Tin Mountain Conservation Center Annual Report 2018-2019 Tin Mountain Conservation Center 1245 Bald Hill Rd Albany, NH 03818 603.447.6991 www.tinmountain.org Photo Credit: Karl Pfeil Board of Trustees Officers Exec. Director, Lori Kinsey Rick Steber, Chairman, Glen, NH Jen Hohenboken Vice Chair, Albany, NH Inspire, Teach, Explore, Leslie Schomaker, Treasurer, Jackson, NH Johanna Vienneau, Secretary, Effingham, NH Research, Protect Trustees Tom Albert, Center Conway, NH 2019 found Tin Mountain out in Kim Bowker, Eaton, NH the forests, fields, and mountains William Broussard, North Conway, NH teaching and inspiring others David Freedman, Silver Lake, NH living in and visiting the greater Margaret Marshall, Conway, NH Mount Washington Valley. Our Kim Matte, Conway, NH school programs nurture a sense Pam Mason, Norwell, MA of place in communities helping Pat Heiges, Glen, NH students discover, understand, Thaire Bryant, Treasurer, Eaton, NH and respect the natural world Peter Klose, Eaton, NH that surrounds them in their own Jason Dennis, Silver Lake, NH Karl Pfeil, North Conway, NH backyards. Our Nature Program Susan Pfeil, North Conway, NH Series gets people out exploring Honorary Trustees new areas, visiting old and new David Govatski, Jefferson, NH friends in the form of trees, birds, Rick Van de Poll, Sandwich, NH wildflowers, insects, lakes, and Seth Rockwell, Portland, Oregon mountain tops. Research affords the opportunity for interns to learn, gaining a deeper understanding of how the world functions, and what variables may be Staff at risk. Executive Director Land stewardship and research continues to be a priority at Tin Mountain and is Lori Jean Kinsey reflected in the recent invitation to participate in the Conservation Stewardship Education Director Program of NRCS. This support allows us to maintain current practices as well Phaedra Demers as increasing new activities focused on forest songbird habitat maintenance Membership Coordinator and the protection of our forests through best forest management practices. Kat Ferguson Time plays a crucial role in all we do at Tin Mountain. Some things cannot be Communications / PR Manager rushed. A well-managed forest is reflected in understanding the importance of Donna Dolan nurturing seedlings, saplings, and mature trees. It takes time to grow a forest. Business Manager A preschooler marveling at the sight of a wiggling tadpole becomes the enthu- Nancy Davis Nadine Armstrong siastic frog catcher at summer camp and later participates in the “Big Night” Property Manager when spotted salamanders make their seasonal migration to vernal pools. El- Nelson Cormier ementary students hiking Deer Hill with their class develop into avid hikers Program Director traversing the Presidential ridgeline during Paths and Peaks summer camp. Nora Dufilho The high school senior undertaking a macro invertebrate study on the town Teacher Naturalists stream becomes the intern who works to improve brook trout habitat. Some Mike Dufilho things cannot be rushed. These same students are our future decision makers Matt Maloney and leaders. As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of Dexter Harding thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing Brook Trout Manager that ever has.” Dick Fortin Thank you, Executive Director Interns Resident Bird Intern James Longo Brook Trout Marlene McCabe Avian Ecology Coburn Blunt Field Supervisor Jodi Pinder Inspire, Teach, Board President, Rick Steber Tin Mountain... more relevant than ever. As I consider the varied aspects of Tin Mountain it occurs to me that our mission and supporting activities are more relevant than ever. We strive to “create an appreciation” of nature among our children and citizens of our community. But perhaps, more importantly, we are “equipping” people for life, personal development, and greater citizenship. Our local school education programs and summer camps don’t simply pack minds with facts and data. Rather they facilitate a deep appreciation for natural relationships ex- isting within the land, water, flora, and fauna of our natural world here in the White Mountains. Beyond creating appreciation, we are developing young people through outdoor activity, stimulating curiosity, pro- viding physical challenges, and creating safe and natural Photo Credit: Jean Steber places where children develop essential life skills. What of imagination, coordination, sensory development, and social- it time, money, or both. There are numerous ways to help. ization? What too of independence, risk taking, self-confi- We need volunteers. We need more members and donors. dence, and the willingness to pursue new experiences out- We also have created the Barbara Rockwell Henry Society side one’s comfort zone? At our best we are equipping our providing a pathway for partnering supporters to strategical- youth with these important personal and life skills. ly insure our financial future. Our numerous and steadfast supporters continue to directly influence the youth in our If an adult were to attend half of our 80 nature programs, communities as