There are plenty of great places to connect with Great Bay. There are parks at Adams Point and Hilton Point, and various sandy boat launches around the region. But there’s only one interpretive center along the shores of the area’s most remarkable natural resources, and it’s celebrating a big anniversary this year.

This year is Great Bay Discovery Center’s 20th anniversary of being designated a National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of 27 in the country. 

A day of celebration is planned for Sept. 26,. In the meantime, you can call the center at 603-778-0015, and they will email you a schedule of events for the season, with youth programs for ages 4 through teens, and evening adult programs.

Great Bay Discovery Center helps visitors understand the natural relationship between the salt marshes, rocky shores, bluffs, woodlands, open fields, and riverine systems and tidal waters, as well as the creatures that live here, from wild critters to people who have farmed, harvested and settled around the bay. 

Highlights throughout the season include hands-on activities and information on wildlife for adults and kids. You can also pick up your Passport to Great Bay and then go exploring and geocaching on other Reserve properties around the Bay. The Center, located at 89 Depot Road in Greenland, has a boardwalk and trail as well as play boats for children to enjoy. There is a small beach and public boat launch for kayaks and canoes also on the property. For more, visit www.greatbay.org.

win a free surfboard by cleaning the beach

The next N.H. Surfrider Foundation beach clean-up on Saturday, June 6, could be your chance to win some great gear.
On offer at each of the four clean-ups this summer are sandals and T-shirts from Ocean Minded, plus an August grand prize of a new surfboard from Cinnamon Rainbows. Anyone helping with cleanups can enter the free raffle.

The May clean-up resulted in 87 pounds of trash being carted off the area north of Hampton Beach near The Wall. To help out on June 6, just show up at 5 p.m. across from Cinnamon Rainbows.

Two weeks later, the Surfrider Foundation will celebrate its 25th anniversary in conjunction with International Surf Day at Jenness Beach. The event, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, will feature food, games, entertainment, a beach clean-up and, of course, plenty of surfing.

For more information on N.H. Surfrider Foundation, visit http://surfridernewhampshire.wordpress.com.

Land Trust cookout to feature ecologist Tom Wessels

The author of the often-referenced New England book, “Reading the Forested Landscape,” will be the featured guest at the Annual Cookout and Conservation Celebration of the Southeast Land Trust on Saturday, June 6.

Tom Wessels will speak about the importance of connection to community and place, and how land protection can help accomplish both. The afternoon will feature a two-hour guided walk. Wessels will share his observations of the Pawtuckaway River landscape. His other books include “The Granite Landscape,” “Untamed Vermont” and “The Myth of Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future.”

The event will also recognize the landowners and communities that have partnered with Southeast Land Trust to conserve land in 2008, outline goals, and include a barbecue lunch donated by Philbrick’s Fresh Market.

The cookout takes place at Verdant Pastures by the Lamprey River on Ladd’s Lane in Epping, which provides housing, jobs and recreation opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Admission is $10, or free for children under 12. Pre-registration is required. Call Karen McCormack at 603-778-6088 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it