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Events
SuperSanctuary BioBlitz
Our SuperSanctuary of protected lands encompasses more than 26,000 acres, and it’s chock full of native biodiversity. We’re documenting as many of these species as possible via the community science platform iNaturalist, and we need your help to find even more. There are two sessions — 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Register for one session or both!
Field Foray with the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club
Join the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club as we search for swallowtails, sulfurs, and other butterflies – and learn to identify them by their field marks, flight patterns, and behavior.
SuperSanctuary Butterfly Count
Join the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club as we survey local meadows, woodlands, and wetland edges for coppers, crescents, skippers, swallowtails, fritillaries, and other beautiful butterflies! The data we collect will be submitted to both the North American Butterfly Association and the NH Butterfly Monitoring Network.
Kids Count: Monarchs & Milkweed Survey
If you love monarch butterflies and want to help scientists find out more about these remarkable insects, here’s your chance! Spend a morning with a team of Harris Center naturalists as we count monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies for science.
Monitoring for Monarchs
Take part in the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz by joining Harris Center ecologists Brett Amy Thelen and Nate Marchessault to survey for monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies in a local milkweed patch. No experience necessary!
Invertebrates by Blacklight
Join naturalists Steven Lamonde, Nate Marchessault, and Susie Spikol for a nocturnal natural history adventure! Using special blacklights and flashlights, we’ll search for moths, caterpillars, and more. Discover the fascinating world of fluorescence, and see a summer night in a whole new light.
Surveying for Salamanders
Join Harris Center ecologists Brett Amy Thelen and Nate Marchessault for an afternoon of salamander monitoring at the Harris Center’s long-term study plots. No experience necessary!
Monadnock Region Natural History Conference
Join us for the third Monadnock Region Natural History Conference, a full day of learning for backyard naturalists, landowners, scientists, students, educators, and anyone who cares about nature in our neck of the woods!
52nd Annual Peterborough-Hancock Christmas Bird Count
Every winter for more than 50 years, volunteers have searched for birds in the Peterborough-Hancock area as part of the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) — the largest and longest-running community science project in the world. New volunteers are always welcome!
Kestrels Young Birders Club: Christmas Bird Count
Are you a tween or a teen with an interest in birds and birding? Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your skills, connect with other wildlife fans, and contribute to community science. We’ll take part in the annual Christmas Bird Count — helping to collect valuable data on winter bird populations. For students in grades 5 through 12.
iNaturalist ID Session
Join avid iNatters Nate Marchessault and Steven Lamonde for a cozy morning of improving iNaturalist data quality by adding identifications and annotations to existing iNaturalist observations. With mugs of hot tea or cocoa in our hands and field guides by our side, we'll enjoy the outdoors through the eyes of others and contribute to community science in the process.
Salamander Crossing Brigade Workshop
Every year, the Harris Center trains community scientists to serve on Salamander Crossing Brigades at amphibian road crossings throughout the Monadnock Region. Attend this fun, information-packed volunteer training to join their ranks — or simply to learn more about the remarkable spring amphibian migration.
The Kestrels Young Birders Club: Harris Center Big Day
Are you a teenager or tween with an interest in birds and birding? Join a growing movement of young adults who are honing their wildlife observation skills, learning to recognize birds and their calls, and spending time outside building community with other young birders.
Monadnock Region City Nature Challenge
Join iNaturalist enthusiasts Steven Lamonde and Nate Marchessault for the Monadnock Region’s first annual participation in the City Nature Challenge — a fun celebration of biodiversity that also contributes valuable observations to the iNaturalist database.
Ashuelot River Water Quality Monitoring Volunteer Training
The Ashuelot River Local Advisory Committee is recruiting volunteers for their 26th season of water quality monitoring! To volunteer, join Barbara Skuly for this in-person training, where we'll review sampling techniques and go over the 2026 monitoring schedule.
Making Your Turtle Sightings Count
Spot a turtle in the wild? Your encounter could help conservation efforts. Join NH Fish and Game turtle biologist Josh Megysey and Harris Center ecologist Nate Marchessault to learn how to turn your turtle sightings into valuable data.
LAB GIRLS+ Experiments From the Wild & In the Field: Salamander Coverboard Survey
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin ecologist and salamander lover Brett Amy Thelen for a hands-on survey of red-backed salamanders and other amphibians at the Harris Center’s long-term monitoring plots.
Field Foray with the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club
Join Mark Ellingwood and the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club to search meadows and woodlands for crescents, blues, sulfurs, and more while sharpening your butterfly identification skills for the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Count in July.
Counting on Monarchs: An Introduction to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
Join monarch researcher Dr. Karen Oberhauser to discover how community science data can help protect these beloved butterflies, and to learn what’s involved in setting up your own monarch monitoring site.
Field Foray with the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club
Join Mark Ellingwood and the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club as we search for swallowtails, satyrs, skippers, and other butterflies — and learn to identify them by their field marks, flight patterns, and behavior.
Weed Watchers Volunteer Training
Left unchecked, aquatic invasive plants can displace native plants and wildlife, degrade water quality, and entangle boats. Early detection is key! In this workshop with Georgia Bunnell of NH DES, you'll learn how to identify common aquatic invasives — and what to do if you find one in your local lake.
SuperSanctuary Butterfly Count
Join the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club to survey for coppers, crescents, skippers, swallowtails, monarchs, and more! The data we collect will be submitted to both the North American Butterfly Association and the NH Butterfly Monitoring Network.
Monitoring for Monarchs
Take part in the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz by joining Harris Center ecologists Brett Amy Thelen and Nate Marchessault to survey for monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies in a local milkweed patch. No experience necessary!
The Kestrels Young Birders Club and LAB GIRLS+: NH Bat Count Survey
Hancock, NH Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin a growing movement of teens who are learning to contribute to wildlife research by working alongside real scientists! In July, we'll conduct a nighttime survey for little and big brown bats as part of a statewide conservation effort.
Biodiversity in the SuperSanctuary: Mini BioBlitz at Bailey Brook
Join naturalists Nate Marchessault and Kate McKay to explore the marshy wetlands of Bailey Brook. We'll keep our eyes open for insects, plants, mushrooms, and anything else that crosses our path, documenting our finds on iNaturalist.
Monitoring for Monarchs
Join Harris Center ecologists Brett Amy Thelen and Nate Marchessault to survey for monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies in a local milkweed patch. No experience necessary!
The Kestrels Young Birders Club and LAB GIRLS+: Nighthawk Migration Count
Hancock, NH Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin a growing movement of teens who are learning to contribute to wildlife research by working alongside real scientists! In August, we'll look skyward to count migrating Common Nighthawks, adding our data to a long-term Harris Center monitoring effort.
Nature by Blacklight
Join naturalists Steven Lamonde, Nate Marchessault, and Susie Spikol for a nocturnal natural history adventure! Discover the fascinating world of fluorescence, and see a summer night in a whole new light.
Monarch Butterfly Tagging
Every fall, monarch butterflies undertake a spectacular, 3,000-mile migration from New England to central Mexico. Marvel at monarchs up close while contributing to the scientific understanding of their impressive annual journey during this afternoon of monarch tagging with ecologists Steven Lamonde and Brett Amy Thelen.
Kids Count: Monarchs & Milkweed Survey
If you love monarch butterflies and want to help scientists find out more about these remarkable insects, here’s your chance! Spend a morning with a team of Harris Center naturalists as we count monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies for science.
