NEW!

Audubon Vermont has been serving the local community for decades with hands-on learning  and guided nature experiences. Afterschool programs are a great way to discover the outdoors,  with much less structure than traditional field trips and classes. We believe in child-led  exploration and nature immersion and are excited for the opportunity to work with Mr. G’s  After School Adventure Program in the 2025-26 school year. For information on registration, payment and transportation contact Brian at brian.godrey@mmuusd.org or visit 25/26 After School Info | website. 

Programing 

Students will spend each season getting to know the Audubon Center and its inhabitants. This is  an outdoor program. We will have access to a heated space on the coldest of days, but the  objective of this program is to spend as much of the time outdoors as we can. We employ  several strategies to stay warm, from hiking and playing, to building fires and shelters. Proper attire is required. 

We take students’ interests to heart and love doing the things that they want to do outdoors.  We will have a daily routine that starts with a group meeting where our teachers make space to  hear about student interests for our time together. Our day will also include some time for free  play in the woods or snow. We also like to incorporate a nature-craft, and at least monthly we  can work on a bigger art project. Beyond this, a general theme for each month looks something  like: 

• September: Critter & Habitat exploration 

• October: Trees and leaves, maps and compasses 

• November: Fire building 

• December: Shelter Building 

• January: Snow 

• February: Tracking & Wilderness Skills 

• March: Maple 

• April: Amphibians

• May: Birds 

Part of our educational philosophy is tied to experiencing seasonal changes in the landscape.  Our program topics go hand-in-hand with nature’s calendar. We also have 250+ acres to  explore at the Green Mountain Audubon Center that includes a brook, river access, beaver  pond, sugar woods, meadows, gardens, upland forest, hemlock swamp all connected by 5 miles  of trail. Our educators are skilled observers of both children and nature and are willing to  change plans to take advantage of spontaneous learning opportunities that plants and animals  present in the moment.  

Teachers 

Audubon Vermont will provide 2 teachers each day from our education team. One of these  teachers will be our Education AmeriCorps member, a position we select each year. Our team  currently includes the following teachers who will lead daily programing: 

Emily Calder, Educator. Proposed schedule Mondays & Wednesdays. Emily's curiosity  for the outdoors grew from a childhood of exploring the marsh behind her house in New  Hampshire. She came to Vermont for college where she earned a B.S. in Environmental  Science from Saint Michael’s College in 2019. Emily has worked in education for six years, with experience ranging from summer camps, to teaching in the White  Mountains, to leading teen trail crews, to being an elementary school paraeducator. She enjoys birding, rock climbing, hiking, and playing board games.

Emily Kaplita, Senior Educator. Proposed schedule Tuesdays. Emily has been at  Audubon Vermont since 2016, first teaching as summer camp staff, then serving as  Audubon Vermont's first AmeriCorps Member, and now joining the Education Team as a  Teacher/Naturalist. She has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from Dickinson  College and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Champlain College.  Emily has multiple years of experience in environmental education and research  experience with amphibians, mostly the American Toad. She enjoys hiking, biking,  swimming in fresh water, skiing (both Nordic and downhill), and spending time with  family and friends. 

Debbie Archer, Education Manager. Proposed schedule Thursdays. Debbie  joined Audubon VT in 2015 with a Master of Science in Environmental Science. She  gained experience in outdoor education working as an educator, naturalist, and camp  program manager at environmental education camps in Alaska and California before  moving to Vermont. She enjoys cross-country skiing, backpacking, camping, and going  on adventures with her dog (and wishes she could bring her cats!).