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 […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: July 5, 2019
Hey folks-It was not raining this week so I took a few extra pictures to make up for last week. So far the weather seems pretty dry this month. The prediction of rain is a definite maybe. How will it affect the timing? Who knows? It is getting closer to full bloom at the grove, […]
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 […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 26, 2019
Hey folks- I was at the grove on Tues 6/25 this week-it was a bit wet, so I didn’t get much in the way of pictures. Now is the time when exact prediction of “peak” bloom gets quite tricky-the way I see it, the local weather has a great influence on timing. If it stays […]
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, […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 21, 2019
Hi folks-As the hybrid rhododendrons are winding down, the bloom time at Rhododendron State Park is getting closer. However, we may not see any flowers for another week or so. Most of the flowers will be out in full by the middle of July as usual. However, the bugs are as thick as ever (also […]
The Corps of Our State Parks
By Molly Ryan, SCA Interpretative Ranger for Bear Brook State Park, Wallis Sands State Park, and Odiorne Point State Park. If you have ever visited Bear Brook State Park, you may have used the bathhouse at Catamount Pond, hiked one of the over 40 miles of trails, or rented a restored cabin at Bear Hill […]
From Tourist to Tour Guide
By Sarah Sherwood, SCA Franconia Notch State Park Interpretive Ranger and NH Corps Member June 12, 2019 was arguably the most exciting day of service for the Interpretive Rangers of the SCA New Hampshire Corps. On this sunny Wednesday we departed Bear Brook State Park, our home of five months, and went our separate ways […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 12, 2019
Hey folks,Even though your backyard (improved and hybridized) rhododendron bushes may have already bloomed, the native Rhododendron Maximus at Rhododendron State Park aren’t even close to flowering yet. The flowers here are due to be blooming in two to three weeks with “peak bloom” around the middle of July or a few days later. This […]