Explore The Monadnock Region

Watermedia paintings by Jeanne Maguire Thieme.

Distant Hill Gardens is open to the public on the third

Join us at the library for an afternoon of conversation wi

Distant Hill Gardens is open to the public on the third

Math help and hangout time with Anna!

Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail is participating in NH Gi

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

Free meditation class, meets twice a month on the second

Need help with your laptop, smartphone, kindle, or othe

Come and enjoy an hour dedicated to nothing but sketching!

The Board of Library Trustees meets the third Thursday of

CALLING ALL WRITERS (and curious readers/listeners)!! The

Join us for a cookbook club-meets-potluck at Peterborough

Stop by to share games, puzzles, art, books, and speci

Held the second and fourth Saturday of the month, the Mon

Math help and hangout time with Anna!

This month we will be reading, "West with Giraffes" by Li

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

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Join CFP® professional Bryce Schuler as he discusses how

A monthly offering of free yoga at PTL. All levels welcome.

Saturday, June 20, is a special 'Open Days' event at Dist

Distant Hill Gardens is open to the public on the third

Join Aimee for stories, songs, and a craft!

Join local artist, Jeanne Maguire Thieme, for an artist

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

Free meditation class, meets twice a month on the second

Need help with your laptop, smartphone, kindle, or othe

Come and enjoy an hour dedicated to nothing but sketching!

Unplug, get creative, and connect with others at this re

Learn about natural and environmentally friendlyalternat

This month we will be reading, "The Light Eaters" by Zoë

A concert for families to kick of Summer Reading!

Held the second and fourth Saturday of the month, the Mon

Join us for an all-ages storytime with Aimee, Claudia & S

Join Aimee for stories, songs, and a craft!

Join Miss Anna for a fun one-shot D&D adventure!

In this class, Tim and Rebecca will walk you through Smar

Join Miss Anna for a fun one-shot D&D adventure!

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

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Learn all about seeds and plant some too!

Distant Hill Gardens is open to the public on the third

Distant Hill Gardens is open to the public on the third

Join Aimee for stories, songs, and a craft!

Learn how to use flowers and foliage to create beautiful n

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

Free meditation class, meets twice a month on the second

Need help with your laptop, smartphone, kindle, or othe

Rated PG, runtime 131 mins

Come meet Snoopy the Rex Rabbit!

CALLING ALL WRITERS (and curious readers/listeners)!! The

Join us for a cookbook club-meets-potluck at Peterborough

Stop by to share games, puzzles, art, books, and speci

White bandanas will be provided but bring anything youd

Join Aimee for stories, songs, and a craft!

From Coconut Cleaners to Banana Leaf Art!

grades 6-12

Join Harris Center naturalist Susie Spikol to explore, wander, and discover the magic of nearby nature. These pint-sized adventures are perfect for little legs and for babies in front packs, backpacks, slings, or wraps — and a great way to meet other families with little ones who love spending time outside. 10 to 11 a.m. at Ashuelot River Park in Keene. Exact meeting location will be provided prior to the event. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie.

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

Need help with your laptop, smartphone, kindle, or othe

Vision boards are a collage of words and images that repre

Join award-winning nature writer Ted Levin to hear about his newest book, The Promise of Sunrise: Finding Solace in a Broken World, which chronicles Ted's daily joys and observations of a hillside in Thetford, Vermont, during the Covid pandemic. To get a taste of this lyrical, hopeful read, follow Ted on Substack. 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Harris Center. Space is limited, and registration is required. For more information, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie Spikol. Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education, the Toadstool Bookshop, and the Hancock Town Library. The Promise of Sunrise by Ted Levin with illustrations by Jeanette Fournier is published by Green Writers Press. About Ted LevinA lifelong naturalist and Yankees fan, Ted Levin follows a trail blazed by John Burroughs and John Muir, neither of whom paid baseball much attention. His work has appeared in Audubon, Sierra, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, Newsday, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, and The Daily Telegraph, among many other publications. He is the author of Backtracking: The Way of a Naturalist (1987), Blood Brook: A Naturalist's Home Ground (1992), and Liquid Land: A Journey Through the Florida Everglades (2003), among other works of nonfiction. He won the Burroughs Medal in 2004, the highest literary honor awarded to an American nature writer. E. O. Wilson called America's Snake: The Rise and Fall of the Timber Rattlesnake (2016) "a beautifully written book [that] demonstrates just how good nature literature can be." Reviews for The Promise of Sunrise". . . His deep experience as a birder, photographer, and writer strengthens his observations, and with 43 years as a resident of the region, he has the wide-angle view of the changing seasons, weather patterns, flora, and fauna over time. He considers, as all modern nature writers should, the dramatic effects of the climate crisis on his local landscape . . . This accessible and informative book would be a great read for the many folks who found a passion for birding, walking, and wildlife tracking during the pandemic, as well as an engaging collection of stories for more seasoned naturalists." —reviewed by Frances Cannon, Northern Woodlands "The marriage of a great writer and a great subject is always a joy to behold." —Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature "…Naturalist Ted Levin began taking a walk each day at sunrise through the woods and wetlands around his home in [Vermont]. His walks begat a lyrical book that brings to life the world of efts and otters, warblers and wrens, chickadees and coyotes. Engaging natural history lessons—loon semen and mammoth bones make an appearance—weave through the daily entries, and slowly the reader also learns the story of the author's life. Levin's writing can be extraordinarily vivid . . . Writing such as this demands to be read as one reads poetry, in small sips, to be fully savored." —Candace Page, Seven Days Praise for the Writing of Ted Levin "This beautifully written book demonstrates just how good nature literature can be." —Edward O. Wilson, Two-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize

