Park events

Come listen as the Park’s naturalist reads Bat Loves the Night and Big Brown Bat, followed by a bat craft. One half-hour, ages 4 and up. Meets at Campsite 33.

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 & up, meets at the Nature Center.

Taste the sap of a few of Vermont’s trees while learning about sap and the many species that steal it! One-half hour, 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.

Are the summit trails a good fit for your hiking party? Is Mount Ascutney a volcano? Which plants and animals are you likely to meet on the trails today? Stop by the interpretive table at the summit trailhead to find out more, or ask to have your photo taken from the parking area overlook. Table hours (weather permitting) 11:00am-2:00pm.

What would you experience at key moments in the past, present, and future of Mt. Ascutney? The mountain has its own long history of change, but its past, present, and future are tied to our own.

The Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center Naturalist Club will meet the park interpreter at the summit parking area around 2:15 pm. If you are visiting the park at that time, you are welcome to join us! We will be making our way very slowly to the observation tower, inspecting many plants and mushrooms along the way.

Here is the description of the event on the BEEC calendar: https://www.beec.org/what-we-do/public-programs-and-events/walks-talks

Learn various ways to start and build fires! An hands on event.

Program is included with $5 state park entry fee.

All ages welcome, wheelchair accessible. A rain or shine event.

The Connecticut River Valley is a major flyway for migrating birds of prey, and Mt. Ascutney is an ideal place to catch a glimpse of them. Join us at the summit trailhead to mingle with VINS researchers during their Hawk Watch season on the mountain! Activities will include a meet and greet with a live raptor from the VINS rehabilitation facility and an opportunity to watch for migrating hawks through spotting telescopes at the summit parking area overlook.

For more information about how and why scientists monitor raptor populations, visit https://vinsweb.org and
https://hawkwatch.org

Bring your chair and blanket and musical talents to the pavilion and join Bobby for a musical Monday evening in the park. While you might hear anything from originals to folk classics to today's most popular hits, a common thread strings the set together: welcome smiles, a steady groove and unbridled energy that invites you to let the rhythm move you. 

Join Stillwater's resident astronomer and storyteller, Bobby, for an evening around the fire and among the stars.