SELTie Book Club - Winter 2026
2026-03-04 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
The SELTie Book Club continues! The book selection this time around will be Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy and the discussion on March 4 will be led by Kelly Arp who recommended the book during our last discussion. Refreshments will be provided.
A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.
Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.
But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.
A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE

Winter Forest Ecology & Identification Walk *NEW DATE*
2026-03-07 09:00 - 12:00 | Piscassic Greenway
** RESCHEDULED | was February 7 **
Join forester Phil Auger for an educational winter walk along the Greenway trails starting from the Neal Mill Road parking area in Newmarket. Along the way, Phil will teach you about winter shrubs and tree identification, forest ecology, and the history of the property. This walk will include numerous stops, so warm attire (including heavy socks and winter boots) is recommended. Full details about the walk will be provided no later than two days prior to the event.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (depending on temperature outside)

Gardens in Relationship: Designing with Native Plants
2026-03-11 17:30 - 18:30 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
Join us as Landscape Designer Ashley Robinson and Van Berkum Nursery’s Director of Outreach & Education Roanne Robbins explore the art and science of designing native plant gardens that support biodiversity while reflecting both your personal goals and the realities of your space. Participants will learn how plants interact over time and how those relationships shape dynamic, living landscapes. The session focuses on creating resilient, sustainable, and visually engaging gardens that provide ecological value year-round. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos, sketches, and site-specific information to collaborate and brainstorm their designs with Ashley and Roanne.
Ashley Robinson has nearly 20 years of experience designing and consulting on ecologically grounded landscape practices, with a strong emphasis on native plants, biodiversity, and regenerative land stewardship. Her work centers on integrating homes into their landscapes in ways that support local ecosystems and strengthen connections to place.
She holds a degree in Urban Studies from the University of San Diego and has studied at Radcliffe and the Landscape Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ashley values collaboration, field-based learning, and ongoing education, continually deepening her understanding of dynamic ecological systems.
Guided by a deep respect for natural processes and regional landscapes, Ashley’s designs prioritize habitat creation, ecological resilience, and long-term environmental health. She currently resides in Vermont and serves on the board of the Vermont Nursery & Landscape Association. She is also a member of the Biodiversity Alliance and the Ecological Landscape Alliance.
https://www.arobinsonlandscapes.com/
Also, you will have an opportunity to participate in SELT’s first annual native plant sale before it ends on March 15 and ask Roanne questions about the plants that are a part of the sale.

Registration required: CLICK HERE

Forest Fridays with Four Winds Nature Institute - Winter 2026 Session 3 of 3
2026-03-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Birch Ridge Community Forest
Meet us at Birch Ridge Community Forest for a kid-led nature exploration as part of our Forest Friday series. This series will be led by nature-based educators Karly Wilcox and Sara Deserres from Four Winds Nature Institute. We will offer supervised kid-led adventure and unstructured outdoor play for kids aged 0-5 and their guardians. This series will take place rain, snow, or shine – be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, you’ll want to be comfortable being still, muddy, or snow covered. The dates of the Winter Session of Forest Fridays at Birch Ridge Community Forest will be 1/9, 2/13, and 3/13.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (depending on the conditions)

2026 Volunteer Field Season Kick-Off
2026-03-14 09:00 - 12:00 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
Join SELT’s Volunteer Program Staff at The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature on Saturday, March 14 from 9:00 am to noon for the fourth annual Volunteer Field Season Kickoff!
The Kickoff will give volunteers a chance to meet SELT staff and other volunteers, and learn about some of the ways to volunteer with SELT. After light refreshments we’ll do a group icebreaker, then split into groups for three rotating training sessions. We’ll finish up with a review of the volunteer portal and time tracking sheet, with time for questions. This event is open to anyone interested in volunteering with SELT, so feel free to share this information with your friends and bring them along!
Field Season Kickoff Schedule

9:00 am – Arrival, coffee, networking
9:15 am – Welcome and icebreaker
9:30 am – Rotating training sessions (details TBD)
11:00 am – Volunteer program info and Q&A
12:00 – Event ends

