Harris Center

Hike Into the New Year at Hiroshi
2026-01-02 09:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Hiroshi Land, Route 137, Peterborough, NH, 03458, United States
Contact Phil by email to join the waitlist.
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. After a long holiday season, welcome the new year outdoors! All ages are welcome.
9:30 a.m. to noon at the Hiroshi Loop Trail in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Dress for the weather, and come prepared for winter conditions with spikes or snowshoes (or borrow some from us).
Space is limited, and registration is full. For more information, including questions about accessibility, or to add your name to the waitlist, contact Phil.

LAB GIRLS+ Experiments From the Wild & In the Field: Mammal Evidence
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:00
If you like having hands-on experiences in nature, making discoveries, and studying wild animals, then this club is for you! From squirrels to slime molds, come explore the wild side of STEM with Harris Center naturalists Jaime Hutchinson and Susie Spikol. Different women in STEM professions will be highlighted each session, with special guests including a butterfly biologist and a wildlife artist. All events in this series are free of charge. For middle schoolers and up.
Connect with wildlife biologists and tracking professionals as we get ready for the winter tracking season! Learn how to interpret wild animal evidence – such as tracks, scat, and feeding sign – and discover how different mammals prepare for and survive winter conditions.
10 p.m. to noon at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. Directions to the exact location will be provided prior to the event. Space is limited, and separate registration is required for each LAB GIRLS+ session. For more information about this particular event, including questions about accessibility, or to be notified about future LAB GIRLS+ events, contact Susie.

Hiking the Hiroshi Loop
2025-01-29 09:30 - 12:00
Contact Miles at (603) 525-3394 or by email to join the waitlist.
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. As we go, we’ll take our time to search for signs of winter wildlife and to explore other facets of this site’s unique natural and human history. Dress for the weather, and come prepared for winter conditions with spikes or snowshoes (or borrow winter gear from us).
9:30 a.m. to noon at the Hiroshi Loop Trail in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Space is limited, and registration is full. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Phil.

Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club on the Hiroshi Land
2024-09-12 15:00 - 16:00
Join fungi-philes John Benjamin and George Caughey for a fungstatic foray on the Hiroshi Loop Trail in Peterborough. From boletes to amanitas, explore the fascinating world of fungi.
3 to 4 p.m. on the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. Directions to the site will be provided prior to the event. Space is limited, and registration is required. For more information, contact Susie Spikol.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie Spikol.

Monarch Butterfly Tagging
2024-09-06 13:00 - 14:00
Contact Miles at (603) 525-3394 or by email to be added to a notification list in the event that we’re able to reschedule.

Every fall, monarch butterflies undertake a spectacular, 3,000-mile migration from New England to central Mexico. Contribute to the scientific understanding of this impressive annual migration during an afternoon of butterfly tagging with Harris Center ecologist Brett Amy Thelen and monarch mavens Andy Chapman and Wendy Ward. Together, we’ll use butterfly nets to catch any monarchs we find, then affix each one with a tag that displays a unique code before releasing them back to the wild. Afterward, we’ll submit our data to Monarch Watch, in the hope that these individual monarchs might be re-sighted on their overwintering grounds in Mexico or elsewhere along their migratory route. You’ll leave with a few tags to use on your own, and a new appreciation for this most royal of insects
Bring a butterfly net if you have one (or use one of ours), and come prepared for sun, tall grass, ticks, and other biting insects. No experience necessary!
1 to 2 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Space is limited.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular event, including questions about accessibility, please contact Brett.

LGBTQ+ Community Hike on the Hiroshi Loop Trail
2024-08-03 14:00 - 16:00
Join Hunter Kirschner (he/they), Audrey Dunn (she/her), and Richard Doherty (he/him) to explore the sights and sounds of summer on an LGBTQ+ community hike along the 1.9-mile Hiroshi Loop Trail. Afterwards, we’ll have the option to gather at a local ice cream stand or watering hole for continued community. Bring binoculars (or borrow a pair from us), and come prepared for biting insects. This hike is specifically for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
2 to 4 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. Exact meeting location will be provided upon registration. Space is limited, and registration is required.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Audrey.

Winter Ecology Snowshoe for Veterans
2024-02-03 10:00 - 11:30
Have you ever wondered how animals and plants survive winter’s freezing temperatures and snowy conditions? Come join Harris Center naturalists Susie Spikol and Nikko Gagnon for a morning exploration of the Hiroshi Property in Peterborough, New Hampshire. We’ll hike or snowshoe along the trails of this spectacular property, exploring the survival techniques of winter active animals like beavers, otters, and owls. The Center has snowshoes and poles to loan.
10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. To register, contact Jen Whitney or call the Keene Vet Center at (603) 358-4950. For more information, contact Susie.
Co-sponsored by The Keene Vet Center and the Harris Center for Conservation Education.

