Caterpillar Hunt at the Swanzey Airport with The Caterpillar Lab
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 9 AM, morning only
Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu and Sara Burrell, burrell@thecaterpillarlab.org
Meet: Dillant Hopkins Airport, side of parking lot furthest from main road (GPS directions)
The Caterpillar Lab will provide a short introduction to finding and collecting caterpillars (and other insects) before exploring some of the different airport habitats to see what we find! As we search, we will discuss local insect ecology and its relationship to our management activities. Bring your phone loaded with the iNaturalist app so we can document all the caterpillars, plants, and other critters we see along the way! Please be prepared for up to one mile of walking at a leisurely pace, and ticks since we will be off-trail for most of the outing. *This trip is co-sponsored with The Caterpillar Lab.

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Birding on the Farm: Piccadilly Farm, Winchester

Thursday, June 12, 2025, 7 - 9 AM

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Join us for an exciting opportunity to bird on farms throughout our region! Learn new skills and learn about wildlife conservation on the farm!​ Registration required, registration and more info can be found here.

*This event is co-sponsored with Cheshire County Conservation District, USDA Natrual Resource Conservation Service, Windham Natural Resource Conservation District, Monadnock Outdoors, and Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society.

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​Second Saturdays at the Swanzey Airport

Saturday, June 14, 2025, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Meet: Dillant-Hopkins Airport, Swanzey, side of parking lot furthest from main road (GPS directions)

Join us for our recurring walk at one of the most productive birding locations in the area, the Dillant-Hopkins Airport. This area is abuzz with bird activity no matter the time of year, and we'll spend a few hours poking around the uplands, wetlands, fields, and floodplains to see who is around. This walk will be three miles or less on mostly flat, paved ground.

 

Insects at Distant Hill with Charley Eiseman and The Caterpillar Lab

Saturday, June 14, 2025, 12 - 4 PM

Michael Nerrie, michael@distanthill.org 

Meet: Pavilion at Distant Hill Nature Trail, 66 March Hill Rd, Alstead (GPS directions)

Join us for a buggy afternoon of insect study! An expert in identifying insect sign (galls, leaf mines, etc.,), Charley Eiseman will lead us through Distant Hill looking for evidence of insects along the way, and The Caterpillar Lab will bring caterpillars and other insects for us to study up close using microscopes under the new outdoor pavilion. Registration is required, register for the insect tracking walk here and Caterpillar Lab demonstration here (feel free to register for both!).

*This event is co-sponsored with Distant Hill Gardens & Nature Trail and The Caterpillar Lab.

 

Birds, Botany, and Beans: Southern New Hampshire, co-sponsored with South Shore Bird Club of Southeastern Massachusetts

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu 

Meet: Swanzey, New Hampshire (location provided on signup)

Let’s be good hosts for our coastal counterparts by showing them some of the premier birding spots of the Monadnock Region. Arrive at 8 AM for coffee, tea, and birds in Nate's yard or by 9 for caravaning to birding and nature study locations around the area. The trip will last for the majority of the day, but cars can be arranged if people need to leave earlier. If there is interest, the trip can continue the following day as well. Please sign up with or contact Nate for more information.

*This event is co-sponsored with South Shore Bird Club.

 

Gilsum Rock Swap

June 28 - 29, 2025

Gilsum Steam Academy (GPS directions)

Go check out the Rock Swap in Gilsum! More info about the Rock Swap can be found here. 

 

Temple, NH BioBlitz
Saturday, June 28, 2025 8 AM - 4 PM
Steven Lamonde, steven@moosewoodecological.com
Meet: Temple Town Hall - 19 Main Street, Temple (GPS directions)
Join the Temple Conservation Commission and Moosewood Ecological for a biodiversity free-for-all, where we will count as many species as possible within the Town of Temple. Guided nature walks will be led at various local conservation lands, and participants are also invited to explore at their own pace. While the event runs from 8-4, come and go as you please! *This event is sponsored by Moosewood Ecological and the Temple Conservation Commission.

