Four Winds Nature Institute

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Chittenden, VT
Four Winds Nature Institute

Community-based natural science education and research.

08/19/2026

Have you had a rock collection, a jar of fireflies, a bouquet of dandelions, or a pocket full of shells from the beach? Hunting and gathering is one of the seven play motifs, or recurring play patterns, that David Sobel has identified from observing children around the world playing freely outdoors.

Learn more in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/08/18/leaf-baskets/

08/12/2026

Right now, the crickets and katydids are out in full force, singing to attract mates. This late summer symphony peaks in August but will continue to serenade you to sleep until the first hard frost.

Learn more in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/08/11/the-late-summer-singing-insect-symphony/

08/05/2026

Why are this amber snail’s eyestalks brightly striped?

See a video of the eyestalks pulsing, and learn more in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/08/05/natural-history-mystery-51/

07/29/2026

Milkweed is celebrated for being monarch butterfly caterpillars’ exclusive food. However, when you look closely, you’ll see a milkweed patch supports a diverse community of nectar sippers, leaf munchers, and pollinator predators.

Learn more in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/07/29/milkweed-patch-explorations/

07/22/2026

Four Winds celebrated 20 years of community-based natural science education last month! Friends old and new gathered at Silver Lake State Park in Barnard, VT to enjoy the beautiful location and perfect weather.

Read on (and see the great photos) in our latest blog! https://fwni.org/2026/07/22/four-winds-celebrates-20-years/

07/15/2026

Ahh, the dog days of summer! July 3 to August 11, the hottest, most sweltering time of the year.

Your pooch may cool off by lying flat on the kitchen floor or finding a muddy puddle to roll in. What are some ways people can stay cool during these dog days?

Read on in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/07/14/keeping-cool-during-the-dog-days-of-summer/

07/08/2026

What do all these plants have in common?

These are all flowering plants that lack the green pigment chlorophyll. Because they cannot make their own food through photosynthesis, these heterotrophs (“other-feeding”) have to get energy from other organisms and can thrive in very shady areas.

Learn more in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/07/08/natural-history-mystery-50/

07/01/2026

Our summer newsletter is here, including fun activities for families, recent research on the benefits of outdoor play, nearby places to explore, and more!

Check out our events page for our upcoming early childhood programs: fwni.org/events

06/24/2026

Celebrate summer blooms in bouquets! How many different kinds of flowers can you pick? How do they smell different? How does the bouquet look with different stem lengths and flower positions?

Learn more in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/06/23/phenological-bouquets/

06/17/2026

The bright yellow of an American Goldfinch, the happy “Hi sweetie” of a Black-capped Chickadee, the wild laugh of a Northern Flicker! One of the easiest ways to connect children with nature is through birdwatching.

Learn more in our latest blog: https://fwni.org/2026/06/16/birding-with-kids/

Address

4 Casey Road
Chittenden, VT
05737

Website

http://www.fwni.org/

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