Exploring the Hiroshi Loop Trail
2024-01-19 10:00 - 12:00
Join Harris Center teacher-naturalists Nikko Gagnon and Kara Reynolds 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. As we go, we’ll learn about the land’s recent human history and search for signs of winter wildlife. Dress for the weather, and come prepared for winter conditions with spikes or snowshoes.
10 a.m. to noon at the Hiroshi Loop Trail in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Space is limited, and registration is full.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For questions about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, or to borrow snowshoes or spikes, contact Nikko.

Field Trip: Fall Tree Identification
2023-09-26 16:00 - 18:00
Contact Audrey at (603) 525-3394 or by email to join the waitlist.
Join Mike Gagnon and Matt Tarr of UNH Extension for a relaxed ramble focused on fall tree identification. Together, we’ll examine branching patterns, leaf shape and structure, foliage, fruit, and how each species functions as habitat for wildlife. Come prepared for ticks, and for some walking on uneven ground.
4 to 6 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Space is limited, and registration is full.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For questions about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Brett Amy Thelen.
Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and UNH Cooperative Extension.

Winter Tree Identification Walk
2023-03-17 14:00 - 16:00
Join Mike Gagnon and Matt Tarr of UNH Cooperative Extension for a relaxed winter tree ID walk. We’ll focus on branching, buds, and bark while the leaves are off the trees, and discuss how each species functions as habitat for wildlife. Dress for the weather, and come prepared with snowshoes or ice traction.
2 to 4 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101.
Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. To borrow snowshoes or spikes, contact Miles Stahmann by March 15. For other information about this outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Mike.
Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and the UNH Cooperative Extension.

Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow at the Hiroshi Land
2022-10-18 10:00 - 11:00
Join Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol and parent educators from The River Center for a wild ramble in search of signs of fall. From acorns and mushrooms to chipmunks and chickadees, come spend time with other families interested in being outside and exploring the magical world we live in. A perfect hike for little legs – and a great chance to chat about parenting questions as we walk!
10 to 11 a.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Space is limited, and registration is required.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, including questions about accessibility, see our Outings Information page. For more information on this particular outing, please contact Susie.
Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and with parent support from The River Center.

Hike-a-thon: Leaf Peeping Along the Hiroshi Loop Trail
2022-10-16 12:00 - 14:00
Join Harris Center ecologist Karen Seaver and several returning undergraduate interns for a foliage-focused, 1.9-mile hike along the relatively flat terrain of the Hiroshi Loop Trail. We’ll travel at an easy pace so that we can observe natural curiosities along the way, especially the colorful shifts in forest canopy and understory that take place this time of year. Please dress in layers, bring water, and be prepared for ticks.
Meet at noon at the Hiroshi Loop Trail parking area in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Back by 2 p.m. Space is limited, and registration is required.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, including questions about accessibility, see our Outings Information page. For more information on this particular outing, please contact Karen.
About the Hike-a-Thon: From October 7 to 21, we invite you to enjoy the Harris Center’s beautiful trails while helping raise money for trailside benches during our first-ever Hike-a-Thon! The benches will be great places to rest and take in the scenery, and are essential for helping people of all ages and abilities enjoy the great outdoors. Become an official part of the Hike-a-thon by signing up here (in addition to registering for this particular Harris Center-led hike).

Monarch Butterfly Tagging
2022-09-17 10:00 - 12:00
Every fall, monarch butterflies undertake a spectacular, 3,000-mile migration from New England to central Mexico. Here’s your chance to marvel at this far-ranging species up close and contribute to an understanding of their impressive annual migration!
During this morning of butterfly tagging with Harris Center ecologists Karen Seaver and Brett Amy Thelen, we’ll use butterfly nets to catch any monarchs we find, then affix each one with a tag that displays a unique code. Data on the butterflies that we tag (sex, location, tag number) will be submitted to the Monarch Watch community science project, in the hope that these individual monarchs might be re-identified on their overwintering grounds in Mexico or elsewhere along their migratory route. Bring a butterfly net if you have one (or use one of ours), and come prepared for sun, tall grass, ticks, and other biting insects. No experience necessary.
10 a.m. to noon at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Rain date: Sept 18. Space is limited, and registration is required.
For general information about Harris Center field trips, including questions about accessibility, see our Outings Information page. For questions about this particular event, please contact Karen.

iNaturalist Field Training & Mini BioBlitz
2022-06-14 13:00 - 15:00
Join ecologist Steven Lamonde for a hands-on introduction to iNaturalist, an online community science platform for documenting biodiversity. We’ll start with group instruction on how to collect and submit natural history observations via the iNaturalist app, then venture out to document as many species as possible in the field, forest, and wetland edges along the Hiroshi Loop Trail. Bring a smartphone or tablet with the iNaturalist app already installed, and come prepared for sun and biting insects.
1 to 3 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101.
Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, including questions about accessibility, see our Outings Information page. For questions about this particular outing, please contact Steven or Brett Amy Thelen.
Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and the Peterborough Conservation Commission.

