“In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.” —Baba Dioum

We are blessed to live on a part of planet Earth that is still rich in natural beauty and populated by many animals and plants native to the region. Today, it is clear that we can not take this legacy for granted. The global threats of climate change, persistent toxins, and invasive exotic species know no boundaries. Locally, human activities are leading to an increasingly fragmented forested landscape.

While it is too late to prevent some damaging changes, BEEC works toward fostering ecological literacy and love for the natural world and maintaining resilience in our region’s natural communities. Our long-term vision is of a day when humans are wiser and again live harmoniously on a planet prosperous in nature.

Toward that vision, we provide opportunities for:

• Children grow up loving and playing in nature
• Students in our region’s schools to develop ecological literacy
• Teachers to meet their standard requirements with a robust place-based curriculum
• All residents to enhance their understanding of and appreciation for the natural world
• Community members contribute to protecting and improving our natural world
• Towns and other groups must identify, learn about, and protect their most important natural features and landscapes.

Trails

Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center has 2 miles of trails open for walking from dawn until dusk. View the trail map (or pick one up at our kiosk) and enjoy the beautiful land.  Dogs on leashes are welcome; please clean up after your dog to keep the land welcoming for everyone.

BEEC also has interpretive trail guides to make your walk informative. Our trails feature some huge old sugar maples, an abundance of spring ephemeral wildflowers, and a sweeping view from Heifer Hill.

• Nature from Home
  • Find seasonal tips for backyard nature-watching and more here.
• Webinars
  • View recordings of public program webinars here.
• Naturalist Writings
  • Read articles by BEEC naturalists about wildlife, activities for families, and more here.
• BEEC’s YouTube channel 
  • You can view videos highlighting wildlife rehabilitation, virtual expeditions, outdoor classrooms, a naturalist’s notebook, and more here.
• Outdoor Learning for Schools
  • Hoot Out! School Program Stories is a newsletter sharing highlights from recent outdoor learning experiences for PreK—6th graders.
  • Forest Classroom Learning Standards: Pre-K – Forest classroom learning and teaching activities aligned with Vermont Early Learning Standards, a resource developed by BEEC in collaboration with WSESD Pre-K teachers.
  • Nature Explorers Projects & Expeditions – a menu of activities that focus on the natural history, landscape, and biodiversity of Southern Vermont and New Hampshire for students and families to explore what makes their place in the planet special.
• Nature Explorers at Home
  • Find some of our favorite activities for children to enjoy from home here.
• Find more Resources for Educators here.