Beaver Brook LOG
                                                             Late Summer 2009

summerweb
Spatterdock Pond at Beaver Brook. 
Spatterdock is an old name for pond lilies.




Wish List!
Donations of new or 'like new' items or services donated for fall fundraising raffle table.  Suggestions :
Rounds of golf, sports tickets, restaurant or theater certificates, landscaping and other professional services, lessons, sporting goods ie. backpacks, tents, kayaks, firepit, etc.
Desk, floor or table lamps in good condition for offices.

Pressure treated lumber

Heavy duty door mats

New toaster oven

John Deer brush hauler and stump remover.

New plow truck.



 


A BIG Thank you to...

Allen Mello For the loan of  two vehicles for  two field trips.

Denise Hurt for donating loppers and shears.

Walmart for a grant for organic tshirts.

Shannon Slattery for donating woodchips.

Alan and Paul Sauve for podium/dropbox and easels

Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in Youth Volunteer Trails Day, New Hampshire and National Trails events.  Over 100 hours of trails work was accomplished by Volunteers during the month of July!























VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for upcoming events:

--volunteers to help at BBA tent at Hollis Old Home Days Sept. 19

--volunteers to distribute Fall Festival posters to stores

--Greeters for Fall Festival Art Show inside and outside Maple Hill Farm Oct 3 & 4th.

--volunteers to sell raffle tickets at the Raffle table Oct 3 & 4th.

--volunteers to sell snacks and t-shirts Oct 3rd or 4th.

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Forest Forts
Forest Forts

freshairsmorescampfire chick
Songs around the Campfire 
Thursday August 27th
7-9:00   pm
$5 pp
Come enjoy an evening hike and some old-fashioned family summer entertainment at Beaver Brook. We'll take a short walk to the Beaver Brook Campsite where we will learn or relearn old favorite campfire songs with Amy Conley of Music Together.  Amy will play banjo and guitar.  We'll break for smores and hike back with flashlights as we celebrate the end of summer!    Call to register 603-465-7787  www.beaverbrook.org
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Forest Landowner Forums: Forest Management, Insect/Disease Threats, and Forest Conservation
Thursday, August 27th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, at Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road, in Hollis, NH

All forest and woodlot owners are invited to attend free Forest Landowner Forum co-sponsored by the NRWA and the New England Forestry Foundation.  Our speakers will be Jon Nute, an Extension Educator on Forest Resources with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, speaking on forest land management planning and how to involve a professional forester. He will also speak about forest recovery from last year's ice storm, as well as insect and disease issues. Jon will be joined by Whit Beals, Director of Land Protection for the New England Forestry Foundation, and he will again speak on "Protecting Forestland for the Next Generation: What's in the Toolbox?" as described above.
Following the speakers, there will be a question and answer session, and time to speak informally with the presenters and local foresters.

This presentation is made possible by an EPA Targeted Watershed grant for the project "Protecting Today's Water for Tomorrow: Combating Threats to Source Water in the Squannacook Nissitissit Sub-basin of the Nashua River Watershed", a multi-year partnership project led by the Nashua River Watershed Association, Trust for Public Land, New England Forestry Foundation, and Beaver Brook Association.
Pre-registration is required; to pre-register, or for more information, please contact Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director, at (978) 448-0299 or email Al Futterman.
Hiking and Sculpture
Sunday Sept 13 
1-3 pm
Andres Institute Parking Lot Route 13 Brookline NH
Free.  
 The Phoenix
 
Hike up Big Bear Mountain in Brookline NH to view some of the 50 thought-provoking original sculptures nestled along walking trails all over the mountain in our 140 acre sculpture park. An art docent will also accompany us to explain the work of these international sculptors.   Meet at 1 pm in the parking lot at the Andres Institute Route 13, Brookline NH.
Everyone is then invited to join in the Opening of the International Sculpture Symposium from 3-5 pm to meet the institute founders and welcome this year's artists to NH.  Refreshments will be served.
This is a unique oppportunity.


