...plus upcoming programs and events.

The 2025 Parade of Lights. Don't miss this year's parade on Sunday! Annual picnic at the Grove at 6pm, parade at dusk. | Photo Credits: Betsy Memishian

Dear friend, 

August has sung her sweet song and the cool evenings of September are upon us.

The most magical farewell to summer is this weekend—bring your own picnic to meet with friends in the Grove at 6pm, before the Parade of Lights kicks off at dusk. Join in the parade with your decorated boat (please launch from the Island) or watch from the bridge. Bring lanterns and lights either way! No sign ups required. 

In other news, New Hampshire's bear season opened on September 1st, so remember to wear your blaze orange while out-and-about in the woods from now through December.

Speaking of being outdoors, September means the start of another season of stewarding public lands, including our beloved lake and hiking spots. Trail clearing, leaf-blowing, and more—not to mention great educational programs about history, mushrooms, trees, and more. Keep scrolling to see all the opportunities in September and October.

Dam Rehabilitation & Rock Ramp Fishway

In just a few short weeks, we will be beginning the rehabilitation project on the dam at the southern end of Little Chocorua Lake. We will also be adding a fishway that will allow aquatic species to move between the river below the dam, and the lake and river north of the lake. Click the button below to learn more about this project.

Thank you, dam rehab partners! | Scoop Welch

Find CLC in the wild

Volunteers, staff, and AmeriCorps members can frequently be found tabling lakeside, or at a local farmers market or event. We share information about the work CLC is doing to protect the Chocorua Lake Basin, and have beautiful artwork, cards, t-shirts, hats, and more with proceeds supporting our mission. Want to say hi or have questions about our work? Check out the events list below to see where we'll be. Or, you can always buy online!

Learn, visit, and volunteer with us

Our educational programs are by donation (suggested $5–$30), kids are free, and all donations count toward your annual giving. Zoom and collaborative programs are free. If you appreciate these programs, please donate to our partner organizations, too.

September

Parade of Lights & Annual Picnic, Sun. Sept. 6, 6–8 PM. The Grove at Chocorua Lake. Bring your own picnic to enjoy with neighbors before watching the parade at dusk. More info HERE.

CLC at Ice Cream Tamwich, Sun. Sept. 13, 11–3 PM. Ride your bike around our beautiful town, and visit us at the finish line to learn about CLC, pick up a baseball cap, water bottle, or t-shirt. More info HERE.

CLC at Madison Farmers' Market, Sun. Sept. 13, 3–6 PM, Madison Elementary School. Come learn about CLC and pick up a baseball cap, t-shirt, poster, or fun water bottle sticker.

Can You Judge the Forest by its Cover?, Tues. Sept. 15, 3–4:30 PM. Charlotte C. Browne Woods. Walk with New England forest ecology and history enthusiast, Harper Walker-West. Learn how to "read" the woods for clues of what came before. More info and sign up HERE.

Mindfulness and Nature Writing Walk, Thurs. Sept. 24, 10 AM–12 PM. Scott Reserve and TNC Bolles Reserve. Walk, write, and reflect with Ed Parsons, who for 40 years has enjoyed writing about the mountains that surround us here. More info and sign up HERE.

National Public Lands Day, Sat. Sept. 26. Visit us from 12–4 PM at REI in North Conway to learn more about CLC. You can also hit the trails with Wonalancet Out Door Club for a trail clearing day. Email trails@wodc.org for more info.

Clear the Parking Lot at CC Browne, Wed. Sept. 30, 9–11 AM. Charlotte C. Browne Woods. Cut back vegetation around the parking area and in the early successional forest habitat. More info and sign up HERE.

October

Mushroom Walk with NH Mushroom Company, Fri. Oct. 2, 3–5 PM. Charlotte C. Browne Woods. More info and sign up HERE.

Chocorua Mountain Club Fall Trail Clearing Day, Sat. Oct. 3, 9 AM. Meet at the Grove, Chocorua Lake. Help clear Mt. Chocorua, Mt. Paugus, or lowland trails. More info and sign up HERE.

Stewardship Morning at the Island, Tues. Oct. 6, 9–11 AM. The Island, Chocorua Lake. Spread wood chips on heavily used shoreline areas to help prevent erosion. More info and sign up HERE.

Fall Adopt-a-Highway Trash Pickup, Sun. Oct. 11, 8:45–10:30 AM. Meet at the Grove, Chocorua Lake. Clean up trash on this two mile stretch of Route 16 to help keep pollution out of Chocorua Lake. More info and sign up HERE.

View Lot Pollinator Garden Stewardship, Wed. Oct. 14, 9–11 AM. Meet at the Basin View Lot. Help maintain the pollinator garden and stone wall. More info and sign up HERE.

CLC at Tamworth Farmers' Market, Sat. Oct. 17, 9 AM–12 PM. UUFES parking lot. Come learn about CLC and pick up a baseball cap, t-shirt, poster, or fun water bottle sticker.

Stewardship Afternoon at Moose Meadows, Mon. Oct. 19, 12–2 PM. Moose Meadows, Chocorua. Keep field edges maintained for wildlife habitat. More info and sign up HERE.

LRCC Science Symposium, Fri. Oct. 23, 10 AM–12 PM. Squam Lakes Association, Holderness. Learn about the Lakes Region Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program and how these young folks have been helping the Lakes Region. More info HERE.

Berms & Swales Stewardship, Tues. Oct. 27, 10 AM–12 PM. The Island, Chocorua Lake. Clear out branches and leaves to keep these structures effective at filtering runoff water. More info and sign up HERE.

The loon's story

"Prior to coming to New Hampshire, I had never seen a loon. Yet when I heard their call, it was strangely familiar somehow. Despite never hearing it in the wild before, it carried a deep sense of nostalgia for me, like if the wilderness could have a song."

Keep reading...

—Olivia Jakabosky

Views from the trail

Effingham Preservation Society's 12th Annual Art Show

“New England is in my heart and this is why I paint it.” Fine Artist Leigh Schoch paints what she loves most about New England and this year, she loves Mount Chocorua! These two stunning oil on panels will be premiered at Effingham Preservation Society’s 12th Annual Gladys B. Brown Art Show: Paintings for Preservation. The opening reception is Thursday, September 10th from 6 to 8 pm with live music by Taylor Whiteside. The gallery will also be open the evening of September 24th from 6 to 8 pm with live music by Leah Morrow. There are two Saturday gallery dates, Sept. 12th and 26th from 9 to noon. More info: 603-733-6268
  

End your summer with a sparkle.

Take good care in this season of change.

CLC STAFF

Alex Moot, Executive Director
Debra Marnich, Stewardship Director

Scoop Welch, Engagement Director
Anna Paddock, Communications Director

Olivia Jakabosky, AmeriCorps Member, Land Steward

Harper Walker-West, AmeriCorps Member, Outreach & Access Steward

Troy Emerson, Seasonal Lake Patrol

Sherry Birth, Bookkeeper