February 2020
Wildlife Tracking Tuesdays
Walk the property with NBNC naturalists in search of wildlife tracks and sign every Tuesday morning in February. This casual weekly outing is a great way to brush up on track and trail identification in a community of curious nature lovers. The NBNC property is a wildlife corridor regularly traveled by coyote, fox, deer, fisher, mink, and much more. This program is FREE for NBNC members and $10 for non-members, paid at the door. RSVP not required.
Find out more »Naturalist Journeys: The Real Eastern Coyote by Chris Schadler (rescheduled to 2/28)
North Branch Nature Center's annual presentation series featuring the breathtaking travels and fascinating research of naturalists around the world. Fridays at 7 pm at North Branch Nature Center. Admission by donation.
Find out more »March 2020
Seabirds and Pelagic Birding Boat Trip in Cape Ann, MA
Seabirds and Pelagic Birding Boat Trip in Cape Ann, MA March 6 (10 am) to March 8 (3 pm) $425 ($75 single supplement) Cape Ann, Massachusetts, is a worldwide destination for winter birds and birders. This annual winter adventure is an outstanding opportunity to spend quality time with species rarely, if ever, seen inland. This trip is not only about discovering rare species by land and sea, but about watching, enjoying, and studying seabirds among a community of like-minded nature…
Find out more »Naturalist Journeys: Pre-settlement Forests of the Northeast by Charlie Cogbill
North Branch Nature Center's annual presentation series featuring the breathtaking travels and fascinating research of naturalists around the world. Fridays at 7 pm at North Branch Nature Center. Admission by donation.
Find out more »Intermediate Wildlife Tracking
Intermediate Wildlife Tracking March 7 | 9 am - 3 pm $45 | Ages 16+ Join NBNC naturalist and wildlife tracker Dave Muska for a full day of tracking and trailing wildlife, aimed at participants already holding some basic knowledge of track and sign identification. We'll start in the classroom to review the tracks, gaits, habitats, and signs of species we might encounter on the late winter landscape. We'll then head out on the land to search for sign and explore the who,…
Find out more »Trekkers & Explorers After-School Program (Spring 2020)
Let your kids be kids on Wednesday afternoons at NBNC. Our Explorers (1st - 3rd grade) and Trekkers (4th - 8th grade) programs offer kids time to explore the woods and fields, play stealth and awareness games, and learn outdoor skills with their peers. One week your child might forage for wild edibles and cook over an open fire, while the next week might find them deep in the woods, building shelters, and using the local landscape to practice outdoor living skills such as tracking and fire-starting. Thoughtful and loosely directed play in the woods helps kids develop a sense of place while unwinding with a peer group.
Find out more »Amphibian Ecology and Road Crossing Training Night
Join NBNC scientists to learn about our Amphibian Road Crossing program, and find out how you can help Vermont's frogs and salamanders safely cross the road during their annual spring movements. Every April, amphibians migrate by the millions from upland forests to wetland breeding grounds, often crossing roadways at their peril. North Branch Nature Center's ARC program trains volunteers to survey known and suspected road crossing sites and help amphibians across the road while collecting valuable data to inform local conservation and transportation planning efforts. Over the last two years, NBNC volunteers conducted 300 surveys and documented 8,700 salamanders at 60 crossing sites across Central Vermont! This citizen science project accommodates volunteers of all ages and background-- the only requirement is an eagerness to enjoy and protect our local amphibians!
Find out more »Naturalist Journeys: The Moose of Isle Royale and Yellowstone by Ky Koitzsch
North Branch Nature Center's annual presentation series featuring the breathtaking travels and fascinating research of naturalists around the world. Fridays at 7 pm at North Branch Nature Center. Admission by donation.
Find out more »Chili & Churros: Fundraiser for Young Naturalists’ Birding Trip to Texas
Please join us for an evening to great food and entertainment to support NBNC's Young Naturalists' upcoming trip to the Great Texas Birding Classic! Tickets Required.
Find out more »April 2020
The History and Ecology of the Poultney River: How a Bay Became a River
The lower Poultney River bordering West Haven, VT and Whitehall, NY is one of the most ecologically diverse rivers in New England. It is home to endangered fish and mussels, provides spawning habitat for Lake Champlain fishes, and is surrounded by an equally diverse landscape of wetlands and forests found on lands, mostly owned by The Nature Conservancy. However, this landscape has changed over time-- the river that we see today is a product of dramatic geological changes that occurred 240 years ago. With the ecological value of the river as a backdrop, this talk brings together human history and geological documentation from the 1700’s and 1800’s to tell a remarkable story of change: how what we now know as an ecologically valuable small river was once the head of a navigable bay of Lake Champlain.
