Manchester, NH

Saturday, March 9^th, we were greeted with a warm and sunny day for our trip to Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and the Loon Preservation Center. 

At the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, SCA Manchester was given an interpretive tour of their animal trail. We got to see raptors, bobcats, mountain lions, owls, foxes and more.

It was really exciting to get to see these native New Hampshire wildlife up close and personal. Our interpretive guide was very informative and answered all of the corps members many questions with ease. We finished off our trip to the Squam Nature Science Center by learning about the beaver they have their and watching him nibble on sweet potatoes and carrots.

After leaving the Squam Nature Science Center, we hopped into the vans and drove to the Loon Center in Moultonboro. At the Loon Center, we broke up into two groups and got down to work. Half of us worked together to move a footbridge that had washed away during Hurricane Sandy. The other half of us headed out on the trails at the Loon Center and brushed back some of the trees and shrubs that had grown into the trail.

Overall we had a beautiful and productive day. We all got a chance to become more familiar with the animals living around us and finally get to work doing some hands on conservation work!

There may still be snow on the ground, but it’s always a good time for a trip to the beach. On Saturday, March 2, our Manchester CLC group celebrated spring a little early, dedicating a day of service work to the New Hampshire seacoast. Though the forecast called for rain and snow, it turned out to be a beautiful and sunny day, adding to the good vibes generated by the work being done.

We spend the morning helping the Blue Ocean Society do a cleanup of Jenness Beach.  Working in groups, we scoured the sand in search of plastic bags, bottle caps, netting, and much more. Corps members also got to learn about the effects that marine debris have on aquatic ecosystems and organisms. In only about an hour and a half, we contributed to collecting 118 pounds of trash! 

After scarfing down our lunches, everyone headed over to Odiorne State Park to assist the Seacoast Science Center in moving some rocks. Well, actually it was A LOT of rocks – and little ones, too. This didn’t deter the students, however, and they used shovels, rakes, or their hands to clear about 750 square feet of debris left over by winter storms.

After the work, Science Center naturalists gave us a tour of the exhibits and animals inside, including an in-depth look at octopi.

All that time in the sun left us pretty tired by the end of the afternoon, but there were still quite a few smiles to be seen on the drive home. Here’s to spring!

Saturday, February 16th, ten Manchester high school students braved the early morning snow to come out to Bear Brook State Park for a day of hiking and environmental education.

We started out the morning with some fun games that ended with our first safety stretch circle of the 2013 season.

Caleb Savage and Emily Barry, two of our interpreter interns at Bear Brook, took us all on a wonderful morning hike, during which we learned a little bit about the history of Spruce Pond camp and the landscape.

After taking a break for lunch and filling up on food and warm drinks, we headed back out for an afternoon hike led by Steven Gang and Nicole Juppe, two more of our interpreter interns. On this hike, we all got to explore Bear Brook a little further and learn how to identify trees in the area and appreciate the sights and sounds of Bear Brook.

We finished off the day with a nice campfire. Everyone had a chance to roast some marshmallows and drink some hot chocolate. Saturday was full of laughs and fun games and we are really excited about the upcoming season.

To kick off the SCA Manchester CLC's 2013 season, we hosted our Returning Member Get-Together on Thursday, February 7th. This was a gathering just for corps members who have participated in SCA Manchester in previous years, and it served multiple purposes. Not only was it a chance for returning members to reunite, it also gave us, the new group of Manchester CLC Leaders, the opportunity to learn from some of the program's seasoned veterans.

We started strong by playing a game of This is How I Move, in which we got to see some of the best dance moves this side of the Merrimack! After we got our sillies out, we took some time to reflect on past years and discuss hopes and expectations for the 2013 season. Not surprisingly, it seems that our returning members are hiking enthusiasts. But even more than hiking, they like to work hard – looks like we have a great year ahead. We look forward to meeting the new members who will join this group and take part in some exciting conservation service work this year!

SCA Manchester will be having an information session for all new interested members! 

Time: 7:00 -8:00 PM

Date: February 5th

Venue: Salavation Army in Downtown Manchester. 121 Cedar Street.

Who's Invited: Parents, family, friends.