In the last twenty years, citizen science has grown as a way to engage a broad range of individuals in doing science. Citizen science projects involve non-scientists participating in the processes of scientific research, and are valuable to both the researchers using the data and those who participate. This introductory presentation provides an overview of the history of citizen science and current trends in the field. You will learn about many of the citizen science projects that happen right here in NH where you can get involved to help researchers monitor water quality, weather and environmental changes, document species, restore habitats, and more.

This four-session course will cover all the basics to become comfortable using the most popular word processing program EVER! We will start with exploring toolbars, shortcuts, tips and the overall structure of Word so that you will be comfortable making simple documents and modifications. We will move on to more intermediate features such as creating tables and potentially working with graphics to create greeting cards and newsletters. Course content will be flexible, based on the needs of participants.

Learn about weather terminology, hear about weather that affects New England and why the weather here is different than in other parts of the world. Learn how weather forecasts are made, the difference between weather and climate and how climate impacts our weather.

Currently there are estimated to be between five million and ten million insect species. In this class we will look at models and mounts of insects to understand their differences, and the roles they play on Earth. We can't live without them!

Birds are uniquely adapted to survive NH winters. How do they do it? Learn about their amazing adaptations and how we can help them through the coldest winter nights. Gain strategies and information on how to help our feathered friends in winter, and find out how to participate in NH Audubon's Backyard Winter Bird Survey, a NH Audubon citizen science project celebrating 40 years! December 4 will focus on learning about winter birds survival and feeding, December 7 will include winter bird identification and bird walk around the Silk Farm Sanctuary at the NH Audubon McLane Center in Concord.

Migration is a challenging journey for birds, made possible by healthy stopover sites to rest and refuel along the way. Learn about some of our common birds' migration habitats, why they do it and how they arrive here year after year. We can all play a role in helping birds along their migratory flyways. This program will have a focus on raptor migration and include a live raptor.

Join naturalist Dave Anderson as he shares NH wildlife images from backyard game cameras at his family-owned 46-acre tree farm. Learn about the animals of the night shift: deer, porcupines, raccoons, bears and coyotes and of the day shift: turkeys, squirrels and crows. How do different wildlife species mingle - or not? How do the boom and bust cycles of periodic food supplies from oak acorns, field corn and apples affect wildlife abundance and behavior? What are some ripple effects? Images will include a late-winter deer kill.

Humans have been fascinated and perplexed by the lights and colors that appear in the sky since the beginning of civilization. Dr. Aviles is currently writing a book about the science and history of such atmospheric optics. This class will cover the wide variety of optical effects in the sky, from the most common and colorful, like rainbows and halos, to the ones we pay the least attention to, like blue skies, to the extremely rare. We will learn about the science of how it all works and the history of how we figured it out and the people that did it, and about the social and cultural significance of some of the effects.

Learn about the natural history of our native wildlife, related research and management activities in NH. You will also learn about the federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program that makes the work possible. Then we will look at the work being done to save and restore the brook trout, one of three native species of fish to New Hampshire.

Start your day with a tour of the Conservation Center, headquarters of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. The Conservation Center demonstrates the use of renewable natural resources and energy conservation techniques in design and construction. The original building's energy-efficient, passive solar design was cutting edge for its time and received many accolades for its use of energy conservation, renewable energy sources, and imaginative use of native forest products. Then take a naturalist-led hike through the Merrimack River Floodplain, scenic and popular destination for recreation. Learn about trees, forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats and wildlife diversity along the bank of the Merrimack River in Concord. It's and easy, flat level walking trail. Total distance is less than a mile out and back along the river. Bring a lunch and enjoy it on the deck of the Conservation Center after the hike if you wish.

Our understanding of our home planet has changed dramatically as the result of seeing Earth from orbit, as well as from visiting the Moon, Venus, Mars, and the other planets in our Solar System (including Pluto). This presentation will focus on current studies of Planet Earth conducted by Professor Emeritus Rock and his students, as well as a tour of our Solar System courtesy of NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) spacecraft such as the Mars Curiosity Rover, The Galileo and Cassini Outer Planet Missions, and the recent New Horizons Mission to Pluto and Beyond. Learn why our home planet is truly "One Strange Rock."