Squam Lakes Natural Science Center News

Science Center Lake Cruises & Natural Adventures

Happenings at the Science Center

Second Half of August 2011

SCIENCE CENTER LAKE CRUISES Dinner & Sunset Cruise  – Limited Time  Thursdays – August 4, August 11 We are pleased to team up with Walter’s Basin restaurant to bring you, for a limited time, a Dinner and Sunset Cruise. Start your evening off with a delicious, fixed price dinner at Walter’s Basin, followed by a 90-minute evening cruise on Squam Lake. This guided tour aboard one of the Science Center’s canopied pontoon boats will showcase the beauty of Squam Lake including the natural history, wildlife and people. Binoculars are available for wildlife viewing. Dinner begins at Walter’s Basin at 5:00 p.m. Cruise departs at 6:30 p.m. Please call 603-968-7194 for reservations. Cost:$50 per person  View the full menu online. Explore Squam Cruise Daily at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.   This 90-minute guided tour has something for everyone! Sit back, relax, and experience the beauty of Squam Lakes on a canopied pontoon boat and learn about the natural history of these lakes, the wildlife that makes them so special, and the people who have enjoyed these lakes for over 5,000 years. View locations where the movie On Golden Pond was filmed 30 years ago and watch Loons and Bald Eagles – which can be seen throughout the season but are best viewed while nesting from May through August. Cost: Adult: $20 Member/$22 Non-Member, Senior: $18 Member/ $20 Non-Member, Youth: $16 Member/ $18 Non-Member Cruises not recommended for children under 3.  View our full calendar. Nature of the Lakes Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 4:00 p.m.  The focus of this 90-minute guided tour is the natural history and ecology of Squam Lake and the creatures that make it their home. Explore the lake with an experienced naturalist/educator as we search for wildlife, including the Common Loon and Bald Eagle, both of which nest here. We will observe Loon and Eagle nesting behavior firsthand. Come away with an enhanced appreciation and understanding of the lake and its wildlife. Cost: Adult: $20 Member/$22 Non-Member, Senior: $18 Member/ $20 Non-Member, Youth: $16 Member/ $18 Non-Member Cruises not recommended for children under 3.    View our full calendar. Loon Cruise Fridays at 3:00 p.m. (through August 19) We are delighted to again join forces with our close friends and colleagues at Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) to offer weekly cruises focusing on Common Loon conservation, biology, and monitoring. On each Loon Cruise a Science Center Naturalist will be joined by a LPC biologist who guides the tour and discusses the work LPC is doing across the state and here on Squam to protect these extraordinary birds. The cruise route is chosen to maximize Loon observations. Cost: Adult: $20 Member/$22 Non-Member, Senior: $18 Member/ $20 Non-Member, Youth: $16 Member/ $18 Non-Member Cruises not recommended for children under 3.    View our full calendar. NATURAL ADVENTURES Newt Adventure Thursday, August 4, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.   Age 3+  Come learn about New Hampshire’s state amphibian, the Red-spotted Newt. Find out why this species is unique among the state’s 12 salamander species. We will start inside with a brief look at their life cycle and see photographs of their life stages. Then we will go outdoors in search of these amazing amphibians. Cost: $8/member; $10/non-member View our full calendar. Songs and Tales of the Earth    Friday, August 5, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.   All Ages Join us for a free family concert by award-winning musician, author, and storyteller Steve Schuch (www.NightHeron.com) as part of Holderness’ 250th anniversary activities. Children from our “Earth Songs” Guided Discovery will be featured. Weaving together performance, history, and science, this concert encourages wonder and respect for the natural world. With songs celebrating the season, humor, and world-class Celtic fiddling and guitar, Steve Schuch’s performance will delight young and old alike. This program will take place on the lawn at Kirkwood Gardens and will be held rain or shine. This program is generously sponsored by Paul and Sharon Steinwachs. No charge to attend, but reservations are required. Please call 603-968-7194. View our full calendar.   Our Dynamic Earth: Changing Visibility in the White Mountains Monday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. Adult Lecture Series  Visibility in the northeastern wilderness has declined substantially since the 1970s. John Halstead, professor and chair of the Department of Resource Economics at the University of New Hampshire, will examine these changes and share how hikers and the general public value visibility. No charge to attend, but reservations are required. Please call 603-968-7194. View our full calendar. Discover the Night Thursday, August 9, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Age 6+  What is night like for owls, bats, and beavers? We will meet two of the Science Center’s live nocturnal animals and then go outside to explore their world. Discover the night through games, activities, owl calls, and a walk along a little-used Science Center trail. Cost: $7/member; $9/non-member View our full calendar. Hop, Wiggle, and Fly Thursday, August 11, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Families  From hopping frogs to flying birds, animals move in many different ways. We will explore diferent natural communities in search of wildlife and see the unique ways animals move. Let’s get moving by wriggling, crawling, and hopping like the animals we observe. Cost: $8/member; $10/non-member View our full calendar. Tales of Tails Friday, August 12, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Families  Animal tails take many shapes and sizes. Come and learn the amazing ways some New Hampshire animals use their tails. The whole family will love this engaging, thought provoking live animal program. Cost: $7/member; $9/non-member View our full calendar. Our Dynamic Earth: The Gulf Oil Spill Monday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m. Adult Lecture Series  The April 2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico and subsequent discharge of crude oil and gas may be the largest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history. Judith E. McDowell, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Senior Scientist, will share their findings about the oil spill, efforts to contain it, and plans for future studies. No charge to attend, but reservations are required. Please call 603-968-7194. View our full calendar. ONGOING PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS  Seasons of Change Now through Mid-September  Seasons of Change: Global Warming in Your Backyard, explores the effects of climate change on iconic aspects of New England life. Learn more at http://seasons.terc.edu/index.html. Our hosting of this exhibit is made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation – Environmental Education Fund and John L. and Priscilla L. Griffin Family Fund. Admission to Seasons of Change is included in regular trail admission.  View our full calendar. Up Close To Animals   Hourly every day from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.   Join us at the Amphitheater every hour on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a fun and educational mini-talk. Each mini-talk will feature a live animal accompanied by one of our knowledgeable naturalists. Every day five different animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles, are on view close up and the schedule will change daily. There is no charge for this program. It is included with your admission. View our Up Close To Animals Schedule Turtle Talks    Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m.  Learning about turtles is fun and engaging at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. We invite you to the Gordon Children’s Center pavilion each Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. for a informative and interactive program focused on these intriguing reptiles that have been here on earth for more than 200 million years! All talks will include a live turtle and informal discussion where questions are always encouraged. There is no charge for this program. It is included with your admission. View our full calendar. Thank You Common Man This e-mail generously underwritten by The Common Man The Common Man has catered our Summer Gala for many years. We salute Alex Ray and his staff for contributing a major portion of cost of their professional services and for years of outstanding support and good food!  Uncommon Catering

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Tags: adventure, cruise, family, workshop