Button Bay State Park

Drop by the Nature Center any time this hour to taste food made with the invasive species garlic mustard as you learn how this species came to the New World—and what we can do about it!

See Button Bay’s newest beaver dam on this guided walk along the shore of Lake Champlain. 30 minutes, meets at the Loop 2 Lake Access. Be prepared for mud and dress in long sleeves!

Travel back to Button Mould Bay as we learn to make thread or fabric buttons using the wooden “button moulds” that British colonists named our “button” rocks after. 30 minutes. Ages 7 and up, meets at the Nature Center.

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak in the early hours of August 12th and 13th with us seeing a meteor burn into the atmosphere every minute! For a broad view of the rural night sky, join us on the rim of Button Bay's natural amphitheater as we spend an hour watching the shower. Cushions and light warm refreshments will be provided. This event will be cancelled if skies are expected to be cloudy--check with the Nature Center or the Contact Station the day before the event for confirmation.

Come celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th birthday with the staff at Button Bay State Park! Enjoy treats fit for a bear (and for humans), firefighting games, Smokey trivia--and meet Smokey Bear himself! Meets at the Loop 1 basketball court.

Learn how to identify the invasive species garlic mustard, help us control its spread in the Park, and taste garlic mustard pizza! Counts as a Junior Ranger park service activity. One half-hour, ages 4 and up, meets in Day Use. Will not be held in the rain.

Learn how mile-tall glaciers made the clay “button” rocks that gave the park its name—and make model “buttons” of your own! One half-hour, models will take an additional half-hour to harden. Ages 4 and up, meets at the Nature Center.

Fireflies, owls, bats and more—join us on a night walk in search of nocturnal animals! Nets and red lights provided. 45 minutes. Ages 5 and up, meets at the Loop Two Bathhouse. Will not be held if thunderstorms are expected.

In 1776, “Commodore” Benedict Arnold lost Lake Champlain and saved the American Revolution—come learn how as we trace the short life of the first American Navy. One half-hour, meets in Day Use. Teens and up. Will not be held in the rain.

Travel 460 million years back in time on this guided walk along the Champlain Trail to our gastropod (snail) fossil beds that were once off the shore of a tropical coastline. 45 minutes, departs from Day Use and finishes at the Nature Center. Will not be held in the rain.