Easygoing Hike Along the Hiroshi Loop Trail
2021-11-14 09:00 - 11:00
Join Miki Clements-Collier for a moderately easy 2-mile hike along the Hiroshi Loop Trail, with great views over Dinsmore Pond to Skatutakee and Thumb Mountains. We’ll be hiking on trail (no bushwhacking), with minimal elevation gain. Bring a snack, and meet at 9 a.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Back by 11 a.m.
Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, please fill out this online form.

Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow in Peterborough
2021-11-09 10:00 - 11:00
Calling all families with young children! Join Harris Center naturalist and animal lover Susie Spikol on the second Tuesday of each month to wander trails and meadows in search of adventure and wild finds. This is a great opportunity to discover nearby nature, and to connect with other families who like to spend time outside.
10 to 11 a.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. The trailhead is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, please fill out this online form.

Mushroom Meander with the Morel Quandary Club
2021-10-28 17:00 - 18:00
Join avid mushroomer and naturalist John Benjamin and his trusty sidekick Susie Spikol for a late-day mushroom walk. We’ll look for polypores, russulas, amanitas, and other fabulous fungi while learning the key points to identification. Come find out about mushroom folklore and mythology, and explore the essential role this unique kingdom plays in our world!
5 to 6 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough, which is located on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of its junction with Route 101. This will be a slow walk, but on uneven ground. Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, please fill out this online form.

In Fine Feather: A Musical Walk on the Hiroshi Loop Trail
2021-06-26, 2021-06-25
Birds have long been symbols of hope and renewal, harbingers of warmth and abundance, and a physical manifestation of spiritual freedom, inspiring artists of all stripes.
Following the success of The Singing Stream, Electric Earth Concerts and the Harris Center are continuing their collaboration with a new musical hiking experience, In Fine Feather.
Participants will download this digital “mix tape” of music and poetry inspired by birdsong, interspersed with the sounds of birds singing. (If you are using the Google Drive app to download that file, there is a dropdown menu in the upper right corner with the option to make the file “available offline.” We recommend that you select this option to ensure you don’t have any connectivity issues while on the trail, and also that you pack a portable speaker so the sounds of the forest can mingle with the music and poetry as you walk.)
A map — available at the trailhead — will guide your hike, offering visuals of the birds and tidbits about the poets and composers you’ll hear as you walk along the Harris Center’s Hiroshi Loop Trail.
On June 25 and 26, musician Jazimina MacNeil and poet and naturalist Henry Walters will offer a series of half-hour introductory talks that dig into the stories behind the music and poems, the biology of birdsong, and the ways in which humans and birds listen to and inspire each other.
These talks will be offered at six different times: Friday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 26 at 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5 p.m. Following the talks, In Fine Feather will remain a part of the Hiroshi Loop Trail in perpetuity.
Space in each session is limited, and registration is required. To register, please fill out this online form.
To kick-off In Fine Feather, Electric Earth will also present an in-person concert on June 21 in Jaffrey, featuring Conference of the Birds — a work for string quartet and reader by composer Chris Theofanidis and poet Melissa Studdard. Conference of the Birds, inspired by the 12th-century Persian allegorical poem of the same name, chronicles the collective journey of all the world’s birds to find a new leader, culminating in the realization that through their journey they themselves have become the leader they seek. For tickets or more information, visit Conference of the Birds on the Electric Earth website.
Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and Electric Earth Concerts.

Fungi Foray with the Morel Quandary Club
2021-05-27 17:00 - 18:00
Join the Morel Quandary Club’s fungi fans John Benjamin and Susie Spikol for a spring ramble about the Hiroshi Land, where we’ll search for mushrooms, slime molds, and other fascinating fungal finds. COVID precautions will apply, including small group size and COVID-safe distancing.

5 to 6 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough.
Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, please fill out this online form.

