Workshops & Outings
- Events
- Workshops & Outings
Wildlife Tracking Wednesdays
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontWednesday Mornings in February 7:30 - 8:30 am | Free All experience levels welcomed Walk the property with NBNC naturalists in search of wildlife tracks and sign every Wednesday morning in February. This casual weekly outing is a great way to learn or brush up on track and trail identification in a community of curious…
Wildlife Tracking 101
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFrom bobcats to hawks, all animals leave sign of their activities. Join Dave Muska as he introduces you to the fundamentals of tracking and awareness to better understand the stories animals leave behind. In this class, you’ll be introduced to basic tracking skills and concepts such as clear print identification, track patterns, as well as techniques to develop your skill in tracking. This is a great class for photographers, hunters, or anyone who wishes to deepen their outdoor experience.
Seabirds and Pelagic Birding Boat Trip in Cape Ann, MA
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontSeabirds and Pelagic Birding Boat Trip in Cape Ann, MA March 18 (10 am) to March 20 (3 pm) $550 ($125 single supplement) 7 participants maximum Program will be cancelled in the event of forecasted severe weather or high winds at sea Contact us to register Cape Ann, Massachusetts, is a worldwide destination for winter…
Winter Birding in the Champlain Valley 2022
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThe Champlain Valley is one of New England’s premier inland destinations for winter birdwatching. Join expert birder and NBNC Executive Director Chip Darmstadt on a trip to explore the shores, fields, and forests of the Champlain Valley in search of eagles, waterfowl, raptors, owls, snow buntings, winter finches, and more. A full-day exploration of avian winter ecology. Spotting scopes will be provided.
Amphibian Road Crossing Program – Ecology & Training Night
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFind out how you can help Vermont’s frogs and salamanders safely cross the road during their annual spring movements. Did you know that Wood Frogs freeze solid all winter long? Did you know that Eastern Red-backed Salamanders are the most common vertebrate in the whole forest? Tonight will also feature a dive into the amazing ecology and life history of these semi-aquatic critters.
The Impact of Trails on Wildlife (Webinar with Stowe Land Trust)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontTrail recreation is growing in popularity as more people are getting outdoors for wellness, camaraderie, and connection to the natural world. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this growth in the Stowe area and across Vermont, as more long-time residents and recent migrants have gotten out to enjoy our public and conserved lands. However, trail recreation is not ecologically neutral and leads to disturbance of forests and wildlife. What do we know about the effects trail recreation has on wildlife and how do we manage trails to minimize their disturbance? Stowe Land Trust’s Conservation Program Manager and ecologist, Meredith Naughton, will share what science can tell us and what can be done to promote access to the outdoors for everyone, along with an ecologically functional landscape.
Natural History of the North Woods with Jonathan Shapiro
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin Jonathan Shapiro of Fox Paw School for a day of North Woods natural history. We'll explore what the North Woods is, how to define it on a broad and specific scale, and spend field time talking about and observing indicator species for this special and diverse region we call home.
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.
Spring Birding at Waterbury Reservoir
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontA casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels facilitated by NBNC staff and guest leaders. These outings are about enjoying, learning about, and spending time with wild birds. No binoculars? No ID guide? No problem! The only requirement is an appreciation of birds (though we do have binoculars for those who would like them).
Spring Birding at Berlin Pond (South)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontA casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels facilitated by NBNC staff and guest leaders. These outings are about enjoying, learning about, and spending time with wild birds. No binoculars? No ID guide? No problem! The only requirement is an appreciation of birds (though we do have binoculars for those who would like them).
This program will explore a property that the Berlin Conservation Commission is hoping to purchase and conserve.
Wabanaki Ethnobotany – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThis course of study is designed to acquaint the student with historic and contemporary herbal medicines, industrial materials, and foods of the Vermont/New Hampshire Abenakis and their Wabanaki neighbors. Using the academic discipline of Ethnobotany, counterbalanced with a Native American perspective, we will explore many facets of the relations of our region's Indigenous and plant communities.
