Calling All Kids: Another Winter Break Is Around the Corner
Winter brings with it new opportunities for growth and discovery outside, especially for kids who are experiencing the joys of cold-weather outdoor pursuits for the first time, like skiing, ice skating, or snowshoeing.
There’s a Norwegian saying you may have heard that rings true here in Vermont: “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes”. If properly suited up to fend off the cold, kids can have just as much fun in these brisk months as they do in our state’s gloriously mild summers.
Next month, we excitedly offer Brave Bears and Wild Walkers, two exciting outdoor adventure programs, for kids ages 6-14. Both programs are scheduled during our local schools’ winter break and will take place here at The Nature Museum in Grafton.
Do you know what a blast a group of kids on snowshoes can have? We do, because we offered these two popular programs last year. Your kids won’t want to miss them! Both camps offer adventure for those eager to get outside and go exploring; both programs will be led skilled and experienced environmental educators.
Scholarships are available. Please inquire for multiple day or sibling discounts. Kids should bring a hearty bagged snack, lunch, and a water bottle carried in a backpack and wear appropriate winter clothing and gear to winter camps. Upon request, The Nature Museum can loan snowshoes for participants who do not have their own.
Brave Bears | Ages 6-9 | Tuesday, February 21, 10am-3pm
Brave Bears will tackle fun, hands-on indoor and outdoor experiences related to the animals that call Vermont home. We’ll learn about these animals’ winter adaptations and how humans track them— before embarking on a snowshoeing adventure in the forest and field, collecting clues left in the snow by wild animals. Campers will practice snowshoeing skills through entertaining games and a scavenger hunt.
In the afternoon, special guest Charles Norris-Brown, PhD., social anthropologist, author & illustrator, will read and discuss his recently published book, “Did Tiger Take the Rain?” This inspiring and beautifully written and illustrated tale of a Himalayan land that is experiencing drought features two courageous girls who are seeking an answer to environmental changes. The combination of gorgeous watercolors, a forest adventure, and the notion that children have the ability to act to make life better, creates a vibrant story for Brave Bears to enjoy.
Registration is now open. The cost for Brave Bears is $25 if registered by February 1 or $30 after that. In case of inclement weather, this program will be rescheduled for Friday, February 24th.
Wild Walkers | Ages 10-14 | Wednesday, February 22, 9:30am-3:30pm
Our Wild Walkers program is a partnership between The Nature Museum and Vermont Wilderness School, a Brattleboro-based non-profit.
Participants will learn how to coal-burn—a method used for making spoons, bowls and even canoes, which dates back to the First People. Skills learned will include safe fire tending, how to manage coal-burning safely and how to use and care for a knife.
Youth will make a "quickie" spoon rather than a full-process coal-burn spoon, which can take several hours to make. Participants, who have their own sheath knife or locking-blade knife, should bring it. If not, the instructor will provide sheath knives that campers can borrow. Skilled instructors from the Vermont Wilderness School and The Nature Museum will guide Wild Walkers in a safe, fun, and respectful experience.
Registration is now open. The cost for Wild Walkers is $35 if registered by February 1 or $40 after that. In case of inclement weather, this program will be rescheduled for Friday, February 24th.