September: thinking about myths, conservation, collisions, making, happiness, decomposition, communication, and restoration. All that in one museum!
September 2025 events
September Forest Sit
Together, let’s rest, restore our spirits, watch birds or butterflies, do a little nature journaling, or whatever is comfortable and quiet for each. Many of us need a bit of respite, solace, or recuperation.
Meet outside the museum by the entrance benches. We will welcome each other, walk out to the month’s sit spot, and sit quietly for 30-45 minutes. Each month we’ll visit a different nearby location on the Museum’s property. Locations may change.
Please bring any of these you wish: water, tick repellent, journaling materials, binoculars, camp stool, pillow, sitting mat. Hats recommended.
Max: 8 people • Outdoors
Free, suggested donation: $10
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167
or use the button below:
Trail descriptions at: https://birdsofvermont.org/visit/trails-and-trees/
August 2025 events
We’re making things and headed outside this month! Joins us for, conservation, learning, carving, birding, and even a little time to rest.
=== AUGUST EVENTS ===
Continue reading “August 2025 events”
August Forest Sit
Together, let’s rest, restore our spirits, watch birds or butterflies, do a little nature journaling, or whatever is comfortable and quiet for each. Many of us need a bit or respite, solace, recuperation.
Meet outside the museum by the entrance benches. We will welcome each other, walk out to the month’s sit spot, and sit quietly for 30-45 minutes. Each month we’ll visit a different nearby location on the Museum’s property. Locations may change.
August 14: sit in or along the Pond (about 0.2 mi from museum entrance, light uphill then level; can be uneven)
September 18: sit in or near the Creek (specific location TBD)
Please bring any of these you wish: water, tick repellent, journaling materials, binoculars, camp stool, pillow, sitting mat. Hats recommended.
Max: 8 people • Outdoors
Free, suggested donation: $10
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167 or use the button below:
You are welcome to sign up for one, several, or all.
Trail descriptions at: https://birdsofvermont.org/visit/trails-and-trees/
Forest Sit (July)
Join museum staff on Thursday, July 17, at 10 am for a quiet time outdoors in the forest.
Meet outside the museum by the entrance benches. We will welcome each other, walk out to the month’s sit spot, and sit quietly for 30-45 minutes. Together, let’s rest, restore our spirits, watch birds or butterflies, do a little nature journaling, or whatever is comfortable and quiet for each.
Each month we’ll visit a different nearby location on the Museum’s property. Locations may change.
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167.
July 17: sit in or near the walk-in Treehouse (great for those of us with limited mobility, under 200 feet from parking lot to Treehouse along the dirt road and gravel path; generally level)
August 14: sit in or along the Pond (about 0.2 mi from museum entrance, light uphill then level; can be uneven)
September 18: sit in or near the Creek (specific location TBD)
Please bring any of these you wish: water, tick repellent, journaling materials, binoculars, camp stool, pillow, sitting mat. Hats recommended.
Max: 8 people • Outdoors
Free, suggested donation: $10
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167 or use the button below. You are welcome to sign up for one, several, or all.
Trail descriptions at: https://birdsofvermont.org/visit/trails-and-trees/
Forest Sit (June)
Join museum staff on Thursday, June 19, at 10 am for a quiet time outdoors in the forest.
Meet outside the museum by the entrance benches. We will welcome each other, walk out to the month’s sit spot, and sit quietly for 30-45 minutes. Together, let’s rest, restore our spirits, watch birds or butterflies, do a little nature journaling, or whatever is comfortable and quiet for each.
Each month we’ll visit a different nearby location on the Museum’s property. Locations may change.
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167 or online with the button below:
June 19: sit in or near the Stone Wall above the pond and upper meadow clearing (0.3 mil mostly uphill but not too steep, can be damp and a bit uneven).
July 17: sit in or near the walk-in Treehouse (great for those of us with limited mobility, under 200 feet from parking lot to Treehouse along the dirt road and gravel path; generally level)
August 14: sit in or along the Pond (about 0.2 mi from museum entrance, light uphill then level; can be uneven)
September 18: sit in or near the Creek (specific location TBD)
Please bring any of these you wish: water, tick repellent, journaling materials, binoculars, camp stool, pillow, sitting mat. Hats recommended.
