Program areas at North Branch Nature Center
Education programs: nbnc serves more than 2,000 people annually through 7+ education program areas including forest preschool; summer Nature camps and afterschool programs; a Nature playgroup; eco (educating children outdoors, a standards-based program in collaboration with 13 area public schools and a homeschool program); and eco educator institutes (graduate-level courses for teachers). We emphasize hands-on experiential education, offering opportunities to learn about and from Nature, fostering a sense of a place and stewardship in our local Vermont communities, and developing lasting relationships with the natural world.
Visitor experience and outreach: each year more than 15,000 people enjoy our 28-acre floodplain landscape and use our trails, which are free and always open. Our multi-use trails which include a universal access trail meeting ada standards and a Nature connection trail with interpretive signs fostering engagement and featuring original art serve as a hub for outdoor recreation and provide access to montpeliers two largest city parks. Our trails and property are enjoyed by walkers, skiers, snowshoers, and bikers alike and offer direct access to one of the areas best swimming holes. We are also home to a longstanding community garden and newer community orchard. Our building is open to the public 5 days/week and features several aquariums highlighting the natural aquatic communities of the North Branch of the winooski river; a rotating natural history display; an art gallery featuring a rotating exhibit of nature-inspired art by local artists.
Natural history and community science programs: more than 3,000 people participate in our natural history and community science programs each year. Each year we offer a summer festival for all ages; a naturalist journeys presentation series; biodiversity university classes; a Vermont master naturalist program; and numerous other in-person and online offerings. We also lead birding and natural history trips around Vermont and beyond, including internationally. Hands-on community science opportunities include amphibian monitoring, monarch butterfly tagging, saw-whet owl banding, mushroom mapping, and songbird counts. Our amphibian monitoring program has expanded to collaborate with Vermont agencies and conservation organizations around transportation planning and statistical modeling of amphibian movement. Our volunteers contribute important data while rescuing thousands of amphibians at road crossings each spring.
Other programs