Calendar of Events
Outings
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 Keene area's best birding spots. Our 1.5-mile roundtrip route along a hard-packed gravel trail will take us through habitats ideal for raptors, ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds.
ESI Course: Introduction to Mycology
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin George Caughey and John Benjamin, the leaders of the Harris Center’s Morel Quandary Mushroom Club, for a fascinating introduction to the science of mycology and natural history behind mushroom hunting. Learn about the role these unique organisms play in...
LGBTQIA+ Community Hike at the Horatio Colony Nature Preserve
Join Richard Doherty (he/him) and Hunter Kirschner (he/they) for an LGBTQIA+ community hike along a loop trail to a lookout point with great views of Keene below.
The Kestrels Young Birders Club: Bird Banding Demonstration
Join Bird Conservation Director Phil Brown and naturalist Susie Spikol to observe the bird banding process in Antrim. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to grow your birding skills and connect with other young wildlife fans!
ESI Course: Introduction to Mycology
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin George Caughey and John Benjamin, the leaders of the Harris Center’s Morel Quandary Mushroom Club, for a fascinating introduction to the science of mycology and natural history behind mushroom hunting. Learn about the role these unique organisms play in...
North Pack Monadnock Hike
Join Phil Brown and Jessie James for challenging 6-mile loop hike along a beautiful trail to a scenic viewpoint on North Pack Monadnock.
Mushroom Meander for Veterans at Robin Hood Park
Join Harris Center naturalist John Benjamin and mushroom maven George Caughey for an afternoon meander through Robin Hood Park in search of polypores, puffballs, and other fascinating fungi. This hike is for veterans only.
Mount Monadnock Hike
Join former Monadnock State Park Manager Ben Haubrich, Trish Harper, and Susie Spikol for a challenging, 5-mile roundtrip hike up Mount Monadnock that will be both scenic and historic as Ben share's his favorite memories of working at this iconic mountain.
Babies in Backpacks & Toddlers in Tow at Beech Hill in Dublin
Beech Hill Beech Hill Road, Dublin, NH, United StatesJoin Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol to explore, wander, and discover the magic of nearby nature at Beech Hill in Dublin. These pint-sized adventures are perfect for little legs and for babies in front packs, backpacks, slings, or wraps.
Easygoing Hike at Crotched Mountain
Join Phil Brown and Ignacio Oreamuno to hike one of Crotched Mountain’s universal-access trails. We’ll be on the lookout for signs of the season as we move slowly, making intentional stops to discuss natural history and other points of interest.
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club at Robin Hood Park
Join mushroom mavens John Benjamin and George Caughey for a fungtastic foray in Keene. From boletes to amanitas, explore the fascinating world of fungi!
Hiking Kilburn Pond
Join Harris Center ecologist Brett Amy Thelen and John Kondos of Friends of Pisgah for a 3.5-mile loop hike around scenic Kilburn Pond, with views of woods and water. Along the way, we'll explore stone walls, rock outcroppings, a 1930s-era dam, and more.
Fern Identification 101: Evergreen and Tardy Ferns
Join fern experts Michael Nerrie and Nate Marchessault for a late-autumn workshop on fern identification, featuring a presentation, live specimens, and a short field walk.
Monadnock Lakes Waterfowl Safari
Up to 20 species of ducks can be found in the Monadnock Region’s lakes and wetlands during peak migration. Join Phil Brown, Nate Marchessault, and fellow duck enthusiasts as we caravan to multiple waterbodies in search of waterfowl and other late-fall migrants.
The Kestrels Young Birders Club: Bluebird Box Building
Are you a tween or teen interested in birds? Join Phil Brown, Susie Spikol, and a MAXT Makerspace woodshop expert for a bluebird nest-box building workshop with fellow young birders.
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club at McCabe Forest
Let the fascinating world of fungi capture your imagination on this walk with mushroom mavens John Benjamin and George Caughey. Discover late fall mushrooms, and learn about the complex role this kingdom plays in our woodland ecosystems.
Babies in Backpacks & Toddlers in Tow in Harrisville
Harrisville Harrisville, NHJoin Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol to explore, wander, and discover the magic of nearby nature on a Rail Trail in Harrisville. These pint-sized adventures are perfect for little legs and for babies in front packs, backpacks, slings, or wraps.
Easygoing Hike at the Fremont Field
Join naturalist Susie Spikol and poet-forester Swift Corwin for a late autumn walk through the meadows and forests of Peterborough’s Fremont land. We’ll look for wildlife clues and talk trees with a touch of poetry along the way.
Winter Star Gaze
Explore the night sky with the Keene Amateur Astronomy Club as we search for stars, planets, constellations, and early Geminid meteors on this family-friendly stargazing adventure.
Birding the Dillant-Hopkins Airport
Join Harris Center ecologist Nate Marchessault and the Monadnock Bird and Nature Club for a morning of easygoing birding at the Dillant-Hopkins Airport — a local birding hotspot with great views of wetlands, woodlands, and fields. Beginning birders welcome!
Easygoing Hike on the Cheshire Rail Trail
Join historian Alan Rumrill and ecologist Brett Amy Thelen for a 2.6-mile walk along the Cheshire Rail Trail, where we'll search for signs of the former Cheshire Railroad, learn how the railroad shaped Keene’s history, and enjoy the subtle beauty of stick season.
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.
Hike Into the New Year at Hiroshi
Join Harris Center bird conservation director Phil Brown on a winter wander along the 1.9-mile Hiroshi Loop Trail, where we’ll search for winter songbirds, mammal sign, and the season’s other gifts.
Trees & Tracks for Veterans
Join naturalist Susie Spikol and forest ecologist Jeremy Wilson for a morning ramble around the Harris Center grounds, where we’ll search for mammal tracks and sign and take a closer look at trees in winter. Open to all veterans.
Winter Walk at Goose Pond
Join Harris Center naturalist Nikko Gagnon for a leisurely winter hike around Goose Pond. Together, we’ll take time to notice animal tracks and sign, snap photographs, and use binoculars to observe this beautiful area in its quiet season. You may be surprised by how much life is still bustling in the cold months!
Birding in Surry
Join Harris Center ecologist Nate Marchessault and the Monadnock Bird and Nature Club for a morning of birding in Surry. Beginning birders welcome!
Environmental Studies Institute: Winter Tracking & Sign
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NH, United StatesLearn to read the winter woods with Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol. Together, we’ll explore local fields and forests in search of tracks, trails, and other clues that reveal how animals move through the cold season.
Easygoing Hike on the Greenfield Rail Trail
Join naturalist Susie Spikol and forest ecologist Jeremy Wilson for a trees-and-tracks meander along the old railroad corridor from Peterborough to Greenfield and back. This easygoing, 2.5-mile outing follows a flat, wide trail — perfect for an unhurried winter walk.
Stories in Stone: A Winter History Hike at Mason Quarry
Join Miki Clements and Robert Larochelle for a moderate 3-mile hike through the historic Mason Quarry, with stops at a railroad workers’ memorial, old foundations, and the storied Wolf Rock.
