The publication is reproduced in full below:
COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VERMONT INSTITUTE OF NATURAL
SCIENCE (VINS) IN QUECHEE, VERMONT
______
HON. PETER WELCH
of vermont
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 1, 2022
Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the outstanding work and enduring impact of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, VT. I would also like to congratulate them as they celebrate their 50 Year Anniversary. Since their opening in October of 1972, VINS has served as a pillar of the community, educating Vermonters on the beautiful wildlife in our state and what we can do to conserve it. The organization and its staff have shown a remarkable commitment to research, conservation and education.
The genesis of VINS can be traced back to David Laughlin, who spearheaded a study of the Ottauquechee River in central Vermont. The river was found to be badly polluted by waste and runoff. Joining Dr. Laughlin's efforts were his wife Sally Laughlin, Rick Farrar, and June McKnight. The group's efforts ultimately led to the first water quality litigation in the state of Vermont. The group built on the momentum from the victorious river cleanup, remaining vigilant in their commitment to preserving the river's future. Their brainstorming culminated into the idea to establish an environmental organization aimed at educating young children. Thus, came the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in 1972.
Since its founding, VINS' mission has stressed education as a critical tool in changing perspectives and maintaining a healthy environment. Early on, Sally Laughlin led the charge to establish a bird-banding project with the help of her experienced colleague, Rick Farrar. The bird banding program, educational activities, and the river clean-up, established VINS as a critical Vermont institution.
Today, VINS is defined by its environmental and education focus at the VINS Nature Center, with 35 exhibit and education raptors utilized in daily live education programs from a trained educator's hand; the Forest Canopy Walk and Outdoor Classroom; the ADA trail network; VINS School Programs, which reach 3,400 students and 600 teachers each year; the Adventure Playscape; and the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation. The rehabilitation center treats injured birds found throughout the state with the eventual goal of releasing them back into the wild. The center treated a record of 1,098 birds last year alone. Those birds which cannot be released safely are kept at VINS' Nature Center as
``ambassadors'' for their species to help educate curious visitors.
As Executive Director Charles Rattigan takes VINS into its next 50 years, the institute remains a sought-after destination for visitors and residents of Vermont and the Upper Valley. This year alone, over 69,000 visitors passed through its gates to learn about raptors, native species and the environments in which they live. Curious people of all ages learned how to actively care for our natural world, helping to fulfill VINS' crucial mission of motivating individuals and communities to care for their environment. I want to recognize VINS for its passionate commitment to education, research and avian wildlife rehabilitation. VINS continues to be an influential steward of the natural world, in Vermont and beyond.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 110(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 110(2)
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