Squam Lakes Conservation Society

09/03/2026

Well the weather was not on our side this morning, but boy did we learn ALOT from Amey Bailey and Sam Tower who are of the forefront of Beech Leaf Disease research. Originally planned as a forest walk, Amey and Sam brought the forest to our conference room so we could learn all about Beech Leaf Disease dispite the rain. This fast spreading invasive nematode causes damage to beech leaves, impeding the tree's ability to photosynthesize. First detecting in NH in 2022, it is now wide spread across 2/3 of the state. Infected trees have dark banding on leaf segments and leaves develop a leathery texture. You can help researchers build scientific knowledge to better combat this forest pest by reporting sightings to nhbugs.org . If you want to learn more about forest ecology join us on Sept 12th for an Ash Ecology walk. Visit our events page for the details squamslandtrust.org/events

09/02/2026

Last week we wrapped up our summer forest bathing series. We visited some beautiful lands, had lovely participants, and wonderful guides and who helped us reconnect to the benefits of slow, mindful immersion in nature and community. Should we offer more forest bathing session this fall? Comment below to let us know.
-yoku

08/27/2026

Happy World Lake Day! In 2025 the United Nations designated August 27th as World Lake to draw attention to "the importance of lakes and preserving, conserving, restoring and sustainably managing lake and related ecosystems." How will you observe ?

08/23/2026

Forest Bathing, Forest Ecology Walks, and more...

https://conta.cc/4wGXpx6

Email from Squam Lakes Conservation Society We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who came out for our 66th Annual Meeting on Saturday August 15th at the top of Shepard Hill Rd on the site of th

08/20/2026

Last week we welcomed nearly 200 beautiful people to a beautiful spot for our 66th annual meeting. Thank you to the Smilth family for offering up the site of the historic Asquam Hotel for this gathering.
There was plenty of laughter, a few tears, and cider donuts (thank you Moulton Farm). Most importantly there was community and connection. Thank you to everyone who attended, it was great to see you!

08/15/2026

As the sun sets on our annual meeting tent we are grateful for a community that cares deeply about protecting this special place.

We hope to see you all tomorrow morning for our annual meeting on top of Shepard Hill. It is a truly remarkable location to celebrate all we do together.

The meeting starts at 10am but please join starting at 9:30 am for coffee, donuts, and more thanks to Moulton Farm (and of course Bonnie's famous scones!)

More information available at https://www.squamslandtrust.org/events/

08/11/2026

"The crickets felt it was their duty to remind us that summer cannot last forever."-E.B. White.
Lots of great summer happenings this week. Hope to see you there.
8/13 Forest Bathing at Tompkins Preserve 9am
8/13 Lights out on the Lake 9-10 pm
8/15 Annual Meeting 10am
Visit our events page for more details www.foreversquam.org/events .

08/09/2026

Click to read about upcoming exciting programs around Squam.

Email from Squam Lakes Conservation Society We are just days away from our 66th Annual Meeting where we celebrate the community's dedication to the protection of Squam. We can't wait to se you on Satu

08/07/2026

Lights Out on the Lake-August 13th (the peak of Perseid Meteor Showers BTW) between 9-10pm join us and your neighbors in turning off the lights so we can enjoy and hour of true darkness (and maybe catch a few shooting stars). It is easy to forget that nighttime is habitat in this age of widepspread artifical light at night. Globally light pollution is increasing nearly 10% year over year. The skies we see today are not nearly as dark as the skies our grandparents enjoyed. For one hour let's come together to turn back the clock and let the stars shine. Check out Dark Sky for more info about the 5 principles of responsible outdoor light at night:
1. Useful
Use light only if it is needed
All light should have a clear purpose. Consider how the use of light will impact the area, including wildlife and their habitats.

2. Targeted
Direct light so it falls only where it is needed
Use shielding and careful aiming to target the direction of the light beam so that it points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed.

3. Low level
Light should be no brighter than necessary
Use the lowest light level required. Be mindful of surface conditions, as some surfaces may reflect more light into the night sky than intended.

4. Controlled
Use light only when it is needed
Use controls such as timers or motion detectors to ensure that light is available when it is needed, dimmed when possible, and turned off when not needed.

5. Warm-colored
Use warmer-color lights where possible
Limit the amount of shorter wavelength (blue-violet) light to the least amount needed.https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/