Workshops & Outings
Wildlife Tracking Club
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontExplore with NBNC naturalists and fellow nature lovers in search of wildlife tracks and sign every Sunday morning in January and February.
Winter Tracking in Downtown Montpelier
montpelier senior activity center 58 Barre Street, MontpelierHave you ever wondered what creatures roam the sidewalks of Montpelier after dark? This free, group tracking walk is your chance to explore the city in a new way by learning about animal tracks and sign.
Winter Wildlife Tracking 101
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFrom bobcats to hawks, all animals leave sign of their activities. Join NBNC naturalist and tracker Ana Maria Arroyo as she introduces you to the fundamentals of tracking and awareness to better understand the stories animals leave behind.
Winter Tracking in Downtown Barre
barre city elementary & middle schoolThis free winter tracking outing will explore the Barre City bike path in search of animal tracks and sign. Participants can expect to stay on the established trails with plenty of stops to study animal tracks or sign.
Snow Season “Spooning” – Woodcarving with Ken Benton
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontLearn the story behind the wood as we go from log to spoon. By the end of the day you’ll come away with a nearly finished spoon with a built in story to tell dinner guests while serving food.
Intermediate Winter Wildlife Tracking
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin 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, what, where, when, why and how of animal tracks.
Youth Wildlife Tracking Workshop
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontHave you ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of a fox? How about lay in a coyote bed or study the tiny toes of a field mouse? In this new winter break program for students ages 9 and up, we will spend the day exploring wildlife tracks and signs.
Winter Willows – Youth Nature Cabin Retreat in the Green Mountains
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontExplore the winter wonderland of the Green Mountains based out of a cozy cabin overlooking the Mad River Valley! This two-day retreat will have us exploring the snowy wonderland by day, and relaxing fireside and cooking together by night. **For 6th through 8th graders who identify as girls, nonbinary, genderqueer, and/or trans.**
Winter Wildlife Tracking 101
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFrom bobcats to hawks, all animals leave sign of their activities. Join NBNC Teacher-Naturalist Dave Muska as he introduces you to the fundamentals of tracking and awareness to better understand the stories animals leave behind.
SOLO Wilderness First Aid Course
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontMarch 8 - 9 9 am - 5 pm | $225 (plus $45 for CPR certification) Group Size: 20 max | Ages 18+ | Register Here This 16 hour, 2-Day entry-level course is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts looking for basic first aid training and backcountry medical skills. Led by a SOLO instructor, this course will…
Cape May Spring Migration- Northeast Birdwatcher’s Paradise
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontBirding in Cape May and southern New Jersey during spring migration is legendary! With over 430 total species observed, and over 330 species seen this time of year, Cape May is home to some of the greatest avian biodiversity in the northeast. May in southern New Jersey offers an abundance of everything: migratory warblers in the shrubs and forests, birds of prey cruising overhead, and shorebirds along the beaches and backwaters.
Educator Institute: Nature-Based Routines for Outdoor Classrooms
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFor elementary and middle school teachers. The purpose of this ECO introductory course for elementary and middle school educators is to apply integrated academic curricula beyond the classroom, while immersing in and participating with nature as a learning partner.
ECO Institute: Natural History Fundamentals for Educators
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFor elementary and middle school educators. This goal of this course is to deepen our understanding of the natural landscape and learn how to utilize this knowledge to build a partnership with the land that meets the needs of all students. Participants will develop a foundation of natural history knowledge through immersive study of bird language, tree and plant identification, wild edible safety, geology, and stream ecology. We will practice techniques for achieving a deeper level of inquiry and observation in nature while learning hands-on methods for embedding this knowledge into outdoor lessons and making classroom connections. The routines that we build throughout the week are designed to deepen your class’s sense of place within the outdoor learning environment.
Vermont Master Naturalist for Educators
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThis course for middle and high school educators is a unique collaboration between North Branch Nature Center and Vermont Master Naturalist. It is a place-based, integrated training in interpreting the local landscape and applying that training to 5th-12th grade classrooms and curricula. Each day immerses in a different ecosystem, exploring the pieces, patterns, and processes driving local ecology. We’ll practice field-based activities and classroom-based extensions aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Proficiency-Based Learning frameworks.
