Time in nature increases health, happiness, and well-being in kids. Unplug from electronics and reconnect with nature! Our Brave Bear camps include educational, hands-on experiences that bring children outside to exercise their minds and bodies.
Time in nature increases health, happiness, and well-being in kids. Unplug from electronics and reconnect with nature! Our Brave Bear camps include educational, hands-on experiences that bring children outside to exercise their minds and bodies.
Did you know that, on average, one out of every three to four bites of food we eat or sips of a drink we gulp are made possible by pollinators? So, what is a pollinator? How do they pollinate? Often we think of honeybees and bumblebees as the only pollinators, but these are only some species of many more! Come learn about how pollination happens and the small heroes that make it possible! Be ready to learn, taste some local honey, plant your own pollinator-friendly plant to take home, and explore our garden that is filled with native plants and flowers that attract pollinators and more!
Admission: By donation; drop-ins welcome, but an RSVP is appreciated for our planning purposes if you're planning on coming
Kindred Spirits is an all ages program that runs throughout the year with one program per season. It is designed to build a greater understanding between all creatures of the Earth by exploring the mysteries of nature. Kindred Spirits programs will happen rain, snow, or shine! Make sure you and yours are ready for whatever the weather has in store for us! If we deem there are unsafe weather conditions (e.g. thunder/lightning, high winds, extreme cold, etc.), we will have an alternative indoor activity.
By offering a shared experience that draws families together, participants will develop a stronger kinship with our Earth and each other. Programs offer hands-on activities both indoors and out. All ages welcome. Admission is by donation and includes exploring the Nature Museum's exhibits on your own following the program.
If there is hazardous weather for traveling or any unforeseen circumstance that would not allow a program to happen, please check the email you registered for the program with OR please visit www.nature-museum.org for any cancellation notice.
It’s our 30th Summer Season! Celebrate with us at noon on Earth Day and stay tuned for more celebrations throughout the summer and fall.
Infuse your child’s spring break with a healthy dose of wonder! Stop by The Nature Museum between Thursday, April 18th and Saturday, April 20th to tour the museum. Each day at 10AM our environmental educators will lead a special all ages program; on Saturday, April 20th, the topic will be “Amazing Adaptations.”
Infuse your child’s spring break with a healthy dose of wonder! Stop by The Nature Museum between Thursday, April 18th and Saturday, April 20th to tour the museum. Each day at 10AM our environmental educators will lead a special all ages program; on Thursday, April 18th, the topic will be “Eagles, Hawks, and Owls - Soaring, Swooping, and Stealthy Predators.”
Infuse your child’s spring break with a healthy dose of wonder! Stop by The Nature Museum between Thursday, April 18th and Saturday, April 20th to tour the museum. Each day at 10AM our environmental educators will lead a special all ages program; on Thursday, April 18th, the topic will be “Amphibians on the Move.”
When you look at the landscape in Northern New England, it's hard to fathom how much life goes on out of sight. But, life continues almost secretly. To discover this winter world, you must look for and how to find the signs of their wanderings! Come learn about the many sneaky animals of winter and how to find the hints and clues of their winter wanderings. Feel real animals pelts, learn the basics of animal tracking, and be ready to head out on snowshoes to test out your winter animal detective skills!
Admission: By donation; drop-ins welcome, but an RSVP is appreciated for our planning purposes if you're planning on coming
Kindred Spirits is an all ages program that runs throughout the year with one program per season. It is designed to build a greater understanding between all creatures of the Earth by exploring the mysteries of nature. Kindred Spirits programs will happen rain, snow, or shine! Make sure you and yours are ready for whatever the weather has in store for us! If we deem there are unsafe weather conditions (e.g. thunder/lightning, high winds, extreme cold, etc.), we will have an alternative indoor activity.
By offering a shared experience that draws families together, participants will develop a stronger kinship with our Earth and each other. Programs offer hands-on activities both indoors and out. All ages welcome. Admission is by donation and includes exploring the Nature Museum's exhibits on your own following the program.
If there is hazardous weather for traveling or any unforeseen circumstance that would not allow a program to happen, please check the email you registered for the program with OR please visit www.nature-museum.org for any cancellation notice.
This autumnal program for families will explore Native peoples’ traditions of living in balance with Earth, the seasons, and other living things. This program will highlight the Native Americans of the local region, the Abenaki. Come discover hands-on artifacts and learn of the deep understanding, respect, and connectedness the Native people of our region have with the natural world. Be ready to go on a hike to test your observation skills and immerse yourself in the outdoors.
Admission: By donation; drop-ins welcome, but an RSVP is appreciated for our planning purposes if you're planning on coming
Kindred Spirits is an all ages program that runs throughout the year with one program per season. It is designed to build a greater understanding between all creatures of the Earth by exploring the mysteries of nature. Kindred Spirits programs will happen rain, snow, or shine! Make sure you and yours are ready for whatever the weather has in store for us! If we deem there are unsafe weather conditions (e.g. thunder/lightning, high winds, extreme cold, etc.), we will have an alternative indoor activity.
By offering a shared experience that draws families together, participants will develop a stronger kinship with our Earth and each other. Programs offer hands-on activities both indoors and out. All ages welcome. Admission is by donation and includes exploring the Nature Museum's exhibits on your own following the program.
If there is hazardous weather for traveling or any unforeseen circumstance that would not allow a program to happen, please check the email you registered for the program with OR please visit www.nature-museum.org for any cancellation notice.
