Home > Calendar > Event Detail: Jellybots: Underwater Propulsion

Jellybots: Underwater Propulsion

Erin will provide simple tips and tricks that you can implement in your own home garden to attract pollinators and promote pollinator conservation. She will provide an overview of her favorite pollinator-friendly perennials and garden must-haves for growing in Zones 4/5. After her talk, she’ll have locally grown cut tulip bouquets for sale.

Bio: Dr. Erin Zagadailov is the founder and creator of Lady Grantham Apiary, a bees-first flower farm in Grantham, NH, with a mission to promote pollinator conservation and locally grown flowers. Taking a sabbatical from biotech, she is a pharmacist and health economist with expertise in developing and commercializing treatments for oncology and rare diseases. Her research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and other scientific journals. In her spare time, Erin volunteers with the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. See more of her work at the Lady Grantham Apiary.

Join us as we use our higher powered light microscopes to look at the smallest parts of life. This class is a wonderful introduction to using our favorite scientific tool to explore the smallest elements of microscopic life from cells to paramecium.

From balloon races to parachutes and hot air balloons, each week we’ll be building, testing, and experimenting as we explore different properties of air. The only limit is the Montshire’s giant ceiling!

This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Thursdays, November 2nd, 9th and 16th.

For 9-11 year olds.

Registration form coming soon! This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Thursdays, November 2nd, 9th and 16th.

For 6-8 year olds.

In October, Nature Adventures will be exploring the beautiful leaves of Fall. Join Early Learning Specialist, Kelly Wieman, as we discover trees and their leaves on The Montshire grounds. $5 per child, due at the beginning of the program.

This month on Sunday, September 10th, we will be exploring birds as they begin their southern migration. Environment Educator, Mike Loots, will lead you on a walk and discuss various local birds and their habitat needs. $5 per child, due at the beginning of the program.

Create swirls with nature objects after reading Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beth Krommes.

After reading Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert we will build faces using our gorgeous fall foliage and nature objects.

Send a marble down a ramp after reading Carrot and Pea: An Unlikely Friendship by Morag Hood.

All too often in our gardens and landscapes we think of static compositions of carefully placed and managed plants. But our approach can be more dynamic—and arguably more rewarding—than that by taking advantage of plants’ natural abilities to reproduce and proliferate. Learn how Larry combines design with the reproductive abilities of plants as well as ecological processes to create compelling, ever-evolving landscapes that bring new meaning to partnering with nature. Using examples from his own property as well as diverse client projects, Larry will share how this give-and-take approach can result in compelling, low-maintenance landscapes that free plants to perform according to their natural abilities and liberate people from having to cater to their landscapes’ every need.

Bio: Larry Weaner, FAPLD, president and founder of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, established New Directions in the American Landscape in 1990. He is nationally recognized for combining expertise in horticulture, landscape design, and ecological restoration. Profiled in national publications, his design and restoration work spans more than 20 US states and the UK. His book Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change (2016) received an American Horticultural Society (AHS) Book Award in 2017. In 2021 Larry received the AHS Landscape Design Award and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) Award of Distinction.

Gardens are incredible learning landscapes—especially for children. Gardening encourages the development of critical early learning skills in young children. For older students, gardens provide dynamic learning environments in which to explore math, science, history, and culture. This presentation invites you to reimagine traditional gardens as powerful living classrooms.

Bio: Lara Litchfield-Kimber earned her BA from Amherst College and her MS from Cornell University. Formally trained in the agricultural sciences as a plant pathologist, Lara left research and teaching to become an entrepreneur, starting Fertile Minds, Inc., an informal science education group in Ithaca, NY, that developed children’s gardens to teach math and science. She joined the science center field in 2004 at Ithaca’s Sciencenter and later served as the executive director of the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum in Poughkeepsie, NY, for nine years before coming to the Upper Valley in January 2022 to assume the role of executive director of the Montshire Museum of Science.

Join us to celebrate the Solar Eclipse! On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible in the continental United States. Glimpse the full glory of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, visible only when the Sun’s disc is completely covered by the moon. It is the last total solar eclipse visible in the Continental US until August 12, 2045.

Eclipse glasses are available for sale in the Montshire Museum Store.

Garden photography hasn’t always been as easy as point-and-shoot on your cell phone. Learn about the one-of-a-kind hand-tinted glass lantern slides that were crafted a century ago to document gardens and tell their stories. These fragile lantern slides—the PowerPoint presentations of their day—were used to educate audiences about garden history and design.

Bio: Joyce Connolly has been a museum specialist with Smithsonian Gardens’ Collections, Education, and Access branch since 1999. She helps manage the Archives of American Gardens (AAG), a repository that collects and preserves documentation relating to thousands of historic and contemporary gardens across the US. This documentation is used by writers, scholars, preservationists, and others to tell stories about the natural and built environments, horticulture, plants, history, art, science, design, and culture. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, she was an archives specialist at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, MA, for several years.

