North Conway, NH

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 37 FEBRUARY 16, 2012 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY A bo ve It A llll!! SnowCoach Tours Cross Country Skiing Snowshoeing Tubing Hill SKI to the CLOUDS February 26th Registration Open BKL FESTIVAL March 3rd-4th Registration Open Outfitters Shop 30% OFF Valley Feature Valley News GREAT GLEN TRAILS Ice fishing, family and North Conway among top 25 Rt. 16, Pinkham Notch friends lending to new ski towns in the world says www.greatglentrails.com adventures PAGE 4 National Geographic PAGE 3 (603) 466-2333 A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH Page Two Tin Mountain’s majesty: Rich in community, in school and at camp Winter camp coming up, school programs explored, 26th annual dinner/auction By Rachael Brown Contributing Writer utdoor opportu- nities abound in the Mt. Washington Valley and west- Oern Maine, but for some children and adults the experience is scarce. If Tin Mountain Conservation Center has its way, everyone will get to experience and appreciate the open air either at their 98 acre site in Albany, the 228 acre field station in Jackson, the 1200 acres of managed forest land in Conway, in the local towns, villages and in the public schools. “Even though we live in nature’s glory, some kids, don’t Photo by Rachael Brown Photo by Rachael Brown get outside,” says Donna Enthusiastic students in Jackson Grammar School's 5th- 6th grade, share Two students from Jackson Grammar School's 5th-6th grade share the Dolan, communications/pub- their observations of the Alpine Project presented by Tin Mountain outcome of their Alpine Project offered by Tin Mountain Conservation lic relations manager at Tin Conservation Center. Center. Mountain. To bring the outdoors publicity we reached out to from Vermont and had drew conclusions, included Woodbury Foundation and by inside, Tin Mountain’s pro- alumni on Facebook, the sup- worked in Texas schools for data and thought about what Tin Mountain’s biggest fund- grams have been in the port was tremendous, says one school year. She teaches they could do differently. raiser, which is fast approach- schools for the past thirty Kinsey. weekly in Bartlett and Jackson They wrote in their journals. ing- March 24th at 5 pm. years. Sometimes when school To teach the programs, Tin schools. Crowley likes the “They were really creative, The 26th Annual First budgets don’t allow, the pro- Mountain employs a staff of openness of Tin Mountain, wasn’t even what I had in Season Benefit Dinner grams are continued because trained naturalists who work quite different from standard- mind,” says Crowley. Auction provides critical sup- of generous gifts from mem- their magical curriculum. ized testing in the Texas Perhaps this connection is port for Tin Mountain’s bers, anonymous donors, not “Out teachers are naturalists, schools, she says. where the “Tin Mountain school, camp and environ- too forget the trustees that their whole training is this. The Mountain Ear was Moment” comes from. Dolan, mental education for children make all programs available to They are amazing resources. invited to watch Kae Crowley whose grown children partici- and adults, says Dolan. the schools at a reduced rate. It is like comparing a specialist do her work in the 5th and 6th pated in Tin Mountain’s pro- “It is a fantastic fun- filled “We have been in the to a general practitioner,” says grade class at the Jackson grams, explains. “Anytime we fund-raising event and the schools for 30 years. Kline. Grammar School. (Dolan and daughters) see a finest social gathering in the Sometimes the school budget There is Carol Foord, a It was a cold January after- moose, wildlife, tracks, nature, Valley,” she adds. Held at cuts have been terrible for us. teacher naturalist at Tin noon, but there was a warm no matter we are, we all chime Fryeburg Academy at the Ada Sometimes it is not recog- Mountain since 1993 who feeling in Heather in: ‘A Tin Mountain Cram Wadsworth Arena, the nized what a fantastic deal Tin works weekly with Freedom Woodward’s 5thand 6th grade Moment,’ she says. seafood Newburg and prime Mountain is. The programs schools and visits the other class. 12 students were That Tin Mountain experi- rib will be back. There will be are offered a half the cost. It schools. She covers anything sprawled around a circle, some ence is being offered for locals dancing, cash bar, entertain- has always been like that,” says from skulls and bones to sitting in chairs, some sitting and visitors this coming ment and most important an Michael Kline, executive mammals, rocks and the entire cross-legged on the rug. They February school vacation at opportunity to bid on the 400 director. The price has never waterfront. The programs are were eager to talk about the Winter Camp. Camp is for auction items, including ski increased in the 13 years he 34 weeks long for one an half results of their Alpine Ecology four days, 9 am until 3 pm. for