your way to a vernal pool.
Winter Fairy Hunts
MARCH 23 – 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! Forest Fairy hunts offer children and their families a unique opportunity to learn about and connect with the natural world and to nurture respect for the environment.
An Introduction to Raptor ID
MARCH 27 – Learn to identify Vermont’s native raptor species with insights from the VINS Research Team, who study these birds every day. Join us for a course focused on diurnal raptors that breed, migrate through, or overwinter in Vermont. We’ll wrap up with a quick photo ID quiz and a discussion of helpful resources, including field guides and apps, to support your raptor identification skills.
Sensory Friendly Hour at VINS
APRIL 5 – Join us for Sensory Friendly Hour at VINS, a special morning experience designed for visitors who prefer a quieter, less crowded environment. From 9:00-10:00 AM, we minimize noise, crowds, and other sensory stimuli throughout our exhibits and trails.
Birding Meet-ups
APRIL 12 – 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.
Wildlife ER
APRIL 12 – Ever wonder what it’s like to be a wild bird rehabilitator? What does it take to care for and treat the injured birds at VINS? This program will give you a window in daily life at VINS’s Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation. You’ll learn how patients are admitted, diagnosed, treated, and released, and even meet some of our former patients, who are now education ambassadors!
OBSERVER Film Screening
APRIL 13 – OBSERVER, embarks on an experiment in which a series of keen-eyed observers – scientists, artists, a hunter – are brought to a range of locations around the world, and asked to simply describe what they see. What unfolds is a deep exploration and celebration of the power of observation: what happens when you find new ways to sense & perceive the world around you?
Owl Festival
APRIL 26 – Join us for a day of all things owl! Meet live owls that range from Vermont’s forests to habitats all over the world and discover their life stories. Join in a craft inspired by owls, and play games to test your own owl skills. Learn all about the amazing world of owls and how you can help the ones in your backyard.
Fiddlehead Foray
MAY 3 & 8 – Fiddleheads have a very narrow season, only lasting from late April to early May. During that time, foragers fan out across Vermont’s woodlands in search of these culinary treasures.
The workshop will explore the trails of the VINS Nature Center, ending in an Ostrich Fern glade, where participants can harvest fiddleheads to take home along with a suggested recipe for cooking them. Participants will be introduced to foraging safety as well as the sustainability and ethics of harvesting wild edibles.
Wildlife Ambassador Photo Contest
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!
Lens on the Wild: Photography Workshop
MAY 18 – Designed for the beginner to intermediate level photographer, Photojournalist Rob Strong will be on hand to review camera functions and settings and assist participants in applying techniques to get the most out of their camera, maximizing results and improving wildlife photography skills. NEW this year – submit your best workshop photo to our Wildlife Ambassador Photo Contest!
Dinosaur Discoveries
MAY 24 – 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.
Remarkable Reptile Day
JUNE 7 – Join us for a day celebrating all things reptiles! From turtle shells to snake smells, you will discover the amazing world of reptile adaptations. Enjoy close encounters, hands-on activities, crafts and more!