A Natural Way to Celebrate a 60th Anniversary
A bald eagle in its nest on Squam Lake. (Courtesy Squam Lakes Natural Science Center)
By Thomas P. Caldwell
For half a century, the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness has been promoting an understanding of New Hampshire’s flora and fauna through live animal exhibits, ecology programs, and other events that teach about the importance of the natural world. Now celebrating its 60th year, the science center is planning special events to mark the occasion.
Local residents simply call it “the science center” but the full name reflects its setting by the Squam Lakes — Little Squam, at 410 acres, and Big Squam, at 6,381. The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is situated on more than 200 acres of fields, forests, streams, ponds, and gardens, and it is much more than a traditional zoo.
At the heart of the operation is the Live Animal Exhibit Trail, a self-guided three-quarter-mile packed-gravel path that goes past black bears, bobcats, mountain lions, river otters, and raptors. There are hands-on exhibits documenting animal habitats and adaptations, and the state’s changing landscape.
The Live Animal Exhibit Trail is stroller-accessible with an ADA Recreational standard grade of 1 in 12, with difficult spots due to loose gravel. The science center offers four-wheeled motorized scooters upon request, and it is a Certified Sensory Inclusive facility by KultureCity to improve its ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs.
The wild animals at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center are selected based on their being native to New Hampshire, and most are orphans, injured, or unable to survive in the wild. At the science center, those non-releasable animals find lifelong homes and serve as teachers in naturalistic habitats. A veterinarian checks out all of the science center’s guests, and the staff is trained to recognize when something is wrong and will call in a vet when necessary.
A black bear. (Courtesy Squam Lakes Natural Science Center)
Visitors also have a chance to visit Kirkwood Gardens, and Blue Heron School, a nature-based Montessori early-learning center, which teaches the importance of the natural world. There are other hands-on environmental education programs, along with guided lake cruises led by naturalists who offer close-up views of common loons and bald eagles while speaking about the lake’s ecology.
Squam Lake Cruises have proven particularly popular, taking passengers off-site for 90-minute pontoon boat rides past the rocky shores, islands, and historic homes on Squam Lake where the film “On Golden Pond” was filmed. Movie locations such as the place near the entrance to Big Squam Lake where Norman is seen gassing up his boat are among the cultural highlights that add to the experience.
In this 60th anniversary season, the science center anticipates welcoming its two millionth visitor and has a number of special programs scheduled, including a Bioblitz series for the month of August that allows visitors to capture the flora and fauna on the grounds using the iNaturalist mobile app.
To highlight the science center’s history, the staff dug deep into its archives to design a series of panels along the trail that feature photographs and details over the years, culminating in a visual timeline along the Gordon Children’s Center.
New resident animals in 2026 include Jackson, a young bald eagle; two white-tailed deer named Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee (Pemi and Winni for short); and a crayfish named Buzzell. Other native animals include Herps, the painted turtle; an American toad, and a gray tree frog; fish such as large and small mouth bass and brown bullhead; birds and raptors, including a pair of black-crowned night heron, barred owl, American kestrel, and hawks of many kinds. Mammals include the coyote, fisher, red fox, bobcat, mountain lion, and black bear. (The center’s new river otter exhibit is under construction and may be completed before the end of the season.)
A barred owl. (Courtesy Squam Lakes Natural Science Center)
Halfway through the trail is the Gordon Interactive Playscape, where children can climb on rocks and logs, scramble through tunnels, and balance on branches. At the raptor exhibit, they can fly like a raptor on the Migration Flyway zipline.
Special events for the 60th anniversary include the Nature for Everyone Barn Bash on Thursday, July 16, featuring dinner, dancing, and celebration at the Willoughby Ridge Barn, 60 Willoughby Ridge Road in Holderness. The funds raised will go toward ensuring that the science center’s outdoor nature-based activities and education programs remain accessible and continue to inspire joy, connection, and wonder.
The event is for those 21 and over, with each ticket including Up Close to Animal interactions; cocktails and hors d’oeuvres; the debut of the “Day in the Life of the Science Center” video; special programming and the Boat Captains’ Auction; dinner by Sensational Paella; and live music by The Pulse.
There is limited seating, so purchase tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/3hvaa5fn. For more information, call Nicole Verspyck at 603-968-7194, ext 124, or email nicole.verspyck@nhnature.org.
The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center’s annual meeting and summer social will take place on Thursday, August 6, with the annual meeting running from 5 to 5:30 pm. At that time, the science center will present this year’s Horizon Award to recognize an individual’s outstanding service and contributions. A special anniversary program and commemorative video will highlight six decades of connecting people with nature.
The summer social immediately follows, with wood-fired pizza from Gusto Italian Food Truck, a tasting experience with Tamworth Distillery, and other local vendors. The event is free to attend, but donations in support of the science center’s mission and future programs are welcome. (RSVP so the center can plan appropriately for food and beverages.)
Also, as part of the science center’s 60th anniversary, it has partnered with the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation to present a summer lecture series highlighting decades of environmental research and education. Scientists working at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in North Woodstock will share insights on topics ranging from invasive forest pests to bat acoustic monitoring and scientific illustration.
Other special events this season are:
Movie Night: The Invisible Mammal 7/22
Loon Day 7/13
Animal Birthday Bash 8/12
Raptor Migration Celebration 9/19
Grandparents Day 10/3
Howl O Ween 10/24.
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located on Route 113 in Holderness, with public trails open daily from May 1 through November 1, and educational programming continuing throughout the year. Squam Lake Cruises run daily from mid-May through mid-October. For further information, call 603-968-7194 or visit www.nhnature.org.