Local Links for Biodiversity—Norwich, Vermont

Museums and Nature Centers:

Montshire Museum of Science
One Montshire Road
Norwich, VT 05055
Phone: 802-649-2200
www.montshire.net
The museum offers hands-on experiences for children and has dozens of exciting exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, ecology, and technology. It also has several walking trails and outdoor observation areas.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
Route 113
P.O. Box 173
Holderness, NH 03245
Phone: 603-968-7194
www.nhnature.org
The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a private nonprofit educational institution, whose mission is to advance the understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire's natural world. Visitors can explore self-guided nature trails, Golden Pond tours as well as educational programs for children of all ages.

Seacoast Science Center
570 Ocean Boulevard
Rye, NH 03870
Phone: 603-436-8043
www.seacentr.org
Since the center’s opening in 1992, close to one million people have visited and participated in its programs and exhibits. Situated on 330 acres, the center offers access to seven distinct coastal habitats as well as a variety of education programs and indoor exhibits.

Sandy Point Discovery Center
89 Depot Road
Stratham, NH 03885
Phone: 603-778-0015
www.greatbay.org
Sandy Point Discovery Center serves as the conservation education headquarters for the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Visitors can explore a variety of native habitats, including upland hardwood forests, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and mudflats. Interpretive exhibits about the area and a touch tank are located inside the center.

The Birds of Vermont Museum
900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, VT 05462
www.birdsofvermont.org
A private, nonprofit educational organization, the Birds of Vermont Museum is a natural history museum centered around a collection of woodcarvings depicting the state's birds. The museum's displays, surrounding bird sanctuary/nature preserve, and bird viewing encourage visitors to explore Vermont’s natural heritage.

Lake Champlain Basin Science Center
1 College Street
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Phone: 802-864-1848
www.lakechamplaincenter.org
The Center for Lake Champlain's mission is to enhance understanding of the environment and heritage of Lake Champlain and its watershed through integrated exhibits and programs on the environment, history and culture of the lake and its basin.

The Vermont Raptor Center
27023 Church Hill Road
Woodstock, VT 05091
Phone: 802-457-2779
www.vinsweb.org/vrc
Vermont Raptor Center, part of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, is a nonprofit educational facility and avian clinic devoted to all bird. At the center, visitors have a rare opportunity to see more than 40 live birds, including eagles, falcons, owls, hawks, vultures, and ravens. Visitors can also take self-guided trails that pass through fields as well as hardwood and coniferous forests, and encircle a beaver pond.

Fells Historic Site
John Hay National Wildlife Refuge
336 Nimble Hill Road
Newington, NH 03801
Phone: 603-431-7511
www.thefells.org
Part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge system and located on the shores of Lake Sunapee, the Fells Historic Site includes historic summer cottages and gardens as well as a variety of plants and wildlife.

Silvio O. Conte Wildlife Refuge
38 Avenue A
Turner Falls, MA 01376
Phone: 413-863-0209
The refuge was established to protect the fish and wildlife resources of the four-state Connecticut River watershed. It contains classic refuge land ownership, but also stresses cooperative projects and educational programs. In 1996, the Montshire Museum of Science and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entered into a cooperative agreement establishing the museum as an interpretive center for the Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has provided Montshire with funding and technical support for several new exhibits and programs that educate museum visitors about the Connecticut River watershed.