REGISTER HERE

Little SELTies Storytime: Early Spring 1 of 2
2026-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
We welcome our Little SELTies to join us for a morning of nature stories, songs, and activities in the Pratt Family Community Room at the Mathey Center at Burley Farms. Led by SELT’s Education Program Manager, Lizzy Franceschini, we will start our morning inside the community room with story time activities, then head outside for a short hike in the forest and/or winter play in Burley’s Backyard. This program is designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Storytimes for Early Spring will run on 3/19 & 4/2.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE

Forest Fridays at Piscassic Greenway - Spring 2026 Session 1 of 4
2026-03-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Piscassic Greenway
Meet us at the Piscassic Greenway Gate 2 for a kid-led nature exploration as part of our Forest Friday series. This series will be led by Loralise LoDolce. We will offer supervised kid-led exploration and unstructured outdoor play for kids aged 0-5 and their guardians. This series will take place rain or shine – be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, you’ll want to be comfortable being still, muddy, or snow covered. The Spring Sessions of Forest Fridays at Piscassic Greenway will be held on 3/20, 4/24, 5/15, and 6/5.
This series is intended for kids aged 0-5 and their guardians.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy

A SELT Walk in Schafer Woods
2026-03-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Schafer Woods, Commerce Dr, Atkinson, NH, United States
Join experienced SELT hike leader Bill McClure for a monthly series of walks (or cross-country ski, or snowshoe excursions) throughout 2026.
UPDATE – Due to conditions, this will be a walk and not a snowshoe.
Conditions permitting, in March, we will snowshoe on trails at Schafer Woods in Atkinson. This event is geared for hikers with some snowshoe experience and participants will need to bring their own snowshoes. More about Schafer woods can be found at https://seltnh.org/seltlands/schafer-woods/
The route will be determined in advance and shared with participants roughly three days prior to the event. If the conditions are not ideal for a snowshoe, this event will still proceed as a late winter/early spring hike.
This event is limited to 15 participants.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty – 🥾 🥾 (out of 3)

Reading Rural Landscapes with Dr. Rob Sanford
2026-03-25 17:15 - 18:30 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
Join us for an active engagement PowerPoint presentation on viewing and interpreting common local rural environmental features that provide clues to our historical past. Ordinary landscapes can reveal what happened in the past. So, we will not be dealing with the exotic, just what you might expect to see around your own homes. You can follow up these clues with historical research, oral interviews and field work. But sometimes it is fun to just look around and see what we see on a walk. Time and weather permitting, we will go outside after and see what our setting at Burley Farms happens to say.
Rob Sanford is a Registered Professional Archaeologist and a Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science & Policy at the University of Southern Maine. His books include Reading Rural Landscapes, River Voices: Perspectives on the Presumpscot, and Cultural Resources Archaeology.
Registration Required: CLICK HERE

Little SELTies Storytime: Early Spring 2 of 2
2026-04-02 10:00 - 12:00 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
We welcome our Little SELTies to join us for a morning of nature stories, songs, and activities in the Pratt Family Community Room at the Mathey Center at Burley Farms. Led by SELT’s Education Program Manager, Lizzy Franceschini, we will start our morning inside the community room with story time activities, then head outside for a short hike in the forest and/or spring play in Burley’s Backyard. This program is designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Storytimes for early spring will run on 3/19 & 4/2.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE

A SELT Walk in the Woods at Burley Farms
2026-04-06 09:00 - 12:00 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
** DATE CHANGE – now April 6 (was April 7) **
Join experienced SELT hike leader Bill McClure for a monthly series of walks throughout 2026.
In April, we will hike on trails at Burley Farms (home of The Mathey Center – SELT’s headquarters) in Epping. More about Burley Farms can be found at https://seltnh.org/seltlands/burleyfarms/
The route will be determined in advance and shared with participants two to three days prior to the event. This event is limited to 15 participants.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty – 🥾 (out of 3) The trails at Burley Farms go over uneven terrain. The hike will last approximately 3 hours and cover between 3 to 5 miles.