To significantly mitigate the climate crisis, humans need to solve a lot of problems. As this 2020 Netflix documentary suggests, one of the biggest problems is right under our feet: the soil. By regenerating the world’s soils, Kiss the Ground reveals that we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. Narrated by actor Woody Harrelson and featuring science experts and celebrity activists, the film explains why transitioning to “regenerative agriculture” has the potential to balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world.

There is nothing quite like a garden rose. Many gardeners feel daunted about growing garden roses, especially the lovely highly scented English roses. They are sometimes considered difficult, demanding, and unforgiving. Nothing can be further from the truth! Liz will present a full color show of roses that she grows, for you to fall in love with. Learn how easily you can grow roses in this intoxicating presentation. While roses do require certain small administrations, they are certainly worth the time put in. Especially when one picks their first flowering stem and experiences the incomparable lush scent.

Bio: Liz Krieg is a degreed horticulturist who spent most of her career as a landscape design/build business owner. Prior to her landscaping career, she was a horticulture instructor at Vermont Technical College. Growing cut flowers has always been her chief horticultural love. In retirement, she established Maple Flower Farm, in Bethel, VT, a glorious cut flower farm, floral studio, and private event space. A dynamic teacher, Liz offers workshops of all sorts related to flower farming and floral design at her farm and throughout New England.

In this workshop, you’ll learn basic plant care and how to propagate succulents and cacti through cuttings. You’ll gain knowledge on how to properly water, fertilize, and maintain your succulents, and learn how to multiply your collection through at-home propagation. Valerie will cover how to propagate six types of succulents and cacti, mistakes to avoid, and how to get the most success with cuttings. Her workshop includes a propagation demo to illustrate technique and time for any and all succulent-related questions. (A Zoom option will not be offered for this event.)

Bio: Valerie Woodhouse started farming in 2012 and quickly was drawn to the greenhouse. She developed a love for succulents and cacti, initially growing her collection from leftover plants and cuttings from the greenhouses where she worked. Valerie and her partner, Eli Hersh, started Honey Field Farm in spring 2020. They now carry one of the largest collections of succulents and cacti in the Upper Valley. She holds succulent workshops on the farm and enjoys making terrariums in her spare time.

Old Forests: What They Are, Why They’re Important, and Opportunities for Management

Most of Vermont’s forests are young, having been cleared within the last 200 years, and the old forests once dominated Vermont’s landscape are extremely uncommon. Besides being rare, old forests are diverse, resilient, and provide important habitats for wildlife. This talk will focus on what old forests are like (it may surprise you!), why they’re important, and how forest management can help make Vermont’s young forests more like old forests, creating many of the unique conditions and habitats found in old forests centuries sooner than they would naturally occur.

Presenter Bio: As the Chittenden County forester for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Ethan Tapper advises private landowners, municipalities, conservation organizations, foresters, and loggers on the responsible stewardship of forests. Ethan also writes a column for 10 community newspapers and for Northern Woodlands magazine, maintains a YouTube channel, and leads public events throughout New England which are attended by thousands of people each year. Learn more about Ethan’s work at https://linktr.ee/ChittendenCountyForester

A new activity every afternoon - you may get to examine skulls, test a paper rocket, or meet a live insect up close!

A new activity every morning - you may get to experiment with electricity, build a parachute or explore the fossil collection.

We’re kicking off our homeschool series with a fast-paced investigation of forces and motion! Experiment with gravity and trajectories with catapults, build a chain reaction machine, and learn about physics with more fun and exciting hands-on activities.

This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Thursdays, October 12th, 19th, and 26th.

Ages 9-11

This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Thursdays, October 12th, 19th, and 26th.

Ages 6-8

The museum is closed today, 5/3/2024, for our annual fundraising gala.

How are Arctic landscapes changing? And what can Earth’s changing landscape tell us about Mars millions—or billions—of years ago? Meet Dr. Marisa Palucis, who investigates the effects of water and a changing climate on landscapes.

From Marisa:

“My research group investigates the evolution of landscapes and sedimentary deposits under a changing climate. Our work has implications for constraining the rates and histories of aqueous processes on paleo-landscapes and other planetary surfaces (like Mars!) and hazard prediction and mitigation during extreme events. The former is a prerequisite for understanding where and when life could have evolved within our solar system. My group integrates sedimentological, topographic, and climatic datasets from the field with physical experiments and modeling, as geologically significant flow events are often difficult and/or impossible to observe. This combination allows us to bridge from the particle- to landscape-scale, which is necessary to test hypotheses for landscape evolution and paleoenvironment. Active research areas include: 1) what was the timing and duration of water flow on Mars; 2) how do Arctic landscapes respond to climate change?; 3) what controls channel morphology and sediment transport rates in steep streams; and 4) how and where do debris flow initiate?”

