The first thing I noticed about Pawtuckaway State Park was its lush landscape and abundant wildlife. Everywhere I turned, I noticed new fauna and interesting flora. One of the coolest parts about being an Interpretive Ranger is that park visitors love to come up and tell me about their wildlife encounters! I wanted to make this […]
Author: Discover Power of Parks SCA Interpreters
The Old Man of the Mountain – An end is just a new beginning
The first day of autumn. The official end of summer and the official beginning of crisp nights, football, leaves changing colors, and everything pumpkin. It also, sadly, marks the last few weeks of my Interpretive Ranger season. So I wanted to focus my final blog around something else that has changed in the park. It […]
Reflections and Transitions
There’s that cool crisp snap in the air that might’ve caught us off guard, but it’s an exciting and nostalgic feeling… This summer had plentiful long days of warm sunshine, clear skies, refreshing swims, beautiful hikes, and many special memories made between Bear Brook and it’s campers. However, life at Bear Brook State Park has […]
Around the Lake Trail Adventure
Take a walk on the “Around the Lake” trail at White Lake State Park and try to find these fascinating things: Geology There is a way to gauge how fast an intrusive granite rock has cooled based on its crystal sizes. If the molted rock cools down very fast there isn’t much time for crystallization. […]
Changes in the Air
The cool and crisp mornings, and shortening daylight hours. That familiar sound of the Canada Geese calling from above as they fly south in their V-shape formation. The morning frost on the pumpkin displayed on the porch. These are all signs that summer has come to an end. Here in the North Country, it feels as […]
Monadnock Walks: Another alternative to summiting
Ranger Rachel here with another alternative to summiting the steep and often slippery slopes of Mount Monadnock. In July, I covered a family-friendly loop on the lower elevations of the 3,165 foot-tall mountain. For this walk, the trails will lead you further from the most popular trails but will not disappoint in natural wonders as well […]
Hidden Gems @ Pawtuckaway
This is for all you explorers and adventurers out there… I have been living in Pawtuckaway State Park and exploring the trails for the past 2 months, and although that seems like ample time to get the “lay of the land”, I see something new every day. There are some wonderful areas of the park […]
Grandma conquers Franconia Notch State Park
When I first told my family that I would be one of the Interpretive Rangers at Franconia Notch State Park this summer, the first question my grandmother asked, was “So when are we gonna visit Vicky?”. On August 7th, my mom, dad, and grandma, left home in Cleveland, Ohio and drove about 12 hours to […]
Lonesome Lake Trail: A guide to one of Franconia Notch State Park’s most cherished hikes
Lonesome Lake Trail can be accessed through the south parking lot of Lafayette Place Campground in Franconia Notch State Park. The trail is very well marked by trail signs and faithful yellow blazes. Although this trail does go through the campground – it’s not a leisurely stroll through the park. This moderate, family-friendly hike is […]
DIY: Leave No Trace, Bear Brook Style
The amenities of Bear Brook State Park that are spread across its 10,000 acres attract mountain bikers, campers, hikers, anglers, and families who seek varying degrees of adventure and relaxation. With thousands of visitors each year, Bear Brook sees many faces and supplies the ingredients for fun and memorable visits to each of those visitors. […]