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Creek Farm volunteer
Spring marks the start of field season at the Forest Society—and with it, a calendar brimming with volunteer workdays across our properties. From beautifying flower beds to hauling logs and restoring trails, our incredible community of volunteers has been showing up in force, lending their time, talents, and heart to New Hampshire’s forests and open spaces.
Here are just a few highlights of what we’ve accomplished together so far this season:
April 5 – Land Steward Training Field Day (Peterborough)
Fifteen new land stewards braved a rainy day to complete their final training at the Heald Tract. They practiced compass skills, learned to read maps and boundary markers, and demonstrated the commitment it takes to steward a property year-round.
“Without our 188 Land Stewards being our eyes and ears on the ground, it would be much harder to understand all that happens on our properties and properly care for them,” says Volunteer Coordinator Laurel Swope Brush.
April 9 – Conservation Center Spring Clean-Up (Concord)
Eleven volunteers from Southern NH University joined us to prepare our headquarters for spring. From pulling weeds and spreading mulch to helping remove an aging staircase and preparing habitat for bank swallows and turtles, their efforts made a lasting impact.
April 17 – Creek Farm Spring Clean-Up (Portsmouth)
This was a day that really stood out. Many of the 12 volunteers were new faces—neighbors who already love the property and came ready to give back. Their positive energy helped remove invasive bittersweet from the orchard, improve benches and gates, and wake the gardens for spring. The apple and pear trees are grateful for the breathing room!
April 22 – Mt. Major Earth Day Clean-Up & VTOP Kick-Off (Alton)
We welcomed 43 participants for a DIY trail and summit clean-up, collecting 53 pounds of trash. Volunteers also improved drainage, cleared steps, and kicked off our Volunteer Trailhead Outreach Program. The day was made extra special with a visit from Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
May 7 – Lost River Spring Clean-Up (North Woodstock)
Twenty-five hardy volunteers turned out in the drizzle to clean boardwalks, landscape the main campus, and make the ecology trail safer and more walkable. Their work helps preserve this beloved destination for thousands of visitors each year.
May 16 – Grafton Pond Workday (Grafton)
Longtime partners from Hypertherm Inc. returned once again to clean up this stunning site—by land and by boat. From picking up litter to protecting the pond’s islands, their ongoing stewardship is a model of corporate volunteerism.
May 22 & 23 – Sign Makers Workday (Concord)
Ever wonder who makes those iconic Forest Society property signs? It’s our amazing volunteers. Over two days, twelve skilled woodworkers stenciled, carved, and painted 53 new signs!
May 29 – Tom Rush Chestnut Orchard Workday (Deering)
Six dedicated volunteers helped plant 20 new chestnut trees that could be among the first blight-resistant strains in New England, as part of our ongoing partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation.
Each of these workdays tells a story—not just of tasks completed, but of people forming deeper relationships with the land and with one another. New volunteers bring more than just extra hands; they bring fresh perspectives, energy, and a sense of belonging. As we often say: when people extend their hands, they bring their hearts with them. And for those who join us, the rewards go far beyond the day’s work. Depending on the activity, volunteers might learn trail building, invasive plant management, or orienteering. But perhaps more importantly, they leave with the joy of knowing their efforts made a difference.
That’s why our annual Volunteer Appreciation Day is such a meaningful event. It’s our chance to say thank you—not just in words, but with community. With volunteers spread across the state and involved in many different programs, this day offers time to reconnect, share stories, and build inspiration for the months ahead. For us, it’s a welcome change of pace to engage with our volunteers without also hauling brush or digging in the soil.
To everyone who has come out this spring—thank you. You are the roots of our conservation mission, and your efforts help keep New Hampshire’s landscapes vibrant, resilient, and alive.