By Nell Davis, Interpretive Ranger at Monadnock State Park Over the last month, I have been asked a lot of questions about Monadnock State Park (after all, I spend most days hiking around with a sign on my backpack that says “Stop and ask a question”). Here are the ten I have heard most often: […]
Category: Discover the Power of Parks
Discover the Power of Parks is presented by New Hampshire State Parks in collaboration with the Student Conservation Association and made possible by generous financial support from Eversource. The program offers a look into the natural world through hands-on programming. Interpretive programs focus on connecting participants with nature and building appreciation for New Hampshire’s unmatched natural heritage. Programs include guided hikes, interpretive tours, and imaginative environmental workshops for children and families. Programs are offered free to guests with paid park admission fee. No pre-registration is required.
Odiorne Point’s Hidden History
By Molly Ryan, SCA Interpretive Ranger for Bear Brook State Park, Wallis Sands State Park, and Odiorne Point State Park. Odiorne Point State Park is one of New Hampshire’s lesser known treasures. Most people who visit the park do so to see the sea creatures at the Seacoast Science Center, a non-profit located in the […]
Glaciers: Movers and Shapers
By Sarah Sherwood, SCA Franconia Notch State Park Interpretive Ranger and NH Corps Member As New Hampshire’s preeminent state park, Franconia Notch attracts visitors from all over the world. Hikers tackle the Franconia Ridge Loop, skiers and boarders shred Cannon Mountain, and casual travelers take in the Flume Gorge and the Basin. Little do many […]
Animal Signs of the Woods
Signs of animals are much more common and less likely to flee at the sight of a person. By taking time to observe the small details on a hike, you can see evidence of all sorts of life around you.
Animal of Interest: Moose
By: Thomas Cummings, SCA Interpretative Ranger for Umbagog Lake State Park Alces Alces is the Latin name for North America’s largest member of the deer family that is still alive today. Moose are known for their impressive size, which makes finding one as you explore New Hampshire a real treat. By understanding their behavior and […]
Where the sky & earth almost meet
By: Matt Pyster, Interpretive Ranger at White Lake State Park & Ellacoya State Park. On a recent hike up Mount Chocorua, I took the Brook Trail up, and the Liberty Trail down. The following is a journal entry that I made when reaching my first breathtaking sight of the lands around me… “I see mountains […]
At the Heart of the Notch: Lafayette Place
By: Eilís Donohue, Interpretive Ranger at Franconia Notch State Park A few weeks ago, I drove up I-93 to Franconia Notch State Park (FNSP), and pulled into my new home and workplace: the Lafayette Place Campground. I am one of two Interpretive Rangers stationed here at FNSP for the 2019 season. For the rest of […]
Pawtuckaway’s Mountain Trail: A trail worker’s perspective
By Kyle Krupa, Interpretive Ranger at Pawtuckaway State Park Buckle in, folks. Today’s post is a long one. For outdoor enthusiasts living on the southern side of the state, the caldera mountains of Pawtuckaway are some of the most accessible and rewarding summit’s for a casual weekend day hike. From the top of South Mountain […]
Hiking Home(s): Monadnock and Bear Brook State Parks
By Nell Davis, Interpretive Ranger at Monadnock State Park Oliver Wendell Holmes said “Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” For me, this rings true: home is encapsulated in places I love, specifically natural areas. Working seasonally, my coworkers are constantly rotating in and out of my […]
Queen of the Woods: a Closer Look at New Hampshire’s State Tree
By Simone Maule, Interpretive Ranger at Crawford Notch State Park and Ellacoya State Park The white birch (Betula papyrifera) was designated as the state tree by the New Hampshire legislature in 1947. That same year Evelyn W. Cortez wrote about the decision in an article titled “Queen of the Woods” in the New Hampshire Troubadour, […]