Find out more »Gallery Opening: “Biophilia” by Nick Neddo
Biophilia is a new exploration along one of the most consistent themes of Neddo’s artwork: our relationship to the natural world, our ancestors and the skills held in their ancient hands. This is a multi-disciplinary exhibit that features sculptural forms woven with willow and papier mache, as well as paintings, prints, and drawings, all made with tools and materials crafted directly from the natural landscape. The paintings are created with handmade paintbrushes with paint made from stones; the drawings are created with handmade pens and inks from a variety of botanical sources; the work itself is an invitation to go inward towards one’s own wildness, as well as a beckoning to remember how to learn from the wild outside.
Find out more »Book Launch Party: “Organic Artist for Kids” by Nick Neddo
Join us for this family-friendly book launch and activities fair featuring Nick Neddo's new book, "The Organic Artist for Kids."
Find out more »Woodcock Watch
It's spring and love is in the air! We will listen and watch for the mesmerizing courtship flight of the American Woodcock (a.k.a. Timberdoodle), which nests along the North Branch of the Winooski near our nature center. With luck, we may also be serenaded by Wilson's Snipe and a chorus of Spring Peepers. This springtime spectacle has awed nature lovers across the northeast for centuries. Fee: Free for members / $10 non-members, paid at the door.
Find out more »April Break Camp 2020
Join us for 1, 2, or 3 days of spring nature adventures and activities. Activities will flow with the weather. The day could include making art with natural materials, cooking and eating wild edibles, celebrating Earth Day with tree plantings, going on a treasure hunt to find the Secret of the Snow Goose, or possibly travelling to another time to investigate winter mysteries. This April break, children will make art with natural materials, explore the fields and forest, cook and (safely!) eat wild edibles, and immerse in the transition from winter to spring.
Find out more »Deer 139 at The Savoy Theater
Three bold women test their endurance and wits as they brave the formidable migratory journey of a pregnant, scrawny doe.
Find out more »Climate Crisis: Facing Uncertainties with Vision
Join climate scientist Dr. Alan Betts in this presentation, a part of Facing the Climate Crisis: a lecture series about climate change and resilient communities. This program is hosted by Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Central Vermont Climate Action / 350VT.org, Hunger Mountain Coop, and Extinction Rebellion - Central Vermont. The uncertainties in what will happen are large. Equally large are the uncertainties in whether we will have the collective imagination and vision to create a sustainable future for our societies in the…
Find out more »May 2020
Friday Morning Spring Bird Walks 2020
Weekly trips to birding hot spots around Montpelier searching for spring migrants like warblers, vireos, thrushes, and waterfowl. Led by NBNC’s expert birders. Free for NBNC members, $10non-members. Locations Vary.
Find out more »Birding Basics Class
Become a better birder! In this popular four-part class, you’ll develop a breadth of knowledge and skills to better appreciate Vermont’s common and not-so-common birdlife.
Find out more »Book Launch: The Land of Milk and Honey by Bill Mares & Kim Greenwood
Join beekeepers and co-authors Bill Mares & Kim Greenwood for a booksigning & talk about "The Land of Milk and Honey: a history of beekeeping in Vermont," at the North Branch Nature Center! Hosted by Bear Pond Books
Find out more »Spring Wild Edibles Workshop
A veritable smorgasbord of edible plants are springing up across our fields and forests this time of year. Learn to identify and sustainably harvest a variety of plants and how to eat your way through some non-native species. We will cover tips and tricks to incorporate wild foods into your regular diet and some ways to extend the harvest. Led by NBNC Teacher/Naturalist and forager Ken Benton.
Find out more »July 2020
Wetland and Rivershore Plants with Aaron Marcus and Native Plant Trust
Spend an afternoon with Vermont Assistant State Botanist, Aaron Marcus, exploring wetland habitats, some of the most botanically diverse and biologically productive landscapes in New England. We will learn about numerous plants that have adapted to the rivershores, floodplains, beaver meadows, marshes, and forested seeps of central Vermont.
Find out more »Adirondack Adventure for Teens
Exploring the threatened habitats of the Adirondack Mountains, we'll visit ancient boreal forests, search for bog-nesting birds, canoe the Racquette River, and hike to the sensitive alpine zone of the high peaks. Throughout, we'll meet professionals working to protect these areas and learn how we can advocate for change back home in Vermont.
Find out more »