Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m.—QUECHEE—Join us at the VINS Nature Center for a day celebrating all things reptile! From turtle shells to snake smells, you will discover the amazing world of reptile adaptations through close encounters, hands-on activities, crafts and more! Recount the history and current status of the iconic Timber Rattlesnake here in New England with naturalist Thomas Tyning. Meet live reptile ambassadors with the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and Uncharted Wild to learn all about these remarkable reptiles!
SCHEDULE OF THE DAY
All Day / 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cold-blooded Crafts
Get inspired by the beauty of reptiles and create something fun to take home!
Reptile Games
Get stompin’ and slitherin’ as you explore the world of reptiles. Includes water games.
Reptiles on the Forest Canopy Walk
Think you can identify Vermont’s reptiles? Come visit the Forest Canopy Walk to test your knowledge and learn more about the reptiles that might call your backyard home.
10:30 – 10:50 a.m.
Turtle Breakfast
How did the turtle fly south for the winter? In this story time program, meet Turt and Jersey, VINS Ambassador turtles, as they have their morning stroll and breakfast.
11 a.m. – Noon / 1 – 2 p.m.
Reptiles of the World
Uncharted Wild will entertain folks of all ages as they present reptiles from around the world.
Noon – 1 p.m.
Timber Rattlesnakes of New England
Of all the animals with backbones found in New England, none are more endangered than the timber rattlesnake. Famous for its uniqueness to the New World, impressively rattled tail, remarkable ability to survive New England winters, and complex behaviors that are just beginning to be understood, the timber rattlesnake is more than just fascinating. Take a journey through history to understand how rattlesnakes once fascinated early settlers before nearly being hunted to extinction, to today where many people are coming to recognize that all wildlife has a place in our environment. Thanks to the work of dedicated researchers and advances in technology, we can now better appreciate the captivating lives of New England timber rattlesnakes.
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Reptiles of New England
Meet reptiles that call New England home with the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum.
3:30 – 4 p.m.
Reptile Mythbusting
Are snakes really deaf? Can a turtle change shells? Let’s bust some common myths surrounding our cold-blooded friends!
4 – 4:30 p.m.
Raptor Encounter
Meet one of our avian education ambassadors up close.
For more information, contact Mary Davidson Graham at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) at 802-359-5000 or mgraham@vinsweb.org.
