Guided Tours and Programs

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GUIDED MUSEUM EXPLORATION

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Museum staff will bring your group through the museum collection and share a varied and interesting presentation that covers Vermont wildlife, changing landscapes, extinction and changing wildlife.  This presentation is designed to be fluid and conversational and can adapt to all ages.  Along the way we will get up close with a variety of live animals and have an opportunity to get hands-on with a variety of artifacts from the collection.

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GUIDED PRESERVE EXPLORATION

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Museum staff will lead your group on a customized walk on the Hogback Mountain Conservation Area.  Before the program, we will discuss the resources and features of the preserve and work with you to design a 1- 2 hour tour of this historically and biologically interesting area.

The Museum has recently gained access to over 200 undeveloped acres in Marlboro, VT- ask about program opportunities on that site.

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“Wildlife Tales” 

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Take a literary journey around the world as our very own Storytelling Naturalist shares tales of animals and magic from around the world.  With each story, a live animal will visit to bring a natural history piece to the myth and legends!  Adaptable to all age groups and a big hit wherever we present it!

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AMAZING ADAPTATIONS

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The historic Luman R. Nelson Natural History Collection gives groups an up close look at a great diversity of northeastern wildlife. We will use the collection to examine the connections between form and function as well as meet some of the museum’s live animal educators.

 

Backyard beavers

Our FIRST program specifically designed for the Pool Conservation Area in Marlboro, VT! We will explore a series of beaver ponds and learn about these habitat engineers by taking a real-life look at active and abandoned dams and lodges.  Along the way we will learn about beaver biology and different ways to address beaver-human conflicts.

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BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND

With nearly every bird species in New England represented, museum educators will take us throughwhat it means to “be a bird” and look at the variety of our local feathered friends. A visit from a live bird of prey and a guided birdwalk on the Hogback Mountain Conservation Area round out this program (additional time required for walk)

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CHANGING VIEWS: HUMAN & NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

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Museum staff will lead a walk to the historic Bishop Farm site while discussing the changing land use and attitudes towards our natural resources from 1760’s to present.  Interwoven with the historical facts will be observational tools and on-site examples that you can use to explore the history of your own back yards.  This walk can start at the Museum or if time is limited at the Grant Road trailhead. This presentation is made possible by the work of Diana Todd and a generous donation from the Riverledge Foundation.

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ECOLOGY OF FIELD OR FOREST

This program takes place primarily on the adjacent Hogback Mtn. Conservation Area where we will examine the natural communities of southern Vermont. Field study techniques and good old fashioned exploration culminate at the museum for a self-guided look at the diversity of wildlife found here.

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MEET THE MAMMALS!

You're one, so is your dog and so is your cat!  But what does it take to be part of this exclusive club?  We'll take a close look at the Museum collection, examine some mammal furs, skulls and even meet a couple of our furry education animals.  This program is indoors but can include some of the outdoor games used in our other programs.  This program also travels to you!

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PREDATORS AND PREY

The amazing adaptations of hunter and hunted are discussed through use of the museum collection and our live animal educators. Then we will take a quick walk down the road for an active game of “Predators and Prey” or “Oh, Deer”(TM) to experience this age-old struggle essential to the workings of the natural world.