Forest Fridays with Four Winds Nature Institute - Spring 2026 Session 1 of 3
2026-04-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Stonehouse Forest
Meet us at Stonehouse Forest for a kid-led nature exploration as part of our Forest Friday series. This series will be led by nature-based educator Sara DeSerres from Four Winds Nature Institute. We will offer supervised kid-led adventure and unstructured outdoor play for kids aged 0-5 and their guardians. This series will take place rain or shine – be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, you’ll want to be comfortable being still or muddy. The dates of the Spring Session of Forest Fridays at Stonehouse Forest in Barrington will be 4/10 and 5/8 and at Leighton Forest in Strafford/Barrington on 5/22.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy

Dover Pottery Studio at SELT - April 2026
2026-04-22 17:30 - 20:00 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
* THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY * Please feel free to reach out to register@seltnh.org to inquiry about a waitlist.
Join and for a fun and unique experience making pottery at SELT. We will begin with a short 30-minute walk into the forest at Burley Farms to get natural items to use in making imprints on the pottery and then Kim Hanson, owner of The Dover Pottery Studio will lead a 2-hour pottery making session.
In this hands-on session, you’ll create your very own unique Bird Feeder using a variety of hand-building and clay construction techniques. This session is designed for all skill levels. After the session, our studio staff will glaze and fire your creations, making them ready for pick-up approximately four weeks after the workshop.
The event is limited to 20. The cost is $65 to cover material costs and glazing.

Registration and payment required in advance: CLICK HERE

Little SELTies Storytime: Spring 2026 Session 1 of 2
2026-04-23 10:00 - 12:00 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
** THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED **
We welcome our Little SELTies to join us for a morning of nature stories, songs, and activities in the Pratt Family Community Room at the Mathey Center at Burley Farms. Led by SELT’s Education Program Manager, Lizzy Franceschini, we will start our morning inside the community room with story time activities, then head outside for a short hike in the forest and/or spring play in Burley’s Backyard. This program is designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Storytimes for spring 2026 will run on 4/23 & 5/7.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE

Forest Fridays at Piscassic Greenway - Spring 2026 Session 2 of 4
2026-04-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Piscassic Greenway

OTTO Pizza Fundraiser for SELT at their Portsmouth location
2026-04-27 11:00 - 22:00 | OTTO Pizza Portsmouth, 110 Brewery Ln, Portsmouth, 03801, United States
Come to OTTO Pizza in Portsmouth on April 27th and enjoy their excellent pies and support SELT.
OTTO was founded on the promise of an elevated pizza experience – transforming an oft-uninspired staple food through carefully-sourced, high-quality, wholesome ingredients, and culinary-inspired recipes.
More about OTTO can be found at https://www.ottoportland.com/

Birding at Tucker & French Family Forest - May 2026
2026-05-05 06:30 - 09:00 | Tucker & French Family Forest
Birders everywhere look forward to spring when migratory birds head north to their breeding grounds in droves, bringing a beautiful diversity of species through our very own backyard! Join birding enthusiast & SELT Board Member Roger Stephenson as he ventures out in the wee hours of the morning to see who’s passing through. The best way to learn your birds by sight and sound is with experienced birders! This BYOB (bring your own binoculars) walk will be fun for all skill levels!
This trip is limited to 15 participants.

Registration Required – CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

What’s Wild in New Hampshire with Eric Orff
2026-05-06 17:30 - 18:30 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
Join us on Wednesday, May 6th at the Mathey Center in Epping for an inspiring presentation by Eric Orff that will teach us about the “wild” right here in New Hampshire, and how to better appreciate and protect it.
As the state’s first bear biologist in the 1970s, Eric Orff began a half-century career as a “forest ranger who works with animals,” his stated dream job as a 7-year-old. With more than thirty-one years at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and another fifteen years with the National Wildlife Federation, Eric still publishes a video blog called “What’s Wild in New Hampshire” that regularly receives hundreds of thousands of views each week.
Eric’s career has spanned much more than bears; he has been called to work with White-tailed Deer, bats in a laundry room, snakes in a bathroom, and more. Journey with Eric through his childhood fishing expeditions, “eeling” mishaps, and dancing with fire in the field. Don’t miss a chance to learn about Eric’s entertaining and inspiring stories as a wildlife biologist. After the event, the book will be available for purchase and signing.
Registration Required: CLICK HERE

