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.
Native Wild Bees: Pollinator Superheroes
Join pollinator gardener and wild bee enthusiast Francie Von Mertens for a talk on plant-pollinator connections, and what we can do in backyards and beyond to help wild native bees thrive.
Secrets from the Deep Dark Below: Pop Goes the Weasel
Join naturalist and weasel admirer Susie Spikol for a look at the feisty weasels of New Hampshire.
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.
Project Nighthawk Volunteer Training
Join Becky Suomala and Brett Amy Thelen for an introduction to nighthawk identification and ecology, and to learn how to monitor this charismatic endangered species in Keene, Concord, and beyond.
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.
Film Showing & Discussion: “Rearranging Skin”
Join us for a viewing party of the new short film, "Rearranging Skin: A Love Letter to the World" — a delightful ten-minute romp through the history and future of taxidermy for conservation’s sake.
Special Event for Harris Center Supporters: Brunch & Butterflies (& Caterpillars Too!)
Join us for a special morning with Sam Jaffe of The Caterpillar Lab — including live caterpillars! This special event is offered by invitation only to Harris Center supporters.
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.
Wild Canines of New Hampshire
Join naturalist Susie Spikol for an evening tour of New Hampshire's wild canines. Find out how to tell the difference between a red fox and a gray fox, when to listen and look for coyotes, and what happened to our once-common wolf population. Get your howl on, as every wild dog gets its day!
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
ZoomJoin 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.
Environmental Studies Institute: Musical Hiking on the Hiroshi Loop Trail
ZoomJoin 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!
