Our Year in Review: Our Favorite 2016 Photos
As the year comes to an end, we offer you a little extra dose of positivity. Take a look at just a sample of the great Museum happenings from 2016 and find yourself an easy smile. The Nature Museum is so proud that we achieved our goal to be a regional resource for nature, science, and environmental education in southern Vermont. Through our programs offered to both youth and adults, we have continued to provide information and create experiences that engage and enlighten our audience of all ages and inspire stewardship of the natural world. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun 2016.
We are looking forward to seeing you again in 2017!
We kicked off 2016 with a bang; guest speaker Sue Morse of "Keeping Track" spoke to a standing-room only crowd at the NewsBank Center in Chester about her work tracking cougars and other wild cats.
Our Brave Bears winter campers have a group chat before heading up to the woods on their snowshoes!
A foursome of participants from our tween/teen-focused winter workshop, Wild Walkers.
Adam Katrick of Wolfgard Northeast, a Southern Vermont-based non-profit whose mission is to "explore the wild through wolves", led a workshop in March.
The former president of the Vermont Beekeeper's Association, Ross Conrad, presented an organic beekeeping workshop in March.
In celebration of Earth Day, environmental educator Jamie Maloof-Schilling presented "Predators and Prey" to an all ages group in April.
Over many students' spring break, we held our Brave Bears camp. We embraced the sun!
Despite the rainy weather, NM board members were happy to be at the Herricks Cove Festival in May; the Nature Museum is a sponsor for the yearly fest.
In May, Chester Andover Elementary School paid us a visit; students took to the woods to learn about fort building and erecting their own. Teamwork!
Ari Rockland-Miller, The Mushroom Forager, led an adult workshop, "Wildcrafting: Medicinal Mushrooms and Greens" in May. The group spotted these morels!
The Mighty Acorns Club, our Thursday morning program for ages 3-5, celebrating the return of summer!
This sea lampry was spotted at the Bellows Falls Fish Ladder on opening weekend in June. We staff and run the visitor center at the Fish Ladder.
We made nine visits to three local libraries this summer as a part of our community outreach. Thanks for hosting us libraries of Springfield, Walpole, and Chester!
Our Discovery Days drop-in program on Thursday mornings ran for 8 weeks this summer. at the museum. During our July 21st program, participants used hoop fabric bug catchers to find friends to take a closer look at.
Bob Engel, former professor at Marlboro College, made guest appearances at our summer Brave Bears program and always brought along a friend or two.
Ari Rockland Miller led a "Medicinal Mushroom and Greens" workshop in May and then returned in August to lead two well-attended mushroom foraging walks.
In September, over 1,100 visitors made it out to our 8th Annual Fairy House Festival; what a fantastic weekend. Check out the photo gallery>
This fall, we teamed up with the Windmill Pinnacle Hill Association to offer educational programming and outdoor experiences to the Westminster schools.
In October, we welcomed wildlife biologist and bear rehabilitator Ben Kilham for his talk on "The Social Bear".
The diversity of our programming and the extent of our reach into our greater community couldn't have been possible in 2016 without support from our friends and Annual Fun contributors. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to The Nature Museum of Grafton as part of your end of the year giving. We appreciate it so much!