Welcoming All to the Floodplain

To make the Merrimack River Outdoor Education & Conservation Area even more accessible to New American community members, many of whom who live nearby in East Concord, the Forest Society recently completed a project to translate our reservation guidance sign into multiple languages. Visitors to the floodplain are now able to access language choices by scanning a QR code sticker adhered to the sign.

We began the project by translating text into six languages common among New American communities in and around East Concord, including Kinyarwanda (language of Rwanda), Nepali, Swahili, Arabic, French, and Spanish. However, we're excited to test these stickers at reservations throughout New Hampshire and then add additional languages as determined.

“Some of our properties, like the Merrimack River floodplain in East Concord, are within walking distance of flourishing immigrant communities where many languages besides English are spoken," said Carrie Deegan, Forest Society reservation stewardship and engagement director. "Others, like Mount Major, attract international visitors to New Hampshire as well as drawing hikers from urban communities in and surrounding Manchester and Boston.

Signage translations that greet visitors in many languages are an important part of making outdoor recreation and the Forest Society’s properties as welcoming as possible to everyone.”

The project was made possible by donors and sponsors including the Benjamin Couch Trust, Merrimack County Savings Bank, and Delta Dental. Thank you!