Events
Migratory Bird Day Walk
May 16 7am - 12:00 David Govatski
Join us for a Migratory Bird Day Walk at Weeks State Park. We will meet at the parking lot of the scenic auto road at 7 AM. We will slowly walk up the auto road looking and listening for a variety of migratory birds that are settling in on territories. We expect to see a variety of warblers and flycatchers at this birding hotspot. We also will be looking at Spring ephemeral wildflowers. The walk is 3 miles round trip and ascends 800 vertical feet at an easy pace.
At 11 AM we will offer an optional visit to Martin Meadow Pond to look for loons, osprey and eagles. Free Migratory Bird Day posters will be available. The program is free and open to the public. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.
David Govatski is the field trip leader and is an experienced birding guide and naturalist. He is President of the Ammonoosuc Chapter of the National Audubon Society.
Spring Wildflower Walk
Sunday, June 2 1- 4 pm Matt Peters
Spring has sprung and it is time to get outdoors to enjoy the signs of spring. Please join us for this free wildflower walk led by field ecologist and naturalist, Matt Peters, who has over a dozen years of experience studying the flora, fauna, geology and soils of Weeks State Park.
Matt has led nature walks at the park for many years. Meet at the parking lot at the start of the scenic auto road up Mount Prospect at 1 PM. Bring a hand lens and flower guide if you like and dress for the weather. A paper list of common spring wildflowers will be provided at the assembly point. The free program ends at 4 pm.
The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites
June 20 7:00 pm Ty Gagne
On a mountain somewhere above treeline, in some of the coldest and worst winter conditions imaginable, two men lie unconscious in the snow as explosive winds batter the nearby summits.
In his book, The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites, Ty Gagne masterfully lays out the events that led up to an epic and legendary rescue attempt in severe and dangerous winter conditions in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. More than a cautionary tale, it is a tribute to all the volunteers and professionals who willingly put themselves in harm's way to save lives.
The Magnificent Moose
June 27 7:00 pm Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Explore the amazing life of the moose. Through beautiful slides, touchable artifacts and a wealth of information we will explore the life history and importance of these mammals in our natural world. Discover the population changes that have occurred over time and the role that humans play in their conservation.
Returning North with the Spring (Canceled due to storm damage at the park on July 10)
July 11 7:00 pm John Harris
At winter's end in 1947, driven by the devastating loss of a son killed in World War II, naturalist Edwin Way Teale and his wife Nellie followed the dawning spring season northward in an amazing 17,000 mile odyssey from the Everglades to Maine. Teale wrote about the adventure in the best-selling book North with the Spring. Following in the footsteps of one of the sweetest adventures any American ever took, John Harris demonstrates that the beauty of the American East, even on a warming planet, is still hauntingly deep.
Exploring Vermont and New Hampshire: The Wonderful Region We Call Home
July 18 7:00 pm Gary Moore
Join author and columnist Gary Moore as he leads us around the North Country to overlooked local treasures and unique destinations. Visitors and life-long residents often miss the gems just around the corner. From places called the Hell Gate to Screw Auger Falls, Gary encourages you to visit them all. Even if you can’t hike or canoe, get out there anyway – there are a lot of places to drive and see nature’s beauty.
From northern New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, and into Québec, Gary shows what we miss just a short drive from home. The roads we never drive down, and the trailheads we pass by, might become our favorite new destination. We live in a remarkable area - geologically, historically, and visually. Take the time – and Gary’s list – to enjoy every special corner.
Brewing in NH – An Informal History
July 25 7:00 pm Glenn Knoblock
Explore the fascinating history of New Hampshire's beer and ale brewing industry from Colonial days, when it was home and tavern-based, to today's modern breweries and brew pubs.
Unusual and rare photos and advertisements document this changing industry and the state's earliest brewers, including the renowned Frank Jones. A number of lesser-known brewers and breweries that operated in the state are also discussed, including the only brewery owned and operated by a woman before the modern era.
