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 […]
Animal of Interest: Eastern Red-Spotted Newt
By Eilís Donohue, SCA Interpretive Ranger for Franconia Notch State Park Prime salamander spotting season has come and gone—but wait, there’s still a chance to catch a glimpse! Among enthusiasts of these lovely and delicate amphibians, the nocturnal spring migration from their hibernation spots to breeding pools is known as the Big Night. Often it […]
Wildflower Watch: Spring Blooms
By: Simone Maule, 2019 SCA Interpretive Ranger Now that the warmer spring weather is here we have had a number of new neighbors pushing their way into the forest understory: wildflowers! Here is a closer look and some more information about a few of the common species you can find growing in Bear Brook State […]
7 Ways to Leave No Trace While Exploring State Parks
By: Thomas Cummings, SCA Interpretative Ranger for Umbagog Lake State Park Exploring New Hampshire’s State Parks is a great way to spend a summer. From lounging on the beach to hiking up mountains, there is bound to be something to do for everyone. With more people going outside and recreating in the parks it is […]
Lichen: Colors and patterns of the forest you might have overlooked.
Written by Matt Pyster, a member of the SCA NH Americorps program – soon to be interpretive ranger at White lake and Ellacoya State Parks. Lichen. These beautiful and oddly simplistic organisms are a focus of attention for me right now. Until recently I didn’t realize just how many types of lichen are in the […]
Spring Sense of Wonder
By Nell Davis, Interpretive Ranger for Monadnock State Park As an SCA-Americorps Interpretive Ranger living at Bear Brook State Park, I have spent the last two and a half weeks running outdoor field trips for 3rd or 4th grade students from local schools. Each school comes to Bear Brook for a day, and we take […]