well as our local and visiting populations. wouldn’t that prepare one to be a more informed and produc- Please continue to help us make a difference in the lives of tive citizen? In an age fraught with climate change and the people and our environment. We need to be better equipped loss of 3 billion birds in North America, we are increasingly to take on the challenges which await! confronted with difficult realities and complex choices. Tin Mountain equips us for a better future where our awareness Thank you for all that you do and have done! concerning nature and the environment actually merge with Sincerely, localized actions taken to both appreciate and conserve our natural world. Through our ongoing research we are also providing deeper knowledge and awareness concerning dy- namics of our own natural environment. Chair, Board of Trustees Our community has created a unique entity in Tin Moun- tain. I hope that like me you will join with your support, be Photos by : Rick Steber Explore, Research, Protect them outside to explore and discover the joys of the natural world around their schools. Tin Mountain programs continue after the school day ends with well-established after-school environmental programs. We are fortunate to have many school yards that incorporate forests, fields, and trails with views of Mt. Washington and other inspiring peaks. There’s even an occasional pond to explore. After school programs were presented to students through Project SUCCEED at Pine Tree, Conway, John Full- er,, and Pequawket Kids Association at Molly Ockett School in Fryeburg, Maine. Over 182 summer campers were inspired this past year as they picked blueberries, canoed on Lake Umbagog, hiked the Franconia Ridge, caught frogs, made new friends and memories, and camped out in brand new tents thanks to a Teach: education grant from the Pequawket Foundation. Tin Mountain contin- ues to offer summer camp programs at four locations: Alba- xposing young children to the natural world seeds a ny, Jackson and S. Tamworth, NH, and Fryeburg, ME. deep and life-long respect for nature, leading to an Eunderstanding and appreciation of how the natural True to its commitment to providing high-quality environ- world functions, and fundamentally, why it’s important. mental camp experiences at an affordable price, $7,765 was Through in-school programs, Tin Mountain educates and awarded in 2019 summer camp scholarships to local fami- inspires local students about the natural world within their lies who otherwise would not have been able to afford camp. own school yards, back yards and communities. Tin Moun- Once again, Winter Vacation Camp provided an opportunity tain Conservation Center continues to provide year-round, for children to spend their school break outside learning and experiential environmental educational programs to stu- having fun in the snow. dents around the greater Mt. Washington Valley and western Maine, as well as north of the notches in Berlin and Gorham. Throughout their school careers, from Pre-K through high school, students maintain interaction and contact with Tin Mountain through its many educational programs, field trips and camp programs. Tin Mountain continues to build on the strong environmentally focused foundation, established in the early years, to equip each student to be a environmen- tal steward, throughout college, and into the future. With a 40 year legacy of environmental education, Tin Mountain is now working with second generation Tin Mountain mem- bers, campers and students. Over our 40 years, Tin Mountain now works with over twenty schools in five school districts, including four high schools. During the 2018-2019 school year, Tin Mountain expand- ed programming at both Kennett High School and Fryeburg Academy allowing us to work and interact with more high school students and in more classes. Once again we award- ed two college scholarships to seniors attending college in an environmental field. Fryeburg Academy student Manuel Baptista is attending the University of Maine in Orono, and majoring in Parks and Recreation. Sadie Laboeuf from Ken- nett High School is a student at St. Lawrence University and majoring in Environmental Science. Thanks to a generous donation we were also able to offer programs to a number of local preschool children, getting Explore: programs in Mountain nature programs offer adults and families opportunities to explore and learn about the natural Thistory of northern NH and Western Maine. Thanks to our Nature Program Series (NPS) sponsors Bank of NH, Hancock Lumber, Ragged Mountain Equipment, and Set- tler’s Green OVP, over 1200 participants of all ages enjoyed the over 70 programs offered throughout the year. NPS highlights included a trip to see Yellow Lady Slippers, ob- serving the moths of the Pine Barrens, an annual trip to Lake Umbagog, and a presentation on Pileated Woodpeckers. The EcoForum Lunchtime Lecture Series features provoca- tive monthly presentations by experts on a wide variety of is- sues from the status of New Hampshire bobcats to the health of the Upper Androscoggin watershed.