How the Harris Center Uses Recreation to Inspire Conservation

For more than five decades, the Harris Center for Conservation Education has worked to connect people with the natural world across New Hampshire's Monadnock Region. Through a combination of environmental education, land conservation, ecological research, and hundreds of public programs each year, the organization has become a leading force in helping residents better understand the landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems that surround them. But while many people know the Harris Center for its bird walks, wildlife monitoring projects, guided hikes, and educational programs, the organization's work is guided by a broader philosophy — meaningful conservation begins by helping people build personal connections with nature. Rather than viewing recreation and conservation as separate pursuits, the Harris Center sees outdoor experiences as an important pathway to environmental stewardship. "The core of our mission is finding ways to help people fall in love and stay connected to our natural world," said Michelle Aldredge, communications director for the Harris Center. "In designing our programs, we work hard to find passionate, knowledgeable presenters who inspire others to forge deeper connections with the natural world around them." That approach has helped shape the Harris Center's public programming for decades, allowing the organization to engage everyone from seasoned naturalists and scientists to families looking for a weekend outing and children experiencing nature in a hands-on way for the first time. As the Monadnock Region continues to grow and evolve, Harris Center staff say their mission remains the same: helping people discover conservation is not simply about protecting land and wildlife, but about building lasting relationships with the places they call home. "In designing our programs, we work hard to find passionate, knowledgeable presenters who inspire others to forge deeper connections with the natural world around them," said Aldredge. Founded more than 50 years ago, the Harris Center has become one of the region's leading conservation organizations, combining land protection, environmental education, ecological research, and public programming throughout southwestern New Hampshire. Making Science Accessible A key challenge for any conservation organization is translating complex scientific information into experiences that are approachable and engaging for the general public. For the Harris Center, that process begins with storytelling, curiosity, and direct experiences in nature. "A huge part of our job at the Harris Center is to be clear and engaging science communicators," said Susie Spikol, the organization's community programs director and teacher-naturalist. "As naturalists, ecologists, scientists, and land protection specialists, it is our job to take scientific information from research, reports, and our own experiences and turn it into compelling programs that often reflect a true dedication and passion for the subject." Rather than relying solely on lectures or presentations, Harris Center programs often encourage participants to learn through observation and hands-on exploration. "It is an authentic curiosity and wonder that resonates with our audience," Spikol said. "That, combined with hands-on experiences such as birding, tracking, ponding, botanizing, mushrooming, and others, helps turn scientific concepts into experiences that people can wrap their heads around." That approach reflects a broader trend in environmental education that allows people to discover ecological concepts through direct engagement with the natural world. The goal is not necessarily to turn every participant into a scientist, but to help people understand and appreciate the ecological systems that exist in their own backyards. Finding Different Pathways Into Nature As the Monadnock Region continues to evolve, Harris Center staff recognize people connect with nature in different ways. Some visitors may be drawn by scientific research opportunities, while others are seeking recreation, creative inspiration, or simply a chance to disconnect from busy schedules. "Not everyone connects with nature in the same way," Aldredge said. "Some people are drawn to science and research. Others connect through art, storytelling, education, or simply spending time outdoors with friends and family. We try to meet people where they are and provide many different pathways into the natural world." Aldredge notes not every experience in nature needs to be tied directly to data collection, scientific outcomes, or educational objectives. "It's important to remember that nature doesn't always have to be productive," she said. "We live in a world where many of us spend our days looking at screens, rushing from one obligation to the next, and feeling disconnected from the natural rhythms around us. Sometimes the greatest value of a program is that it gives people permission to unplug, slow down, and appreciate nature." That perspective represents a broader understanding of conservation — one that recognizes emotional connections to nature can be just as important as scientific understanding when it comes to building long-term support for environmental stewardship. "We certainly hope people learn something during our programs, but we also value the experience of being in nature for its own sake," Aldredge added. Building Future Stewards While public programming receives much of the attention, environmental education has long been one of the Harris Center's foundational priorities. "For over 50 years, the Harris Center has been helping generations of young people develop an understanding of the natural world through hands-on, place-based education in preschools through high schools across the area," Spikol said. "Every year, Harris Center teacher-naturalists take more than 3,000 students in nearly 40 Monadnock region schools outside the classroom and into their communities." Students participate in field-based learning experiences that combine science, history, and environmental literacy. "Students study local cultural and natural history; develop skills as scientists and historians; and connect with the natural world," Spikol said. "Our teaching aligns with Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the New Hampshire Environmental Literacy Plan." The long-term goal extends beyond academic outcomes. "Our dedication to serving schools is that the children in the Monadnock region develop a lifelong love for the outdoors, their community's backyard, and grow into the next generation of ecological stewards," she said. Conservation Through Participation One example of the Harris Center's philosophy can be found in its growing community science programs, which invite residents to contribute directly to ongoing conservation efforts. This summer, monarch butterflies will play a prominent role. "This summer we're offering a number of monarch monitoring programs and butterfly surveys," Aldredge said. "Participants help search milkweed plants for monarch eggs and caterpillars, track butterfly populations, and contribute valuable data that helps scientists better understand how these species are faring in New Hampshire." Programs like these illustrate how the organization blends recreation, education, and conservation into a single experience. Participants spend time outdoors, learn about local ecosystems, contribute to scientific research, and often develop a stronger appreciation for the species and habitats around them. In many ways, that combination reflects the Harris Center's broader vision of conservation as recreation. Whether someone joins a bird walk, surveys monarch butterflies, explores a local pond, or simply spends an afternoon observing the natural world, the ultimate goal remains the same: fostering connections that inspire people to care about the landscapes they call home. As summer unfolds across the Monadnock Region, the Harris Center hopes those experiences will help residents and visitors alike discover that conservation is not just something scientists do. It is something that can begin with a walk in the woods, a butterfly in a meadow, or a moment of curiosity outdoors.