Other Wetland Related Events

During this free workshop, participants will learn about the Refuge's diverse wildlife and explore the landscape features that create high-quality habitat. We'll also discuss how wetlands protect water quality by storing floodwaters, filtering pollutants, and providing critical habitat for birds, mammals, amphibians, and other wildlife. As a bonus, we'll learn some ideas for creating wildlife-friendly habitat at home.

The first half of the workshop will take place indoors in the classroom at the Refuge's Admin Building, where we'll introduce the connections between wetlands, wildlife, and watershed health through a presentation. The second half will include an optional guided walk on the Refuge's trails to observe wetlands and wildlife in action!

Register here

 Please join us for our monthly bird monitoring walks on the refuge. Ken Copenhaver and Julie Filiberti lead the walks on various refuge trails on the 3rd Saturday of each month year-round (except December and May, when it is on the 2nd Saturday). The purpose of the walks is to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Observations are entered into the Vermont eBird database, where the Cornell Lab of Ornithology stores the data. These walks are appropriate for birders of all skill levels and provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about birds throughout the seasons. After 195 months of walks, we have recorded 170 species of birds.

This month's walk: *Saturday, August 15, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM at the Jeeps Trail*, Mac's Bend Road Swanton.

Always see the upcoming dates at  https://www.friendsofmissisquoi.org/calendar

If you have any questions, contact me, Ken Copenhaver at copenhvr@gmail.com

Charlotte, VT $225.00 Registration Required

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Weave a small berry basket with willow grown and harvested at Vermont Handworks. This one day workshop is a great introduction to stake and strand willow basketry. Skills covered include making a round base, waling, French randing, track boarders, and inserting handles. The day will start with a discussion on growing, wild harvesting, and preparing willow for weaving, and resources for continued learning will be provided.  Students will complete one basket in this 8 hour class. No previous experience required.

Hosted by the Town of Hardwick and HCTV in the Jeudevine Memorial Library in Hardwick, Parker Ladd Community Room as a part of the Watershed Connections series exploring healthy rivers, watersheds, and community resilience. Fisheries Biologist Jud Kratzer of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will speak on how strategic woody addition works with natural river processes to restorm stream health, reconnect floodplains, improve aquatic habitat, reduce erosion, and build more resilient watersheds. To learn more, contact Kristen Leahy, Hardwick Resilience & Adaptation Coordinator, at zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov or 802-472-1686, or Karina Morales, Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District, at Karina@caledoniacountynrcd.org or 802-239-4159.  SEE also the in-field workshop using this technique on Oct 13, 2026. Announcement below.  Check out the Vermont Strategic wood addition handbook!

We will gather for a presentation by the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas' Jim Andrews and Kate Kelly on Friday, August 28th at 6:30 pm at the Wheelock Town Hall. Light Food Provided!

On Saturday, August 29th, we will meet for a for a field trip at 9 am at the Steam Mill Brook Wildlife Management Area (exact location TBD). The field trip will involve a short hike to check out suitable habitat and potential critters!

Are you planning to attend? Although  pre-registration is not needed, your RSVP is appreciated if you'd like to let us know you're coming. Event hosted by Caledonia County Natural Resource Conservation District

for updated information: reptiles-amphibians-and-our-forested-wetlands-presentation

Join Patrick Hurley and colleagues from the Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA) to walk the Valley Brook restoration site. This project was highlighted at the VAWS Winter Conference 2026.

Patrick and his team designed restoration practices aimed at enhancing roughness and stream-wetland-floodplain function by incorporating wood and rock structures meant to slow flows, encourage sediment deposition, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat complexity. The tour will highlight several aspects of a multi-phase, catchment-scale project which includes removing & upgrading crossing structures, obliterating roads, disconnecting drainage ditches, reconstructing alluvial fans, and acres of riparian plantings. Learn how PBR techniques can be incorporated alongside other restoration practices and discuss the planning, design, permitting, and implementation process. More info on the project can be found here: Valley Brook Restoration Project – Memphremagog Watershed Association. 

Charlotte, VT   $300.00 Registration required

Materials Fee: $75  (Paid directly to the instructor at the start of class.)

This three day intensive course takes students through learning the basics of flat weaving techniques, and culminates with weaving a sun hat entirely from cattail leaves. We will also get hands-on experience with harvesting and preparing cattails for weaving. Participants will go home with at least two completed projects, and practical knowhow to harvest and weave in the future. This course is suitable for beginners– expect full days of weaving!

About the instructor: Renee Baumann is a Catskills-based designer, chef, and nature enthusiast with a passion for wild plants and fungi. Trained as both an architect and a chef, she brings a creative, interdisciplinary flair to everything she does—whether she’s crafting baskets from local plants, illustrating mushrooms in watercolor, or whipping up delicious meals from foraged ingredients. Renee teaches workshops and techniques working with local fibers, with an emphasis on creating three dimensional forms from bioregional components. Her work varies from traditional basketry practices in cattail and willow to sculptural felt and spinning foraged fibers.  Renee teaches workshops on identifying, cooking with, and even weaving with plants and fungi growing in the Catskills. Find more of her work @renee_makes_things on instagram.

Jud Kratzer, Fisheries Biologist with VT DF&W, has been implementing and studying strategic woody addition projects in Vermont for over a decade and has documented significant increases in brook trout populations at strategic wood addition sites. Visit a section of the upper Waits River with Jud to observe a completed SWA project and discuss wood placement and techniques, permitting, site selection, and more! This project was completed in 2024 and added large wood to 2.7 river miles, improving fish and wildlife habitat structure, bank stability, channel roughness, and floodplain access. 

Check out the Vermont Strategic wood addition handbook!

Cost includes all materials and camping on site (if desired).  

Zapata can attest that Penny is a fantastic Instructor and has signed up for the workshop and is bringing her camper!! Black Ash, a FACW species, has a unique fiber structure allowing for each ring of the tree to separate from each other, creating thin sheets that can be cut and then woven into sturdy baskets. Come and learn how to make a tote with Penny Hewitt. A $200 deposit will hold your spot. Please send a check, made out to:

Penny Hewitt

21 Lazy Mill Rd

Stannard VT 05842

Or you can venmo it to: Penny-Hewitt-2 (last 4 of phone is 7907) 

Please put Totes in the "what is this for" spot.

If you send a check, please email her at: 68pennyg@gmail.com  to let her know so she will hold a spot for you.

Vermont State University FALL course FULL: waitlist

Contact Tylor Payne to be added to the list of folks to be notified when SPRING registration is open! taylor.paone@vermontstate.edu

The cost to join is $1175, which includes a yearlong membership to VAWS for the following calendar year.VSU accepts VSAC Advancement Grants and AmeriCorps Segal awards.

This in-person training is based in part on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation manual; the 2012 Supplement for Northeast Region; and most recent National Wetland Plant List and NRCS Hydric Soil guidance. Participants will also learn about federal and state regulations, and appropriate permitting in relation to wetlands. Lecture topics include: science of wetland hydrology; hydric soils; hydric vegetation; wetland development; and current Vermont regulations. Field practicals include soil and plant identification, and wetland delineation in accordance to the ACOE Field Delineation Manual.