Illustrations present evidence of society's changing attitudes towards beer and alcohol consumption over the years. Whether you're a beer connoisseur or a teetotaler, this lecture will be enjoyed by adults of all ages.
The Resurgence of Bald Eagles in New Hampshire
August 1 7:00 pm Chris Martin
This program examines the dramatic Bald Eagle population recovery in New Hampshire and describes management efforts and partnerships that have helped eagles. In 2023, NH Audubon staff and field volunteers continued to track the robust resurgence of the Granite State’s Bald Eagle population.
We confirmed 109 Territorial Pairs in NH, up 18% compared to 2022. NH Fish & Game removed the Bald Eagle from our state’s Endangered and Threatened Wildlife List in March 2017 after we confirmed two decades of population growth. Looking back this was clearly the right decision, and the population has continued to expand since then.
A Week's Stay at the Mt. Washington Observatory
August 8 7:00 pm Brenda & Preston Conklin
Brenda & Preston Conklin spent two separate weeks volunteering atop Mt Washington - one in spring and one in winter. Their presentation will cover the history of the Mt. Washington Observatory, as well as weather and life at the summit. A perk for members of the non-profit Mt. Washington Observatory is the opportunity to share the bunkroom lifestyle, as well as cook and clean for the meteorology staff of 8 plus guests.
At 6,288 feet, those staff members are probably the highest paid meteorologists in the east. The week begins with a drive up the Auto Road in the Observatory van. Food for the week is prepared from supplies in the well-stocked summit kitchen. Highlights of the week include learning about weather instruments and climbing metal ladders to the top of the weather tower parapet - 40 feet above the 6,288 ft. summit. At night, in the living room, staff and volunteers share laughs, stories, videos, and reading time.
The Nepal Chronicles
August 15 7:00 pm Dan Szczesny
When Dan Szczesny and his wife, Meenakshi, traveled to Nepal to marry in Kathmandu and trek to the Everest Base Camp, they knew the journey would be difficult. What they didn't realize was how life-changing their time in the land of mountains would be.
From the chaos of Kathmandu's super-charged streets to the tranquil but challenging trails of the Himalayas, The Nepal Chronicles is a deeply felt exploration of the culture and history of one of the world's most complex places, and is a meditation on the author's own personal journey into a new family and relationship unlike any he's ever experienced.
WSPA Annual Meeting
History of the White Mountain Garden Club
August 22 6:00 pm WSPA Annual Meeting
followed by: 7:00 pm History of the White Mountain Garden club by Cecilia Blewer
Did you know that it was Midwestern families who were the majority of the “Summer Colony” of this region a century ago?
Indeed, they were actively recruited to buy farms and keep them operational by an agent of the governor himself. Their New Hampshire activities were regularly reported in The Chicago Tribune.
As the White Mountain Garden Club celebrates its centennial year, the club’s historian examines its ten decades as a window into the social history of “The Summer Colony.”
Cecilia Blewer will explain how the work of the club changed and adapted in accordance with its challenges, membership, and resources.
Reconstructing the club’s history through its remaining records, newspaper articles, other published materials, and interviews, Cecilia has led a group effort to recover the club’s history, which has proven to be surprisingly rich.
Fall Wildflower Walk
Sunday, September 8 1- 4 pm Brett Engstrom
Fall is here and it is time to get outdoors to enjoy the signs of season’s-end. Please join us for this free wildflower walk led by field ecologist and botanist, Brett Engstrom, who has over a dozen years of experience studying the flora, fauna, geology and soils of Weeks State Park.
Brett has led nature walks at the park for many years. Meet at the parking lot at the start of the scenic auto road up Mount Prospect at 1 PM. Bring a hand lens and flower guide if you like and dress for the weather. A paper list of common fall wildflowers will be provided at the assembly point. The free program ends at 4 PM.