Little SELTies Storytime: Spring 2026 Session 2 of 2
2026-05-07 10:00 - 12:00 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
We welcome our Little SELTies to join us for a morning of nature stories, songs, and activities in the Pratt Family Community Room at the Mathey Center at Burley Farms. Led by SELT’s Education Program Manager, Lizzy Franceschini, we will start our morning inside the community room with story time activities, then head outside for a short hike in the forest and/or spring play in Burley’s Backyard. This program is designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Storytimes for spring 2026 will run on 4/23 & 5/7.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE

Forest Fridays with Four Winds Nature Institute - Spring 2026 Session 2 of 3
2026-05-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Stonehouse Forest

Spring Birds, Bugs, and Plants Walk
2026-05-12 08:00 - 11:00 | Spruce Swamp Conservation Area, Fremont, NH, United States
Join avid birder and expert bug enthusiast Steve Mirick for a spring bird, bugs, and plants walk through Spruce Swamp Conservation Area. This walk will start at the end of Andreski Drive in Fremont. Participants should wear appropriate footwear, be prepared for wet trails and bring insect repellent and binoculars.
This field trip is limited to 20 participants.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE

Adventure Auction with NEMO and SELT
2026-05-18 12:00 - 2026-05-20 19:30 | Virtual
Mark your calendars because It’s that time of the year again! Equip yourselves with top-of-the-line outdoor adventure gear at the annual NEMO auction. All proceeds will support SELT’s mission. Bidding opens May 18 at noon and closes May 20 at 7:30 pm.
Stay tuned for more details!

A SELT Walk in the Woods at Collins Family Forest
2026-05-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Collins Family Forest, North Shore Road, New Durham, NH, United States
Join experienced SELT hike leader Bill McClure for a monthly series of walks throughout 2026.
In May, we will hike on trails at Collins Family Forest in New Durham. More about Collins Family Forest can be found by CLICKING HERE. The route will be determined in advance and shared with participants two to three days prior to the event. This event is limited to 15 participants.

Registration required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty – 🥾🥾1/2 (out of 3) The trails at Collins go over uneven and steep terrain (including Mt Molly). The hike will last approximately 3 hours and will cover between 4 to 6 miles.

Eyes on the Sky: Raptors of SELT
2026-05-20 17:30 - 18:30 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
Discover the fascinating world of raptors with Tailwinds NH at Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire. Meet live raptor ambassadors and learn how hawks, owls, and vultures are uniquely adapted to life in New Hampshire’s forests and fields. This engaging program highlights their vital roles in healthy ecosystems and simple actions we can all take to help them thrive.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE

More about Tailwinds can be found at tailwinds.live

Forest Fridays at Piscassic Greenway - Spring 2026 Session 3 of 4
2026-05-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Piscassic Greenway
** RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER – was 5/15 **
Meet us at the Piscassic Greenway Gate 2 for a kid-led nature exploration as part of our Forest Friday series. This series will be led by Loralise LoDolce. We will offer supervised kid-led exploration and unstructured outdoor play for kids aged 0-5 and their guardians. This series will take place rain or shine – be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, you’ll want to be comfortable being still, muddy, or snow covered. The Spring Sessions of Forest Fridays at Piscassic Greenway will be held on 3/20, 4/24, 5/15, and 6/5.
This series is intended for kids aged 0-5 and their guardians.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy

