July 13, 2004
Contact: Marcia Whitney, (802) 457-2779, ext. 113,

VINS CO-CHAIRS NEW ENGLAND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ALLIANCE (NEEEA) 38TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE   

 Ripton , VT - The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) will play a key role in this year's New England Environmental Education Alliance (NEEEA) Conference October 15-17, 2004 to be held at the beautiful Bread Loaf Campus of M i ddlebury College in Ripton, VT. Marcia Whitney, VINS Director of Statewide Education, is co-chair of the conference and chairs the Fundraising/Sponsorship Committee and Lisa Purcell, VINS ELF Program Director, chairs its Field Trip Committee.  Other VINS staff serve on committees as well.   

This year's conference theme is "Opening Doors: Collaboration Strengthens Our Voice to Build Sustainable Communities". The conference is co-hosted by Vermont SWEEP (State-wide Environmental Education Programs) and Middlebury College. Keynote speakers include Mayor Peter Clavelle of Burlington, community leaders, city decision makers, educators and youth as they share Burlington's story of creating a sustainable city. The three-day event will also feature seven different field trips such as exploring Lake Champlain, learning about cold region environments, and visiting a sustainable agriculture farm; 40 different educational workshops; entertainment; food; and a silent auction. The conference is open to environmental organizations, teachers and schools, outdoor educators, museums, farm & forest centers, nature centers, youth leaders, parents, and anyone else interested in environmental education. For a complete conference brochure, go to http://www.vermontsweep.org. Registration is due by September 28th. 

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science is a non-profit, member-supported organization headquartered in Woodstock, Vermont, with regional offices in Montpelier, Manchester, and Quechee. VINS' educational programs serve more than 80,000 adults and 72,000 students each year, making it the largest environmental educator in the State of Vermont. They have long been a leading research center for the study of migratory songbirds, common loons, peregrine falcons, and other threatened or endangered species. VINS' wildlife services department has treated and released thousands of injured wild birds of all species since their inception in 1972. For more information, please visit their website at wwww.vinsweb.org or contact them at (802) 457-2779.