Max: 8 people • Outdoors
Free, suggested donation: $10
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167. You are welcome to sign up for one, several, or all.
Trail descriptions at: https://birdsofvermont.org/visit/trails-and-trees/
Forest Sit (May)
Join museum staff on Thursday at 10 am for a quiet time outdoors in the forest.
Meet outside the museum by the entrance benches. We will welcome each other, walk out to the month’s sit spot, and sit quietly for 30-45 minutes. Together, let’s rest, restore our spirits, watch birds or butterflies, do a little nature journaling, or whatever is comfortable and quiet for each. Each month we’ll visit a different nearby location on the Museum’s property.
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167.
May 15: sit in and around the Retreat’s mini meadow (0.2 mi walk; trail generally level after going down and up from creek, has roots).
June 19: sit in or near the Stone Wall above the pond and upper meadow clearing (0.3 mil mostly uphill but not too steep, can be damp and a bit uneven).
July 17: sit in or near the walk-in Treehouse (great for those of us with limited mobility, under 200 feet from parking lot to Treehouse along the dirt road and gravel path; generally level)
August 14: sit in or along the Pond (about 0.2 mi from museum entrance, light uphill then level; can be uneven)
September 18: sit in or near the Creek (specific location TBD)
Locations may change if it is raining.
Please bring any of these you wish: water, tick repellent, journaling materials, binoculars, camp stool, pillow, sitting mat. Hats recommended.
Max: 8 people • Outdoors
Please register by calling the museum at 802 434-2167. You are welcome to sign up for one, several, or all.
Trail descriptions at: https://birdsofvermont.org/visit/trails-and-trees/
Meander for Mushrooms
…with Meg Madden, Myco-influencer
Ever wondered about the mysterious mushrooms that share the forest with us? Are you fungi-curious? Do you see interesting mushrooms in your travels and wish you knew more about these fascinating organisms?
On this walk we will explore the woods and learn about the mushrooms we find along the way including what they are, how to identify them, and the essential roles that these fungi play in forest ecology. We will also discuss the importance of community science and learn tips and tricks for taking mushroom photos.
Limit: 15 • please register in advance
Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museum
Cost: $20 – $40 (Discount for Museum members)
Wear comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and bring your questions and curiosity! A smartphone equipped with the iNaturalist app is a plus, but not required.
Meg Madden leads an exploration on the Museum’s trails: to seek, to find, and to understand the fungi that live in and on our corner of the wood-wide web.
Note: this is NOT a foraging program.
About Meg Madden
Fungi educator, author, and professional photographer, Meg Madden can often be found in the forests of her childhood practicing what she calls “mushroom yoga” — laying on the ground, standing on her head, or balancing precariously on a log — to capture the perfect snail’s-eye view of her favorite photo subject: Fungi! Her colorful, highly detailed mushroom portraits offer an intimate look into the often-overlooked world of these extraordinary organisms.
Inspired by the belief that people are more likely to take care of something they love, she finds great joy in facilitating fun and meaningful connections between humans and nature. Meg shares her knowledge and contagious passion for the fantastic world of fungi through visually engaging presentations, mushroom walks, and via her Instagram gallery @megmaddendesign. An advocate for fungal diversity and community science, Meg teaches iNaturalist classes, organizes educational workshops and Bioblitzes, and is compiling an Atlas Of Fungi for the state of Vermont.
Race Around Birds 2023 – Self-timing Weeks
The Birds of Vermont Museum is hosting the fourth annual Race Around Birds trail run! There are two options for runners (and walkers), and you can even do both:
On-Your-Own (Virtual) Race: choose a day between October 21st and November 3rd, and record your time on the paper forms (available at the Museum’s front door).
Race Day run: Saturday, November 4th, at 10a.m. This is a typical trail run, and a bit longer than 5k. We can welcome up to 50 runners. (Please carpool)
Race results will be posted in our blog.
To Register
While registering is free, we encourage donations to support the museum, as well as cover the cost of trail work, post-race snacks and water, and possible swag. You may register for Race Day (group race), Virtual (self-timed) race, or both.
