Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS)

Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) VINS was founded in 1972 by a small group of people who had fought to clean up the polluted Ottauquechee River.
(497)

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science is a 47-acre Nature Center located in Quechee, Vermont offering environmental education with live birds, educational exhibits, wild bird rehabilitation, in-school science education, and a Forest Canopy Walk. In 1987, VINS opened the nationally-renowned Vermont Raptor Center in Woodstock. The Woodstock location outgrew its space and relocated to Quechee in 2

004. Today, VINS offers engaging environmental education programs and services designed for a wide audience. These programs combine environmental science concepts with hands-on exploration to build empathy for nature and empower individuals to care for local natural ecosystems.

Now that June is here, we wanted to share a baby bird season update from our Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation.So far ...
06/08/2026

Now that June is here, we wanted to share a baby bird season update from our Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation.

So far this year, we’ve taken in 373 patients, with 207 in May (178 in May last year), and 103 of them have been baby birds. We currently have 137 patients in care, with 40-45 of those being ducklings and goslings.

Some of our patients, pictured above:

Blue jays - their nest fell down and was destroyed
Northern saw-whet owl - a healthy fledgling we’re reuniting with his parents
Killdeer - one of 4 chicks that were almost run over by a tractor. All 4 are doing well.

Also pictured is a graph of the birds in care to show how quickly the patient load climbs in May once baby bird season begins.

06/06/2026

A second chance in the wild. 💚 Watch this gosling join its new family! ✨

This month, our Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation has successfully fostered four orphaned goslings into wild goose families at Dewey’s Pond.

When young birds arrive at VINS injured or separated from their families, our goal is always to give them the best possible chance to return to life in the wild. In cases like this, fostering goslings with wild families allows them to grow up learning natural behaviors from other geese - exactly where they belong.

It’s June! This month, adopt our Rough-legged Hawk, Bridport, and get the $50 Adopt Package for only $30. You will recei...
06/05/2026

It’s June! This month, adopt our Rough-legged Hawk, Bridport, and get the $50 Adopt Package for only $30. You will receive an adoption certificate, a species fact sheet, a color photo, our brand-new sticker sheet featuring our avian Ambassadors, and one guest pass.

Your adoption directly supports the work done at the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation. Proceeds from adoptions help our staff provide quality food, medical care, and shelter to rehab patients and our Ambassador Animals.

More about Bridport: She is 18 years old and a representative of a species that winters in Vermont. This species spends the majority of its life cycle in the human-free landscapes of the Arctic tundra, which makes these birds even more vulnerable when they shift to human landscapes with roads and buildings. Bridport was treated at VINS for injuries after a vehicle strike, but her flight was permanently affected. You can now visit her at VINS. During the summer, she participates in morning Bird on Gloves programs—before it gets hotter than summer in the Arctic!

06/04/2026

We need your help! VINS is now the only avian rehab in Vermont accepting ducklings. We have over 50 ducklings in our care at this very moment, and more coming in every day. The ducks in our care eat specialized diets of fish and insects. Each duckling is in our care for 1-2 months and costs $25/week to feed.

Please donate to our baby duckling fund here: https://bit.ly/4e19xls 🔗 We’ll be making a bulk order from our local store, West Lebanon Feed & Supply (https://wlfsonline.com/)

Join us for Treetop Golden Hour!Thursday, June 4 from 5:15 PM – 7 PM$10 Per PersonWarmer weather and longer days are ...
06/03/2026

Join us for Treetop Golden Hour!
Thursday, June 4 from 5:15 PM – 7 PM
$10 Per Person

Warmer weather and longer days are here! We invite you to enjoy an evening with us in the treetops. When the shadows grow long and the evening light has a golden glow, that is a special time to be in the forest. Take a stroll on the Forest Canopy Walk during the golden hour, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy a cold beer from Lawson's Finest Liquids! If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the wild bald eagles.

06/03/2026

🦅A huge thank you to Seven Days for featuring the VINS Eagle Cam in their Stuck in Vermont series! We love seeing so many people connect with these incredible birds and follow the daily lives of this wild bald eagle family.

🎉 We’re thrilled to share that VINS has been named a finalist in the 2026 Daysies (Seven Days Reader Choices Awards)!You...
06/02/2026

🎉 We’re thrilled to share that VINS has been named a finalist in the 2026 Daysies (Seven Days Reader Choices Awards)!

You can vote for us in TWO categories:
🌿 Best Nature Center
🚗 Best Vermont Day Trip with the Kids

Voting opens June 2 (today!) at 10 AM and runs through June 15 at 5 PM. Every vote helps more people discover the wonder of nature, wildlife, and environmental education here at VINS. 💚

Cast your vote here: https://ballot.sevendaysvt.com/recreation/best-nature-center

Thank you for supporting VINS Nature Center and helping us connect people with the natural world! 🦉

06/01/2026

✨ The forecast is looking spectacular for our TREETOP GOLDEN HOUR this Thursday! 🌿☀️

Join us June 4 from 5:15–7 PM for an evening on the Forest Canopy Walk during one of the most beautiful times of day. Enjoy golden light filtering through the trees, time with friends and family, and cold beer available for purchase from Lawson's Finest Liquids 🍻 You might even spot the wild bald eagles soaring nearby! 👀🦅

🎟️ Tickets: $10/person (Get them here: https://bit.ly/4g0wDuZ 🔗)
👶 Free for children 3 and under

Can’t make this one? More Golden Hour evenings are coming June 11 and June 18!

Field trip season is in full swing! We love having our campus filled with groups of kids from all over NH and VT.At VINS...
05/31/2026

Field trip season is in full swing! We love having our campus filled with groups of kids from all over NH and VT.

At VINS Nature Center, students are immersed in a rich learning experience. Our field trips are designed to work with and enhance a schools’ curriculum, making every visit to VINS a valuable experience for your students. Plan your trip here: https://vinsweb.org/field-trips/ 🔗

05/30/2026

Looking for a unique venue for a private event this summer? We host all kinds of special moments: family reunions, anniversary parties, weddings, vow renewals, and even celebrations of life. We also have many local businesses and organizations that host their summer company picnics at VINS. (Here's a hot tip: one benefit of becoming a VINS Corporate Sponsor is discounted or free use of the August or Neale Pavilions for your company event!)

Here is a list of open weekend dates:

June 19, 20

July 3, 5, 12

August 7, 8, 9, 23, 28, 29

Sept 4, 13, 19, 20

Oct 2, 3, 9, 10, 11

We have many weeknights available, too!

Address

149 Natures Way
Quechee, VT
05059

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share