Calendar of Events
Outings
Birding for All: An Accessible, Inclusive Birding Outing at the Manchester Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail
Join the Harris Center and The Nature Conservancy for a 1.2-mile, roundtrip ramble along an accessible trail in the heart of New Hampshire’s largest city. With its crushed stone surface, gentle grade, and benches, this trail is perfect for people of all abilities.
Environmental Studies Institute: Natural History of Monadnock Region Trees
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NH, United StatesGet the most out of leaf-peeping season by joining retired forestry instructor Craig Houghton to discover the science and natural history of our local trees.
Perches in Peterborough: Birds, Trees & Brews
Join Steve Roberge and Phil Brown for a leisurely stroll in downtown Peterborough to learn about the trees around us and the birds that rely on them. As evening approaches, we’ll have the option to continue our discussion over drinks at Post & Beam Brewery.
Following in the Footsteps of John Kulish: Bald Mountain & Willard Pond
Join avid hikers Stan Smith and Vic Starzynski for a moderately strenuous, 4-mile trek to Bald Mountain and its southern summit. This hike includes an elevation gain of 900 feet and traverses land loved by John Kulish during his search for bobcats decades ago.
Easygoing Hike at Crotched Mountain
Join naturalist Nikko Gagnon and longtime outing leader Ben Haubrich for a 1.6-mile roundtrip hike on Crotched Mountain’s accessible Blueberry Ridge and Gregg Trails, with a panoramic view of peak foliage as our reward.
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club at Caughey Forest
Join fungi-philes John Benjamin and George Caughey for a fungstatic foray at Caughey Forest in Antrim. From boletes to amanitas, explore the fascinating world of fungi.
Foliage Hike for Veterans at Cathedral of the Pines
Join Harris Center's Susie Spikol and Cathedral of the Pines Executive Director Michelle Lowe for an afternoon exploration of the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, a historical site founded at the end of World War II to honor all veterans. This event is for veterans only.
Babies in Backpacks & Toddlers in Tow at the Harris Center
Harris Center for Conservation Education 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NH, United StatesJoin Harris Center educator Jazimina MacNeil for these pint-sized adventures in Keene and beyond! Together, we’ll explore, wander, and discover the magic of nearby nature. This ongoing series is a great way to meet other families with little ones who love spending time outside.
Ecology Hike: Loverens Mill Cedar Swamp
Join avid hikers and naturalists Phil Brown and Tom Eid for a 3-mile walk-and-talk at the Loverens Mill Cedar Swamp Preserve in Antrim, where we’ll learn about the cultural history of Loverens Mill and explore a rare boreal white cedar swamp.
Celebratory Paddle at Robb Reservoir
Join Phil Brown, Alan Rumrill, and Geri Bailey for a leisurely paddle through one of the most diverse ecosystems in New England, where we'll look for eagles, turtles, and herons – and discuss the remarkable history of the 1,750-acre Robb Reservoir reservation.
Fall Waterfowl Safari
Join Phil Brown, Nate Marchessault, and other duck enthusiasts as we caravan to multiple waterbodies in search of migratory waterfowl and other late-fall migrants like eagles and gulls
Clubmoss Workshop at Distant Hill Gardens
Join naturalists Michael Nerrie and Nate Marchessault for an introduction to clubmosses and a tutorial on identifying the handful of species that occur in our area. Thanks to Distant Hill’s fantastic network of accessible trails, this workshop is wheelchair-accessible.
Babies in Backpacks & Toddlers in Tow at Converse Meadow
Converse Meadow Trail Converseville Road, Rindge, NH, United StatesJoin Harris Center educator Jazimina MacNeil for these pint-sized adventures in Keene and beyond! Together, we’ll explore, wander, and discover the magic of nearby nature. This ongoing series is a great way to meet other families with little ones who love spending time outside.
Easygoing Hike in Francestown
Join longtime outing leader Ben Haubrich and naturalist Susie Spikol for a gentle, 2.5-mile roundtrip walk through conserved land in Francestown.
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club at Goose Pond
Join fungi-philes John Benjamin and George Caughey for a fungstatic foray at Goose Pond in Keene. From boletes to amanitas, explore the fascinating world of fungi.
Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club at the Harris Center
Join fungi-philes John Benjamin and George Caughey for a fungstatic foray at the Harris Center in Hancock. From boletes to amanitas, explore the fascinating world of fungi.
51st Annual Peterborough-Hancock Christmas Bird Count
Every winter for more than 50 years, volunteers have scoured a 15-mile diameter circle in the Peterborough-Hancock area for birds 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!
Early Winter Ramble for Veterans
Search for early signposts of winter in the Harris Center woods with naturalist Susie Spikol. We’ll take a slow meander to the Big Boulders, stopping to look and listen for winter bird calls, evergreen boughs, and evidence of mammals preparing for the cold months ahead. This hike is only for veterans.
Easygoing Hike at Pisgah State Park
Join Brett Amy Thelen and John Kondos for a relaxed ramble along Pisgah State Park's newly revamped Habitat Loop Trail — a 2.5-mile roundtrip route featuring stone walls, cellar holes, tranquil streams, and more.
Winter Tree Identification Workshop
Join Mike Gagnon and Matt Tarr of UNH Cooperative Extension for a relaxed ramble focused on winter tree identification. We’ll examine branching, buds, and bark while the leaves are off the trees, and discuss how each species functions as habitat for wildlife.
Easygoing Hike at McCabe Forest
Join Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol, Ben Haubrich, and Dave Anderson for an easygoing exploration of an exceptional Forest Society property near downtown Antrim. We’ll discover the diverse cultural and natural history of this site as we hike through a variety of habitats.
Kids Count: Juggernaut Pond Mammal Survey
Calling all kids ages 8 through 18 who love wildlife! Join Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol to try your hand at field research and develop your naturalist skills.
Hiking the Hiroshi Loop
Join Harris Center ecologists Phil Brown and Brett Amy Thelen to hike the 1.9-mile Hiroshi Loop Trail, which winds gently through field and forest and along Nubanusit Brook to gorgeous views of Dinsmore Pond.
Environmental Studies Institute — Unraveling the Mysteries of a Murder: The Roosting Crows of Lawrence, MA
Join fellow Corvid enthusiasts Dan Gardoqui and Phil Brown in the urban wilds of downtown Lawrence, Massachusetts, where we’ll observe the massive winter roost of American Crows, which draws nearly 20,000 birds each night.
LGBTQIA+ Community Hike on the Monadnock Branch Rail Trail
Join Richard Doherty (he/him), Audrey Dunn (she/her), and Hunter Kirschner (he/they) for an LGBTQIA+ community hike along the Monadnock Branch Rail Trail in Jaffrey.
Birding the Dillant-Hopkins Airport
Join Harris Center ecologist Nate Marchessault and the Monadnock Bird and Nature Club (MBNC) for a morning of easygoing birding at the Dillant-Hopkins Airport — a local birding hotspot with great views of wetlands, woodlands, and fields.
The Kestrels Young Birders Club: Great Backyard Bird Count
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.
Winter Tracking Adventure for Families
Join Harris Center naturalist Nikko Gagnon for a family tracking adventure in the wilds of Ashuelot River Park. We’ll search the woods and river edges for leapers, bounders, waddlers, and walkers, and find out which wildlife call this special place home.
Trees & Tracks at Beech Hill
Join Jeremy Wilson and Susie Spikol to explore the highlands of Dublin from the beautiful Beech Hill trail network. Along the way, we’ll discuss the natural history of trees in winter and search for tracks, scat, and other signs of animals who make their homes in these woods.