Harris Center for Conservation Education

Our Mission

The Harris Center for Conservation Education reaches more than 20,000 people each year, connecting individuals and communities to the natural world. Established in 1970, we have become a leading force in environmental education and conservation in the Monadnock region. Our mission is to:

• promote understanding and respect for the natural world through environmental education for all ages,


• protect and steward the region’s natural resources,


• conduct conservation research and community science projects, and


• offer programs that encourage active participation in the great outdoors.

Education

Each year, we engage more than 3,000 children in outdoor education across more than 36 Monadnock Region schools (from pre-K to high school). Harris Center teacher-naturalists provide in-school lessons on environmental education followed by outdoor explorations. We also offer free afterschool programs, including our popular Lab Girls program, which helps middle and high school girls remain passionate about science. 

Additionally, we offer more than 170 free programs and outings annually for the general public for curious learners of all ages. These opportunities help people connect with nature - from babies in backpacks to senior-living communities and all points in between. We also offer programs via Zoom, extending our reach beyond the Monadnock region.  

Land Protection

As a local land trust, the Harris Center has protected more than 26,300 acres of land in the Monadnock Region for both people and wildlife. We have also played an integral role in stitching together a 36,000-acre SuperSanctuary of connected lands stretching from Stoddard to Peterborough, giving wildlife plenty of room to roam.

We maintain over 21 miles of hiking trails which are open year-round and offer a variety of scenery for visitors to enjoy. 

Conservation Research

We support conservation research on our protected lands and throughout the Monadnock Region. This includes research by undergraduate, graduate, and other professional studies, as well as our popular community science programs, such as the Salamander Crossing Brigades and Hawk Watch.

Our programs support and build upon one another: our land protection efforts preserve open spaces and model responsible stewardship; our education programs for people of all ages foster an appreciation for our natural resources and cultivate future stewards; and our conservation research programs provide learning opportunities and inform stewardship of our protected lands.

(Banner photo: Jocelyn Dexter catches a Viceroy butterfly in her net during a butterfly survey at Hiroshi Field © Ben Conant)

Who We Are

The Harris Center for Conservation Education is dedicated to promoting understanding and respect for our natural environment through education of all ages, direct protection and exemplary stewardship of the region’s natural resources, conservation research, and programs that encourage active participation in the great outdoors.