Q & A with scientist Fernando Lopez.

From Mr. Lopez:

“I am fascinated by soil carbon. My current research looks at understanding how the mineralogy of and microbial communities in thawing permafrost interact with root carbon inputs and the impact on soil carbon losses. I earned my B.S. in agronomy, there I was able to explore different soils across Mexico, my home country. I completed my M.Sc. in environmental sciences where I studied soil organic carbon spatial distribution in a boreal region of Ontario. I love hiking, cooking and listening to Latin music.”

Meet and collaborate with motivated peers through special programs and workshops for teens at the Montshire Museum of Science.

Some programs require pre-registration and a fee is charged.

This fall, spend Saturdays for Climate Action. High schoolers are invited to collaborate with motivated peers and take action locally, meaningfully and with people who are experts in their fields.

This program is led by Michael Loots, our new Climate Educator. Participants will take a systems thinking approach to all areas of study, emphasizing both joy and justice in addition to data collection, direct action, skill building, sharing, and future setting in the wide field of climate resilience!

This program is free and open to anyone who is high school age.

Learn more and apply here.

10/14 - Food

Leaders will spend the day engaging with food systems: from the basics of soil biology to the complex ways food is distributed, and the implications of how we share nutrients at every level. Leaders will engage with both ideas and practices, while learning ways they can get involved in growing the future of the Upper Valley.

Leaders will get their hands dirty, helping real, local farmers build compost, and tend crops.

Leaders will harvest and prepare food together, participate in food justice programs, and critically analyze just what is at stake when considering how we grow our food.

10/21 - Floods/ Fuels/ InFrastructure

Connecticut River (Kwanitikw) flows through the heart of our community, unceded Abaanaki territory.

Navigating the flow of water, people and energy will drive leaders’ investigations in this session.

Leaders will monitor and report water quality data to federal, state and independent water management agencies, investigate the connections between public transportation systems to access in the Upper Valley, and assess our museum infrastructure for energy efficiency.

Experts in the unique hydrology and ecology of the Kwanitikw will guide our data collection on the river, while experienced folk from our facilities department and local renewable energy partners will guide our investigations of energy flow and dynamics in buildings.

Leaders will be asked to apply a “systems thinking” approach to investigating the intersections between water, energy, transportation and access to a more equitable and sustainable future for the Upper Valley.

10/28 - Forest Health and Biodiversity

Leaders will use both cutting edge satellite imagery and old school forestry techniques to make a land coverage assessment of the essential core habitat, along the Kwanitkw adjacent to the Montshire Museum.

While afield they will work with local ecologists to build the skills of field science, learning how to design studies and capture data in ways that will be useful to scientific organizations all over the world.

Leaders will lean into learning from the land: its intrinsic value, how much carbon it might be capturing, and what kinds of life it may be harboring.

In addition, Leaders will also explore the health benefits of spending time in nature that science is only recently becoming more adept at quantifying.

Welcome to Nature Saturday, a new outdoor program for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Nature Saturday is designed to spark a familiarity with, passion for, and love of nature in young children. This month we explore the Woodland Garden Trail, followed by a related story and experimentation with water. Please come prepared to get wet!

This program is available with museum admission or membership, plus a $5 materials fee per child. First come, first serve up to 15 families. Sign up and pay at the Admissions Desk (no pre-registration required).

Please note this is not a drop-off program; adults must be with their children at all times and are encouraged to participate. Be sure to have a baby carrier (trail is not stroller-friendly) or be ready to support your walking child around stairs and roots.

Ask the Expert

Meet an expert in their field while exploring the Museum’s exhibitions. Say hello, see and touch artifacts, and ask questions!

This is an outdoor program dedicated to our younger scientists, children ages two to five, and their caregiver. Each adventure we will explore one of our trails, read a nature inspired story, and do a nature activity. This program is designed to be a fun outdoor experience to spark a passion, familiarity, and love of nature.

The Montshire welcomes employees for Montshire Business Partnership companies, and their families, during MBP Employee Appreciation Week. Bring the family to explore the Under the Arctic: Digging into Permafrost exhibition, splash in David Goudy Science Park, and enjoy the Montshire’s many exhibits, programs and trails. Visit as many times as you like!

Employees of MBP companies enjoy free admission to the Museum for themselves and any number of family members. Employees can visit as many times as they would like between August 21-27. Employees also receive 10% off purchases in the Museum Store and $10 off basic memberships from August 21-September 5.

Please bring a company ID or business card to show at check-in.

