Valentine Snowshoe Tracking for Families on Saturday, February 16

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
Box 191, Union, NH 03887
603-473-2020
info@mmrg.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 1/24/2019

Valentine Snowshoe Tracking for Families on Saturday, February 16

On Saturday, February 16, Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust will jointly offer a kids’ snowshoe walk as part of MMRG’s program of nature-oriented activities for families called ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’. The ‘Valentine Snowshoe Tracking’ activity, led by NH Coverts Project volunteers Emily Lord and Tom Gardner, will take place at Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills.

Lord and Gardner have been active participants in developing MMRG’s ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ program and led the first family snowshoe event last winter. Emily Lord is Digital Outreach manager at the Society for the Protection of NH Forests and a member of MMRG’s Board of Directors. In addition to serving as Pastor at Middleton Gospel Chapel, Tom Gardner teaches the Middleton Nature Club after-school program.

Last year, kids went sledding, tried out walking in snowshoes, listened for bird songs at the edge of the woods and crowded around the leaders as they pointed out signs of wildlife along a snowy trail leading down to the river. Anticipating the upcoming event, Pastor Tom says, “This family snowshoe walk is a chance to introduce kids to the animals that share our community and to show them how to read the signs and stories that wildlife leave behind.” Emily Lord adds, “The first MOOSE-ies for Families snowshoe tracking event was so much fun, we’re really looking forward to this one!”

The event is planned for 10 – 11:30 am and is appropriate for children of all ages with their families. Although ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ activities are conceived as a membership benefit for MMRG member families, this Valentine Snowshoe Tracking event is free and open to all as a way to encourage new families to come try it out. Pre-registration is required. Kids-sized snowshoes from the Tuftonboro Public Library will be available as well as a few loaner snowshoes for adults. For more information, directions, and to pre-register, call MMRG’s Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info.

‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ stands for Members Only Outdoor and Social Events for Families and the entire ‘MOOSE-ies for Families’ program is free for MMRG members. It is designed to create opportunities for families to have fun together outdoors while learning about nature, in order to foster future generations of conservationists. Interested families may become MMRG members with a minimum membership donation of $25 per household per year. Families may also inquire about available scholarships by calling MMRG Executive Director Patti Connaughton-Burns at (603) 473-2020. The program of 2019 events is: ‘Following a Stream’ on April 13 , ‘Rail Trail Discovery Walk’ on June 8, the 16^th annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival on August 10, ‘Family New Moon Walk’ on September 22, ‘Bonfire, Music Games and Stories’ on October 25, and ‘Wreaths, Sprays and More’ on December 1 (some dates may be subject to change).

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region’s natural resources. For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.mmrg.info. Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to protect open space and working forests and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org. The NH Coverts Project with UNH Cooperative Extension trains volunteers in wildlife conservation, forest stewardship, and effective outreach; see extension.unh.edu/programs/nh-coverts-project.