Come learn about the types of problems today's dogs suffer from and what we can do to prevent them. From the basic biology and evolution of dogs to breed-specific problems, this course is jam-packed with information to make you a better dog lover.

No snakes or spiders in this class but there will be animals that have bad reputations. Meet some of these animals at naturalist Margaret Gillespie's lecture. Afterward walk through Squam Lakes Natural Science Center exhibits at your own pace.

Insects are everywhere and are incredibly diverse! They are not only pollinators but composters, predators, pest controllers and food for other animals. Come learn about these wild and amazing animals by looking closely at them in the classroom and in the wild. This is a hands-on class! In the first session we will learn about the many groups of insects and will gain an understanding of what makes a beetle different from a true bug and a bee different than a fly. We will focus on basic insect identification and appreciation and explore presenter Emily Preston's collection of insects using magnifiers and a microscope and learn about tools to catch and observe insects in the wild. The following two sessions will be outdoors, searching for insects in two different habitats; a meadow and a pond. Come explore this fascinating group of animals and then share your knowledge with friends and family.

Learn how to identify birds by sight and song. The first session will be in the classroom learning techniques to help us find birds in the field. The second session will be spent out in the field looking and listening for birds!

Calling all weather hobbyists! If you have a weather station in your backyard or are looking to establish one, this course will teach you everything you need to know about the data you can collect, how to properly site the station, maintenance, weather terminology, and more. Come with your "if I could ask a meteorologist" questions.

Demonstrate to yourself, to your friends and particularly to your grandchildren that you are interested in mathematics and that they should be too. Must there be a Friday the 13th every calendar year? How many randomly selected people in a room assures better than a 50-50 chance of a birth month-and-day match? Are all triangles isosceles? Why are some numbers "perfect" and others deficient? How many prime numbers are there? Euclid knew! We will discuss and answer these questions, more as time allows. Inquisitiveness is the only skill required. No advance reading and no homework.

Miles Smith cleared the land and built the farmhouse in the 1830s. Today the Miles Smith Farm is home to grass-fed cattle, pigs, ducks, geese and a rabbit. Cattle's life on a local farm is vastly different from large scale operations. Present-day owners Carole Soule and Bruce Dawson consider themselves "grass farmers" because their cattle thrive on grass in the summer and hay in the winter. Scottish Highlander cattle are the pride of Miles Smith Farm and one of the sources of their antibiotic-free beef. A Market in Manchester, Canterbury Country Store, Chichester Country Store, Concord Food Coop and local farmers markets are among local retailers that sell Miles Smith meats. There is also a solar-powered retail store at the farm where you can find other local products in addition to meat. The farm also serves as an educational resource to local schools and clubs by practicing rural land use that is environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable. "Concord Monitor" readers will recognize Carole from her weekly articles about farm life. Wear sensible footwear for the farm tour and allow extra time to shop at their retail store.

Did you recently get an iPhone or iPad, or have had one for awhile and are wondering how to make it work better for you? This class is an introduction to the history, basic buttons, and the iOS operating system of these devices. We hope to make you familiar and comfortable with this marvel of modern engineering. Topics will include learning the buttons, sliders, and finger gestures; what do all those funny symbols mean; how do we personalize these wonderful tools and toys and make them work. We will explore (a few) of the millions of apps which could make life easier and more fun. Please bring your own iPhone or iPad to class, and don't silence them when we start.

Meet Maria Laycox and her arctic fox, Yuka. Learn about Maria's interest in arctic foxes, her life with Yuka and listen to her relate stories about Yuka. Yes, Yuka will be coming to class!

Tour the facilities at Live and Let Live Farm including three barns and several pens. The farm has about 60 horses as well as goats and other animals. Please do not wear open-toed shoes and be aware you will be walking on uneven ground.

This presentation covers basic bear biology including denning habits and family dynamics. We will look at why bears spend time in human-populated communities and how to prevent unwanted visits from bears; discuss this opportunistic omnivore's natural food sources and common food attractants people may unwittingly set out for these food-driven animals, and learn methods to deter bears from frequent visits to neighborhoods. The program will discuss ways to educate your neighbors, community and town officials on effective ways to deal with human/bear conflicts. There will be an opportunity to view plenty of bear photos and share bear stories.

What's more "NH" than maple syrup, fall foliage and our iconic moose? Sadly, these and other wonders of the natural world are now threatened by global warming and the time to change course on carbon pollution is quickly running out. Technological and financial innovations now make it possible to power our modern world with clean, renewable energy from the sun, water and wind. See the latest trends in local climate science and learn seven practical steps you can take to stamp out climate sophistry and be part of the clean energy solution from one of NH's leading voices on climate and clean energy.

Barry Rock will introduce you to the cellular structure and function of the principle components of a tree: it's leaves, wood, bark and roots, and how these parts are specifically adapted to the local environment and seasonal changes. Learn why leaves turn color in the fall. Discover how wood functions at the cellular level - there are three separate functions - and that no two species of trees have exactly the same type of wood. Did you know that specialized types of fungi in tree roots facilitate water and nutrient uptake essential to tree health? You will after you attend this class. The Lorax was wrong when he said, "I speak for the trees, for they have no tongues!" They do communicate their needs, but speak in the language of light! You will never look at a tree the same way again.

Although we all have some understanding of the importance of our relationship to the natural environment, it can be very difficult to figure out which choices make a difference. From food to gas mileage to recycling, it seems there are so many choices and responsibilities. We'll talk about how we decide which choices matter?

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest, scientist and theologian understood in the 1930s that our planet would ultimately be in peril. Thomas Berry was a Roman Catholic priest, Christian philosopher and a "geologian." Influenced by de Chardin, Berry was an early voice awakening moral sensibilities to the environmental crisis. After de Chardin's death, Berry promoted Teilhard's life and thinking to a wider audience. Now those problems are here. This course will invite you to new thinking, to see a Sacred Universe, a Sacred Earth, a Sacred Life Community and a Sacred Human. Photocopies of Thomas Berry's essay will be given to participants.