What We're All About

We're a 28-acre reserve along the North Branch of the Winooski River -- and much, much more:

Nature Programs for All Ages - From events for preschoolers to overnight retreats for adult naturalists, we connect people of all ages to the natural world. See our programs listing for details.

Summer Nature Camps - The North Branch Nature Center has been offering fun, exciting and educational nature camps for children for more than 10 years. Catching frogs, watching hawks, following grasshoppers, making new friends - isn’t this just what a child’s summer should be? North Branch has also hosted international teen conservation trips for many years, with this year's destination being Peru.

Trails - Walk our trail along the North Branch of the Winooski or extend your hike into Hubbard Park or North Branch River Park. You can even hook up with the East Montpelier trail network.

Naturalist Journeys Winter Lecture Series - The line-up for our fourth annual lecture and slideshow series has been announced.

Teen Naturalist/Birding Program - Are you a teen with an interest in birds? Join us and other teens for birding adventures near and far! Apply to join our World Series of Birding youth team.

Amphibian Monitoring Program - Become a citizen scientist and volunteer salamander crossing guard. This coming spring we'll be looking for volunteers to help monitor and protect migrating amphibians.

Field Trips for Schools - Teachers can check out options for visiting school groups. It's a great opportunity to get your class out of the classroom! Or inquire about having a naturalist/educator visit your school.

Chip Darmstadt
Executive Director
When Chip is not on the phone or in a meeting, he's eagerly exploring
everything from sedges to sandpipers. He received his masters degree from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, where he studied people's attitudes towards snakes. A father of three boys, Chip and his wife
Alisa live in Middlesex. Chip is a 24-hour naturalist: By day, he can be focused on birds or botany. And at night he's a skilled stargazer. Chip's latest obsessions include butterflies and lichens. Contact Chip.

Sandal Cate
Nature Center Educator
Sandal joined NBNC for one year as an AmeriCorps member after 32 years in public education. Now she works part time as one of our environmental educators. She loves sharing her knowledge of Vermont's natural history through trail walks and activities at the Center. She ties in Vermont's history and her love of literature with nature lore whenever possible. No outdoor discovery is too big, small, weird or wonderful to overlook in her estimation. Sandal's favorite wildflower, the common blue-eyed grass, is a treasure worth seeking every summer. Contact Sandal.

Larry Clarfeld
Nature Center Educator
Larry is a recent graduate of the University of Vermont (major in Mathematics), but has been hanging around nature centers for most his life. When we hired Larry, we were also lucky enough to "acquire" Sheela, his pet Ball Python. While Larry gets excited about most anything, reptiles and amphibians are his main passion, and he serves as a full time AmeriCorps member and is the coordinator of our Amphibian Monitoring Program. Contat Larry.

Elise Annes, Montpelier
Abby Colihan, Montpelier
Jim Cross, Barre
Ann Cummings, Montpelier
Nona Estrin, E. Montpelier
Billi Gosh, Brookfield
Linda Henzel, Montpelier
Charles Johnson, East Montpelier
Bill Kaplan, E. Montpelier
Sarah Kinter, E. Montpelier
Rick Paradis, Middlesex
Bryan Pfeiffer, Plainfield
Roy Schiff, Montpelier
Carolyn Silsby, Montpelier
Stephan Syz, Montpelier
David Thurlow, East Montpelier
Peter Watt, Montpelier