Join Jeremy Wilson and Susie Spikol for an easygoing, 1-mile roundtrip hike along a sandy, rolling path from Spring Road to MacDowell Lake. Along the way, we'll stop at the old sandpit — now a turtle habitat restoration site — to learn what the Army Corps has done to improve nesting habitat for New Hampshire's turtles. If we're lucky, we'll also spot some basking turtles at the lake! 10 to 11:30 a.m. at MacDowell Lake in Peterborough. Directions to the exact location will be provided prior to the event. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie. Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Join fungi-philes John Benjamin and George Caughey for a fung-tastic foray around the Harris Center grounds. Learn basic identification skills and how to recognize the mushrooms of the season, and discover the role mushrooms and mycorrhizae play in local ecosystems. From boletes to amanitas, explore the fascinating world of fungi! 4 to 5 p.m. at the Harris Center. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie Spikol.

The Board of Library Trustees meets the third Thursday of

A monthly offering of free yoga at PTL. All levels welcome.

Join Mary Verrilli and Tom Eid for this 3-mile walk and talk at the Loverens Mill Cedar Swamp Preserve, where we'll learn about the history of Loverens Mill and explore a rare boreal white cedar swamp on a 200-foot boardwalk. Along the way, we'll visit an old mill, stone walls, glacial erratic boulders and debris fields, and riverside wetlands within a lush forest. Bring water, and come prepared for uneven terrain, variable weather, sun, and biting insects. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Loverens Mill Cedar Swamp trailhead on Loverens Mill Road in Antrim. Back by 12:30 p.m. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For questions about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Mary.

Join Susie Spikol and Jaime Hutchinson from the Harris Cen

Join award-winning authors Sy Montgomery, Leila Philip, and Susie Spikol for an evening of science and storytelling as they discuss some of the wonders of the natural world featured in their books, share new projects in nature-based restoration, and talk about ways we can learn from the animal world to better face our environmental challenges. From turtles and beavers to rain walkers and owls, animals can teach us. We can learn. 7 to 8 p.m. at the Harris Center. Space is limited, and registration is encouraged. For more information, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie Spikol. Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and the Toadstool Bookshop. About Sy MontgomeryResearching articles, films, and her 38 books for adults and children, nationally bestselling author Sy Montgomery has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda, hunted by a tiger in India, and swum with piranhas, electric eels and pink dolphins in the Amazon. Her work has taken her from the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea (for a book on tree kangaroos) to the Altai Mountains of the Gobi (for another on snow leopards.) For The Soul of an Octopus (a National Book Award finalist) she befriended octopuses at the New England aquarium and scuba dived and snorkeled with wild octopuses in Mexico and French Polynesia. For her national bestseller for adults, Of Time and Turtles, she befriended a 42-pound wild snapping turtle named Fire Chief, who shows his extraordinary trust by allowing her to feed him by hand. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, the writer Howard Mansfield, and their border collie Thurber. About Leila PhilipLeila Philip is the author of award-winning books of nonfiction that chronicle diverse, personal journeys. Her most recent book, Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America, explores the remarkable ecological and historical role of beavers in North America, weaving together stories of fur trappers, wildlife managers, scientists, Indigenous environmental advocates, and modern-day "[censored] believers." In The Road Through Miyama, Leila traveled to Japan to apprentice with a master potter in southern Kyushu. A Family Place: A Hudson Valley Farm, Three Centuries, Five Wars, One Family took her closer to home, weaving the history of the Hudson Valley farm where she spent her childhood with an account of orchard cultivation and family history. A Guggenheim Fellow, Leila has also received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. She works across genres, publishing poetry, essays, and theatrical scripts, and is currently at work on a documentary film. A former contributing columnist for The Boston Globe, she teaches in the Environmental Studies Program at the College of the Holy Cross, where she is a professor in the English Department. About Susie SpikolWriter and Harris Center teacher-naturalist Susie Spikol has spent her life exploring the intersection of nature and story. Growing up in Brooklyn, she searched for fairies and gnomes, enchanted by fireflies and snails — an early love of nature that shaped her 30-year career as a naturalist and educator. She has inspired thousands through hands-on programs and public talks, earning numerous awards for her work. A regular contributor to Yankee, Northern Woodlands, and Taproot Magazine, she also writes the "Backyard Nature" column for the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. Her first book, published in 2022,  The Animal Adventurer's Guide: How to Prowl for Owls, Make Snail Slime, and Catch a Frog Bare-Handed, was recognized with a National Parenting Products Award. Her new book Forest Magic for Kids: How to Find for Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook Up an Elfin Picnic is filled with activities inspired by imagination, folklore, and science and an invitation to all readers to step outside and discover the beauty and magic of the world.  

