Join us to celebrate the sun on the shortest day of the year!

In the Northern Hemisphere the Winter Solstice is the point in December when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the sun. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky and we enter into astronomical winter. Cultures all over the world mark this occasion and its sister, the summer solstice. 

Join us to celebrate the solstice the Audubon way, by birding! We will offer guided birding two ways: along our trails and seated by the bird feeders. Folk are invited to participate in whichever they prefer.

After birding we will travel a short distance to the woods to have a fire together where  Audubon staff will lead a short gratitude practice and we will simultaneously welcome the long night and say goodbye to the short days as we look ahead to increasing light in the days to come. We will provide warm beverages.

This is a time to be joyful together in community. As such, this program is for folks of all ages. Children are welcome with an adult. 

Registration: 

• Registration is required for all attendees ages 2 and older. We will use the contact information you provide to notify participants of weather cancellations. 
• This event is "pay what you wish". As part of Audubon Vermont's ongoing mission to make our programs accessible to all members of the community, we are implementing a sliding scale payment method for many of our programs.  How much should you pay? It depends! 
  • Consider paying less if you participate in 3SquaresVT (SNAP), Medicaid, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or Reach Up.
  • Consider paying more if you have funds for events and outings each month, like movies, museum admission, or eating out.

What to Bring:

• Binoculars if you have them (we have some to loan)
• Please dress in layers and bring extra- we will be moving slowly or sitting outdoors the entire time. (wool and fleece socks and layers, no cotton)
• A camp/lawn chair or something to sit on in the snow/on the cold ground. 
• Warm, insulated boots
• Traction- sturdy warm boots with good tread plus micro spikes, snowshoes, and/or hiking poles can be helpful if slippery/very snowy. Trail conditions  are usually snowier than nearby towns. We have a few pair of snowshoes available to borrow for adults and youth. 

Trail/accessibility information: Our walk will be at a slow (birding) pace and will cover approximately 1.5 miles. The trail is unpaved and there are short sections of stairs and hills on the route. Wheelchair-accessible bathroom facilities are located at the Visitor Center, our meeting place. If you require accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please contact Audubon Vermont at 802/434-3068.