Autumn Walks: Stories and Activities for Parents and Young Children

Take time out with your young children to explore fall. Each class will include a short story or poems to stir up curiosities, a fun craft, and a venture to the special places of Beaver Brook for first hand investigation. Geared for ages 2-5. Younger siblings are welcome to come along. Please bring raingear when necessary.

Instructor- Ellen Roos-Unger

Mondays September 14, 21, 28, Oct 5, 19, 28, Nov 2     Time -12:30-1:30   

Tuesdays September 15, 22, 29 Oct 6, 13, 20, 27  Nov 3 
Session A: 9-10 am     Session B: 10:30-11:30
 Fee:  Friends of BBA:  $50 for 7 weeks or $9 per week if slots available.  ($5 per class for siblings).
            or $56/session and $6 per participating siblings.

Week 1- TREEmendous Trees: Let's read some stories and touch and see some wonderful, massive trees. We can all become more aware of how important trees are to all of life. Will we find some tree seeds to plant? Meet at Brown Lane Barn.

 Week 2- Traveling Nuts and Seeds: How do animals use nuts and seeds to help them to survive? What nuts and seeds are falling around us? How do falling nuts and seeds help new plants to grow next spring? Let's read a book about animals and seeds and look for nuts and seeds on a hike. We'll make a craft from an animal's favorite food. Meet at Maple Hill Farm.

Week 3 - Autumn Days- Leaves Of Color: Why do leaves change colors? What's frost? Where do animals go when it gets cold? Let's read a story and walk the trails to find out! Let's find leaves to make a beautiful fall collage. Meet at Maple Hill Farm.

Week 4- Bats- The Flying Mammal: Are bats our friends? How are bats and people alike? How do bats take care of their young? Let's find out some fun bat facts. Go on a hike to look for signs of bat habitats. Meet at Maple Hill Farm.

Week 5- Owl Investigation: When are owls awake? What kinds of owls live in New Hampshire? Can you hoot like an owl? Let's discover some interesting facts about owls. You will get to see an owl pellet be dissected and go on a hike to look for signs of owls and practice your very best hooting! Meet at Maple Hill Farm.

Week 6- Harvest Fun- Indian Corn, Apples, and Pumpkins- Oh My!: Let's read some stories about fall harvest. Why do we pick apples and pumpkins in fall? How do the seeds lead to more fruit and vegetables growing? Can you find some hidden harvest fun on our hike? Meet at Maple Hill Farm to find out.

Week 7- Native Americans- Who Lived Here?: How did the Native Americans survive in New Hampshire with only their surroundings? What sorts of activities did  Native American children do all day? Explore artifacts, crush corn kernels, and hike to a model of a wigwam to sit in. Make a Native American style shaker for your listening enjoyment. Meet at Maple Hill Farm.

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BBA Trail Notes

by: Glenn Lloyd

              Fortunately we enjoyed good weather and a good turnout for both National Trails Day on June 6 and New Hampshire Trails Day on July 18, 2009. Both events were hosted by Pete Smith, Natural Resources Director who provided guidance plus the drinks, pizza, donuts coffee etc. and once again some important improvements were accomplished.

            National Trails Day focused on trails north of Rte. 130 with some attention to the Big Tree Trail near Brown Lane. The Wood Duck Pond Trail which runs from Jeff Smith Trail to the Mary Farley/Tupelo junction experiences extremely heavy growth each year and closes in quickly. Brushing usually requires a group effort and eleven volunteers made a huge impact. Lastly, minor brushing and some drainage work was done on Mary Farley and the entrance to Big Tree Trail at Brown Lane was also cleared.

            In keeping with tradition the New Hampshire Trails Day event was once again held at our Burns Farm trail network in Milford. Eight volunteers focused their efforts on constructing a re-route to the loop trail near the town forest eliminating a very wet section along the brook. The re-route was successfully cut and a few days later trail marker painting and ribbon removal completed the effort. In addition the group cleared culverts and brushed all trails south of Mason Road. It was noticed that trail-heads and field crossings needed mowing and this was attended to immediately in the following week.

            Once again a sincere note of thanks to our Trails Day volunteers for the hours they contributed and their help in bringing these necessary projects to a successful conclusion. 

