Vermont museums, educational centers and libraries have met the current social-distancing reality with free online classes, story times and learning resources. Although buildings are temporarily closed, many trail systems remain open. Remember to take breaks from screen time, and keep your family healthy with fresh air. Here are some Vermont venues offering online services:

• Burlington City Arts has created an online Home Studio featuring art and activities. For the next few weeks, new material will be posted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

• On Facebook, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, is sharing suggestions for at-home science experiments and videos of animal feedings. Watch a Science & Stories story time here. Find simple science experiments created by ECHO in partnership with WCAX here.



• Beginning April 8th at 1 p.m., Billings Farm & Museum will launch "Ask Billings Farm Live," a Facebook Live series where viewers can ask questions of Billings Farm & Museum’s resident experts and learn more about the farm. Billings Farm at Home is a new online resource for young and old to explore Billings Farm and its history. Learn how the farm cares for its animals, find recipes and craft projects, and take virtual building tours.

• Shelburne Farms’ scenic walking trails are open to the public. Check out the farm's Instagram page for cute videos from inside the barn.

• In Montpelier, North Branch Nature Center’s trails and wildlife preserve are open. All buildings, including bathrooms, are closed. "Getting outside in nature is one of the very best ways we can all be caring for ourselves and our loved ones right now," the center explains.

• Families may enjoy the trails and outdoor areas at Audubon Vermont in Huntington. The center's education team is also creating and sharing online content that can be done at home or outside with common household materials. Find mini nature lessons here.
With the return of migratory birds, now is also a good time to brush up on or begin birdwatching while practicing social distancing.

• St. Johnsbury’s Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium offers free online learning options, including astronomy materials from meteorologist Mark Breen. Daily, the museum posts "Moments of Zen" on its Facebook page — a snapshot of the Museum’s eclectic gallery and collections through the eyes of various visitors.

• Teaching your kids at home? The Vermont School Librarians’ Association compiled Learning at Home: Resources for Teachers. This resource compiles free programming and resources for preschoolers to teens.

• The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is offering  educational videos and resources on Facebook, including a Facebook Live owl encounter on Wednesday, March 25 at 12:30 p.m.