Calendar of Events
Afterschool Program: Fort-a-Tude
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NHCalling all adventurers with a heart for fort building! Join teacher-naturalist John Benjamin for three afternoons deep in the Harris Center woods, building your own woodland fort. Perfect for children in grades 2 through 4.
Afterschool Program: Fort-a-Tude
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NHCalling all adventurers with a heart for fort building! Join teacher-naturalist John Benjamin for three afternoons deep in the Harris Center woods, building your own woodland fort. Perfect for children in grades 2 through 4.
Downtown Geology Walk in Keene
Join Keene State College geology professor Charlie Kerwin for a tour of downtown Keene’s geological treasures. From building facades to front steps, prepare to be blown away by the rocks and minerals along Main Street, and the stories they have to tell.
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club
Join mycophile and teacher-naturalist John Benjamin for a fungal foray through Friedsam Town Forest, where we’ll seek out mushrumps, mycelium, and mycorhizal connections.
Bird Identification, Ecology & Habitat Management at Stone Fence Farm
Join Phil Brown, Matt Tarr, and others for a morning of birding and learning at Stone Fence Farm, a property owned and managed for a diversity of native species by professional foresters Jeremy Turner and Laura French.
LGBTQ+ Community Paddle on Nubanusit Lake
Join Dee Denehy (she, her), Richard Doherty (he, him), and Hunter Kirschner (he, him) for an LGBTQ+ paddle on Nubanusit Lake. After the paddle, we’ll also have access to a private area for swimming, relaxing, and fostering community.
Spring Tree Identification Walk
Join Mike Gagnon and Matt Tarr of UNH Extension for a relaxed ramble focused on tree and shrub identification.
Hike to Scenic Royalston Falls
Join Denny Wheeler and Brian Bishoff for an 4-mile roundtrip hike on gently rolling terrain to scenic Royalston Falls, just south of the Massachusetts border. Our route will wind through groves of rhododendron, which should be in bloom.
Birding for All: An Accessible, Inclusive Birding Outing at MacDowell Lake
Join naturalists Phil Brown and Susie Spikol for a birding outing at MacDowell Lake in Peterborough, where we'll enjoy birds of both wetland and woodland. This event and successive "Birding for All" outings are designed with accessibility in mind. Beginning birders welcome!
iNaturalist Field Training & Mini BioBlitz
Join ecologist Steven Lamonde for a hands-on introduction to iNaturalist. We'll start with group instruction on how to collect natural history observations via the iNaturalist app, then venture out to document as many species as possible along the Hiroshi Loop Trail.
Environmental Studies Institute: Talking with Birds — Understanding the Language of Nature
Join master naturalist, teacher, and bird whisperer Dan Gardoqui for a full day of learning how to tune into and understand bird language.
White Swamp via Canoe and Shoe
Join Al Stoops for a paddle to scenic Spoonwood Pond, where we’ll beach the watercraft and head north on foot to explore White Swamp, the site of an old heron rookery.
Barberry Pulling Party at Bailey Brook
Join the Nelson Conservation Commission for a morning of pulling invasive barberry along the Bailey Brook Trail. Many hands make light work — and, hopefully, more room for native plants to thrive!
Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow at the Jaquith Rail Trail
Join Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol on a late spring romp in search of butterflies, brand new leaves, singing birds, and blue skies. A great chance to meet other families who enjoy spending time outside.
Environmental Studies Institute: Musical Hiking on the Hiroshi Loop Trail
Join musician Jazimina MacNeil for a deep dive into the stories and natural inspiration behind the two musical hikes she created for the Hiroshi Loop Trail: The Singing Stream and In Fine Feather. On Thursdays, we'll meet via Zoom. On Saturdays, we'll hit the trail!
Kids Count for Wildlife: NH Bat Counts
Calling all kids ages 9 through 18 who care about wildlife! Try your hand at field research by joining the Harris Center for an evening of bat counting. You’ll need sharp eyes, fast reflexes, and a healthy sense of nighttime adventure.
Forestry and Birds Hike at Kensan-Devan Wildlife Sanctuary
Learn how a working forest can benefit songbirds on this birding hike through the Kensan Devan Wildlife Sanctuary with Phil Brown, Steven Lamonde, and Marc Nutter.
Snake Search
Join Matt Patterson and Susie Spikol for an afternoon snake search along the Harris Center grounds. Find out if any snakes have moved into the Harris Center’s snake hotels, hunt for snakeskin, and discover the incredible natural history of these slithery reptiles.
Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow at Casalis State Forest
Join Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol for a wild ramble in search of summer birds, wildflowers, salamanders, and other amazing finds. A perfect hike for little legs!
Wetland Shrub Identification Walk
Join Mike Gagnon and Matt Tarr of UNH Extension for a relaxed ramble focused on wetland shrub identification. We'll examine branching patterns, leaf shape and structure, flowers, fruits, and more.
Birding for All: An Accessible, Inclusive Birding Outing at the Tenant Swamp Boardwalk
Join naturalists Phil Brown and Susie Spikol for a birding outing at the Tenant Swamp Boardwalk in Keene, where gently curving paths and a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk traverse an ecologically and culturally rich woodland.
Environmental Studies Institute: Bird Language Study Group
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NHBirds are the messengers of the forest. In this four-week course, you’ll learn how to listen deeply, how to tell what different bird calls mean, and how practicing bird language can give us a deeper understanding of the world around us.
Environmental Studies Institute: Fantastic Ferns of New Hampshire
Join acclaimed naturalist Lynn Levine for a day of learning all about ferns. We'll start with an indoor introduction to these incredible plants – which have survived four mass extinctions! – then head outside in search of ferns to observe and identify.
Kids Count for Wildlife: Monarchs & Milkweed Survey
Calling all kids ages 9 through 18 who care about wildlife! Try your hand at field research by joining the Harris Center for a morning of counting monarch caterpillars, eggs, and butterflies. If you like treasure hunts and have a sharp eye for finding things, this outing is for you.
Monitoring for Monarchs
Join Harris Center ecologists to survey for monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies in a Harris Center-conserved milkweed patch in Peterborough. No experience necessary!
Golden Hour Paddle at Center Pond
Join Brett Amy Thelen and Jeremy Wilson for a leisurely evening paddle around Center Pond, where we’ll listen for loons, look for beavers, and learn about the curious connection between the Currier Museum of Art and the conservation of this Nelson town gem.
Insect Safari & Bug Bonanza
Join naturalist Susie Spikol for a morning meadow adventure in search of crickets, leafhoppers, butterflies, grasshoppers, and more. A great way for families with elementary-age children to learn about the wild world of arthropods.
Environmental Studies Institute: Bird Language Study Group
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NHBirds are the messengers of the forest. In this four-week course, you’ll learn how to listen deeply, how to tell what different bird calls mean, and how practicing bird language can give us a deeper understanding of the world around us.
Environmental Studies Institute: True Nature Yoga
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NHImmerse yourself in the sounds, scents, and sensations of five summer evenings as we explore nature within and around us through yoga. Embody bird flight, insect hum, and the rootedness of trees. Variations will be offered to suit beginners and seasoned yogis alike.
LGBTQ+ Community Hike and Blueberry Picking on Pitcher Mountain
Join Dee Denehy (she, her), Richard Doherty (he, him), and Hunter Kirschner (he, him) for an LGBTQ+ hike and blueberry picking on Pitcher Mountain, with panoramic views.
