Winooski Birdathon
Winooski Birdathon
Education Programs

Middle School, High School, and Adult Education Programs

Audubon outreach at Winooski Middle School Newcomer Academy. Photo: Jean Plasse/Winooski School District
Audubon outreach at Winooski Middle School Newcomer Academy. Photo: Jean Plasse/Winooski School District
Education Programs

Middle School, High School, and Adult Education Programs

Designed to connect to Audubon Vermont’s conservation work, these programs build research and critical thinking skills and focus on conservation action opportunities that impact local communities.

Choose full- or half-day programs. Self-guided options available. Visit the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington or invite us for outreach at your school or local park. Click here for Program Scheduling Details. 

Program Topics

(* Program available as outreach at your school or local park)

Bird-Friendly Vermont *
PATTERNS, SCALE, STRUCTURE and FUNCTION, STABILITY and CHANGE
Learn classic birding skills like identifying sweet melodies and vibrant colors, then use Audubon’s conservation success stories to figure out how our actions can improve bird-friendly habitat. We’ll consider how climate change is affecting birds and focus on team-oriented approaches to solutions. Spend a full day by visiting the Birds of Vermont Museum (additional $3/student).

Aquatic Ecosystems *
PATTERNS, CAUSE AND EFFECT, SCALE, SYSTEMS, ENERGY AND MATTER, STABILITY and CHANGE
Students study and compare the living components of aquatic ecosystems like ponds, swamps, and rivers.  During full-day field-trips, a comparative study of multiple bodies of water at the Audubon Center is made, looking at both flowing and still water systems.

Watershed Wonders
PATTERNS, CAUSE AND EFFECT, SCALE, SYSTEMS, ENERGY AND MATTER, STABILITY and CHANGE
Where does the water go when it falls from the sky as rain or washes down our drain? Students will gain an understanding of how water moves throughout different land surfaces in the watershed and the interconnectedness of all waterways in the Lake Champlain Basin through a series of experiments. Assess the water quality of the Sherman Hollow Brook and be inspired to take action on water quality in your community.


Orienteering
(Full day, Fall only)
PATTERNS, CAUSE and EFFECT, SCALE, SYSTEMS, STRUCTURE and FUNCTION
Learn to navigate off trail! Orienteering builds math, problem solving, and teamwork skills. Students test their map and compass skills on our orienteering course. 

Winter Tracks and Sign *
PATTERNS, SCALE, STRUCTURE and FUNCTION
Students learn stories of wildlife in the winter woods, interpret wildlife tracks and sign, and discover wildlife behavior during our coldest season. Learn how animals adapt and survive the cold winter.

Wilderness Skills (available year-round, Full day)
PATTERNS, STRUCTURE and FUNCTION, STABILITY and CHANGE
Students spend a full day discovering the challenges and opportunities of living on the land in a program that is adaptable for all seasons and provides an excellent opportunitiy for team building. From wild edibles to wildlife tracking, shelter-building to fire-making, this program will have students active and challenging themselves during a day of fun.

Forest Ecology *
PATTERNS, SCALE, SYSTEMS, STRUCTURE and FUNCTION,  STABILITY and CHANGE
Analyze a forest with mathematics and measurements. Calculate tree height, assess tree diversity, and identify trees with dichotomous keys. Consider how forest management affects bird habitat and how we can address threats to Vermont’s forests.

Bird-Friendly Maple Sugaring
PATTERNS, CAUSE AND EFFECT, SCALE, SYSTEMS, ENERGY  and MATTER, STRUCTURE and FUNCTION, STABILITY and CHANGE
A biologically and structurally diverse sugarbush offers great places for birds to forage, hide, and raise young. Students learn how to assess a Bird-Friendly Sugarbush, learn the basics of maple sugaring, and enjoy a sweet maple syrup taste test.

Self-guided Visit
Visit the Green Mountain Audubon Center with your group on your own schedule, without a Teacher Naturalist guide for a reduced fee. Please call ahead to schedule and for details.

Service Learning*
Conservation in Action! A great addition to a program or an option for a stand-alone visit. We work with teachers and students to design conservation projects that address both a community need and a curriculum requirement. Projects can occur at the Audubon Center or your school. 

Teacher Trainings*
We offer trainings to help educators get their students outside. Our staff can share tools and ideas to help make connections to curriculum or seasonal themes. We can also provide natural history information to support your outdoor learning. 

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