VINS Plans Expansion

In Education Programs

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) has appointed Teresa L. Mitchell as Director of Education Programs, with the goal of leading a major expansion of the organization’s environmental and education programs.

Mitchell was hired in July to help lead VINS’ signature Environmental Learning for the Future (ELF) program. Now, as director of all education programs, she will focus on programs for area schools and communities, as well as at the new VINS Nature Center in Quechee.

Many of VINS’ expanded education programs will be available by June.

VINS’ expansion of education programs will build on the strengths of its ELF model, adding current best practices and technologies in environmental education, with the aim of offering programs from pre-K through adult levels. Curricula for VINS’ current educational programs will be updated to be consistent with new state education standards.

Until her appointment at VINS, Mitchell served as Co-Chair of the K-12 sector of the US Partnership for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

She has worked as a classroom teacher in Alaska and Washington.

Support from Wellborn

Planning for the expansion of VINS’ environmental-education programs is funded in part by a generous grant from the Wellborn Ecology Fund.

"Not only will we be expanding existing VINS programs, like our award-winning ELF program, we also will create new and innovative educational offerings for preschool through adult audiences," said Mitchell.

"We will infuse VINS’ education programs—including those in schools, in communities, and at the VINS Nature Center—with the work of our conservation biologists and avian rehabilitation experts."

VINS has been one of the New England region’s leading environmental-education organizations for more than 30 years. VINS’ signature "ELF" program. pioneered by Jenepher Lingelbach, has reached teachers, parents, and children across several states. The ELF curriculum has been adapted for schools in Colorado and Michigan and has been translated into Chinese by the government of the People’s Republic of China.

Founded in 1972, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science is a non-profit member-supported organization headquartered in Quechee, where it has recently built a new headquarters and nature center, including its popular Raptor Center.