Spring SLOW Birding with Bridget Butler
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFriday May 27 | 7 - 9 AM | FREE North Branch Nature Center Sponsored by Onion River Outdoors Please bring a small camp chair or cushion to sit comfortably. A casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels facilitated by NBNC staff and guest leaders. These outings are about enjoying, learning about,…
Forest Mosses – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontAn introduction to the mosses of cold-temperate and boreal forests, emphasizing growth form, field characters, ecological patterns, and geography. Indoor sessions to learn the common species, field trips to locate them in the woods; lots of looking, comparing, drawing, discussing; an hour or two of stories about mosses and forests and the planet; a little microscopy to show you what the next steps look like.
Spring Birding at North Branch Cascades (North)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontA casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels facilitated by NBNC staff and guest leaders. These outings are about enjoying, learning about, and spending time with wild birds. No binoculars? No ID guide? No problem! The only requirement is an appreciation of birds (though we do have binoculars for those who would like them).
Wasps: Misunderstood Marvels – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontWasps; misunderstood, often maligned, and commonly underestimated. These amazing insects are vastly diverse, complex in their life cycles, and vital to our ecosystems. As pollinators, predators, and parasitoids, they fill many vital –and often overlooked– roles in the biosphere. In this course we will learn how vital these insects are, and gain a greater appreciation for them through lecture and outdoor exploration at North Branch Nature Center.
Native Pollinators – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontWhen it comes to pollination, honeybees get all the attention, but the vast majority of the work is credited to a diverse group of organisms that call New England home. There are over 300 species of native bees in Vermont alone, and they are responsible for pollinating ~80% of flowering plants and ~66% of our food crops. Not to mention dozens of species of butterflies, thousands of species of moths, myriad wasps, beetles, flies, birds, and microorganisms that all take part in the complex ecology of plant reproduction.
ECO Institute: Natural History Fundamentals for Educators
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThe purpose of this course for PreK - 6th grade educators 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.
Early Season Grasses – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThe grasses are our most diverse plant family in settled areas, and our second most diverse, after sedges, in forests, glades, and wetlands. They are interesting and rewarding: graceful, intricate, ecologically sensitive. If you don’t know them, you are missing a lot. If you are meeting them for the first time, you are in for a treat.
Coastal Maine Birding Trip with Chip Darmstadt
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontCoastal Maine Birding - Puffins, Storm-petrels & plovers! July 13-17 2022 $2075 ($425 single supplement) | Includes all lodging and transportation Guide: Chip Darmstadt Coastal Maine beckons with breeding seabirds, salt marsh specialists and beautiful seaside scenery. We’ll explore all the avian diversity Maine has to offer, including out on the open ocean! Our adventure…
Ferns – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFerns are our constant companions in the North Woods, yet many naturalists never get to know them due to their cryptic characteristics. In this course, we'll become familiar with ferns and their allies through an exploration of their natural history, evolution, and identification.
Vermont Biodiversity Educators Institute
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThis week-long investigation of Vermont biodiversity is designed for 7-12th grade teachers and educators looking to incorporate nature-based concepts and activities across their curricula. Each day is spent immersed in a different ecosystem, exploring the species, systems, 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.
Glacial Geology of Vermont – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThis class uses multiple field sites to demonstrate how we understand key aspects of northern Vermont’s glacial geologic history. In particular, we will observe a variety of landforms and sediments created by glaciers and focus on the different geologic processes that were active when the landforms and sediments formed. We will then use our understanding of how these landforms and sediments formed to interpret the changing environments existing in northern Vermont during the last 25,000 years.
