As I drive up to the nature preserve, I look out the window for the boundary markers and the familiar The Nature Conservancy sign. Today, I’m set to complete official inspections of several preserves. During these inspections, I walk along portions or the entirety of the nature preserve boundary, looking for evidence of encroachment and observing the condition of the property. The preserve I am inspecting this morning is the Garland Pond Preserve, located in Carroll County, NH.
As I spot the Nature Conservancy preserve sign, I pull over and park the truck. I make sure the map is ready on FieldMaps, then gather my backpack and keys before stepping out. Standing at the edge of the preserve, I scan the surroundings, weighing my options. Deciding to head straight toward the lake, I set off in that direction. Walking down into the preserve, the slope from the road is steep, with many boulders jutting out from the ground. I hop from one to the next, dodging spider webs strung between branches. I can glimpse the lake through gaps in the leaves and tree trunks. The preserve is quiet; I can only hear the occasional bird song or the sound of a car driving past on the road where I parked.
I reach the water's edge and look out onto the lake. On the far side, I see a kayaker casually paddling out to the center. I continue walking, turning to my right, and following the lake’s edge to the next boundary corner. As I walk, I continue making observations: I watch wood frogs leap to avoid my path and hear the trees around me bend and groan as the wind pushes through. I continue my trek along the boundary, following from one blaze to another. On the other side of the lake, I begin to follow the walking path rather than continuing on the boundary line. As I walk, I notice a parked vehicle and assume it must belong to the kayaker I saw earlier.
I continue down the path a ways before looping around and heading back. This time, the car has moved; it's running, and a kayak is on the roof rack. As I walk around the side of the car to continue on my way, I see the man startle as I pass his window. I quickly offer a light apology and a friendly laugh as I wave. The man relaxes, rolls down his window, and laughs, saying, “You scared me.” He begins to tell me about his paddle on the lake and how much he appreciates the lake’s accessibility. He is a local who has visited Garland Pond many times to kayak and enjoy being in nature. Hearing what he has to say fills me with a sense of pride and reinforces the importance of public engagement in conservation efforts. Interactions like these highlight how meaningful it is to connect with the community and understand their appreciation for the work we do. This encounter puts a bit of pep in my step as I wrap up my inspection of Garland Pond.
I hop back into the truck and find the directions to the next preserve I will inspect today. After locating Stoneham Corners Preserve on FieldMaps and inputting the address into GPS, I drive to the small preserve in Brookfield, NH.
Arriving at Stoneham Corners, I nearly drive past and miss it. Pulling over and parking the truck, I check the map. The preserve is small—less than 20 acres—and directly across from several houses. Given its size, I can easily walk the entire boundary and explore the interior, so I set off to do just that. The preserve is a charming spot, and I’m excited to explore. I spot a porcupine climbing a tree and carefully take a wide path to avoid it. Continuing on, I cross a stream flowing through the property and approach the far end of the preserve. There, I see delicate white wildflowers in bloom—ghost flowers or ghost pipes (Monotropa uniflora). Beyond the stream, I reach a boundary corner where a small sunny clearing catches my eye. As I approach, a fawn with its white spots startles and darts into the neighboring property.
Finishing my walk around the preserve, I head back towards the truck. As I walk past the houses across the street, I see a lady approaching. I greet her with a smile, and she asks if I am with The Nature Conservancy. After explaining that I am an LRCC AmeriCorps member and what I was doing at the preserve, she begins to thank me. She tells me that she loves the preserve across from her home and enjoys walking there and listening to the birds. She points to the side of the road where the preserve boundary is and mentions that she often picks up litter that ends up in the ditch. We chat for a while, standing in the road between her house and Stoneham Corners Preserve. Hearing her words, I can see how much she cares for this property. I thank her for looking after the preserve. She offers me water and snacks, which I politely decline. I bid her farewell, feeling even more positive after speaking with the kind lady across the road.
Before May, I never realized that my favorite part of being an LRCC member would be interacting with the public. Now, it is something I look forward to each time I am in the field. Interacting with the community not only reinforces the value of our conservation work but also makes the experience more rewarding. It’s truly exciting to see how much the public values and wants to learn about the conservation work of LRCC and The Nature Conservancy.
Cassie is half-term member serving with The Nature Conservancy. In her free time, you can find her paddling on a lake or reading a book in a local cafe. Learn more about her here!