Celebrate an autumnal adventure with the magic of forest fairies!
Tickets are available online and at the fairy gate ($12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 for children 3-18).
Celebrate an autumnal adventure with the magic of forest fairies!
Tickets are available online and at the fairy gate ($12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 for children 3-18).
Calling all adventure seekers! Let's explore Grafton! What will be find around the next bend? Hiking, stream trekking, tree climbing, country road rambling, and excellent excursions await our campers!
Time in nature increases health, happiness, and well-being in kids. Unplug from electronics and reconnect with nature! Our Brave Bear camps include educational, hands-on experiences that bring children outside to exercise their minds and bodies.
Join The Nature Museum and diver Annette Spaulding, who has been diving in the Connecticut River for over 30 years, for the grand re-opening of the Bellows Falls Fish Ladder and Visitor Center on Saturday, June 23! From 10 AM to 4 PM, Annette will be sharing stories and showing artifacts she has found on her dives. Meet with Annette and ask her about her life as a diver: What’s it like to find a shipwreck underwater? How did she get trained as a search-and-rescue diver? Which artifact intrigues her the most? Which animals has she seen swimming near the fish ladder?
In addition to Annette’s sharing of her knowledge and artifacts, The Nature Museum’s environmental educator, Jay DeGregorio, will be leading an interactive program at 10 AM for free! The public is invited to stop by for Jay’s program, meet with Annette and ask about her diving adventures, and then take their time perusing the Visitor Center exhibits, which guide visitors of all ages through the ecology of this amazing river and its habitats. Learn about the fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds who live here. Walk below the water level and watch the water rush past- you may see a sea lamprey suctioned onto the window. Discover the history of the fish ladder, and be sure to meet the newest member of the fish ladder team: Bernie, a full-size, historic diving suit used in the 1970s by technicians at the fish ladder!
Where does rain, snow, and ice come from? When rain, snow, and ice fall from the sky, where does the water go? Bring your imagination to take a journey as a water droplet! Water is very important to us and all other life on our planet. Come learn about the water cycle and what a watershed is. Enjoy a story reading and create your own watershed model to see for yourself how a watershed works! Plus, don’t forget to bring your rain boots and be ready to get wet as we go on a stream exploration!
Everything on Earth needs water to survive. Water affects every part of the land on which it moves through, whether it’s immediate or over thousands of years. A harmony between water and land is established, creating vital resources that intertwine with one another. These resources are found in a watershed. Come learn about what a watershed is, the ways water moves and interacts with the land, and why our role in our watershed is so important! Learn about the local region’s watersheds and be ready to go on a river exploration as we hike to the banks of the South Branch of the Saxtons River! Nets and containers to catch aquatic critters will be provided, just bring your rain boots and a smile!
Do you like apples, cucumbers, grapes, tomatoes, carrots, mangos, green beans, peppers, strawberries … ? If you like these, and many other fruits and vegetables, you can thank pollinators! Pollinators are true super heroes that help us and nature have the foods that us and other animals rely on. Often, we think of honey bees and bumblebees as the only pollinators, but there are many more that make up the super hero force of pollinators! Come learn about theses many pollinators, how pollination happens, and what you can do to support them. Be ready to learn, hear a story, and explore the field and garden for pollinators at work!
The Nature Museum at Grafton is proud to be a part of this local tradition. On average, over 2,000 nature lovers come out every year to Herrick's Cove on the Connecticut River less than three miles north of Bellows Falls.
Pollinator has become a naturalist buzzword in recent years. So, what is a pollinator? How do they pollinate? Often we think of honeybees and bumblebees as the only pollinators, but these are only some species of many more! On average, one out of every three to four bites of food we eat or sips of a drink we gulp are made possible by pollinators. Come learn about the spectacular ecosystem process pollination and the heroes that make it possible! Be ready to learn, taste some local honey, and explore our garden filled with local plants and flowers that attract pollinators and insects of all kinds!
We are all fortunate to live on this pale blue dot that we call Earth. Come celebrate the natural world and learn more about it! Come for the "The Abenaki and Nature" Kindred Spirits Program and stay for a piece of Earth Day cake, delve into the museum, explore the outdoors with an exploration kit, grab a trail map to hike the Grafton Village Trails, or go on a scavenger hunt!
Infuse your child’s spring break with a healthy dose of wonder! Stop by The Nature Museum between Tuesday, April 17th and Saturday, April 21st to take advantage of our expanded hours.
Infuse your child’s spring break with a healthy dose of wonder! Stop by The Nature Museum between Tuesday, April 17th and Saturday, April 21st to take advantage of our expanded hours.
Infuse your child’s spring break with a healthy dose of wonder! Stop by The Nature Museum between Tuesday, April 17th and Saturday, April 21st to take advantage of our expanded hours.
We'll be open all day, plus we'll be leading a free program at 11am on eagles, hawks, and owls. Infuse your child’s spring break with a healthy dose of wonder! Stop by The Nature Museum between Tuesday, April 17th and Saturday, April 21st to take advantage of our expanded hours.
April is a time of change here in northern New England. The last of winter leaves and the arrival of spring greets us! With the warmth of spring comes many new things. Plants sprout, leaves pop out of their buds, and many baby animals are born! These baby animals come in all shapes and sizes. Each of these babies begins a new life journey. Learn about what animals in northern New England have babies in the spring, and what their life journey has in store for them as they grow! Come learn, hear a story, make an animal craft, and go for a hike to enjoy the outdoors in this special time of change from winter to spring!