Mushrooms – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontMushrooms have fascinated and mystified humankind for ages. From ancient origin stories and shamanic practice to modern systematic analysis, fungi intrigue us culturally, medicinally, and scientifically. In this course, participants will explore the diversity and ecological importance of the kingdom of fungi. Over this two-day course, participants will learn the fundamentals of mushroom identification through a combination of classroom and field experience. Topics include fungi ecology, taxonomy, field identification, morphology, edibility, toxicity, fungi as medicine, bioremediation, utilitarian function, as well as ‘best’ harvesting practices.
ECO Institute: Nature-Based Routines for Outdoor Classrooms
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontInstructors: Ken Benton & Susan Koch August 8 - 12 $1300 ($1675 with 3 graduate credits) Class Size: 12-20 students For PreK to 6th grade educators This introductory ECO (Educating Children Outdoors) Institute course acquaints participants with the routines and protocols that structure a successful outdoor learning and play experience. Participants will: Develop a knowledge base and skill set…
Late Season Grasses – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThe grasses are our most diverse plant family in settled areas, and our second most diverse, after sedges, in forests, glades, and wetlands. They are interesting and rewarding: graceful, intricate, ecologically sensitive. If you don’t know them, you are missing a lot. If you are meeting them for the first time, you are in for a treat.
The Craft of Timber Framing
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThis course will teach participants how to craft and use pegged mortise and tenon joinery to build timber frame structures. We will focus on traditional hand-cut joinery and the art of the square rule system. The course is led by master artisans Seth Kelley and Skip Dewhirst, who have been teaching timber framing together for over 20 years.
Forest Bathing with Nature Connection Guide Duncan Murdoch
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontExperience nature with the art and practice of Forest Bathing. Give yourself this time to unplug, slow down and (re)connect as we begin to transition from summer to autumn in Vermont. Follow your certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide Duncan Murdoch through a series of sensory connection invitations designed to facilitate your immersion that includes time in solitude and in group. A locally foraged tea will be served to complete your experience.
Shorebirding and Fall Migration at Plum Island with Chip Darmstadt
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontPlum Island and the 4,662 acre Parker River National Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport, MA offers amazing birding almost any time of year. With a list of 365 species documented on the refuge, Parker River NWR is one of the 10 "birdiest" hotspots in the United States! In mid-September migrating warblers, thousands of Tree Swallows and a wealth of shorebirds and waterfowl fuel up at the refuge. Our trip is timed to observe an exciting range of the diversity Parker River NWR has to offer.
Montpelier PLACE – Ecology of North Branch River Park
North Branch River Park Poolside Drive, Montpelier, VT, United StatesJoin field naturalist Erica Hample to learn about the ecology that makes our local park special. Erica has been engaged in a new ecological assessment of the park, uncovering a fascinating story of seeps, trees, and insects. This event is part of the Montpelier PLACE program, a series of community events celebrating the sites and stories in Montpelier’s unique heritage and ecology.
Cape May & Delmarva Birding Trip with Chip Darmstadt
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontExplore this extraordinary birdwatching paradise during one of its most exciting times to visit. With over 430 total species observed, and over 330 species seen this time of year, Southern New Jersey and the Delmarva Peninsula are home to some of the greatest avian biodiversity in the northeast.
Montpelier PLACE – Queen Bee Day Brunch at Barr Hill
Barr Hill 116 Gin Lane, Montpelier, VT, United StatesIn collaboration with Caledonia Spirits’ Bee's Knees Week, come sip on some cocktails and enjoy local honey-infused donuts with pollinator ecologist Jason Mazurowski who will share his expertise on the nearly 400 native bees species found in Vermont. This event is part of the Montpelier PLACE program, a series of community events celebrating the sites and stories in Montpelier’s unique heritage and ecology.
Nature Journaling Club
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontOctober 1, 15, and 29 ($40 for all three sessions) | Explore the art and practice of nature journaling with NBNC Teacher-Naturalist Fiona Modrak. Using the practice of nature journaling, we will sharpen our observational skills, practice being curious, and learn new ways to explore nature. Using activities and prompts from John Muir Laws, we will come together in nature to share and learn from one another about different styles and approaches to nature journaling. Welcome to nature journalers new and old. No experience necessary. This club will meet three times in October. We ask that participants interested in registering attend at least two of the dates.
