Community Programs

Take Your Love of Nature to the Next Level!

Bonnyvale naturalists are always coming up with interesting ways to connect to the land and enhance our understanding of the local ecological community. There’s a program for everyone to enjoy and learn something new! You can also explore our YouTube channel to continue learning at your convenience.

At BEEC, we believe that everyone deserves to access, enjoy, and engage with nature. If you would like to participate in a program, but costs are prohibitive, please contact us to discuss options.

Autumn's Night Forest

Saturday, November 1st, 7pm-9pm
Free Event, Donations Appreciated

On this night after Halloween, we invite you to see the other side of darkness as we tilt toward winter — the November night forest is very much alive and awake. Unless you are tiny and tasty, it holds no monsters. It is inhabited by trundling porcupines, gliding squirrels, and daintily trotting foxes. Because we enter with senses tuned for daylight, observing these creatures is a rare gift. Together, we’ll do our best to share their experience and watch for signs of their presence.

The evening begins indoors with an introduction to safe, comfortable night walking, followed by a stroll through meadows and forest. We’ll close by gathering around a campfire with hot cider and stargazing.

What To Bring: Please bring a flashlight or headlamp if you have one, and extra layers for warmth!

Finding Serenity with the Supermoon

Wednesday, November 5, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Members: $20 Adult; Public: $25

 

Step away from life’s noise and attune to the quiet energy of the full moon. We’ll gather beneath an open sky on the afternoon of the supermoon with guided meditation, sensory exploration, and a warm cup of tea around an inviting fire. At the top of Heifer Hill, if the sky allows, we’ll greet the rising full moon and catch the colors of sunset.

This mindful gathering invites calm, renewal, and a deepened sense of presence and connection with the rhythms of nature. Suitable for adults and youth with an interest in mindfulness or simply slowing down in a peaceful setting.

Advance registration is required, and space is limited to keep the experience intimate. Please register early to reserve your spot.

Grateful Forest: A Gathering of Stillness and Renewal

Friday, November 28, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Suggested Contribution: $5–$45 (pay what you can)

The day after Thanksgiving, step away from the busyness of the season and into the quiet abundance of the natural world. This mindful experience invites you to slow down, awaken your senses, and connect with nature in a meaningful and memorable way.

Rooted in shinrin-yoku—the Japanese practice of “forest bathing”—this gentle immersion includes guided invitations and a short meditation to help you engage with nature through all your senses, including intuition and imagination. The experience includes periods of sitting, exploration, and slow walking over short distances on hilly terrain.

Grateful Forest is offered in partnership with Amanda Kenyon, Nature Therapy & Meditation Guide. Past participants have described Amanda’s immersions as “peaceful, gentle, and joyful,” “magical and transformative,” and “profoundly rejuvenating.”

Join us for a special opportunity to rest, reflect, and reconnect with gratitude for all that nature provides.

Full Moon Hike and Tea

Thursday, December 4, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Members: $20 Adult; Public: $25

Join us for the third and final supermoon of 2025. Together, we’ll welcome a wintry full moon with a peaceful woodland hike and warm tea as day gives way to dusk.

We’ll follow winding trails through forest and meadow, moving at a relaxed, steady pace for 1-2 miles. At the top of Heifer Hill, if the sky allows, we’ll pause to greet the rising full moon and catch the colors of sunset. Together, we’ll share tea and the stillness of the season before our walk back through the dimming light.

This hilly hike is open to all ages. Advance registration is required. 

What to Bring:
Wear sturdy shoes and warm layers (thermal base layers, hat, gloves, etc.).

Deck the Halls: Wreath-Making from Nature

Saturday, December 6, 1pm-3:30pm
Members: $20 Adult; Public: $25 Adult;  Free Admittance for Kids

The December woods and fields are filled with often-overlooked beauty — lichens, vines, dried weeds, berries, seedpods. We will take a short walk to seek inspiration and to gather materials to supplement those on hand, and then enjoy hot chocolate and popcorn in
the farmhouse while we weave it all together.

This event brings joy each year. Every creation is unique, beautiful, and surprising.

What to Bring: Please bring pruning shears, work gloves, and wire cutters if you have them. Feel free to bring things gathered in your own yard. Try to avoid gathering invasive plants.

Forest of Light: A Solstice Celebration

Saturday, December 20
Self-guided walk—come between 5 & 6:30
Members: $15 adult/$5 kids; Public: $20 adult/$10 kids

Step into the longest night of the year with wonder and warmth. A meandering meadow trail to the summit of Heifer Hill will be illuminated by handmade ice lanterns. Follow the path through to the hilltop, where the night sky opens wide above you. The illuminated trail will continue into the forest, where you will be invited to reflect upon the turning of the year. Return to the courtyard for a warming fire and hot mulled cider.  Bundle up, bring your sense of wonder, and join us for this magical solstice celebration.

What to Bring: Winter attire, boots if there is snow, and your sense of wonder for the natural world.

Want a personalized program for your family or group? Our naturalists can whip up something special just for you.

Hear what participants say about BEEC’s community programs:

"I’m a brand new solo transplant to Vermont. This felt like a welcome party. It was such a delight to see the entire room stand up and cheer at the end of Sibley’s presentation. I’m a lifelong bird watcher, and can’t wait to break out the nocs and get to know local birds."
"Learning how to use Merlin will give me a way to "hear" much more of the natural world."
"We liked birds before, but now we like them even more!"
"I feel like setting up a trail cam is something I could now try as I have a basic overview of how to do it and what the setting options are. I look forward to seeing what animals are passing through my woods when I'm not there to meet them face-to-face!"
"We had a wonderful time and experience at BEEC! The class was fabulous, fun and informative and the hiking & tracking were awesome."
"I really appreciate the focus on one particular group of animals each class and the overview of the group as a whole as well as learning about the details of each individual species. Patti is a really amazing presenter with such a deep wealth of knowledge to share with us students!"
"I feel more comfortable and confident about foraging and using local plants as a food source and to make health care products. I feel more connected to the food forest around me."
"I've already put my greater knowledge of tracking these species to good use on my own land in W. Brattleboro, and look forward to continuing to observe my animal neighbors during the rest of the year too."
"So glad that programs like this are available for citizens. My 11-year-old is pumped to record Putney's first Atlas record of a Fowler's toad."
"I am looking much more closely at everything outdoors. Especially those big piles of dirt the moles push up. And thinking of what is going on under the snow."
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