Arts, Dining & Entertainment, Events & Activities

Vermont Institute of Natural Science announces winter wildlife celebration

Jan. 14-15 — QUECHEE — The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is very excited to announce its upcoming winter wildlife celebration.

First, join VINS on Friday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. for their free public virtual event. A donation of $10 per household would be greatly appreciated. This virtual event is in conjunction with VINS’ annual winter wildlife festival on Saturday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee.

Celebrate the wildlife of winter at the VINS nature center with a fun-filled day of family activities. In the morning, visit Fairy Court to journey through the woods to search for fairies. The celebration continues in the afternoon with a visit from Braeburn Siberians. Meet their team of sled dogs and learn how these amazing canines are built for the winter. Join in for winter games, attend a program to learn how raptors survive winter, and take a stroll with an educator along the canopy walk. Snow or no, it’s sure to be a great way to discover the wonders of wildlife in winter.

Schedule

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fairy hunts – Come visit the Fairy Court for an adventure sprinkled with the magic and wonder of forest fairies with a visit from the fairy grandmother and friends. Wearing wings is encouraged.

11–11:30 a.m. Raptors in winter – Join for an intimate encounter with live raptors and learn about how they’ve adapted to our cold winter months.

11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Guided forest canopy walk tour – Follow a knowledgeable VINS naturalist to discover how the forest canopy walk was created.

12–3 p.m. Winter games – Part of surviving chilly winter conditions is staying active! Join to celebrate wildlife with exciting activities for the whole family.

1–3 p.m. Dog sledding demonstration – Visit with a local dog sledding team: Braeburn Siberians. Learn how sled dogs are built for winter. Meet the dogs and learn what makes a sled dog team “mush.”

2–2:30 p.m. Raptors in winter – Join for an intimate encounter with live raptors and learn about how they’ve adapted to the cold winter months.

2:30–3 p.m. Guided forest canopy walk tour – Follow a knowledgeable VINS naturalist to discover how the forest canopy walk was created.

This event is included with admission to the VINS Nature Center. Please note that a limited number of tickets are available for this date, and advance purchase is encouraged Snowshoes are available for use on our nature trails at no additional charge.

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