Our 28 acres offer a wide menu of opportunities for Vermonters of all ages to play, study, and explore in nature!
Thanks to capital campaign donors, our newly-expanded, net-zero facility features a beautiful community room with space for lectures, classes, art showings, meetings, and community gatherings.
Our distinguished nature-based education programs immerse children in extraordinary learning environments with an acclaimed, innovative teaching team.
As Central Vermont’s headquarters for natural history education, we offer expert presentations, field trips, and seminars to enrich your understanding of the natural world.
From amphibian monitoring to bird research, North Branch Nature Center studies and protects local wildlife with the support of passionate volunteer scientists.
Connecting People of All Ages with Nature
North Branch Nature Center connects people with environmental education, natural history, and citizen science. More than 10,000 people visit NBNC to be in touch with the sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural world.
Our 28-acre preserve of forest and fields is nestled in a gentle bend of the North Branch of the Winooski River, just two miles from downtown Montpelier. NBNC is the delight in the eyes of children as they watch fireflies in a field. NBNC is a group of naturalists exploring the secrets of warblers and willows. And it's a quiet place to walk or ski, swim or sit, or simply relax beside the river.
There is much to explore. Please join us.
NBNC News Watch
ECO Institute - Winter Edition!
By popular demand, we are offering a winter session of our acclaimed ECO Institute. This course is designed for educators who have an established routine of learning and exploring outdoors, who are seeking a deeper understanding of their natural landscape and wish to extend their development and educational practices through the winter season. Tuesday evenings, January 8 - March 5th. Click for more information.
Join the Christmas Bird Count!
Join NBNC in the 119th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Over 50,000 people participate each year in the world's largest citizen science project. NBNC coordinates count circles on December 15 in the Plainfield area (including Montpelier, Calais, East Montpelier, Barre, Marshfield) and December 26 in the Hunger Mountain area (including Stowe, Waterbury, Duxbury, and Middlesex). Click for more information.
Youth Birding at NBNC
Join NBNC's youth naturalist club, and journey across Vermont and beyond in search of amazing encounter in nature. See our Calendar for upcoming offerings like our Owl Overnight in October, and the SuperBowl of Birding in January.
Biodiversity University
BioU a new program series designed for adults to expand their naturalist skill set with NBNC. Join us this season for periodic evening lectures with followup field components, like our Fall Waterfowl programs on November 8 and 11. This spring, look for a BioU seminar series, featuring a large menu of full-day and weekend seminars led by regional and national experts on everything from arachnid identification to field illustration.
The River's Edge Blog
Creating Community by Learning With Nature
Lessons from a Left-handed Leaf
Youth Birding in the Northeast Kingdom
NBNC Capital Campaign Update
We're in Phase 3!
$403,815 left to raise
713 Elm Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05602
(802) 229-6206
info@northbranchnaturecenter.org
Office Open Monday-Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
Trails Open 24/7
