THE SIERRA CLUB AND NH AUDUBON HOLD AN OUTING FOR THE NH CHILDREN IN NATURE'S "GET OUT AND PLAY" WEEKEND

On October 4 +5, 2009, the newly-organizing New Hampshire Children in Nature Coalition promoted a state-wide "Get Out and Play Weekend." Organizations throughout the state held various types of family-oriented activities that would encourage both children and parents to spend more time outdoors.

The Merrimack Valley Group of the NH Sierra Club partnered with NH Audubon and held an outing at Audubon's Lake Massabesic facility. Peter Hope, NH Sierra Club Outings Chair, led the outing, which included a tour of the 4-H Green Thumb Team garden project. Beth Findley, an intern with the Student Conservations Corps and a mentor for the project, explained various aspects of the undertaking.

The Audubon Center gardens are one aspect of the large scale UNH Common Ground Garden Project. This project, the brainchild of Julia Steed Mawson, a well-known UNH Extension educator, includes not only gardens for youth, but also for families, families in need, and elders.

In the photo below, Beth Findley is shown providing an explanation of fall flowers to the Merrimack Valley Group.

Subsequently the group viewed a Valley Forge American elm that is resistant to Dutch Elm disease. After a short hike, the group had lunch on the shore of Lake Massabesic, with waterfowl in full view.