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Mammal Ecology, Taxonomy & Natural History – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThis field-based course will cover the natural and cultural history of mammals in Vermont, with a focus on techniques to observe and identify species in the field. Topics will include mammal evolution, behavior, and topics in current and historical conservation, as well as techniques for observing reclusive mammal species using camera or audio recorders.
$295 -
Dam Removal in Montpelier (Field Trip)
MontpelierVisit the defunct and derelict dams of Montpelier’s industrial past, and learn why these small structures lead to big problems. Old dams collect sediment upstream, increase erosion downstream, and alter the river’s flow to increase the risk of flood damage over time.
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Monthly Birding Outing (Sodom Pond)
A casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels at various locations around the Montpelier area. Spend time enjoying our resident wild birds!
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Streams Behaving Badly: When Small Streams Flood (Field Trip)
MontpelierA panel-led field tour and conversation around Montpelier tributaries that caused significant damage during the 2023 and 2024 flood events. We’ll explore water’s path through Montpelier’s Terrace Street neighborhoods, where very small drainages became very big problems as culverts and ditches failed to direct the huge volume of stormwater away from homes.
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Public Owl Banding Demonstration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin NBNC biologists as they capture, tag, and release these pint-sized predators. 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 owl.
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Naturalist-led Morning Paddle at North Montpelier Pond
N Montpelier PondA group kayak, canoe, or paddleboard morning outing to explore and enjoy the wildlife, plants, and ecology of North Montpelier Pond and the Kingsbury Branch of the Winooski River.
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Streams Behaving Badly: When Large Streams Flood (Field Trip)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontA panel-led field tour and conversation around Montpelier tributaries that caused significant damage during the 2023 and 2024 flood events. We’ll explore several large streams that flow through the foothills of the Worcester Range and down to Elm Street in Montpelier, damaging roadways and eroding hillsides along the way.
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Fall Mushroom Outing
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin NBNC naturalist and educator Dave Muska for a morning mushroom outing to learn about local fungi and mushrooms, what they’re up to, and how you can contribute to the Fungi of Vermont Community Science program.
$20 -
Public Owl Banding Demonstration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin NBNC biologists as they capture, tag, and release these pint-sized predators. 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 owl.
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Beaver Camp! A Two-day Retreat
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontA two-day immersion in beaver ecology and river science, with a focus on the relationship between beavers, watershed health, and flood resilience.
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Success Stories in Riparian Restoration Plantings (Field Trip)
NorthfieldA visit to successful riverside tree planting projects along the Dog River several years later. This outing will showcase good practices and effective strategies for tree planting.
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Public Owl Banding Demonstration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin NBNC biologists as they capture, tag, and release these pint-sized predators. 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 owl.
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Public Owl Banding Demonstration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin NBNC biologists as they capture, tag, and release these pint-sized predators. 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 owl.
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Beavers as Flood Resilience Allies (Field Trip) – now Oct 22
Barre/OrangeA field trip to a local beaver wetland system to learn the role beavers play as climate allies and flood resilience engineers.
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Art Gallery Reception: Nature for All – a small group show
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us to celebrate our fall art exhibit, Nature for All. Browse the gallery, meet the artists, and enjoy some light refreshments. Nature for All includes work by Sunniva Dutcher, Amy Hook-Therrien, Dominique Gustin, and Chelsea Clarke Sawyer.
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Queer Owl Banding Night
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontSeptember is Pride Month in Vermont, but nobody told the owls! Every October NBNC biologists capture, tag, and release Northern Saw-whet Owls as part of a national network of scientists working to better understand their migration. Join them to meet these pint-sized owls and nerd out with local LGBTQ+ nature enthusiasts.
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ECO Homeschool (Ages 6 – 12) Late Fall Session
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, Vermont(six weeks) The woods and fields of North Branch Nature Center will be our classroom, where students will learn by doing, using all five senses to engage with the landscape through standards-based lessons while directly engaging with the natural world and the organisms that we share this land with.
$465 -
Monthly Birding Outing (Berlin Pond)
A casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels at various locations around the Montpelier area. Spend time enjoying our resident wild birds!
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Weeds into Wonder: Sculpting with Invasive Plants (Presentation)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFall 2025 Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Justin Cifello will share about his sculpture practice and his plans to create a communally built large-scale sculpture at NBNC over the course of the upcoming week.
