By SCA Interpretive Ranger, Ellie Holter Have you ever noticed that many of the state parks in New Hampshire seem to follow the Mid-Century modern architecture style? That is because several parks within the state were established or updated between the mid 1950s and the early 1970s! So what happened to enact this change? In […]
Category: The NH State Park Experience
Bear Breakdown
by Anna Beaudette, SCA Interpretive Ranger at Franconia Notch State Park Have you ever seen a bear before and struggled to identify it? Learn all about the traits of different bear species to figure out what you saw or what you might be likely to see in your given area! Black bears, brown bears, and […]
Summer Star Stories
By SCA Interpretive Ranger, Elise Eisenberg Going camping and visiting the state parks has many perks and fun events! One such camping activity is stargazing. Getting away from the large cities lets people see the beauty of the night sky and all the stars that are usually hidden behind the city lights. This is something […]
Let’s Talk Turkey!
By Ella Selden, SCA Interpretive Ranger July 4, 1776, is an important day for independence and turkeys. After the Declaration of Independence was signed, the new nation was in need of a symbol. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were tasked with designing the official national seal. Through trial and error, and with the […]
A Meditation on Nature Writing, Solitude, and Thoreau’s Laundry
by Amelia Paine, SCA Interpretive Ranger at Ellacoya, Lake Sunapee, and Pillsbury State Parks Have you ever wished that you could live alone in nature, relying only on yourself and the world around you, observing wildlife and looking out over beautiful landscapes, away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, work, and technology? I […]
Fantastical Fairy Houses
By Ellie Holter SCA Interpretive Ranger The great outdoors is filled with a magic that may only appear to those who seek the whimsical in the everyday, who are not contented with the straightforward view that many of us take, but rather ask the what-ifs and allow their imaginations to run wild. If we are […]
Dark Side of the Loon
by Amelia Paine, SCA Interpretive Ranger at Ellacoya, Lake Sunapee, and Pillsbury State Parks Have you seen a loon yet this summer? How about hearing one call? These birds have a mysterious, almost spooky quality that sticks with people long after they encounter one. Whether it’s because of their striking black-and-white plumage, their bright red […]
Beginner’s Guide to NH Pollinator Gardens
By: Anna Beaudette, SCA Interpretive Ranger What are Pollinators? Pollinators play a crucial role in our environmental and agricultural systems. A pollinator is any insect or animal that carries pollen from one plant to another, allowing that plant to reproduce. Bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, beetles, wasps, ants, and flies are considered to be pollinators. […]
Monadnock: The Mountain That Found Me
by SCA Interpretive Ranger Joshua Leary Picture By Joshua Leary “Some mountains we climb for the view. Others, we climb to find ourselves.” –Joshua Leary In New Hampshire, Mount Monadnock stands tall, a familiar silhouette visible from miles away, a point of pride for surrounding communities. Though celebrated in classrooms, literature, and local conversations, its […]
Phoenix Trees at White Lake
By Elise Eisenberg, SCA Interpretive Ranger Fire! Sometimes it is destructive and dangerous. Sometimes it’s warm and energetic. But for pitch pine trees, it’s how they drop seeds and are reborn! White Lake State Park sits upon a 72-acre pitch pine forest that visitors can walk through on the 1.5 mile walk around the lake. […]