Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a non-profit environmental education organization founded in 1966 with a mission to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. Using the outdoors as a classroom and live native New Hampshire animals as teaching ambassadors, Science Center programs and exhibits teach the ecological concepts of adaptations, populations, interrelationships, and habitats in meaningful and memorable ways.

On our 200-acre natural site in Holderness, visitors may tour three miles of self-guided trails from May 1 to November 1 featuring: 1) the 3/4-mile live animal exhibit trail displaying native wildlife in woodland enclosures and buildings with hands-on interactive exhibits; 2) the Ecotone Trail, a 2/3-mile track along a forest and field edge; 3) the Mt. Fayal Trail, a 1-mile loop to the top of a small mountain with a view of Squam Lake; and 4) the Forest Trail, a 2/3-mile trail demonstrating forest management and ecology. Kirkwood Gardens, displays plants attractive to birds and butterflies and is free to the public. Staff naturalists present natural history programs year-round ranging from lake ecology cruises, to outdoor activities, to indoor live animal presentations.