Calendar of Events
Outings
Easygoing Hike at Elmwood Junction
Join historian Alan Rumrill and naturalist Susie Spikol for a historical exploration of the old railroad station at Elmwood Junction. Take a walk back in time as we visit different parts of this important former railyard, and discover how the railroad helped shape the history of the Monadnock Region.
Lost and Found: Looking for Native American History in Peterborough
Explore Native American history with archaeologist Dr. Robert Goodby in Peterborough’s Depot Square. Learn how to dig a test pit, then visit the Monadnock Center to view local archaeological finds and discover what they reveal about Native American life in the area.
Kestrels Young Birders Club: Kestrel & Bobolink Adventure
Are you a teenager or tween with an interest in birds and birding? Join Phil Brown and Susie Spikol on a special outing to a field where American Kestrels, Bobolinks, and other grassland birds breed. June is the peak month for activity, and with some luck, the resident kestrel pair will have returned to raise their young.
Exploring the Gramwick Trail
Join avid hikers Brian Bishoff, Betsy Marshall, and Denny Wheeler for a 2-mile roundtrip hike of the Monadnock Conservancy’s Gramwick Trail, with beautiful views of Mountain Brook Reservoir and Mount Monadnock.
Wild Paddlers at Cunningham Pond
Join Harris Center and Peterborough Recreation staff for a morning meander on Cunningham Pond, where we’ll look for turtles, frogs, herons, and other wildlife. This pond offers the perfect flatwater experience for new paddlers, and an enjoyable exploration for more experienced paddlers as well.
Beginner Birding in Surry
Join avid birders Wendy Gibbons and Jane Wing for an introduction to birding at the Joslin Road gravel pits, one of the best birding spots in the Keene area. Our 1.5-mile roundtrip route along a hard-packed gravel trail will take us through habitats ideal for raptors, ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds.
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.
Birding for All: An Accessible, Inclusive Birding Outing at Glover’s Ledge
Join Chris Liazos, Phil Brown, and Susie Spikol for a 0.6-mile walk along the accessible trail at Glover’s Ledge, Antioch University New England’s outdoor classroom. We’ll explore the fascinating world of post-fledging birds and look for other wildlife as we explore this young forest. This ADA-compliant trail is wheelchair-accessible.
Babies in Backpacks & Toddlers at the Hancock Depot Rail Trail
Hancock Depot 27 Depot Road, Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol to explore, wander, and discover the magic of nearby nature. These pint-sized adventures are perfect for little legs and for babies in front packs, backpacks, slings, or wraps.
Early Morning Forest Bathing
Start your day with birdsong, morning light, and the quiet power of nature connection on a morning meander through meadows and woodlands with naturalist Susie Spikol and yoga instructor Marilyn Wyzga.
Easygoing Hike Along Lead Mine Road
Join Jeremy Wilson and Brett Amy Thelen for a relaxed, 3.2-mile ramble along one of the SuperSanctuary's most scenic country roads — and to learn some of the remarkable conservation history of the protected lands surrounding Lead Mine Road, Center Pond, and Silver Lake, which total hundreds of acres in all.
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.
Wild Paddlers on the Contoocook River
Join Harris Center and Peterborough Recreation staff for a morning paddle along a quiet, meandering stretch of the Contoocook River. As we go, we’ll search for birds, turtles, and other wildlife. Bring your own kayak, canoe, or SUP, along with paddles and PFDs for each person in your boat.
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!
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club in Hancock
Let the fascinating world of fungi capture your imagination on this walk with mushroom mavens John Benjamin and George Caughey. Discover summertime mushrooms, and find out about the complex role this kingdom plays in our woodland ecosystems.
Babies in Backpacks & Toddlers in Tow at Tenant Swamp Boardwalk in Keene
Tenant Swamp Boardwalk 167 Maple Avenue, Keene, United StatesJoin Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol to explore, wander, and discover the magic of nearby nature at Tenant Swamp in Keene, a unique wetland and mixed forest ecosystem accessible via a scenic boardwalk. These pint-sized adventures are perfect for little legs and for babies in front packs, backpacks, slings, or wraps.
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.
Easygoing Hike at Little Brook Farm
Join avid hikers and outdoor enthusiasts Ben Haubrich and Jim Rothnie for a summer saunter at a special property in Jaffrey. We’ll begin in a beautiful garden on private land, then proceed through a mixed hardwood and evergreen forest and along the edge of an active beaver pond.
Birding for All: Birding the Nighthawk Migration
Nighthawks are among the last migrants to arrive each spring and the earliest to depart each “fall,” with southbound migration peaking in late August. Join nighthawk enthusiasts Cliff Seifer and Brett Amy Thelen to search for the spectacle!
Wild Paddlers at Willard Pond
Join Harris Center and Peterborough Recreation staff for a morning paddle on the quiet waters of Willard Pond, a secluded pond surrounded by conservation land. As we go, we’ll search for birds, turtles, loons, and signs of other wildlife.
Veterans Hike up Mount Skatutakee
Join the Harris Center and Keene Vet Center for a morning hike up Mount Skatutakee! As we travel along the 3-mile roundtrip Harriskat Trail, we’ll keep our eyes open for early signs of late summer, from mushrooms to migrating birds. This hike is only for veterans.
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club in Chesterfield
Let the fascinating world of fungi capture your imagination on this walk with mushroom mavens John Benjamin and George Caughey. Discover late summertime mushrooms, and learn about the complex role this kingdom plays in our woodland ecosystems.
Forest Bathing Soak
Hancock Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin naturalist Susie Spikol and yoga instructor Marilyn Wyzga for Forest Bathing — a mindful nature experience combining sensory awareness, standing yoga poses, and breathwork. Wear a swimsuit for this rare chance to wade into the clear waters of Nubanusit Lake from a private beach.
Kestrels Young Birders Club: Nighthawk Migration Watch
Join Phil Brown and Susie Spikol for a look up at the remarkable evening migration of Common Nighthawks. If it's an average night, we should get good looks at a handful of these acrobatic flyers. If it's better than average, we just might see hundreds of nighthawks foraging in giant flocks.
