​​Second Saturdays in Surry

Saturday, April 11, 2026, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Meet: Beth-El Bible Church parking lot, Surry Village (GPS directions)

Surry is an extremely birdy town with a diversity of habitats like fields, marshes, woodlands, a gravel pit, and Surry Mountain Lake. We'll meet up at the church, and based on the time of year will spend the morning in one of the nearby birding locations. Most locations contain wide paths with only slight elevation change, and a maximum of three miles will be walked.

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Monadnock Region City Nature Challenge 2026

Friday, April 24 - Monday, April 27, 2026

Join us for the Monadnock Region’s first year participating in the City Nature Challenge! Make iNaturalist observations of wild plants, animals, and fungi from April 24–27 and take part in the world’s largest community science biodiversity census. All observations within the Monadnock Region during this time will be automatically added. By documenting what lives here, we help better understand — and care for — the nature that surrounds us. Join the iNaturalist project here, and see the list below for walks and events that provide opportunity for documenting biodiversity in community:

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• Mini-bioblitz at The Caterpillar Lab's new Headquarters

Friday, April 24, walk from 11 AM to noon, self-guided from noon to 5 PM​​

The Caterpillar Lab's new HQ, 13 Main Street (Route 101), Dublin (GPS directions)

Caterpillar Lab staff, info@thecaterpillarlab.org

Celebrate the soft opening of The Caterpillar Lab's new headquarters in Dublin with a mini-bioblitz to document the biodiversity on their new property. At 11 AM, join TCL staff for a walk (with some off-trail exploration), and from noon to 5 PM head indoors to visit their new museum space and learn more about iNat, or explore marked zones on your own to continue your exploration. 

*This event is co-sponsored with The Caterpillar Lab.

• Spring Wildflowers at Distant Hill Gardens

Friday, April 24, 3 to 5 PM​​

Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail, Walpole (GPS directions)

Nate Marchessault, nate@harriscenter.org, and Michael Nerrie, michael@distanthill.org

Join spring wildflower enthusiasts Michael Nerrie and Nate Marchessault for a leisurely walk in search of early-season blooms. We’ll begin by viewing some native spring ephemerals that have been cultivated in the Distant Hill gardens, then hike a maximum of two miles on wide, relatively flat trails to look for wild blooms and other signs of spring. Registration required, registration and more information can be found here, additional registration may be found here. If no spots are available, contact Nate to be put on a wait list.

*This event is co-sponsored with Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail and the Harris Center.

• Mini-bioblitz at The Caterpillar Lab's new Headquarters

Saturday, April 25, walk from 11 AM to noon, self-guided from noon to 5 PM​​

The Caterpillar Lab's new HQ, 13 Main Street (Route 101), Dublin (GPS directions)

Caterpillar Lab staff, info@thecaterpillarlab.org

Celebrate the soft opening of The Caterpillar Lab's new headquarters in Dublin with a mini-bioblitz to document the biodiversity on their new property. At 11 AM, join TCL staff for a walk (with some off-trail exploration), and from noon to 5 PM head indoors to visit their new museum space and learn more about iNat, or explore marked zones on your own to continue your exploration. 

*This event is co-sponsored with The Caterpillar Lab.

• Harris Center's City Nature Challenge Mini-bioblitz

Saturday, April 25, 3 to 5 PM​

Harris Center for Conservation Education, Hancock (GPS directions)

Nate Marchessault, nate@harriscenter.org, and Steven Lamonde, slamonde@antioch.edu 

Join iNaturalist enthusiasts Steven Lamonde and Nate Marchessault for the Monadnock Region’s first annual participation in the City Nature Challenge with a biodiversity walk around the Harris Center grounds in search of amphibian eggs, spring wildflowers, birds, mosses, and any other signs of life. Registration required, registration and more information can be found here.

*This event is co-sponsored with the Harris Center.

• Spring Moth Lighting and Nighttime Caterpillar Search at The Caterpillar Lab's new Headquarters

Saturday, April 25, 7 to 11 PM (weather permitting, rain date on Sunday 4/26)​​

The Caterpillar Lab's new HQ, 13 Main Street (Route 101), Dublin (GPS directions)

Caterpillar Lab staff, info@thecaterpillarlab.org

Meet at TCL at 7 PM to head out for an evening caterpillar exploration using flashlights and UV to catch more diversity, then check in for moth lighting after dark (around 8:30 or so) to see who is flying as spring kicks off! Folks are welcome to join for any portion of the evening.

*This event is co-sponsored with The Caterpillar Lab.

• ​​Spring Ephemerals at Surry Mountain, co-sponsored with New England Botanical Society

Sunday, April 26, 2026, 9 AM - 1 PM
Nate Marchessault, natemarchessault@gmail.com, Wendy Ward, and Karro Frost
Meet: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Surry Mountain Lake (register for location information)
Join Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Conservation Planning Biologist Karro Frost, retired USDA-NRCS District Conservationist Wendy Ward, and ecologist Nate Marchessault for a leisurely walk along the base of Surry Mountain in search of the showy blooms of spring ephemeral wildflowers. Our exploration will take us through a diverse array of habitats—from fields and floodplain edges to upland forests, ranging from dark hemlock stands to bright, enriched forests teeming with ephemerals. The trip will be an out-and-back with a slight amount of elevation gain and up to four miles of walking, with optional off-trail excursions. Registration required, please register here.

*This event is co-sponsored with New England Botanical Society.

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Pitcher Mountain Bug Hike
Sunday, May 3, 2026, 9 AM, morning only
Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu and Sara Burrell, burrell@thecaterpillarlab.org
Meet: Pitcher Mountain trailhead (GPS directions)
Let's join folks from the Caterpillar Lab and cover some ground at Pitcher Mountain while we hunt for caterpillars and other insects. We'll traverse several habitats productive for early-season bugs, including woodlands, rocky summits, and shrubby early successional growth. Bring your phone loaded with the iNaturalist app so we can document all the critters we see along the way! Please be prepared for hiking up to three miles, including some slopes, as well as sun and biting insects.

*This trip is co-sponsored with The Caterpillar Lab.