E Newsletter

Junior Solar Sprint a Solar-Powered Success!

June 12, 2013

Last week, over 100 fifth- through eighth-grade students from six area schools gathered at Adams Playground in Peterborough for the Sixth Annual Monadnock Regional Junior Solar Sprint, a solar-powered model car competition sponsored by the Harris Center.  Students spent weeks designing and constructing their cars in preparation for the race.  “The kids learn about solar power, how things work using energy from the sun,” said South Meadow School teacher Dwain Hammet.  “It fits right in with our curriculum, talking about gear ratios, friction, weight versus strength.  The kids have to make decisions and problem-solve…This can stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Ribbons were awarded for Best Craftsmanship (to the car with the most careful construction); Most Innovative (to the car with the most creative design); Best Use of Technology (to the car with the most effective transmission and use of the solar panel); Kid’s Choice (to the car with the most student votes); and Speed.  You can see more pictures of the 2013 Junior Solar Sprint here, and read more about the race in this article from the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. Congratulations to all the competitors on an awesome day at the track!

Announcing the Meade Cadot Land Conservation Fund

May 20, 2013

We are excited to announce that we are halfway to our goal of raising $500,000 for the new Meade Cadot Land Conservation Fund!  This fund is a tribute to the extraordinary career of Meade Cadot, who “retired” from the Harris Center this past winter.  (We are grateful that Meade will continue to work on special projects as the Harris Center’s first Naturalist Emeritus.)  Meade served as Director of the Harris Center for 37 years and was responsible for creating the 20,000-acre Supersanctuary, a network of conserved lands spanning seven towns in the Monadnock Region.

The purpose of the Meade Cadot Land Conservation Fund is to honor Meade by permanently enhancing the Harris Center’s ability to protect and steward land.  For more information, including a more detailed description of the fund and a pledge form, please visit the Meade Cadot Fund webpage or contact Jeremy Wilson at wilson@harriscenter.org or (603) 525-3394.

Birding and Photography: The Best of Both Worlds on May 19

May 13, 2013

Don and Lillian Stokes, Hancock residents and best-selling authors, will teach you how to better identify birds and improve your bird photography, no matter what your experience level, during “Birding and Photography: The Best of Both Worlds” on Sunday, May 19 from 3 to 4:30 pm at the Harris Center.   This lively and informative talk, illustrated with Lillian’s bird photos, will be followed by a book signing of their newest pair of books, The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region and Western Region.

The Stokes have been prolific writers and award-winning educators for over 30 years.  The Stokes Field Guide To The Birds of North America is the most complete photographic guide to birds ever published and contains over 3,400 stunning photos, many taken by Lillian.  Don and Lillian were also the creators, producers, and hosts of the PBS television series Stokes Birds at Home, which was seen by 40 million viewers.

For more information, contact Eric Masterson at (603) 525-3394 or masterson@harriscenter.org. Cosponsored by the Harris Center and the Toadstool Bookstore.

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