Registration open:
Read more below: ↓
Course Description
This is a trail race with some steep uphill climbs. Some segments are more like single-track mountain trails. This is a HARD course.
The course is approximately 3.6 miles. The course winds around and crosses itself, making a slightly tangled figure 8 (using the trails on both sides of Sherman Hollow Road). There will be signs and maps.
The course is well-marked and you will return past the Museum to complete both loops. There are no supplies and no first aid stations on the course. Bathrooms and water are available when the Museum is open (Wednesdays through Sundays, 10am – 4pm, in October only).
The Race Map is available online: https://birdsofvermont.org/docs/trail-map-for-race-web.pdf . 
How It Works
You may run or walk the course.
On the November 4th Race Day, racers will start at 10 a.m.
For the On-Your-Own (Virtual) Race, runners and walkers may come to the Museum at any time from daylight to dusk from October 21 to November 3. No dogs and no nights. You may run (or walk) the course multiple times on different days, in order to improve your times. You may run in groups, but the trail is generally single-file.
For the virtual option, you will keep track of your own start and finish times. Time-keeping forms will be in a marked box to the left of the Museum’s front door. Fill out a form for each day you race. Then, when you’re ready to run, take a map (if you need it), get to the start line (the west end of the parking lot by the parking sign), mark your starting time, and GO! Afterward, fill in your finish time and drop it in the box.
Please note: virtual runner results are not official, but like all results, will be reports in our results post on our blog.
If you are running on Race Day, please carpool. We have limited parking.
But wait, there’s more!
If you share photos or comments online, we encourage you to use these hashtags:
#RaceAroundBirds #RaceAroundBirds2023 #BirdsOfVermontMuseum #RunningIsForTheBirds #TrailRace #VirtualRace #HuntingtonVt #TrailRunning #TrailRunner
Send questions to trailrunning@birdsofvermont.org!
Printable race packets (trail map, course notes, entry form, waiver) are available as PDFs (see below):
- Full info packet (6pp with info, course map, entry form, waiver): Race Around Birds 2023: full printable info packet
- Entry form and waiver (2pp): Race Around Birds 2023: Entry Form and Waiver (useful if you are running more than once!)
- Just the course map: Race Around Birds course map (shows route)
- A detailed trail map which doesn’t show the race route: Trails at the Birds of Vermont Museum (map)
Prior years’ results are at https://birdsofvermont.org/tag/results/
Meander for Mushrooms
…with Meg Madden, Myco-influencer
Ever wondered about the mysterious mushrooms that share the forest with us? Are you fungi-curious? Do you see interesting mushrooms in your travels and wish you knew more about these fascinating organisms?
On this walk we will explore the woods and learn about the mushrooms we find along the way including what they are, how to identify them, and the essential roles that these fungi play in forest ecology. We will also discuss the importance of community science and learn tips and tricks for taking mushroom photos.
Limit: 15 • please register in advance
Cost: $20 – $40 (Discount for Museum members)
Wear comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and bring your questions and curiosity! A smartphone equipped with the iNaturalist app is a plus, but not required.
Meg Madden leads an exploration on the Museum’s trails: to seek, to find, and to understand the fungi that live in and on our corner of the wood-wide web.
Note: this is NOT a foraging program.
About Meg Madden
Fungi educator, author, and professional photographer, Meg Madden can often be found in the forests of her childhood practicing what she calls “mushroom yoga” — laying on the ground, standing on her head, or balancing precariously on a log — to capture the perfect snail’s-eye view of her favorite photo subject: Fungi! Her colorful, highly detailed mushroom portraits offer an intimate look into the often-overlooked world of these extraordinary organisms.
Inspired by the belief that people are more likely to take care of something they love, she finds great joy in facilitating fun and meaningful connections between humans and nature. Meg shares her knowledge and contagious passion for the fantastic world of fungi through visually engaging presentations, mushroom walks, and via her Instagram gallery @megmaddendesign. An advocate for fungal diversity and community science, Meg teaches iNaturalist classes, organizes educational workshops and Bioblitzes, and is compiling an Atlas Of Fungi for the state of Vermont.