Frozen Bog Walk
With 2013 as its inaugural year, the Frozen Bog Walk is quickly becoming an annual event. This chilly gathering is held on a weekend day in late January or early February, on Campton’s serene Bog Pond. The CCC is fortunate to be joined by members of the Newfound Tracking Team, to lead visitors for a guided snowshoe and/or ski on the pond. Trackers provide participants the opportunity to locate, identify and very often follow various animal tracks across the frozen surface as well as along its shores. Tracks of minks, coyote, deer, moose, shrew, ermine, snowshoe hare, fox, and more have been identified in years past! The exploration in concluded with a group discussion and a chance to consult tracking cards. Coffee, hot chocolate and homemade goods are served courtesy of the CCC.
Participants in the Frozen Bog Walk are encouraged to plan accordingly for a typical New Hampshire winter day and physical activity. Although the walk tends to move at a family friendly pace, explorers should dress warm and in layers. Snowshoes and/or nordic skis are encouraged, however snow boots will work when following the group’s tracks! The event is open to the public, date and time is posted on our facebook page and advertised locally. RSVP is kindly requested.
Barry Camp Scholarship Program
In 2018, the Campton Conservation Commission began providing annual scholarships to two Campton residents, to attend summer camp at the Barry Conservation 4-H Camp. Located in the White Mountain National Forest adjacent to the Berlin Fish Hatchery, the Barry Camp is run by the UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Program in cooperation with the NH Department of Fish & Game. Camp programming has a variety of options, from hunting to fishing to shooting sports. The CCC reviews camp offerings each year and chooses the week whose program offering best matches our mission.
The campership is open to Campton residents in grades 4-8 who demonstrate a passion for nature, carry themselves with dignity, and are emotionally ready for a week of sleepaway camp. Students are chosen by CCC members after submitting a complete application with parental consent and undergoing a brief interview process with CCC members and an elementary school staff member. Applications are made available in the beginning of February, with interviews commencing soon afterwards. Award decisions are made after our March meeting, and students are notified via a personal letter sent home to both them and their parents.
Here are some wonderful highlights shared with us in letters from our first year campers:
“I was able to do so many things including, shooting, fishing, trapping, shelter building, canoeing, hunting, archery, roasting marshmallows and so much more.”
“I enjoyed a 14-mile canoe trip. The river we canoed was really pretty and then we slept out for a night and canoed back the next day. There were many highlights of the week, maybe too many to mention, but I also thought meeting dogs who were used for hunting bear was interesting.”
If you or your child is interested in learning more about our scholarship, please visit our contact tab and reach out to us! More information on the Barry Camp can be found at their website.
Spring & Fall roadside cleanup
The CCC proudly participates in the NH Department of Transportation’s Sponsor-A-Highway program. Due to safety concerns of the DOT, as a volunteer group we are eligible to adopt a secondary highway. The section of secondary highway is located along the Blair Road and Route 175. The route begins at the intersection of Blair Rd. and Bog Rd., running the entire length of the Blair Rd. until its intersection with Rte. 175. The adopted section then continues north on route 175 for roughly 1.5 miles, stopping near the intersection with Perch Pond Rd.
Roadside clean-ups typically occur in the spring and fall, with both members of the CCC and local residents participating. Due to safety regulations of the DOT, participants are restricted to individuals over the age of 11, with strict adherence to strict safety guidelines. Individuals interested in participating alongside the CCC in our roadside clean are encouraged to contact the Commission directly.
For more information about Adopt-A-Highway, check out the DOT’s wesbsite.
Nature Nights
During the summer months, the CCC teams with a Rey Center naturalist, and local supporters to provide a weekly exploration of our conservation property, Blair Woodland Natural Area. The program is typically held on a weekday evening, starting at 6pm and running 1-1.5 hours in length. Each week a different theme is presented and over the course of the summer, participants will explore nearly every inch of the property while learning about the flora and fauna that inhabit this conserved woodland. In years past topics have included: vernal pool exploration, tree identification, aquatic invertebrate study, shelter building and habitat discovery.
Hiking and exploration is at a family-friendly pace, with frequent stops along the way to learn about the theme of the night. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather as there is no shelter except beneath the trees. Individuals are also encouraged to bring water and bug spray or protective clothing. There are no restroom facilities on the property so participants are encouraged to plan ahead. All ages are welcome and an adult must accompany children.
The Nature Nights program is sponsored not only by the CCC, but through generous donations from local supporters. Supporters for 2015-2016 include Meredith Village Savings Bank and The Little Red Schoolhouse.