Walks & Talks

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. — John Muir
BEEC sends out a monthly e-newsletter with program reminders. Don’t miss your favorite event—sign up to receive program alerts.

Find recordings of webinars here.

Personalized Programs: A program of your choice with a naturalist, just for your family group.

Ideas for nature watching in your neighborhood: Nature from Home
Hot tips for nature-watching you can do on your own or with your family.

At BEEC we believe that everyone deserves to be able to access, enjoy, and engage with nature and the natural world. If you would like to participate in a program, but costs are are prohibitive, please contact us to discuss options.

Questions about programs? Call 257-5785 or e-mail

Upcoming Programs:

Saturday, April 20: Wickopee, Wine & Woodcocks

Saturday, April 27: Vernal Pools

Sunday, May 5: Birds & Breakfast

 

Public Programs

Wickopee, Wine, and Woodcocks

A pre-Earthday Celebration of Spring
Saturday, April 20 from 6:30-8:15 at BEEC

Suggested donation:
$10 members/$15 non-members

Stroll out along BEEC’s wooded ridge top to look for blooming ephemerals, including the unusual shrub wickopee, also known as leatherwood. This is a very pretty wildflower site. Return to the hilltop meadow to wait for the woodcock performance and enjoy wine and cheese. The courtship flight of woodcocks is a curious affair. Their spiraling soaring flight at dusk often brings them up to eye level on Heifer Hill. A nearly full moon will brighten as the sun sets, clouds willing. So much to celebrate!

The total walking distance is under a mile. The trail to the summit of the hill is moderately steep. From there the walking is fairly level, with a short section of bushwhacking.

Register

Women Owning Woodlands Vernal Pool Visits

Saturday, April 27 from 10-noon or 1 pm -3 pm at BEEC

Vermont Coverts, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Woodlands Association and UVM Extension have joined forces to engage and empower women to implement forest stewardship activities in their woods. On this day in late April, they invite the whole family to BEEC for a kid-centered wetland exploration! Explore the famous transitory pools that are critical habitats to countless organisms–from amphibian eggs to insect larvae to fungal communities. Begin with a slide show in the classroom, then walk to visit an exceptionally rich vernal pool. The walk is about .2 mile round trip, easy walking on uneven terrain. Registration is needed for this free program.

Register

Birds & Breakfast

Sunday, May 5 from 8-10:30 at BEEC

Suggested donation:
$15 members/$20 non-members

Join birders Cherrie Corey and Nancy Tognan to find out which birds have arrived and what they’re doing. Early birds are encouraged to come at 7:30 for coffee and courtyard birding. At 8, we will head out through the meadow and woods. We will explore a variety of habitats on a .5 mile stroll. The walk will be hilly, but the pace will be slow. Enjoy breakfast at the picnic tables afterward.

Register

 

Personalized Programs

Are you looking for a unique gift for a nature-lover? Would you like some inspiration to deepen your connection with the natural world? BEEC naturalist Patti Smith will take you to her favorite places or join you in yours. Because these programs are just for YOU, they can be adapted to your level of fitness, adventurousness, and particular interests.
The per hour rate is $75 for BEEC members / $95 for non-members.
Gift certificates are available and can be redeemed even post-pandemic.
with questions or to arrange a program.

Purchase a gift certificate here

Know the Night

Would you like to feel more comfortable in the night forest? There is much to enjoy! Patti has spent countless hours in the woods after dark and looks forward to sharing these pleasures with you. Learn some navigation tricks and find out what to bring to feel safe and comfortable. We will take a hike, tell tales of nocturnal creatures around a campfire, and finish up with some star-gazing from the summit of Heifer Hill. E-mail to schedule.

By the Shores of Moose Meadow Pond

Evenings

Fans of large, damp rodents, or those who think they’d like to be, are invited to spend an evening on the shores of a beaver pond. Dew is as busy as, well, a beaver, sprucing the place up. Pack yourself a picnic and Patti will take you out to see what she is working on. Along the way, stop to see beaver works in a variety of stages of succession and look for evidence of the many beneficiaries of the beavers’ wetland creation. Patti has been studying beavers in this watershed for a baker’s dozen years so can promise you a rich experience.
The walk to the pond is about a mile each way and involves some bushwhacking and wet areas. Enjoy the arrival of dusk and watch the activity of the beaver pond.  Stroll back in the twilight. E-mail to schedule.

Night-singing insects

Evenings, August – September, 1 – 2 hrs

Beginning in August, the songs of birds give way to the songs of insects. Meet Patti at Heifer Hill at dusk to listen to some of the many singers. We will work our way to the summit of Heifer Hill listening to and looking for katydids, tree crickets, ground crickets, and more. Using insect nets and magnifying boxes, we will get a close-up look at these musical insects. We’ll tell the temperature from the rich chirps of a snowy tree cricket and admire the antennae of a sword-bearing conehead. Which one is the “Nixon bug?” Learn to recognize the songs of some of the most recognizable species and you will hear them in your own backyards. If you choose the right date, you might also watch the moon rise from the summit of Heifer Hill.

What’s in YOUR Woods

AnytimeNaturalist Patti Smith will join you for an amble in your woods (or another favorite place). Arrange a trip duings snow season to find tracks and other wildlife sign. Which birds  are there and what are they up to? What trees and plants grow there and why? Patti has spent a lot of time in a lot of different woods in our regions and would love to find out what’s unique about yours. We can tag plant species you’d like to remember. You will receive a digital map showing the walking route and what was found where. E-mail to schedule.

Porcupines in Winter

Evenings, January through mid-AprilVisit porcupine den sites and feeding areas to learn about these charming creatures and how they manage in the season of ice and snow. Meet one of Patti’s study porcupines? Possibly.

Your Requests

Would you like private (or family) excursions to:
Recognize trees from up close or afar?
Follow tracks in the snow?
Visit the habitat of a favorite animal and look for signs?
We will entertain all requests.E-mail  with ideas.