passes, kayaks, a handcrafted has been there, adds Kline. hours in duration, sometimes project. kindergarten through grade 6. boat to support the programs “The years we have not including field trips. “The project was to simu- Each day is presents a differ- which have served over 55,000 been in the schools have been “It is the hallmark of Tin late an alpine environment to ent subject and different age children. unfortunate. The kids miss Mountain not using text see how plants would survive,” group. New this year is “There are over 300 hun- out and don’t get to know books, hands on, touch it, feel explains Crowley. The stu- “Nocturnal Adventure for dred businesses that donate. It their own backyards,” says it smell it and sometimes taste dents worked in groups of grades 2 to 6, 2 pm until 8 touches my heart, the support Lori Kinsey, education direc- it. This appeals across the two, each given a different pm., with pizza being served that is here,” says Dolan. tor for the past 28 years. “I board and the creativity for us type of plant and an alpine and a chance to observe noc- For more information on know the programs are effec- as teachers to bring home a condition to create: wind, turnal animals. programs, donations, camps tive, we have had enough kids concept,” says Foord. extreme temperature, All programs take money and the auction benefit dinner come back who may need a New this September is fog/humidity, light and rocky and are funded through gen- contact: Donna Dolan at 603- reference to pursue environ- teacher naturalist Caitlin soil. erous donations, individuals, 447-6991 or visit: www.tin- mental studies, or employ- Crowley, known as “Kae”. The students used scientific businesses, LL Bean, Evenor mountain.org ment,” she adds. Once for Crowley, who moved here methods, measured plants, Armington Fund, Gibson- On the Cover Inside Index Getting Acquainted. Donna, a skier from Sunapee, On the Rockpile Valley Folks & Focus..........................Page 6-7 NH, and Milan snowboarder, Cory, ride the "lift of Out & About ........................................Page 17 love", during the annual Chairlift Speed Dating event, Another unusual week of weather on the summit Valley News..................................Page 3, 9, 11 which was held at Black Mountain Ski Area, in Jackson, Page 11 NH, on February 11th, 2012. During the two hour time Valley Education.............................Page 13-16 Rockpile................................................Page 11 period, participants enjoyed a 5 minute conversation with Nooks & Crannies other single chairlift riders, followed by a social at the Roundups .......................................pages 18-23 A bluebird day on Mount Willard resort's Lostbo Pub. Page 28 Calendar..........................................Page 24-25 Photo by Dennis Coughlin Skiing Hither And Yon ........................Page 27 Page 2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, February 16, 2012 Valley News Floodplain Forest conserved in western Maine More than 500 acres of habitat protected on Pleasant Pond and the Saco River Thanks to a conservation Management Area owned and “This project protects some easement held by the Upper managed by the Maine of the highest value conserva- Saco Valley Land Trust, 524 Department of Inland Fisheries tion land in our entire 11 town acres of pristine silver maple and Wildlife and expands on service area” said Tom Earle, floodplain forest in Fryeburg, existing conservation lands and President of the Upper Saco Maine has now been perma- builds on a long-standing con- Valley Land Trust. “We are nently protected. The property, servation partnership between extremely grateful to our proj- which is located on Pleasant the Department, private ect partners ? the private Pond and along nearly 3 miles landowners, and land conserva- landowner, The Nature of the Saco River, is character- tion organizations such as the Conservancy, and the Maine ized by massive silver maple Land Trust and The Nature Department of Inland Fisheries trees, an open, park-like under Conservancy. Referring to the & Wildlife ? for their persever- story and huge ferns. The Land project, the Maine Department ance over the years to protect Trust recently completed the of Inland Fisheries and this spectacular piece of conser- Pleasant Pond Floodplain Wildlife’s Commissioner vation land.” Forest Project in partnership Chandler Woodcock said, The Upper Saco Valley Land with a private landowner, The “Like many other conservation Trust is a private nonprofit Nature Conservancy and the easements in Maine, this proj- organization working with State of Maine. Photo by Linda Comeau ect is a clear ‘win-win’ because local landowners to perma- According to Will Brune of Early morning mist on the Saco River it combines resource protection nently protect the lands and The Nature Conservancy in with sustainable forestry.” waters that define our commu- of paddlers every year.

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