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Saturday 10am - 2pm Sunday 10am - 2pm

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

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Holderness, NH
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Since 1966, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has brought visitors Nearer to Nature! Activities inc
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The mission of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (SLNSC) is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. Through spectacular live animal exhibits, natural science education programs, and lake cruises, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has educated and enlightened visitors for over forty years about our natural world. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located on Route 113 in Holderness, exit 24 off I-93, and is open daily from May 1 through November 1.

11/06/2024

Thanks to everyone who visited this past weekend to get Nearer to Nature!

The Science Center live animal exhibit trail and all hiking trails will be open on Saturdays and Sundays through November 30. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the last trail admission at 2:00 p.m.

10/31/2024

Happy Owl-o-ween! We hope your day is as spooky as this Great Horned Owl's shadow.

10/30/2024

Why do bats hang upside down?
Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. This is made easier by hanging upside down - all they have to do is drop down and off they go. This is also a great way to escape predators.

10/28/2024

It's ! A perfect time to celebrate these incredible mammals. Look at the ears of this big brown bat. This bat uses echolocation (sending a call out and listening back for the echo to locate objects) to determine how far an object is, its size, shape, density, and even the direction it is moving. This is a very effective way to search out their insect prey.

10/15/2024

Big news!
We are extending our trail season past the usual November 1 trail closure to remain open on Saturdays and Sundays through November. Hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the last trail admission at 2:00 p.m. The Howling Coyote Gift Shop will also be open for all of your holiday shopping needs. We're looking forward to welcoming you for this extended season!

10/07/2024

10/04/2024

Fall is a beautiful time to see the changing foliage on . Squam Lake Cruises run daily through October 14. Reserve your tickets at our website.

10/02/2024

Your Science Center membership goes further during October! For the month of October, the fee for admission to the -Shepard Discovery Center Exhibit Galleries will be waived for Science Center members (excluding special events and planetarium shows).

See full details at https://nhnature.org/membership/reciprocal_admission.php

10/01/2024

We're hiking up Mt. Fayal and conducting a BioBlitz this Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The view of Squam Lake from the top of Mt. Fayal is gorgeous in the fall and we'll be identifying as many different types of organisms as we can on our way up.

$9 for members/ $11 for non-members. Details and registration at https://nhnature.org/programs/calendar.php

09/30/2024

We are hiring for an Animal Care Associate Training Coordinator. See full details at:

Information about careers and internships at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.

09/26/2024

Our Science Center Nature Tours are led by Executive Director Iain MacLeod, a native of Scotland. We have limited spaces available for our spring 2025 tours to Scotland in April and June. Iain personally arranges the details of the trips which are a great way to see and learn about the wildlife and culture of Scotland.

See full trip itineraries and details at https://nhnature.org/programs/nature_tours.php.

09/23/2024

We are excited to introduce our new Rough-legged Hawk. This hawk spends summers on the arctic tundra eating lemmings and migrates south to southern Canada and the U.S. for the winter. The hawk is named for its feathered legs that help to conserve heat.

This Rough-legged Hawk came to us from a rehabilitator after being treated for a collision with a car. It has a damaged left wing and deviated keel (extension of the breastbone) making it unable to fly properly and cannot be released back into the wild.

Our Rough-Legged Hawk can be seen at the Raptor Exhibit along the live animal exhibit trail. Trails are open every day through November 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last trail admission at 3:30 p.m.)

09/21/2024

Today is the and students celebrated yesterday by singing the peace song, reading a story, and thinking about how they can make the world a more peaceful place.

09/20/2024

The Science Center is Sensory Inclusive Certified by KultureCity which means that our staff is trained in sensory sensitivities. We also have Sensory Inclusive Bags for guests to use during their visit, including a sensory map of the live animal exhibit trail. Our goal is to provide an accommodating and positive experience for all guests with sensory issues who visit the Science Center. Ask at the Admissions window, to borrow a bag during your visit.

09/17/2024

doesn’t start until October 2 but we have our very own, heavyset ursid here at the Science Center. Our female bear is 25 years old and weighs about 400 pounds, which is heavy even for going into winter. Average weights for female black bears are up to about 375 pounds. Our animal care team is monitoring and managing her weight to bring her into a healthier range.

Address

23 Science Center Road
Holderness, NH
03245

Opening Hours

Saturday	10am - 2pm
Sunday	10am - 2pm

Website

http://www.nhnature.org/

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A reminder that the live animal exhibit trail and hiking trails will be open this Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the last trail admission at 2:00 p.m.

Visit these guys and all of the animals on the trail every day through November 1, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the last trail admission at 3:30 p.m. Trails will also be open on Saturdays and Sundays through November 30, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the last trail admission at 2:00 p.m.

Support the mission of the Science Center by sponsoring a plaque. https://nhnature.org/boardwalk/

Fall is a beautiful time for weddings in NH and the Science Center could be the backdrop to your special day. Now booking for 2025 and 2026. Visit nhnature.org for details. #nhwedding #sciencecenterwedding #fallwedding

Today is the #InternationalDayOfPeace and #BlueHeronSchool students celebrated yesterday by singing the peace song, reading a story, and thinking about how they can make the world a more peaceful place.

#FatBearWeek doesn’t start until October 2 but we have our very own, heavyset ursid here at the Science Center. Our female bear is 25 years old and weighs about 400 pounds, which is heavy even for going into winter. Average weights for female black bears are up to about 375 pounds. Our animal care team is monitoring and managing her weight to bring her into a healthier range.

Our Garden Party to Support the Science Center is Thursday, August 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Celebrate the wonders of nature in beautiful Kirkwood Gardens while showing your support for our important work. Info and tickets at https://nhnature.org/gala/ #gardenparty #kirkwoodgardens #nhnature #nhwildlife #squamlake

Our Loon Cruises allow visitors to observe Common Loons with a Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) biologist and Science Center naturalist as they share the latest news about Loon conservation, biology, and monitoring. #loon #SquamLake #squamloons #squamlakecruises

Have you ever seen a bat grooming itself? Big brown bats roost in social colonies and often groom each other. They give birth in maternity colonies in June. The pups are hairless and tiny but will begin to fly to feed after about three to five weeks. These bat colonies disperse in late July and August, as seen with the bat houses here at the Science Center.

Squam Lake is known for its clear water, rocky shores, celebrated islands, historic homes, scenic mountain views, and remarkable wildlife including Bald Eagles and Common Loons. Enjoy a guided Squam Lake Cruise to experience everything Squam Lake has to offer. Cruises are offered daily. Learn more at https://nhnature.org/programs/lake_cruises.php. #squamlake #squamlakecruises

Marsh Boardwalk

The Wetlands Walk along the marshy area of the live animal exhibit trail near the Songbird Feeding Station features the popular Marsh Boardwalk. This has been part of the trail since the 1980s with the last iteration built in 2009. After many years repairing the boardwalk it was fully rebuilt this spring. Take a look at the beautiful new boardwalk! Stay tuned for information about how to support and get your name on the new Boardwalk.