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Harris Center's SuperSanctuary BioBlitz

Sunday, June 29, 2025, 9 AM - 12 PM and 1 to 4 PM (two sessions)

Nate Marchessault, nate@harriscenter.org

Meet: Jaquith Rail Trail, Hancock (GPS directions)

For the Harris Center's second annual SuperSanctuary BioBlitz, we'll be exploring the Jaquith Rail Trail two different ways! The morning session will stick mostly to the wide, relatively flat trail to do their iNatting, while the afternoon session will explore off-trail to areas not often explored on the property. Bring your phone loaded with the iNaturalist app and come prepared for ticks and other biting insects. Registration is required; please register for the event and find more information here.

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​Second Saturdays at the Swanzey Airport

Saturday, July 12, 2025, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Meet: Dillant-Hopkins Airport, Swanzey, side of parking lot furthest from main road (GPS directions)

Join us for our recurring walk at one of the most productive birding locations in the area, the Dillant-Hopkins Airport. This area is abuzz with bird activity no matter the time of year, and we'll spend a few hours poking around the uplands, wetlands, fields, and floodplains to see who is around. This walk will be three miles or less on mostly flat, paved ground.

 

Harris Center’s SuperSanctuary Butterfly Count

Saturday, July 19, 2025, 9 AM - 2 PM

Harris Center Headquarters, Hancock (GPS directions)

Join the Harris Center for their annual SuperSanctuary Butterfly Count on July 19! We’ll break up into groups, surveying locations all around the SuperSanctuary. New lepidopteran enthusiasts will be paired with those who are more seasoned. Registration is required; please register for the event and find more information here.

 

Farandnear Reservation - Shirley, MA

Saturday, July 26, 2025, 8 AM, morning with optional picnic afterward

Jane Wing, jeswing29@yahoo.com

Meet: Farandnear Reservation, Shirley, MA (GPS directions)

Farandnear is an 85-acre parcel on Center Road in Shirley, MA, which is managed by The Trustees of Reservations. This is a beautiful property that you could spend all day at and still not explore every part, as there is so much to explore. There are many wooded trails which offer easy walking, fields of wildflowers, an arboretum of more than 80 conifer trees, and the remnants of an old cranberry bog. This property offers many different habitats for a large variety of bird species, dragon- and damselflies, as well as wildflowers and trees. Wooded trails are wide and easily navigable, and, while a few roots may be encountered, the trails are easy walking. Pack a lunch if you’d like to stay for a picnic lunch and socialize with some fellow nature enthusiasts afterward!

 

Young Forests at Hubbard Hill

Saturday, August 2, 2025, 8 AM, morning only

Chris Liazos, 508-471-7959 cliazos@antioch.edu

Meet: Andorra Forest, Stoddard, parking TBD

Explore Hubbard Hill with us on a guided hike to the historic blueberry fields at Hubbard Hill, carefully tended by Andorra Forest staff. Along the way, we’ll take in the rich late-summer landscape, passing through spruce-fir and young forests teeming with fledgling birds, buzzing insects, and fruiting plants. Once we reach the fields, you’re invited to wander through these diverse habitats—and if you’d like, take part in blueberry picking with a donation. This excursion lasts approximately three hours, following a forest road. Please wear proper footwear and bring water. If you plan to pick blueberries, bring your own container and a cash or phone payment for donations. The price is $2 per quart.

 

​Second Saturdays at the Swanzey Airport

Saturday, August 9, 2025, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Meet: Dillant-Hopkins Airport, Swanzey, side of parking lot furthest from main road (GPS directions)

Join us for our recurring walk at one of the most productive birding locations in the area, the Dillant-Hopkins Airport. This area is abuzz with bird activity no matter the time of year, and we'll spend a few hours poking around the uplands, wetlands, fields, and floodplains to see who is around. This walk will be three miles or less on mostly flat, paved ground.

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Drummer Hill Mushroom Foray with Monadnock Mushroom Club

Sunday, August 31, 2025, 10 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu, and Pat Joyce

Meet: Drummer Hill Conservation Area, Keene, entrance off of Timberland Drive (GPS directions)

We'll split up and spend a few hours collecting and learning about the mushrooms of Drummer Hill Conservation Area. At the end of our exploration we'll all meet up and share our finds, and the experts at Monadnock Mushroom Club will help identify what we've found. Bring a (non-plastic) bag for collecting mushrooms, and expect lightly strenuous walking conditions.

*This trip is cosponsored with Monadnock Mushroom Club.

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