Enjoy an evening at the museum just for Montshire Members!

Chill with us while you take in our special summer exhibition, Under the Arctic: Digging into Permafrost. Bring a towel and splash in Science Park’s many water features. Enjoy perennial favorites like Bubbles, Air Works, and Honey Bees, engage in special activities at the Science Discovery Lab, and enter a raffle with a chance to win a basket full of Arctic-themed goodies from the Museum Store!

Purchase treats from Munchie-Rollz, with a delicious assortment of unique egg rolls, or cool off with flavored shaved ice from the Kona Ice Truck – cash, credit and debit cards accepted from the vendors. Or, bring a picnic for a festive dinner outside.

For current Montshire members only. Please bring your membership card and ID. We’ll see you soon!

A new activity every morning - you may get to experiment with electricity, build a parachute or explore the fossil collection.

Polar Science: explore the Under the Arctic exhibition before joining museum staff in this family friendly and hands-on introduction to the freezing cold science of the Arctic!

Have you seen stories about smart home devices being hacked or home guests making unauthorized purchases on smart speakers? Join a team of security & privacy researchers from Dartmouth and the SPLICE research team for a hands-on night of learning about smart home devices, vulnerabilities, and how to protect yourself from common security and privacy threats!

FREE admission – invite your neighbors to join!
No technical background required
Light snacks & Refreshments provided

Produced by Dartmouth College and hosted by the Montshire Museum of Science. Event is free and open to the public but pre-registration is requested. Register here.

Enjoy playing and experimenting with bubbles after reading Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin.

Build your own shadow puppets after getting inspired by all the animals found in Michael Bartalos’ Shadowville.

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL: New Event at the Montshire

Norwich, Vermont — The Montshire Museum of Science is hosting its first “Earth Day Festival” on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 from 10:30am to 4:30 pm.

At this special Saturday event we invite visitors to celebrate and protect our planet by learning about home projects that increase biodiversity, tackling hands-on repair and reuse, and expanding mindfulness through nature-based experiences.

Explore the Compost Petting Zoo and learn everything you need to know about home composting from expert Ham Gillett. Create a collage with artist Kris Cairelli, learn to sew with mending experts from the Upper Valley Sew-Op and introduce the kids to gardening for biodiversity with Montshire Executive Director and biologist Lara Litchfield-Kimber.

A special Earth Day raffle features a composting bucket full of Earth Day themed products from the Montshire Museum Store. The store will be packed with earth friendly items, including NOSO repair patches, Hudson Valley Seeds and recycled produce bags from Earthwise.

Event admission is free with regular paid Museum admission. Admission is free for children under the age of two and for members. Free event parking is available at the Museum.

This event is part of Learning Ecosystems Northeast, a network of in- and out-of-school educators funded by NASA’s Science Activation Program led by Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

About The Montshire Museum of Science

The Montshire Museum of Science forges and empowers lifelong learners through engagement with science.

Located in beautiful Norwich, VT, the Montshire Museum of Science is open seven days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Daily admission is $18 for adults and $15 for children ages 2-17. The Museum is free for members and children under the age of two. Memberships are available. Visit montshire.org or call 802-649-2200 for more information.

The Montshire Museum of Science is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is supported by admission, membership, grants, and charitable contributions.

Gather with us for an Earth Day celebration at the Montshire!

Explore the Compost Petting Zoo and learn everything you need to know about home composting from expert Ham Gillett. Create a collage with artist Kris Cairelli, and learn to sew with mending experts from the Upper Valley Sew-Op. A special Earth Day raffle features a composting bucket full of Earth Day themed products from the Montshire Museum Store.

Event admission is free with regular paid Museum admission. Admission is free for children under the age of two and for members. Free event parking is available at the Museum.

Celebrate the science of spring as we delve into the diversity and adaptations of the plant kingdom from flowers to seeds, ferns to trees. We’ll be sorting, identifying, experimenting, and pulling out our microscopes to get a new and up-close look into the biology of botany. We will meet on Tuesdays, April 18, and 25, and May 2.

Chemistry In Action

Get ready to mix things up with some messy hands-on experiments! We’ll be exploring the chemical properties of household items through fun and safe experiments as well as looking closely at some more exotic reactions to better understand the tiny molecules that make up the matter around us.

Measuring Penny. Activities: Unconventional measurements of self (pencils, plates, sticks, etc.) and conventional measuring of self. Wall chart of different kid and parent heights.

Design, build, and test your own underwater propulsion system in this new engineering design challenge. With guidance by a museum educator, visitors will play with water, balloons, and customized 3D-printed parts to build an underwater rocket and complete challenges like spinning through the water or collecting objects from the bottom. You might get wet! Sign up now to reserve a spot. (Program length: 45 minutes)