QUECHEE—With Vermont children out of school through the end of the school year, parents and families are facing a new reality and a completely different educational experience. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science has played a significant and growing role in providing STEM education to children and adults across the Upper Valley, New England and beyond, and just as schools, educators and families are adjusting, they are, too. As the COVID-19 situation continues to change just about everything about our daily lives, VINS is working to provide environmental education to all, just as they always have.
VINS has made educational materials available on its website, and offers activities families can do at home or in their neighborhood, for pupils from pre-K through high school. And even though the VINS Nature Center is closed to the public for the time being, you can still join in online to see what happens there every day – and even enjoy an animal program. On Facebook Live, they will be featuring various animal encounters. They have also uploaded many other educational videos from staff. Topics include a tour of the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation, an explanation of how they train our avian ambassadors, and various other topics. The VINS YouTube channel also contains many educational videos from staff.
April 8 at 12:30 p.m.
Tune in for a nest box check. It’s spring cleaning time! VINS is anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring migrants and want to make sure all of the nest boxes are cleaned out from the previous year. Learn about the birds that inhabit the nest boxes in the spring and what they need to survive.
April 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Facebook live with be graced with fantastic falcons. Are you ready for the fiercest, most agile predator in the world? Join in for a Facebook Live Q&A focused on falcons! These incredible predators have amazing adaptations that you have to see to believe.
April 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Take a virtual naturalist walk. Join one of VINS Educators on a walk through the forest and experience nature’s transition from winter to spring. From bird songs to winter seed caches that are beginning to sprout, who knows what will be found. The natural world is transforming, so take a closer look!
Live videos will be available to watch after their live stream date. For information about the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation, the VINS Forest Canopy Walk and VINS events throughout the winter, please visit vinsweb.org.
