Saturday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m.—QUECHEE—Join the Vermont Institute of Natural Science on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for an all-day event celebrating both the publication of a new book—“The Outside Story, Volume 2”—and the 15-year legacy of the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (NHCF).
“The Outside Story, Volume 2” features a selection of ecology articles from the weekly series of the same name. Published by the staff of Northern Woodlands magazine, the series has appeared in New Hampshire and Vermont newspapers since 2002 (including this newspaper). From its beginning, it has been wholly supported through the Wellborn Ecology Fund.
“Most of our writers live here in the Upper Valley, and we get most of our topic ideas from our own experiences in the region’s fields and woods,” explained Elise Tillinghast, publisher of Northern Woodlands magazine. Many of the writers, she added, have connections to other environmental nonprofits or schools that NHCF has supported over the Wellborn Ecology Fund’s 15-year history.
That history began when naturalist and writer Marguerite Wellborn, who spent her later years in Hanover, left a bequest to NHCF “to be used for public awareness of environmental and ecological issues in the Upper Valley.” Since that time, NHCF has awarded grants totaling more than $5.5 million to over 100 local organizations. In recent years, the foundation has placed particular emphasis on providing ecology learning opportunities in underserved K-8 schools, and VINS has been part of this work.
The event will offer activities for families and others looking for hands-on nature learning experiences. Enjoy activity stations related to articles in “The Outside Story” book, as well as guided walks, presentations and storytelling by local author and naturalist Michael Caduto.
Hold gall grubs in your hand, touch and compare moose and deer browse marks, and have a close encounter with an eastern painted turtle. Visitors may also learn more about the Wellborn Ecology Fund’s history and recent work, and browse displays from several nonprofits that promote learning about Upper Valley nature. And, of course, any visit to VINS includes the opportunity to observe live raptors up close, walk the woods trails, and even take a trip through a tree in the new Forest Exhibit.
Artist Adelaide Tyrol’s cover painting for “The Outside Story” will be on display, and copies of the book will be available through the VINS Nature Store.
All events and activities are included with the price of admission to the Nature Center, which is $14.50 for adults; $13.50 for seniors, 62 and over; $12.50 for youth, ages 4 to 17; and free for members and for children, 3 and under. For a full schedule of events, visit vinsweb.org or northernwoodlands.org.
Photo by Greg Nesbit Photography
Michael Caduto is an author that contributes to “The Outside Story,” and will tell a few stories during the VINS event celebrating the book.