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Weeds into Wonder: Sculpting with Invasive Plants (Workshop & Field Walk)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontVisiting Teacher-Naturalist Justin Cifello will lead an invasive species walk, talk, and harvest in preparation to create a communally built large-scale sculpture at NBNC over the course of the next week. After harvesting materials, the group will process them and start building the skeleton of the sculpture.
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Weeds into Wonder: Sculpting with Invasive Plants (Drop-in Build Day)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Justin Cifello for a drop-in work session to finish building the skeleton of our community-built invasive species sculpture!
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Weeds into Wonder: Sculpting with Invasive Plants (Drop-in Build Day)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Justin Cifello for a drop-in work session to harvest small materials and begin filling in the sculpture!
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Weeds into Wonder: Sculpting with Invasive Plants (Drop-in Build Day)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Justin Cifello for a drop-in work session to finish filling in the sculpture with small materials!
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The Illuminated Book of Birds — Book Launch with Robin Crofut-Brittingham
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us at NBNC for a book launch and signing for Robin Crofut-Brittingham's new book, The Illuminated Book of Birds. Robin will give an artist/author talk and then sign books. Pre-order when you RSVP to reserve your copy, or drop in and purchase a book at the event.
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Weeds into Wonder: Celebration, Open House, and Community Potluck
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin Visiting Teacher-Naturalist Justin Cifello for an open house to learn about and celebrate the completion of our community-built invasive species sculpture! Justin will lead an invasive species walk at 11 am, then we’ll have a community potluck at noon.
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Book Launch – Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the Northern Forest by Jerry Jenkins
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontAn informal workshop and book launch for The Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the Northern Forest by Jerry Jenkins, a compact guide to the ecology, geography, and identification of the trees, shrubs, and wood vines of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
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Coastal Seabirding in Southern Maine
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontA long weekend exploring birdlife along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
$1250 -
Monthly Birding Outing (Berlin Pond)
A casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels at various locations around the Montpelier area. Spend time enjoying our resident wild birds!
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Winter Wildlife Tracking at Green Mount Cemetery
MontpelierJoin NBNC staff educator Ana Maria Arroyo for a guided wildlife tracking walk through the cemetery!
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Trekkers & Explorers Afterschool Program (Fall 2025)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontThrough cooperative games, exploration of various habitats, and team-building challenge projects, Trekkers and Explorers build a communal love for the outdoors, making NBNC the place to be after school!
$540 -
Robin’s Nest Nature Playgroup
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontRobin’s Nest Nature Playgroup is a free activity for families to gather, learn, and play in nature.
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Winter Solstice Wildlife Tracking
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us for a winter wildlife tracking walk on the trails at North Branch Nature Center. We will search for signs of wildlife activity while appreciating the beauty and wonder of the natural world on the first day of winter.
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Monthly Birding Outing (NBNC)
A casual morning of birding for all interests and experience levels at various locations around the Montpelier area. Spend time enjoying our resident wild birds!
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Vermont Almanac Vol. VI: Book Launch Celebration
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontCelebrate the release of Volume VI of the Vermont Almanac!
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Gone Guys: Film Screening and Discussion
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontGone Guys explores a “quiet crisis” in our communities, hidden in plain sight: the increasing disengagement and isolation of boys and young men. Set in rural Vermont, this documentary brings national data to life highlighting the struggles faced by boys and young men and sets the stage for a meaningful conversation.
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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.
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Forest Hydrology: How Forests Cycle, Absorb, and Store Water with Dr. Ali Kosiba
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontDr. Kosiba will explain how tree canopies, roots, and forest floors work together to slow, spread, and sink water—reducing soil erosion, downstream flooding, and infrastructure damage. She’ll highlight practical steps landowners, municipalities, and conservation groups can take to strengthen forests’ ability to buffer heavy rains and support climate-resilient landscapes.
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The Maker’s Palette: Upcycled Art Materials — Workshop with Rachel Mirus
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontChannel your creative ingenuity by collecting, experimenting with, and repurposing our own art materials, including paper, ink, and feather dip pens, all from natural ingredients.
$40 -
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 this winter.
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Follow the Water: From the Origins of our Rivers to their Downstream Impacts with Michele Braun
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontWe will look at topographical maps of our region to understand the drainage areas of familiar streams and they connect to form the Winooski River watershed, then zoom in on downtown Montpelier to explore how water flows through a developed landscape. Finally, we'll learn about the work being done by the Winooski Flood Resilience Collaborative to help our watershed communities work together to seek nature-based solutions to climate change challenges.
