Upcoming Events

Lunch & Learn Butterflies

Time: Every other Wednesday 12 – 12:45 pm

Get ready for a new year of butterflies with the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas (VBA)! The VBA is an effort to document all the butterfly species in the state with the help of enthusiastic volunteers like you. Join VCE’s butterfly team online every other Wednesday at 12 for a 20 minute deep dive into interesting butterfly topics ranging from resolving difficult IDs to the best techniques to find elusive caterpillars. Build your skills and get excited to butterfly! All butterfly experience and skill levels welcome.

Butterflying by Habitat

Join Vermont Center for Ecostudies conservation biologist Kent McFarland to learn how you can use habitats to find your target butterflies for the VBA. Register here »

Beyond Butterfly Basics: Tiger ID

Join Vermont Center for Ecostudies conservation biologist Kent McFarland to learn about the VBA and puzzle through IDing Vermont’s three Tiger Swallowtail species. Register here »

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.

Current event areas: Morgan, Brunswick, Grafton, Middlebury, Northfield & Berlin, Mount Holly, Jay Peak.

Keep an eye here for details & registration coming soon!

Introduction to Butterfly ID with VT Coverts

When? June 6, 10 am – 2 pm

Where? 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? June 20, 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? June 27, 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 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 a central location 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 »