Nature Book Club – Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us as we read Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass, and discuss an indigenous perspective on connecting to the natural world, botany, and teaching. We will meet bi-weekly through January and February, and discuss different sections of the book at each meeting. Led by NBNC Teacher-Naturalist Fiona Modrak.
“Spooning” with Nature – 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 Teacher-Naturalist Ken Benton
Willow: A Beaver’s Tale with Patti Smith – Naturalist Journeys Online Presentation Series
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFollow the life of Willow, the remarkable matriarch of a beaver colony on a wild brook in southeastern Vermont. Naturalist Patti Smith has spent over a decade with Willow's clan, documenting their trials and triumphs. During this presentation she will share the stories, pictures and videos that celebrate this beaver and the world she created. Along the way, meet Terrible Jack, a lonely moose, and other wildlife drawn to the habitat created by the beavers.
