• courtesy of VINS

Wonder what it's like to be a bird fluttering from tree to tree? This October, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) provides a window into that world when it opens its Forest Canopy Walk, which supports the science center's mission to provide place-based education by actively immersing visitors in nature. Following the natural slope of the land, the wheelchair- and stroller-accessible path gradually ascends into the forest canopy, to a height of 65 feet. Along the way, interpretive panels highlight the local ecosystem, animals and flora. Kids can scramble into a netted Giant Spider Web, 20 feet in diameter, or climb into the Eagle's Nest, a spur off the main trail featuring a two-level structure with an oversized "nest" on top. For those looking to climb even higher into the trees, a helical staircase ascends into the Tree House, which rises 100 feet into the air and provides sweeping views of the countryside and Ottauquechee River.

The Forest Canopy Walk opens to the public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 12. Visit vinsweb.org for more information.