Wonalancet Out Door Club

07/23/2026

Join us for a fascinating talk on a little-known topic as Vinton Thompson presents "Everything You Wanted to Know About Spittlebugs" on Thursday, July 30, at 7 pm at the Wonalancet Chapel.
Spittlebugs are a relatively little-known group of insects named for the foamy "spittles" made by the immature forms. Although harmless to humans and most of their host plants, they are important pests of sugarcane and pasture grasses in Latin America and one species carries a disease deadly to olive trees in Italy. There are approximately 2,500 known species, spread over all continents except Antarctica. This presentation will illustrate a dazzling diversity of forms, including the dozen species found in Wonalancet, and provide interesting insights on spittlebug biology and evolution.

07/22/2026

The WODC invites friends and colleagues of Jack Waldron to join us for a celebration of his life Saturday, July 25, at 4 pm in the Wonalancet Chapel. Jack served as our president for 20 years, and he is much missed by many.
A gathering in the Wonalancet Grove will follow.
RSVPs appreciated: [email protected]

07/21/2026

We had a great afternoon with Mike Whittemore explaining the Bowl Research Natural Area botanical survey. If you missed the talk, here's the video (thanks, Aly!). And of course if you were there, you're welcome to watch again anyway.
Mike will be leading several groups to the Bowl in the next few months, and training participants to work as citizen scientists on the project; one hike will be slower, so let us know if you'd like to join us.

Michael Whittemore of Rewild Ecological presented an overview of Th...

07/18/2026

We just sent out our first-ever e-newsletter. If you didn't get it an email, have a look at https://conta.cc/4fi80bk and email us at [email protected] to subscribe.

07/10/2026

Wonalancet Water Worlds: pond and stream ecology for kids
A hands-on exploration with naturalist Hillary Behr for kids 4-12 (and their adults)
9-11 am Sunday, July 19, 2026
The WODC invites you to join us for a hands-on exploration of two watery worlds. We will meet on Ferncroft Road in Wonalancet and then wade across the stream to an incredible vernal pool that is becoming a sphagnum moss bog. There we hope to catch and learn about frogs, turtles, and dragonflies. Nearby runs the cold and clear Spring Brook, where we will wade and catch aquatic insects such as mayfly and dragonfly larvae. There will be lots of opportunities to get wet and have a close look at the living things that call these water worlds home.
The program is free, but preregistration is requested as space is limited. Email [email protected]

07/07/2026

On Saturday, July 18, at 4 p.m. at the Wonalancet Chapel,
join ecologist and botanist Michael Whittemore, founder of Rewild Ecological, for an introduction to the 2026 botanical inventory of The Bowl Research Natural Area.
Conducted in partnership with the WODC and the US Forest Service and supported by private donors, this project will document one of NH’s finest remaining old-growth forests. Learn why the Bowl matters and how you can participate as a volunteer botanist during the 2026 field season.
Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome. Michael will be available after the presentation to help attendees download iNaturalist, create an account, and join the project so they are ready for upcoming field surveys. For any survey questions, reach out to Michael Whittemore at Rewild Ecological (rewildecological.com) at [email protected].
This talk is one of a series of programs being presented this summer at the chapel. We hope to see you there!

07/06/2026

JOIN US Satruday July 18 for TRAILS DAY and catch the last of the mountain laurel

The Wonalancet Out Door Club invites you to join us for our third Trails Day of the season.
If you woud like to come, please preregister by emailing [email protected] -- you'll get details on time, place, and plan.

We will be continuing our erosion control work, adding check steps on the lower section of the heavily used Blueberry Ledge Trail. Experienced mentors teach you all you need to know to get this rewarding work done. And the company is always good, too!

07/02/2026

All are invited to the Green Curtain Roadshow: Celebrate and Protect New Hampshire Forests, Wednesday, July 8th, 5:30 pm
Ledge Brewing and Tacos, ​15 Town Hall Rd, Intervale, NH

Join Standing Trees and other regional partners for music, food, and an evening celebrating mature and old-growth forests, including tunes from the magical Black Ram Guitar, a storied instrument crafted from illegally-felled old-growth timber in western Montana.

Before the evening program, meet at 1 pm at the Mt Chocorua Liberty Trailhead and Parking, Chocorua Mountain Rd, Albany, NH 03818 for a guided hike led by Standing Trees. Bring portable art supplies/your journal.

For info on these programs and the nationwide tour, visit https://greencurtainroadshow.org/

06/03/2026

You’re invited to join us for the next Trails Day this Saturday morning, June 6. If you can come, please preregister by emailing [email protected] -- you'll get details on time, place, and plan. The work is rewarding and collegial.
If you prefer to do trailwork independently, we have several trails that need adopters. For more information about adopting a trail, email [email protected].
Bonus: Lady's slippers are in bloom on many of our trails! (Photo courtesy Doug McVicar)

05/28/2026

Love Wonalancet? You’re invited to help out at the Wonalancet Chapel, our only community building – where we host our meetings and programs -- this Sunday at 1 pm.
Chapel Grove lawn grooming will involve raking, picking up branches and trimming – bring tools, rakes, etc. if you have any. If you prefer to help with indoor chapel cleaning, you’re invited to bring soap sprays, furniture wax, paper towels and cleaning rags (there’s no running water).
If you know of anyone nearby who would like some of the grass, leaves and branches as fill and/or has a dump truck who would be willing to cart the fill away, please comment. There will be a machine available to load the grass, leaves and branches onto a dump truck.