COVID-19 UPDATE: The Harris Center is canceling or postponing all in-person programs and events through May 4. The Harris Center building will also be closed to visitors until May 4. Our trails and grounds remain open.
Calendar of Events
February 2020
Cross-Country Ski on Old Troy Road
Join Tom Warren for a 2-mile cross-country skiing excursion on scenic Old Troy Road and the Brook Trail.
Learn more »Nature on Tap: Love, Sex, and Wow in the Animal World
Join Harris Center naturalists Brett Amy Thelen, Jenna Spear, and Susie Spikol for a special Valentine’s Day discussion on some of the unusual ways wild animals court and mate. Drinks on you, conversation on us!
Learn more »Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow
Join naturalist Susie Spikol for a gentle winter hike around the Harris Center’s grounds, specially geared towards babies, toddlers, and their caregivers.
Learn more »Easygoing Hike Along the Jaquith Rail Trail
Join Rich Taylor for a moderately easy, 3-mile roundtrip hike along the old Keene to Concord railroad line.
Learn more »Following in the Footsteps of John Kulish at Robb Reservoir
Join Stan Smith and Vic Starzynski for a 4-mile roundtrip hike around one of John Kulish's favorite haunts -- the shoreline of Robb Reservoir.
Learn more »New England’s Long Ago Elephants: Woolly Mammoths and Mastodons
Discover the long-lost lives of the woolly mammoths and mastodons that once roamed New England with Harris Center naturalist and woolly mammoth lover Susie Spikol!
Learn more »Bobcats Before Breakfast: John Kulish, His Book, and His Legacy
Join Susie Spikol and Meade Cadot to learn about the Harris Center’s first naturalist, John Kulish. Dig deeper into the life of this charismatic trapper-turned conservationist and, if conditions allow, do one of the things he loved the most – winter tracking!
Learn more »Snowshoe Hike to Osgood Hill through Partridge Woods
Join Kathy Schillemat for a 4-mile roundtrip hike along the new Partridge Woods trail network to the top of Osgood Hill, the second-highest peak in Cheshire County.
Learn more »Winter Adventures Camp
Join us for Winter Adventures, a three-day winter vacation camp filled with snowshoeing, fort building, animal tracking, nature crafts, games, songs, and more!
Learn more »Winter Survival Skills for Middle Schoolers
Join Harris Center naturalist John Benjamin for a day of of outdoor adventure and survival skills practice, including hiking, fire making, shelter building, orienteering, and more.
Learn more »3rd Annual Norway Pond Symposium
Join us for a day of talks highlighting recent research, and plans for future study, on the ecology of Norway Pond in Hancock.
Learn more »Art Opening: Callihan and Cunningham: Inspired by Nature
Join local artists Sue Callihan and Kim Cunningham for an art show featuring Sue's landscapes and Kim's block prints, collage, and ceramics.
Learn more »March 2020
Easygoing Hike Along the Aldworth Manor Trail
Join Rich and Linda Taylor for a moderately strenuous, 3-mile roundtrip hike along the Aldworth Manor Trail in Harrisville.
Learn more »Sheldrick Forest Preserve Hike
Join Swift Corwin and Richard Pendleton for a 2-mile roundtrip hike on easy trails, where we’ll see impressively large trees, interesting geological formations, and magnificent laurels.
Learn more »Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow
Join naturalist Susie Spikol for a gentle winter hike around the Harris Center’s grounds, specially geared towards babies, toddlers, and their caregivers.
Learn more »Forest Bathing by Moonlight: Reconnect to Nature
Join Susie Spikol and Marilyn Wyzga for a peaceful, moonlit ramble. Taking our cue from the Japanese Shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”) practice, we’ll open our senses through gentle yoga poses, deep breathing, “coyote walking,” and quiet reflection.
Learn more »Harris Center Classic: “Owl Moon” Owl Prowl
Come hoot it up on this full moon adventure for families and children of all ages!
Learn more »Snowshoe Hike in the Mount Thumb Bowl
Join Dave Butler for a snowshoe hike through the hollow formed by the southern and western slopes of Mounts Thumb and Skatutakee -- once completely cleared for farming, and today a boulder-strewn hardwood forest.
Learn more »Bluebird House Workday (and Birding!)
In preparation for spring nesting, join Eric Masterson to clean and repair the 30 bluebird houses that grace the Brown Easement in Hancock.
Learn more »Salamander Crossing Brigades Workshop in Hancock
Every year, we train citizen scientists to serve on Salamander Crossing Brigades throughout the Monadnock Region. To join the ranks – or simply to learn more about the remarkable spring amphibian migration – join us for this fun volunteer training.
Learn more »Environmental Studies Institute: 50 Years Since Earth Day
April 22 marks the 50th Anniversary of the first Earth Day. How is our planet is doing since that landmark 1970 protest? Join a series of experts to explore a different ecosystem each week, including what’s changed in the last five decades, as well as thoughts on the future.
Learn more »Salamander Crossing Brigades Workshop in Keene
Every year, we train citizen scientists to serve on Salamander Crossing Brigades throughout the Monadnock Region. To join the ranks – or simply to learn more about the remarkable spring amphibian migration – join us for this fun volunteer training.
Learn more »36th Annual Waterfowl Safari Along the Connecticut River
The spring bird migration begins in March as waterfowl move north through along the Connecticut River. We’ll carpool to the best birding spots, with a little easy walking as needed, in hopes of seeing the spectacle.
Learn more »April 2020
Environmental Studies Institute: 50 Years Since Earth Day
April 22 marks the 50th Anniversary of the first Earth Day. How is our planet is doing since that landmark 1970 protest? Join a series of experts to explore a different ecosystem each week, including what’s changed in the last five decades, as well as thoughts on the future.
Learn more »“Ask a Naturalist” Virtual Happy Hour
We've had to postpone our popular Nature on Tap series for the spring, but we're excited to bring you a different kind of naturalist happy hour -- via Zoom!
Learn more »Easygoing Hike to Royalston Falls
Join Rich and Linda Taylor for an easygoing, 3-mile roundtrip hike to scenic Royalston Falls, just south of the Masschusetts border.
Learn more »Citizen Science Opportunity: Broad-winged Hawk Tracking Project
We're partnering with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary to tag one or more Broad-winged Hawks with satellite transmitters that will track their migration in detail. The first step is finding their nests, and we need your help to make it happen!
Learn more »Art Opening: Craig Altobello
Join Peterborough marquetry artist Craig Altobello for an art show celebrating forest life in the Monadnock Region and the astonishing beauty we can discover every day in the woods.
Learn more »Harris Center Big Year of Birding: Nightjars, Owls, and Woodcocks
Join Eric Masterson for this next installment in our “Big Year” series of birding outings to Harris Center protected lands – a search for avian creatures of the night!
Learn more »Grand Opening: Elmwood Junction Interpretive Trail
Join us for a 0.5-mile guided walk around the former Elmwood Junction Railroad Station on a new interpretive trail created by Eagle Scout Sigmund Winiecki.
Learn more »
