Rebecca Durinick, SCA Interpretive Ranger Fire towers have been longstanding landmarks among the New Hampshire mountain skyline. For over a hundred years many of these towers have provided essential fire prevention. Over time their usefulness has declined, but the still existing towers are used to this day. All of the fire towers have spectacular views […]
Author: Discover Power of Parks SCA Interpreters
Discover the Power of Parks is presented by New Hampshire State Parks in collaboration with the Student Conservation Association and AmeriCorps 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.
A Day in the Life of a Field Crew Member
Kiley Cruse, SCA Field Crew Member Hitch season marks the true beginning for field crew members at SCA NH Corps. Hitches are projects in which field crew members are sent to a state park or national forest for eleven days at a time to complete the work assigned. Field work consists of a wide variety […]
Birds of Monadnock State Park
Dan Guider, SCA Interpretive Ranger As an interpretive ranger at Monadnock State Park a big part of my job is hiking up the mountain. Doing this for a whole season may get repetitive at some points but something that always keeps things interesting for me is the wildlife I get to observe here. You can […]
Campfire 101
David Bailey, SCA Interpretive Ranger It’s the end of a long day spent hiking at any of our wonderful New Hampshire State Parks. You’re winding down and fixed a well-deserved dinner. The sun is going down and so is the temperature, but you’re not ready to go to bed for the evening. That leaves you […]
Species Spotlight: the Chicken of the Woods
Joy Wetzel, SCA Interpretive Ranger I had a wonderful day last week! While traveling through Monadnock State Park after a day of delivering Discover the Power of Parks (DPP) educational programs, I caught a flash of orange at the base of a dead tree that made me do a double-take. A second glance confirmed […]
Recreational Activities in Franconia Notch
Connor Cahill, SCA Interpretive Ranger Franconia Notch State Park offers many fun and family friendly recreational activities during the spring, through the fall, and even during the winter! Whether you enjoy walking through the recreational path alongside the Pemigewasset River, or navigating your way down Cannon Mountain on skis, there is something for anyone. Hiking […]
Diving into Ponding
Olivia Gottlieb, SCA Interpretive Ranger New Hampshire is home to many different types of insects, and New Hampshire State Parks serve as wonderful environments to find them. What you may not realize is that the ponds, rivers, and lakes are great places to find insects that are either solely water dwelling or live out their […]
Blue Jays; Bullies or Buddies?
Rebecca Durnick, SCA Interpretive Ranger One of the most common backyard-bird species is the Blue Jay. These bright and flashy birds are commonly seen throughout the central and eastern United States, and some southern regions of Canada. With their loud and alarming calls, they make their presence known to any human and wildlife around them. […]
All About Pawtuckaway State Park
Casey Devanney, SCA Interpretive Ranger Pawtuckaway State Park is a 5,000-acre preserve in New Hampshire. It is one of the largest state parks in southeastern New Hampshire, named for Pawtuckaway Lake and the Pawtuckaway Mountains. The park extends from the west shore of the lake to the west side of the mountains. Geology The Pawtuckaway Mountains are […]
The Grand Hotels of New Hampshire
David Bailey, SCA Interpretive Ranger When people think of summer vacation, images of campsites, hiking, and going to the beach may come to mind. We also think of these trips as only lasting a few days, maybe a week or sometimes two if we are lucky. However, summer vacation looked much different during the 1850’s […]