Join the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club to survey for coppers, crescents, skippers, swallowtails, monarchs, and more on our fifth annual SuperSanctuary Butterfly Count! The data we collect during this fun day in the field will be submitted to both the North American Butterfly Association and the NH Butterfly Monitoring Network, a statewide collaborative aimed at understanding long-term trends in Granite State butterfly populations. Prior butterfly identification experience is helpful, but not required. Bring water, lunch, and binoculars, and come prepared for sun, ticks, and other biting insects. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Harris Center and local field sites. Rain date: July 19. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Brett Amy Thelen. Looking to practice your butterfly ID before the big day? Join us for Field Forays with the SuperSanctuary Butterfly Club on June 10 and July 1. Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and the NH Butterfly Monitoring Network.  

Distant Hill Gardens is open to the public on the third

A Holiday based on the song "The Teddy Bears Picnic", this day

Presented in special collaboration with Monadnock Center f

Discover how to nourish not just your body, but your ener

Distant Hill Gardens is open to the public on the third

Join UNH Extension foresters and educators Dode Gladders and

Join Aimee for stories, songs, and a craft!

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

Free meditation class, meets twice a month on the second

Need help with your laptop, smartphone, kindle, or othe

Beautify your garden and feed the pollinators with this fu

Take part in the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz by joining Harris Center ecologists Brett Amy Thelen and Nate Marchessault to survey for monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies in a Harris Center-conserved milkweed patch. Our data will contribute to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, a community science initiative aimed at understanding and protecting this iconic insect throughout North America. No experience necessary! Come prepared for sun, ticks, and other biting insects. 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Peterborough. Directions to the exact meeting location will be provided prior to the event. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Brett. A monarch caterpillar dining on a milkweed leaf. (photo © Brett Whaley)

Were celebrating Americas 250th with a fun all-ages tr

Are you a tween or a teen interested in wildlife? Join a growing movement of teens who are learning to identify and recognize plants and animals, contribute to wildlife research, and work with real scientists, all while building community with others. Don't miss this opportunity to grow your skills and connect with other teens interested in the wild world as part of The Kestrels Young Birders Club and LAB GIRLS+: Adventures in the Field. Join longtime bat counters Susie Spikol and Phil Brown for this exciting nighttime field experience, where we'll survey for little and big brown bats as part of the statewide NH Bat Counts project. Using simple hand-held tally counters, we'll count bats as they emerge from a historic bat barn maternity roost — part of a long-term monitoring effort to track how the Granite State's bat colonies are faring in the face of white-nose syndrome. 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. in Hancock. Exact meeting location will be provided prior to the event. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center programs, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie.

Learn about the plants that make up SALSA and make some of

Join us for an all-ages storytime with Aimee, Claudia & S

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Moths come in a dizzying array of sizes and patterns, in color

Info coming soon!

Did you know that New Hampshire is home to over 40 fern species? Join fern fanatics Michael Nerrie and Nate Marchessault for a primer on the identification of ferns that grow in our region. This workshop will include a presentation, a collection of live specimens, and a short walk to practice our newly acquired skills. It builds on foundational skills learned during our Ferns 101 course last autumn, though all experience levels are welcome. 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Distant Hill Nature Trail in Alstead. Exact meeting location will be provided prior to the event. Space is limited, and registration is required. For general information about Harris Center field trips, see our Outings Information page. For more information about this particular outing, including questions about accessibility, contact Nate. Co-sponsored with Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail and the Monadnock Bird and Nature Club. An intermediate wood fern (photo © Nate Marchessault)

A new 30-minute play based on the book The Day the Crayons

Have you always wanted to teach your students about insects but weren't sure where to start? Join teacher-naturalists Jenna Spear and Jaime Hutchinson for this full-day workshop exploring the largest class in the animal kingdom! Through field investigations and close observation, we'll examine insect anatomy and life cycles, practice basic identification skills, and try out student-friendly collection techniques you can confidently use in your classroom. You'll leave with ready-to-use lesson ideas aligned with NGSS across grade levels, practical strategies for managing outdoor insect studies, and materials to help you launch insect investigations right away. For teachers of all grades. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harris Center. Cost: $120. Space is limited to 20 participants, and registration is required by July 13. For questions about the workshop, including accessibility, please contact Jenna Spear. You can learn more about our professional development program for educators on our website. A collection of beetles (photo by Alex Wild via Rawpixel)

Join Aimee for stories, songs, and a craft!

Join Aimee for board books, songs, nursery rhymes and la

Need help with your laptop, smartphone, kindle, or othe