Nature Illustration with Susan Sawyer: Seeds, Stems, & Leaves
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontDrawing helps us to slow down and see the life around us. At the end of the growing season, what’s here to draw are some very interesting plant shapes and structures — twined tendrils, spent and eaten leaves, pods ripe or empty. Working both inside and out, using artist’s graphite pencils, the class will work on drawing skills including gesture, line, value, and composition, observing and learning about patterns, form and function in the nature center’s diverse plant life (and whatever invertebrates we happen on). A bonus will be the addition of touches of color to a graphite drawing. Some drawing experience is helpful but not required. All materials except your sketchbook will be provided.
Montpelier PLACE – History on the Land: Hubbard Park
Hubbard Park Parkway Street, Montpelier, VT, United StatesPeel back the layers of Hubbard Park with landscape historian Samantha Ford. Discover Montpelier's history and the origin of the conservation movement using hidden clues in the form of stone walls, witness trees, barbed wire, and more. This event is part of the Montpelier PLACE program, a series of community events celebrating the sites and stories in Montpelier’s unique heritage and ecology.
Public Owl Banding Demonstration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontNBNC is part of a national network of scientists working to better understand the migration of the Northern Saw-whet Owl, a common yet elusive member of our Vermont forests. Join NBNC biologists as they capture, tag, and release these pint-sized owls. NBNC naturalists and educators will also discuss the highlights of recent research here and across the country, then share what’s been discovered about this mysterious little predator. Open to all ages.
Montpelier PLACE – Ecology of Hubbard Park
Hubbard Park Parkway Street, Montpelier, VT, United StatesJoin field naturalist Erica Hample for a guided group exploration of the most special places in Hubbard Park. Erica’s work creating a new ecological assessment of the park has uncovered a complicated land use history, a strong conservation ethic, and exciting geological formations. Come learn about ecological resilience and the future of this forest! This event is part of the Montpelier PLACE program, a series of community events celebrating the sites and stories in Montpelier’s unique heritage and ecology.
Nature Illustration with Susan Sawyer: Tree Characters
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontAs winter comes nearer and leaves fall, we get to see the bones of things — in the case of trees, trunks, branches, and twigs According to their species and their circumstances, trees grow variously with each other, with the hills and along the river; we meet them at different life stages and observe their habits and adaptations. This will be a day of drawing to learn, in and near the woods, observing individual trees and their parts, up close and at a distance. We’ll be using artist’s graphite pencils and drawing pens. Some drawing experience is helpful but not required. All materials except your sketchbook will be provided.
Montpelier PLACE – Montpelier Underfoot (Field Walk)
Discover how Montpelier’s local geologic and geographic setting has shaped the city’s modern infrastructure, architecture and personality. Led by Sean Beckett of North Branch Nature Center. This two part event includes a Friday evening presentation followed by a field outing on Saturday morning. Attendance at one day of the event is not mandatory for participation in the other. The field outing will include less than ½ mile of walking on mostly flat, wide trails.
Stick 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. We’ll follow the process covering tree identification, natural history, ethical harvest and processing from the round into billets. Moving indoors, we’ll learn to read the grain while laying out patterns and carving away all wood that isn’t 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. Bring your own fixed blade knife and come dressed for the weather. Led by NBNC Naturalist and Director of Education, Ken Benton.
Winter Wildlife Tracking Institute
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontIn-person sessions: Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 25 | 9 am - 4 pm (in-person sessions may be rescheduled to the following day in the event of poor weather) Virtual sessions (Zoom): Feb 1, March 8 | 6 - 7:30 pm $315 | Financial support available (email us to inquire) Group Size: 14 max |…