The Singing Stream: A Musical Hike on the Hiroshi Loop Trail
2020-10-11, 2020-10-10, 2020-10-09
We welcome you to The Singing Stream, a musical and poetic journey through the Hiroshi Loop Trail in Peterborough. With Franz Schubert’s tender song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin (“The Lovely Maid of the Mill”) as your guide, we invite you to heighten your senses, open your heart, and walk in the woods in a new way.
On October 9, 10, and 11, mezzo-soprano Jazimina MacNeil and violinist Marji Gere will give short talks exploring the ways Schubert and Wilhelm Müller weave the natural world into their music and poetry. Then, you’ll head out on your own for a 1.8-mile walk through the woods, with Schubert’s music — downloaded to your phone or tablet in advance — as your guide.
Space is limited, and registration is required. Music download directions and exact location information will be provided upon registration. Please read our COVID-19 outing guidelines before registering to be sure this is the right program for you.
Register online here. This event is being offered six times from October 9 through 11 (at both noon and 3 p.m. each day), so if registration for a particular time slot is full, please see our Events page for other dates and times.
The Singing Stream will remain a part of the Hiroshi Trail in perpetuity, so if you are unable to come to the opening weekend, don’t worry! Instructions for the walk will be made available on our Trails page after October 12.
Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and Electric Earth Concerts.

Trees and Tracks
2020-01-16 14:00 - 15:30
Join forest ecologist Jeremy Wilson and naturalist Susie Spikol for an afternoon of looking at winter trees and the animal tracks found around them. Learn to tell the trees from the forest and read the stories told by tracks. Bring snowshoes and dress for winter weather. 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land. Meet at the Hiroshi trailhead on Route 137, 2.1 miles north of the gas station at the intersection of Routes 101 and 137 in Dublin. For more information or to reserve a pair of snowshoes, please contact Susie at (603) 525-3394 or by email.

Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow
2019-10-25 10:00 - 11:00
Being active outside with your children is a great way to spend the morning, and to awaken your children’s senses. On these walks, which are specially geared towards babies, toddlers, and their caregivers, we’ll meander and look for what treasures the natural world has to offer. Come meet other families who like to be outside and discover some beautiful, family-friendly trails to visit again and again!
10 to 11 a.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. Meet at the trailhead in the Hiroshi field on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of the intersection of Routes 101 and 137 in Dublin and just south of the Harrisville town line. For more information, please contact Susie Spikol at (603) 525-3394 or by email.

Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow
2019-06-23 10:00 - 11:00
Come out, come out, babes in arms, into the fair spring air! Join us for this gentle morning ramble, specially designed for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers. Babies in frontpacks, backpacks, wraps, and slings – help us search for birds that sing. Toddlers and tots – help seek out butterflies, frogs, and salamanders under rocks.
RE-SCHEDULED from June 15. 10 to 11 a.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. Meet at the trailhead in the Hiroshi field on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of the intersection of Routes 101 and 137 in Dublin and just south of the Harrisville town line. For more information, please contact Susie Spikol at (603) 525-3394 or by email.

Babies in Backpacks and Toddlers in Tow
2019-06-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2019-06-06 10:00 - 11:00
Come out, come out, babes in arms, into the fair spring air! Join us for this gentle morning ramble, specially designed for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers. Babies in frontpacks, backpacks, wraps, and slings – help us search for birds that sing. Toddlers and tots – help seek out butterflies, frogs, and salamanders under rocks.
10 to 11 a.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterborough. Meet at the trailhead in the Hiroshi field on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of the intersection of Routes 101 and 137 in Dublin and just south of the Harrisville town line. For more information, please contact Susie Spikol at (603) 525-3394 or by email.

Shinrin-Yoku: A Forest Bathing Experience
2019-06-13 11:00 - 12:30
Shinrin-Yoku, also known as Forest Bathing, is gaining popularity in the U.S. after being practiced in Japan for decades. Through yoga poses, deep breathing, and quiet sensory observations, our revitalizing Shinrin-Yoku sessions will help you catch your breath, slow down, and find solace in nature. These gentle rambles will wake up your senses and give you a chance to reconnect to the natural world and to yourself.
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hiroshi Land in Peterbrough. Meet at the trailhead in the Hiroshi field on the east side of Route 137, 2.1 miles north of the intersection of Routes 101 and 137 in Dublin and just south of the Harrisville town line.
Note: This program has been CANCELED due to the very rainy forecast. For more information on future forest bathing opportunities, please contact Susie Spikol at (603) 525-3394 or by email.

Easygoing Hike through the Hiroshi Land
2019-03-01 10:00 - 14:30
Join Lee Baker and Rich Taylor for a moderately strenuous, 2-mile roundtrip hike (or snowshoe, depending on conditions) through the Hiroshi Land, following Nubanusit Brook to Dinsmore Pond.
Bring lunch (and snowshoes, if necessary), and meet at 10 a.m. at the gas station at the intersection of Routes 101 and 137 in Dublin. Back by 2:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Rich or Lee.
