Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) and North Branch Nature Center (NBNC) are teaming up to present the Biodiversity Jamboree: a full-day festival celebrating the birds, bugs, plants, pollinators, and all other critters that call Vermont home. Hosted at North Branch Nature Center and led by staff from both organizations, visitors can join guided outings to spot butterflies, identify mushrooms, make art, watch hands-on songbird research, meet live birds of prey, and much more. Attendees can also visit a naturalist-staffed laboratory tent to explore insect exhibits, specimen displays, and digital microscopes. Adults can learn how to get involved in community science research like VCE's Vermont Butterfly Atlas or NBNC's Mushroom Mapping project. Meanwhile, children and families can check out the Kids' Tent full of nature crafts and activities. This free summer nature festival begins at 9 am and runs until 4 pm, with a food truck lunch and old-time music by "The Spring Chickens." Donations at the door are welcomed but not required.
At the end of the day, nationally renowned ecologist Doug Tallamy will host a special keynote presentation, followed by a happy hour reception (please note that tickets are required for the keynote portion of the festival). Dr. Tallamy's presentation centers on ways to enhance biodiversity by reimagining how we design and plant our backyards and neighborhoods.
To see the festival schedule and get tickets for Dr. Tallamy's talk, please visit NorthBranchNatureCenter.org/BioJam.
This event is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy – Vermont, Hunger Mountain Co-op, Northeast Wilderness Trust, Vermont Natural Resources Council, Onion River Outdoors, Washington Electric Co-op, and Vermont Alliance for Half-Earth.
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