The Nature Connection Trail – North Branch Nature Center

NC Trail

"I wish I could store this week in a bottle and take it out this winter to drink in the richness of this experience!”
- ECO Institute Participant, 2018

— The Wetherell Family

The Nature Connection Trail

Experiencing Nature with Your Senses

Welcome! We invite you to tune in to what you see, hear, feel, smell, and even taste, as you follow this trail and learn about the waters, ecosystems, and inhabitants of this land, past and present. Thank you for joining us!

Curious About Names?

By design, the Nature Connection Trail doesn't focus on identifying species. To learn more about the plants and animals you encounter here, use the resources linked on each sign or borrow a field guide from us.

Accessibility

The trail's total distance is 0.6 miles and there are several benches along the way. The first three signs are along the Universal Access Trail. The remaining five signs are along our main loop trail, with grass and dirt surfaces and a maximum grade of 9%.

This trail is designed to help focus your senses if any of the prompts don't line up with your abilities, consider adapting them to suit you.

Translations and audio recordings are available using the QR codes.

The Traditional Stewards of This Land

NBNC resides upon the traditional and unceded home of the Western Abenaki People. We strive to respect and honor their legacy, and to support the current Indigenous residents of Vermont. Each panel features paintings by Abenaki artist Amy Hook-Therrien and Abenaki words in purple, provided by Jesse and Joseph Bruchac, citizens and language keepers of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. This trail invites us to allow ourselves to be present (chigitozida) and use our senses. You can explore the concept of chigitozida and learn more about Abenaki language at the glossary on this page.

Visit Each Stop on the Trail

Trail map and trail info

Panel Audio - English

Panel Audio - Spanish

Translations by Onel Salazar

Panel Text - Spanish

El Camino de Conexión de Naturaleza

Experimentando la Naturaleza con tus Sentidos

¡Bienvenidos! Les invitamos a sintonizar lo que ven, escuchan, sienten, huelen, y hasta saborean, mientras siguen este camino y aprenden sobre las aguas, ecosistemas, en habitantes de esta tierra, pasado y presente.

¡Gracias por unirte a nosotros!

¿Les da Curiosidad los Nombres?

Por diseño, el Camino de Coneccion de Naturaleza (Nature Connection Trail) no se enfoca en identificar las especies. Para aprender más sobre plantas y animales que encuentren aquí, ocupen los recursos enlazados en cada letrero o les prestamos una guia de campo.

Accesibilidad

La distancia entera del camino es de 0.6 millas y hay varias bancas en el camino. Los primeros tres letreros están sobre el Camino de Acceso Universal (Universal Access Trail (vean los detalles del camino en el letrero a su izquierda). Los otros cinco letreros están sobre nuestro circuito del camino principal, con superficies de césped y tierra con un grado máximo de 9%.

El camino está diseñado para ayudarte a enfocarte en tus sentidos – si algunos de los temas no se alinean con sus capacidades, consideran adaptarlos.

Traducciones y grabados de audio están disponibles usando los códigos QR.

Los Cuidadores Tradicionales de esta Tierra

NBNC se ubica en el tradicional y hogar no cedido de la Gente Abenaki del Oeste (Western Abenaki People). Nos esforzamos para respetar y honrar su legado, y apoyar a los actuales residentes indígenas de Vermont. Cada panel presenta pinturas hechas por la artista Amy Hook-Therrien y palabras en morado, proporcionadas por Jesse y Joseph Burchac, ciudadanos y guardianes de lenguaje de la banda Nulhegan de la Nacion Coosuk Abenaki. Este camino nos invita a dejarnos estar presente (chigitozida) y usar nuestros sentidos. Pueden explorar el concepto de chigitozaida y aprender más sobre el lenguaje y cultura Abenaki con los recursos enlazados en los códigos QR.

Agradecimientos

Estamos agradecidos con: nuestros socios Abenaki, Amy, Jesse, y Joseph; la diseñadora Linda Mirabile de RavenMark; the Montpelier Foundation; the Vermont Arts Council; y todos los que apoyaron a NBNC. Wliwni (thank you)!

Para unirte a la comunidad NBNC, favor visiten NorthBranchNatureCenter.org/Support-Nature.

Abenaki Glossary

Abaziak (the trees)

Akwôbial (the seasons)

Alegisgak (weather)

Alitôgwakil (sounds, literally “the way things sound”)

Alômbagw (underwater)

Asokw (the sky)

Awahôdo (an insect, literally “a wild spirit”)

Chigitozida (allow ourselves)

kinawokw awaasak (observe the wildlife)

Kita (listen)

Minkôgan (fruit)

Môwkawôgan(a community, literally “working together”)

Namasak (fish, plural) Namas (a fish)

Nebi (water)

Nikônkôgoagik (the ancestors, literally “those who have come before us”)

Ôtlokôganal (stories)

Sibo (a river, literally “it extends”)

Piwsesit (a little one)

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to: our Abenaki partners, Amy, Jesse, and Joseph; designer Linda Mirabile of RavenMark Studio; the Vermont Arts Council; and NBNC’s many supporters. Wliwni (thank you)! To join the NBNC community, please click here.

713 Elm Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05602
(802) 229-6206

Hours: Center Open Monday-Friday 9-4
Trails Open 24/7