VINS celebrates 40 years of conservation By Christian Avard
Staff Writer | December 02,2012 Vyto Starinskas / Staff Photo A
red tail hawk flies out of employee Katie Christman’s hands
during a raptor environmental educational demonstration at the
Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences on Friday. QUECHEE — An
Upper Valley landmark known for conservation efforts marked a
major milestone this fall. The Vermont Institute for Natural
Sciences in Quechee celebrated 40 years of successful wildlife
preservation and environmental education programs. VINS is a
renowned environmental organization and its work has impacted
the local community, the state and beyond. VINS’ success can be
traced back to its origins when local residents took action to
protect local habitat from industrial pollution. The
Ottauquechee River is a critical water source for the Upper
Valley. It starts high up in the Green Mountains and meanders
east until it joins the Connecticut River. The Ottauquechee was
heavily polluted in the early 1970s, whe