Learn from VCE Staff in Person and Online
Pull up a chair and learn about the latest conservation news, plus how you can be involved. If you have an event, group, or organization that would like to host a VCE staff member for a particular topic, please fill out our Speaker Request Form.
If you’d like to support VCE’s biodiversity conservation work, please consider a contribution. Donate easily and securely online anytime!
Native Bee Walk & Talk
August 23, 20259:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m Spencer will lead a walk and talk at the Smokey House Center focused on the fascinating world of native bees—how to identify them, their role in local ecosystems, and how we can better support them through land stewardship. This is a special edition of the Explore Smokey House Center series. Explore Smokey House’s fields and forests, and deepen your understanding of pollinators and biodiversity. This event is free and open to the public, and all ages are welcome. RSVP »
Youth Birding Club Meetup
August 23, 20258:00 - 10:0 a.m. Join Chris Rimmer, Kyle Jones, and Siler Russ for the 4th Youth Birding Club Meetup! Meet at the Boston Lot Trailhead parking lot across from the Wilder Dam. For ages 8-14 with established or potential interest in birds. It is not necessary to have attended any of the first three sessions—every outing is open and inclusive to beginners. Kids can attend with or without a parent. Binoculars will be provided for anyone who doesn’t have them. We will provide additional details to everyone who registers a few days before August 23, and in the event of bad weather that day, we will reschedule to Sunday the 24th. Spots are limited! Register »
Explore the Ecology of the Spruce-Fir Zone
October 19, 2025Join Mountain Birdwatch Leader Jason Hill on a moderate-to-challenging 5.5 mile hiking excursion to the top of a mountain in Windham County to learn about the ecology of the spruce-fir zone. If you want to skip the hike and just meet us at the top, there’s an easy almost-hike-free option for that as well. Then, join us for supper following the hike! Find full details on registration page. Photo © Bryan Pfeiffer Register Here »
Interested in having a VCE conservation biologist speak at your event, or lead a field outing?
Please fill out our Speaker Request Form to start the process.
Example Presentations:
Presenter: Spencer Hardy
Title: Exploring Vermont’s Wild Bees: Natural History, Identification, and Conservation.
Presentation Summary: When most people think of bees, they imagine the famous Honey Bee (Apis melifera), yet that is just one of more than 300 species of bees found in the state. Since 2019, the Vermont Wild Bee Survey has been criss-crossing the state to document these important pollinators. We have found dozens of species not previously known from the state and are amassing a rich database that will be invaluable to conservation planners for years to come. Hear more about this project–including our most exciting findings, ideas on conserving vulnerable bees, and ways you can join our future monitoring efforts.
Presenter: Kevin Tolan
Title: Eastern Meadowlarks in Vermont: Ecology and Conservation of an Imperiled Grassland Bird
Presentation Summary: Eastern Meadowlarks in the Northeast are rapidly declining; based on the latest USGS Breeding Bird Survey results, they’re undergoing an estimated 8.7% annual decline in Vermont. With their recent designation of Threatened in New Hampshire, and imminent listing in Vermont, now is a golden opportunity for targeted survey efforts. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is partnering up with New Hampshire Audubon to launch a bi-state “blitz” this spring to encourage birders and community scientists to target areas of grassland habitat with the goal of seeking out meadowlarks. Join VCE and our collaborators to learn about these imperiled songbirds and what you can do to help keep them on the Vermont landscape.
