Join the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests for its Creek Farm Spring Series at the Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm. The spring series will offer educational and exploration opportunities at Creek Farm, a unique property in Portsmouth where the forests meet the tides.
“We are very excited to offer local residents some great spring outings at Creek Farm,” states Sarah Kern, Creek Farm education program coordinator for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. “The Creek Farm Spring Series is designed to engage residents with the grounds at Creek Farm, Sagamore Creek, and the surrounding land and forest. Over the past year, we really have developed a wonderful community of outdoor enthusiasts through our educational series, by connecting with local experts and getting outside to enjoy this unique coastal property together.”
The Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm provides a dedicated classroom space for ongoing community programming by the Forest Society and its partners at Creek Farm. Pre-registration is required for all events and limited space is available. The programs are free for Forest Society members and children under 18 years old, and $10 for non-members, unless noted otherwise. Attendees are asked to bring their own chair or blanket, as well as binoculars. All programs and events will take place at the Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm in the classroom space, fields, and trails, located at 400 Little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, NH.
April Events
The Amazing Life of Vernal Pools, with Wildlife Biologist Josh Megyesy of New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program
Thursday, April 21, 2022, 5:00 to 6;00 p.m.
Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm, 400 little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, NH
Every spring, small and often unnoticed depressions in the forest floor, fill with snowmelt and spring rain and come alive with an incredibly remarkable diversity of wildlife. Even more fascinating is that by the end of summer, many of these vernal pools will dry up, disappearing into the forest floor. NHFG Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program biologist Josh Megyesy will talk about NH vernal pool ecology. These seasonal wetlands are critical for a variety of wildlife and general ecosystem health. Come join Megyesy and learn about how threatened and endangered wildlife use vernal pools, current research, and Best Management Practices to protect them. We will also discuss how important these vernal pools are for the health of our environment and ourselves.
May Events
Turtles of New Hampshire – How You Can Help, with Wildlife Biologist Josh Megyesy of New Hampshire Fish Game’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program
Thursday, May 19, 2022, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm, 400 little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, NH
Turtles are sentient beings with ancient wisdom within them. We are just beginning to learn the many fascinating things that turtles have to share. With the location of a suitable nesting being crucial for successful nesting, hatching and survival, it has never been a more important time to learn about the many ways we can help these ancient neighbors survive and thrive in our ever-changing world. Come learn fascinating facts about New Hampshire turtles from wildlife biologist, Josh Megyesy, from New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, and their important role in our ecosystem, where they are found in New Hampshire, and what studies are being done to learn more about them. He will highlight a few species that he has conducted long-term monitoring on and share what he has learned. Megyesy will also highlight NH Fish and Wildlife’s Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program and how you can report your sightings.
Chickadee in White Pine – Paint and Sip, with Jean Cummings of Picture This Studio
Saturday, May 28, 2022, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm, 400 little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, NH
Join Jean Cummings of Picture This Studio for a wonderful and relaxing opportunity to create your own masterpiece of a chickadee in a white pine. Cummings has been enjoying her retirement after teaching biology and zoology to middle and high schoolers for 33 years. While at the high school level, she developed and implemented an art and science curriculum for her zoology classes. She also started and ran a nonprofit conservation center out of Deerfield, New Hampshire for four years and has been working as a wildlife educator for more than five years. Cummings has volunteered at numerous research and rehab facilities around the world. She teaches art to kids of all ages and enjoys doing lessons on her screened in porch in Deerfield. A $30 program fee covers materials and supplies as well as refreshments. Pre-registration is required.
The Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm offers ongoing opportunities for exploration of the grounds, Sagamore Creek, and the surrounding land and forests with a print off Bird BINGO game, a self-guided hike of Little Harbor Loop Trail with OuterSpatial, the Forest Society’s mobile field guide app, and sharing and tagging #CreekFarm, #ForestSociety with your photos and adventures at Creek Farm.
About the Forest Society
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests was founded in 1901 to “perpetuate the forests of New Hampshire through their wise use and complete reservation in places of scenic beauty.” The Forest Society owns and manages 191 Forest Reservations totaling over 57,000 acres located in more than 100 New Hampshire communities. As a land trust it holds more than 750 conservation easements protecting an additional 130,000 acres statewide.