Skip to main content

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests

Get our e-news! Sign up

small nav

  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Trustees
    • Our History
    • Employment
    • Conservation Center
    • FAQs
    • Partners
    • Business Members
    • Annual Reports
    • Bylaws
    • Policies
  • log in
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Main menu

  • What we do
    • Land Conservation
    • Education & Events
    • Advocacy
    • Forestry & Recreation
    • News & Features
    • Forest Notes & More Publications
  • Current Projects
    • Mahoosuc Highlands, Shelburne
    • Forest Society North at The Rocks Campaign
    • Cole Conservation Easement, Cornish
    • Derevya Farms, Allenstown
    • Build Creek Farm Restrooms, Portsmouth
    • Mount Major Stewardship Fund
    • Recent Accomplishments
  • Visit & Explore
    • The Rocks
    • Conservation Center
    • Mount Major
    • Creek Farm
    • Forest Reservation Guide
    • Visitor Use Guidelines
  • Get Involved
    • Upcoming Events
    • Membership/Renewal
    • Support Our Work
    • Take Action
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe to E-news
  • Search

Search form

Donate
Menu

News

  • Forest Journal: What's Going on Under the Ice?

    Carrie Deegan
    January 24, 2023

    It’s that time of year again- the time when mere mortals can walk on water. Frozen water, sure, but it’s still one of the coolest (pun intended) ...

  • Mt Major Outdoor Classroom

    Dave Anderson
    November 22, 2022

    The students were enthusiastic during a group in-school presentation the prior week to get psyched for their Monday hike.

  • An Endless Summer to Remember.

    Dave Anderson
    November 21, 2022

    It snowed last night: a three inch thick coffin lid to our seemingly endless summer. The first snowfall arrives like a shot across the bow. We’d ...

School's Tradition Reminds Us Why Land Conservation Matters

Forest Society Provides Resources for the Outdoor Classroom
Dave Anderson
October 26, 2015
Mount Major
Education
Fourth-grade students from Portsmouth's Little Harbour Elementary School learn names of islands and surrounding peaks and mountain ranges while looking out over Lake Winnipesaukee.

Mount Major is the annual destination of the fourth grade classes of Portsmouth's Little Harbour Elementary School (LHES).  The Forest Society is in year two of partnering with Little Harbour in our pilot program to bring more environmental education to the excellent exercise afforded by climbing one of N.H.'s most beloved mountain peaks.

Forest Society Education Director Dave Anderson visited the LHES students and their parent chaperones before their hike to provide an introducation to the geology, forests, wildlife, history and ecology of Mount Major.  The presentation included tips for safe hiking and trail etiquette, as well as an introduction to the trails and stewardship opportunities. 

Kids, chaperones and teachers hit the trail at Mount Major.

Autumn is an annual high water mark for N.H. hiking. The spectacular fall foliage and cooler, less humid weather make for ideal scenery and comfort.  Two of the most popular peaks in New Hampshire -- Mount Monadnock with an estimated 100,000 visitors  and Mount Major with an estimated 80,000 visitors --  experience peak crowds on Columbus Day Weekend. This October was no exception with excellent weather conditions and very busy trails at these locations, both of which have greatly benefitted from the Forest Society's land conservation work done in conjunction with partner groups and agencies.

What kind of tree is this?

The Forest Society's "Mount Major Outdoor Classroom" pilot program is working to create new learning opportunities by partnering with schools that are already visiting Mount Major to hike. Our hiking primer provides not only important ecological information but also a glimpse at the features students will see on their hike.
 

The chant is often,"Finish Strong!" at the summit as more students arrive.

Once at the mountain, students take time to look for those features and deepen their knowledge of trees and forests. Students pick up litter before leaving the summit and descending to the parking lot.  There is a great sense of community cameraderie as students cheer on their friends and teachers arriving at the summit. 

Picking up litter at the summit to leave the mountain cleaner than when they arrived.

Some perennially popular features to find include the USGS benchmarks and the remains of "Mr. Phippen's Hut," the stone hut shelter at the summit.

Students arrive at the mountain prepared to hike, have fun and find those features they learned about in the Forest Society's pre-hike presentation. 

Little Harbour School PE teacher Sean McGrimley is a key liaison who organizes the annual hike. A great fourth-grade team of teachers, the parent chaperones and supportive school leaders make this experience possible. Funding from the Dorr Foundation and an anonymous donor supports the pilot project.

Little Harbour School PE teacher Sean McGrimley.

Many schools in the Seacoast Region and lower Merrimack Valley and Central Lakes Region have similar long standing traditions of hiking Mount Major each autumn.

When Forest Society staff and volunteers, including those from the Lakes Region Conservation Trust and the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition, began to actively engage  the hiking public at Mount Major in 2013 and 2014 - conducting car counts, hiker surveys and raising the funds to purchase key tracts both on and near Mt Major and in the Belknap Range -- the recurring connections between certain school communities and Mount Major began to become apparent.

A great day of fun, fresh air, exercise and learning at Mount Major.

The Forest Society is seeking new opportunities to expand the in-school presentations to engage more schools hiking at Mount Major to improve hiking safety, trail etiquette and engagement in collective stewardship of the extremely popular and much-loved peak. If you know schools and teachers who may be interested, please contact Dave Anderson at danderson@forestsociety.org

 

Download the Forest Society Mobile App, powered by OuterSpatial

Available on the App Store
Get it on Google Play

Footer menu

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
Land Trust Alliance accreditation logo