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10 Things You Should do to Know the Real New Hampshire
excerpts from his list of "100 Things"  by Steve Taylor, Retired Commissioner of Agriculture NH

1.  Visit a real working dairy farm; stand in the pit of the milking parlor and watch what happens. Some to
try: Stonewall Farm, Chesterfield NH, Connelly Family Farm, Temple NH; Fitch's Farm, Milford, NH; Graymist Farm, Groveton; Tullando, Orford; Stuarts, Stratham; Pine Lane, Contoocook.
2.Get out of your car and slowly walk through any New Hampshire covered bridge. Climb down the stream
bank and look up under, too.
3.  Watch the sap boil at a sugarhouse and taste syrup hot from the pan. There's a lot of socializing when
they're boiling late into the night.
4.  Ride the Thomas Laighton to the Isles of Shoals.
5. View the landscape paintings of Durham artist John Hatch.
6. Quietly paddle a nearby pond and listen for loons, beavers, heron and ducks.
7.  Pick your own berries or apples at a nearby farm.
8. Climb to a fire tower and talk with the observer. Hurry, they may not exist much longer.  The closest firetower is on Federal Hill Road, Milford.  There is one to climb on Pack Monadnock in Temple too.
9.   Observe a purple finch, the New Hampshire state bird.
10. Climb Monadnock and see what makes it the Most Climbed Mountain in the western hemisphere.
Can you name this location at Beaver Brook? 

wildlife pond
Just email the trail name to info@beaverbrook.org
and you will be eligible for a prize!


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What are your favorite memories of childhood play?

some common answers:
-digging holes to China
-catching frogs and fireflies
- building stick forts
-daydreaming in a secret spot
-exploring ponds and creeks

Do your children play that way?  Chances are, they don't.  American children spend 27% of their time with electronic media.
Only 1% of their time is spent outside!  Unstructured make-it-up-as-you go play averages 4 minutes per day!  Yet the average
American two-year old can fit in 2.6 hours of TV viewing daily!
Torestore nature play read this simple and enjoyables guide: 

http://www.greenheartsinc.org/Parents__Guide.html

and feel free to bring your family to Beaver Brook where they can explore and free play to their hearts content in the
gardens, fields, forest, ponds and trails.

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To Register for Classes, Call 603 465-7787

Our office address is:

117 Ridge Road
Hollis NH  03049
 
The 30 miles of trails at Beaver Brook and the 12 theme gardens
 are open to the public 365 days a year, dawn to dusk, free of charge.
Become Part of the Legacy

"Beaver Brook Association will become an island of green in a sea of humanity."
~ Jeff Smith, co-founder
 
You can become a part of the Legacy and make a lasting difference to preserve one of the most valued natural treasures in southern New Hampshire. Join the ranks of those that have made a Life Long gift in expression of their individual values and shared love of nature.
Including Beaver Brook Association as part of your will is the most common type of lifetime gift and is quite simple to do. You may also consider listing Beaver Brook Association as a beneficiary on an existing life insurance policy. There are many approaches to planning a Life Long gift that can be mutually beneficial for you and Beaver Brook Association.
 
"I was brought up here and walked and rode horseback with my father through all these woods. . . I felt it would be wonderful if this kind of thing could go on in perpetuity."
~ Hollis Nichols, co-founder
 
Hollis Nichols and Jeff Smith created the Legacy of Beaver Brook Association for all to enjoy-whether it is a walk in the solitude of nature or an invigorating program teaching the important role of protecting the natural world around us. Although they may not have realized it at the time, it was an opportunity of a lifetime that only became a reality through their decisive action.
Talk with your financial professional or family attorney about the many benefits of Life Long giving for you and the organization you support. You can also call Beaver Brook Association's office at (603) 465-7787 for more information or a referral to a financial professional.

"Because of having Beaver Brook I've had the chance to learn to love nature and want to protect it. It has given me the chance to become the person I'm supposed to be."
~ Chris Lalmond, Beaver Brook student, teacher and nature enthusiast