Peatlands Rich and Poor – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontInstructors: Brett Engstrom & Jerry Jenkins July 20-21, 2024 | $285 Course size: 12 students Financial support available (contact us) Part of NBNC's Biodiversity University series. More Information & Registration
ECO Institute for Early Childhood Educators
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFor preschool and kindergarten educators. This course applies early childhood learning curricula beyond the classroom, while immersing in and participating with nature as a learning partner. The course provides inquiry-based learning through intensive experiential lessons, provocations and discussions held entirely outdoors.
Songs and S’mores
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontCome join us for an evening of songs and s’mores as we gather around the campfire to share each other's company and revel in the joy of summer! This is a family friendly event and we welcome people of all ages!
Nature Night Hike
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontDiscover nature in the dark! Come catch moths, uncover caterpillars under UV light, and learn all about what local critters are up to at night. We'll let our eyes naturally adjust to the moonlight as we hike, play games, and explore the nature center after dark.
Monitoring and Managing Ash Trees Workshop
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontLearn how to participate in the Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) program to enable detection of "lingering ash" that can be used to breed trees resistant to the emerald ash borer, providing hope for ash conservation.
But Why?: Signs of Summer
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontPodcast host and author Jane Lindholm and our naturalist special guest will be front and center to discuss woodland creatures - big and small, and summer time ecology.
The Pantanal – Birds and Wildlife of Brazil
The huge lowland plains of the Mato Grosso in Brazil, seasonally inundated during the rainy season, is known as the "Pantanal." It is the shrinking of the wetlands during the dry season that creates the spectacular concentrations of wildlife for which the area has become world famous.
Branch Out Loud 2024
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontMontpelier Chamber Orchestra & North Branch Nature Center present an evening of music and food to benefit LGBTQ youth programs and composers on August 13th from 5-7 pm.
Songs and S’mores
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontCome join us for an evening of songs and s’mores as we gather around the campfire to share each other's company and revel in the joy of summer! This is a family friendly event and we welcome people of all ages!
Mushroom Identification & Ecology – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontDesigned for naturalists and scientists of varied abilities and interests, this seminar covers butterfly taxonomy, biology, behavior, and identification.
Native Pollinators – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontWhen it comes to pollination, honeybees get all the attention, but most of the credit belongs to a diverse group of organisms that call New England home. There have been over 350 species of wild bees identified in Vermont to date, and they – along with myriad moths, butterflies, wasps, beetles, flies, and birds – are responsible for pollinating ~80% of flowering plants and ~66% of food crops.
Champlain Beach & Delta Botany by Boat – Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontInstructors: Grace Glynn & Jerry Jenkins August 30-31, 2024 | $285 Course size: 12 students Financial support available (contact us) Part of NBNC's Biodiversity University series. More Information & Registration
Fall Birding at North Branch Nature Center
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontFridays in September. 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, 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). All fall outings take place at NBNC.
Old Forest Ecology- Biodiversity University
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontOld forests capture a special place in our imagination, and they provide important ecological functions, especially in a changing climate. In this course, we will visit some of the few remaining patches of old forest in Vermont.
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.
Trekkers & Explorers Afterschool Program (Fall 2024)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontLet your kids be kids at NBNC. Our Explorers and Trekkers programs offer kids time to explore the woods and fields, play stealth and awareness games, and learn outdoor skills with their peers. Both age groups (1st-3rd and 4th-8th grade) focus on learning by doing, using all five senses. Thoughtful and loosely directed play in the woods helps kids develop a sense of place while unwinding with a peer group. Through 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!
Nature Illustration with Susan Sawyer: Observation with Pencil & Brush
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontWhat can we as artist-naturalists see if we stop and look? We will walk, sit, draw, and paint, and come away with images of nature in autumn.
Book Launch: Turning Stones – Discovering the Life of Water by Declan McCabe
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontTurning Stones is a careful look at the mysteries and life that can be found in a river if you just the take the time to look. The more than 50 short essays gathered in this volume provide an astounding look at the rich diversity of life that depends on water.
All We Can Save: book club & discussion seminar (virtual)
North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VermontJoin us for a virtual, afternoon, climate change themed fall book club to read All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, a 2020 anthology of climate change essays edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson. Described as “provocative and illuminating writings from women at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward,” this book offers a very human look into climate change, how it impacts us, and why it really matters to us.
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!
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!
Japan’s Winter Birds & Culture
Winter in Japan is a fairytale of stunning birdlife, fascinating wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and magnificent culture.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!