Upcoming Events

2026 Butterfly Blitzes and Trainings

Looking to get out and meet other butterfliers? Join VCE staff in the field for a fun, collaborative day of looking for butterflies! Participants and staff will meet near a cluster of unadopted priority blocks and then split into teams to survey for as many butterflies as possible during a 4 hour window. At the end of the day, we'll come back together to celebrate our findings and head to a local restaurant for an (optional) meal.

Whether you’re a seasoned butterfly enthusiast or a total beginner, we’re going to have a fantastic day putting new areas on the map for the Vermont Butterfly Atlas. Events will be 4+ hours but you do not need to stay for the whole time.

Introduction to Butterfly ID with VT Coverts

When? 10 am – 2 pm

Meet at: Dead Creek WMA Park Officer (966 VT-17W, Addison VT) continue up the driveway past the visitor center and follow VT Coverts signs

Butterflies are in your garden, along your hiking trails, and even along the side of the road. Did you know that you can help protect them just by noting it down when you see them? New or experienced butterfly watchers alike can join the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and VT Coverts at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area to meet other nature lovers and learn how to contribute to the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. In this four-hour, free workshop, you will learn how to identify local butterfly species, how to use community science tools like eButterfly and iNaturalist, get tips and tricks on photographing butterflies and more. This workshop will be both inside and outside and will include a lunch break.

Morgan Area Butterfly Blitz

When? 10 am – 2 pm

Meet at: NorthWood Stewardship Center (154 Leadership Dr, Island Pond, VT 05846)

Let’s go look for butterflies!

Scientists want to know what kind of butterflies live near you. Come join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the NorthWoods Stewardship Center for a day of butterflying near Morgan, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We will meet at the NorthWoods Stewardship Center at 10 am to select teams and travel in groups to various sites in the Morgan, Derby, Charleston, and Brighton area to conduct butterfly surveys for the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. We will have options for low intensity (roadside surveys, minimal walking) or medium intensity (1 – 3 miles of walking).

Grab a friend or come alone and join us for all or part of the day. Register here »

Northfield Area Butterfly Blitz

When? 10 am – 2 pm

Meet at: Community Room, Brown Public Library (93 S Main St, Northfield)

Let’s go look for butterflies!

Scientists want to know what kind of butterflies live near you. Come join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the Northfield Conservation Commission for a day of butterflying near Northfield, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We will meet at the Brown Public Library at 10 am to select teams and travel in groups to various sites in the Williamstown, Roxbury, Berlin, and Northfield areas to conduct butterfly surveys for the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. We will have options for low intensity (roadside surveys, minimal walking) or medium intensity (1 – 3 miles of walking).

Grab a friend or come alone and join us for all or part of the day. Register here »

Summer Bioblitz at The Nature Museum

No registration necessary!

Meet at: The Nature Museum (186 Townshend Rd., Grafton, VT)

Whether you’re a casual observer of the world around you or an expert scientist, join us for The Nature Museum's Summer Bioblitz to discover and learn together! A bioblitz is a coordinated, communal effort to observe and document as many species in an area as possible within a short period of time. On Saturday, July 11th we invite our community to help us discover the wildlife neighbors who live in the varied habitats on our grounds.

During the Summer Bioblitz, join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies for butterflying trips around Grafton, Windham, and Londonderry. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

• Morning Trip: 10 am –12:30 pm

• Early Afternoon Trip: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

• Late Afternoon Trip: 1:30 pm – 4 pm

See Full Event Details here »

Jay Area Butterfly Blitz

When? 10 am – 3 pm

Meet at: Jay Community Recreation Center (1036 VT-242, Jay, VT)

Let’s go look for butterflies!

Scientists want to know what kind of butterflies live near you. Come join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the Vermont Land Trust for a day of butterflying near Jay, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We will meet at the Jay Community Recreational Centre at 10 am to select teams and travel in groups to various sites in the Jay, Richford, and Montgomery area to conduct butterfly surveys for the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. We will have options for low intensity (roadside surveys, minimal walking) or medium intensity (1 – 3 miles of walking).

Grab a friend or come alone and join us for all or part of the day. Register here »

Greensboro Area Butterfly Blitz

When? 9:30 am – 2:30 pm

Meet at: TBD

Let’s go look for butterflies!

Scientists want to know what kind of butterflies live near you. Come join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the Greensboro Conservation Commission for a day of butterflying near Greensboro, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We will meet at a central location at 9:30 am to select teams and travel in groups to various sites in the Greensboro, Glover, Craftsbury, and Hardwick area to conduct butterfly surveys for the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. We will have options for low intensity (roadside surveys, minimal walking) or medium intensity (1 – 3 miles of walking).

Grab a friend or come alone and join us for all or part of the day. Register here »

Rutland County Audubon Society Butterfly Atlas Training

When? 10 am – 2 pm

Meet at: West Rutland Town Hall, 2nd Floor Meeting Room (35 Marble St, West Rutland)

Butterflies are in your garden, along your hiking trails, and even along the side of the road. Did you know that you can help protect them just by noting it down when you see them? New or experienced butterfly watchers alike can join the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Rutland County Audubon Society in West Rutland to meet other nature lovers and learn how to contribute to the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas.

In this four-hour, free workshop, you will learn how to identify local butterfly species, how to use community science tools like eButterfly and iNaturalist, get tips and tricks on photographing butterflies and more. This workshop will be both inside and outside and will include a lunch break.

Register here »

Brunswick Area Butterfly Blitz

When? 10 am – 2 pm

Meet at: NorthWood Stewardship Center (154 Leadership Dr, Island Pond, VT 05846)

Let’s go look for butterflies!

Scientists want to know what kind of butterflies live near you. Come join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the NorthWoods Stewardship Center for a day of butterflying near Brunswick, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We will meet at the NorthWoods Stewardship Center at 10 am to select teams and travel in groups to various sites in the Brunswick and Ferdinand area to conduct butterfly surveys for the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. We will have options for low intensity (roadside surveys, minimal walking) or medium intensity (1 – 3 miles of walking).

Grab a friend or come alone and join us for all or part of the day. Register here »

Middlebury Area Butterfly Blitz

When? 10 am – 2 pm

Meet at: TBD

Let’s go look for butterflies!

Scientists want to know what kind of butterflies live near you. Come join a team from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the Middlebury Area Land Trust for a day of butterflying near Middlebury, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature lovers and learn about butterflies in the field with the experts. No experience necessary—just an interest in butterflies! All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

We will meet at a central location at 10 am to select teams and travel in groups to various sites in the Middlebury, Salisbury, Shoreham, and Bridport area to conduct butterfly surveys for the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas. We will have options for low intensity (roadside surveys, minimal walking) or medium intensity (1 – 3 miles of walking).

Grab a friend or come alone and join us for all or part of the day. Register here »