Events Winter Wildlife Celebration
Date
Schedule:
10:00am – 1:00pm
Fairy Hunts* – Come visit the Fairy Court for an adventure sprinkled with the magic and wonder of forest fairies with a visit from our Fairy Grandmother and friends. Wearing wings is encouraged!
10:00am – 4:00pm
VINS Research Station – Meet the VINS Research Coordinator to discover the field research that we are undertaking. You’ll also get to see the secret lives of the animals in the wild that call VINS home through our game camera footage.
10:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm
Birding on the Canopy Walk – Following the Great Backyard Bird Count protocol, join an educator for a 15-minute birding tour along the Canopy Walk. Binoculars and pocket field guides will be available to borrow during this activity.
11:00am – 11:30am:
Raptors in Winter – Join us for an intimate encounter with live Raptors and learn about how they’ve adapted to our cold winter months.
11:30am – 12:00am
Guided Forest Canopy Walk Tour – Follow a knowledgeable VINS naturalist along the Forest Canopy Walk to discover how it was created.
12:00pm – 3:00pm
Winter Games – Part of surviving chilly winter conditions is staying active! Join us in celebrating wildlife with exciting activities for the whole family.
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Chickadee Landing Station – Guided Experience; Sign-up Required. Sometimes when out in nature, if you sit very still and quiet, amazing things can happen. Join a VINS educator for this unique chance at an up-close encounter with a wild songbird at our specially-designed feeding station. You’ll learn about the intricacies of feeding and interacting with wildlife in a way that benefits us all. Reserve your spot!
12:00pm – 3:00pm
Reindeer Fun – Visit with the Vermont Reindeer Farm and meet one of these spectacular animals. Discover how they are adapted for the arctic landscape.
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Dog Sledding Demonstration – Visit with a local dog sledding team: Braeburn Siberians. Learn how sled dogs are built for Winter! Meet the dogs and learn what makes a sled dog team mush!
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Raptors in Winter – Join us for an intimate encounter with live Raptors and learn about how they’ve adapted to our cold winter months.
3:00pm – 3:30pm
Guided Forest Canopy Walk Tour – Follow a knowledgeable VINS naturalist along the Forest Canopy Walk.
*Note: The nature trails are not maintained. Snowshoes are available for use at the Nature Store.
Included with general admission to the VINS Nature Center
Celebrate the wonders of winter at the VINS Nature Center with a fun-filled day of family activities! Fairy Court is ready to greet you as you begin your journey through the woods to hunt for fairies. Meet a team of sled dogs and learn how they are built for winter with the Braeburn Siberians. Visit with the Vermont Reindeer Farm for an up-close experience with this amazing arctic species. You can also join in for winter games, attend a program to learn how raptors survive winter, create snow sculptures and take a stroll with an educator along the canopy walk. Snow or no, it’s sure to be a great way to discover the wonders of winter!
