Most field trips and tours are free. Field trips begin at various locations and times and will return to Camp Carpenter in Manchester by 3:30 p.m. Space is limited, so register early.

Field trip details and directions will be mailed or e-mailed with annual meeting registration confirmation.

1. Historical Farms, Forest, and Frontage on the Piscataquog

Tour conservation land in New Boston with the Piscataquog Land Conservancy and the Forest Society. We'll drive to the conserved 75-acre Nixon property on Old Coach Road, where we'll hike well-maintained trails to the South Branch of the Piscataquog River. After lunch at the New Boston Library on the banks of the South Branch, we'll hike the Two Brooks Trail at the Alan and Edgar Rice Natural Area in Lyndeborough.

Trip Leaders: Paul Doscher, Forest Society and Gordon Russell, Piscataquog Land Conservancy
Difficulty: Moderate
Co-sponsor: The Piscataquog Land Conservancy

2. Hands on the Land: Two Families' Love for the Land in Candia

Learn more about how an abiding love for the land has managed to keep this gateway to Candia green in the face of persistent development pressure. This trip will focus on the Forest Society's Natt Emerson Forest, the Audubon Society's Abe Emerson Marsh, and the Pearson Family Tree Farm in Candia. The Pearson family has harvested thousands of board feet of timber over the years. This working white pine tree farm is at the center of an area that has seen many changes.

Trip Leader: Dan Sundquist, Forest Society
Difficulty: Moderate

3. Water Quality and Forest Management at Massabesic

The Lake Massabesic watershed collects and stores rainfall to provide drinking water for 159,000 people in the region. Many species of wildlife live in these 8,000 acres of land. Manchester Water Works (MWW) is responsible for providing drinking water and fire protection to the City of Manchester and many surrounding communities. Watershed management also includes active forestry. MWW annually performs a selective timber harvest on about 300 acres to develop the best tree cover for the forest environment and promote controlled water retention and runoff.

Option 3A: Walking Tour Naturalist-guided walking tour to scenic Battery Point on Lake Massabesic, site of a former historic hotel.

Trip Leaders: Dave Anderson and Ken Stern from the Forest Society, John O'Niel from MWW
Difficulty: Easy walking on level hiking trails
Co-sponsor: Manchester Water Works

Option 3B: Mountain Bike Tour Join Forest Society staff and Friends of Massabesic Bicycling Association (FOMBA) on a bicycle tour around Little Massabesic Pond. BYO bicycle and gear, including helmet, water, clothing, etc.

Trip Leaders: Denise Vaillancourt and Chris Wells, both of the Forest Society, with Jack Chapman of FOMBA
Difficulty: Challenging
Co-sponsor: Friends of Massabesic Bicycling Association

4. Of Fruit and Fish: A Scenic Tour of Londonderry's Conservation Lands

Explore Londonderry's famed "Apple Way," a state-designated scenic highway connecting five apple orchards. Our largely van-based tour will begin and end at Mack's Apples, where you can pick your own or purchase apples, pies, cider, and more. Then join us on an easy walk through the Forest Society's Bockes and Ingersoll Forest Reservation to a Native American fishery along Beaver Brook. Cost: $10 for transportation.

Trip Leaders: Mike Speltz and Joyce El Kouarti, both of the Forest Society
Difficulty: Short, easy walks plus van transport provided by Londonderry Ford
Co-sponsor: Londonderry Conservation Commission