Forest Fridays with Four Winds Nature Institute - Spring 2026 Session 3 of 3
2026-05-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Leighton Forest, Strafford, United States
Meet us at Leighton Forest for a kid-led nature exploration as part of our Forest Friday series. This series will be led by nature-based educator Sara DeSerres from Four Winds Nature Institute. We will offer supervised kid-led adventure and unstructured outdoor play for kids aged 0-5 and their guardians. This series will take place rain or shine – be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, you’ll want to be comfortable being still or muddy. The dates of the Spring Session of Forest Fridays at Stonehouse Forest in Barrington will be 4/10 and 5/8 and at Leighton Forest in Strafford/Barrington on 5/22.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy

SELT Summer Canoe Series (1 of 3)
2026-05-29 08:00 - 11:00 | Lions Camp Pride, Lions Camp Pride Way, New Durham, NH, 03855, United States
Join us for our first canoe series as we explore a variety of water bodies along lands that we are helping to conserve. The first event in this series will be on Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham. This event is limited to 9 participants. A few additional spots may be available if you have your own canoe or kayak. If this is the case and you wish to join, please reach out to register@seltnh.org.
The cost is $10 per person. The rain date is Monday, June 1st.
The Summer Canoe Series is brought to you by Dermatology and Skin Heath, your local independent patient-centric skin care practice ready to help with your skin’s health and appearance.
Big thanks to Lions Camp Pride who has been kind enough to allow us to park, stage, and launch from their location. Thank you to Josh Lent, who generously donated 5 canoes and a canoe trailer to SELT, making events like this one possible. You can show your appreciation to Josh by supporting Huckleberry’s Candies in Hampton!

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty – Moderate

Birch Ridge Community Forest Post-Burn Walk
2026-05-29 13:00 - 15:30 | Birch Ridge Community Forest
Join SELT’s Forest & Wildlife Habitat Manager, Chad Fierros, for a field visit to Birch Ridge Community Forest. SELT, in partnership with Star Tree Prescribed Fire and the New Durham Fire Department, conducted a prescribed burn on approximately 20 acres of the community forest in April of 2026. This field visit will include discussions on the objectives for the burn, the logistics of the operation, and will provide an early look at how the site is responding one month after the burn. All are welcome and we especially encourage folks affiliated with land trusts, conservation commissions, and fire departments to attend who may be interested in learning more about prescribed burns.
The field tour will leave from the trailhead parking lot at the end of Birch Hill Road at 1:00pm. It will involve approximately 2.5 miles of hiking (round-trip) which will be almost entirely on trails. Folks should bring insect repellant, appropriate clothing and sun protection, and their own water/snacks.
The rain date is Monday, June 1st.
Directions and further details will be sent to those that are registered for this event one to two days prior.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Wildflowers and Woodwinds - Spring 2026
2026-05-31 14:30 - 17:30 | The Nan and George Mathey Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms, 247 North River Road, Epping, NH, 03042, United States
Join us for a beautiful spring afternoon featuring wildflowers and woodwinds at the Burley Farms. We will start the afternoon with a wildflower hike lead by Evy Nathan from Pollinator Pathways New Hampshire. The Burley Farm fields should have a variety of flowers blooming in late May and Evy will help us identify them and discuss the pollinators who rely on these beautiful plants. The wildflower walk is limited to 22 guests.
After the walk, we will come into The Pratt Family Community Room for a woodwinds concert by the Avalyn Reed Trio.
In this year celebrating 250 years of American democracy, the Avalyn Reed Trio is pleased to offer music by the creative and expressive voices that have sustained and buoyed us through the years. The concert features works by William Billings, Amy Beach, Stephen Foster, George Gershwin, Peter Schikele, Scott Joplin and John Philip Sousa: some of America’s delightful legacy in musical notes!
Since coming together in 2023, three musician friends have delighted audiences throughout the region with their beautiful concert programs and sparkling commentary. The Avalyn Reed Trio is composed of two clarinets and a bassoon, giving it a warm and uniquely-blended sound. “Avalyn” means “beautiful breath of life” and the word “Reed” refers to the reeds used on these instruments to produce the sound.

Registration Required (you will need to register for both separately)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WALK (limited to 22)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE CONCERT (limited to 44)

Forest Fridays at Piscassic Greenway - Spring 2026 Session 4 of 4
2026-06-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Piscassic Greenway
