Summer in New Hampshire is an experience I will cherish and hopefully get to enjoy many more times in the future. After having the opportunity to live in New Hampshire the summer of 2021, and again this summer of 2022, I cannot get enough of it. I am from Colorado, and summers there are quite different from here. Where we have dry, hot weather, NH has the humid, sticky kind. Where we have recreation in the Rocky Mountains, NH has beach and lake days. Something Colorado doesn’t have that I am getting used to are the loons. I am finally accustomed to hearing their somber calls and seeing them on the water (more often than, not right in the direction we are heading). Before coming here in May, I had never seen a loon. Now I can say I have not only seen quite a few, but also have had the opportunity to be woken by their crazy calls while camping on Bowman and Chamberlain Reynolds. I am so excited to see what this summer brings and truly experience life on Squam Lake.
Toad on Chamberlain Reynolds!
I am grateful to officially be a trained Lakes Region Conservation Corps Squam Lakes Association member. I now have a chance to get on my feet, relax, and enjoy Holderness. One of my favorite things so far about working here this summer has been camping. The campsites are gorgeous and the sunsets from the islands and Chamberlain Reynolds are breathtaking. While camping at Chamberlain Reynolds a few weeks back, I saw my first New Hampshire toad. There is so much wildlife to be seen if you just have a keen eye and look. I definitely need to improve my campfire cooking skills, I don’t want to survive on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches alone for 3 days again!
The second week of June I got my first chance to dive for milfoil, an invasive aquatic plant that is plaguing the Lakes Region. We went out to Bennett Cove, up in the northern part of the lake. We had our work cut out for us, and were kept company by big bass and catfish, curious about what we were doing in their home. Looking up to see a catfish staring you in the face causes quite the fright! The following day, we went to Grapevine Cove, where the milfoil was meager. I guess the past Squam Lakes Association AmeriCorps members were too good at their jobs. I am so excited to have many more dive days, I hope to see my first snapping turtle underwater one of these times… ideally not anywhere near my fingers and toes though.
Setting out to restock firewood on the Islands.
My last month out here has given me the opportunity to experience many firsts and practice skills I never knew I was going to use. One of those includes bundling firewood, which I have officially mastered with the bonus of a nicely knotted handle. I have had the opportunity to split firewood with the log cutter (very fun), as well as with an ax (even more fun). In addition to those tasks I have gotten to lop, carry very heavy beams up Old Bridle path, drive boats, and clean composting toilets! Everyday has been an adventure and I can tell time is flying by; it’s already July! Before we know it, it will be October and everyone will be figuring out their next steps before winter officially creeps into New England.
While I don’t know exactly what will come to me in the next few months here and after my AmeriCorps stint, I am certain of one thing - I do not want this to be my last summer in New England. I may have to return to Colorado for some time, but I am certain I will be back here to hear the loon’s calls once again.
Sunset from Chamberlain Reynolds Memorial Forest.
Eva spent her first New Hampshire summer on the coast with Blue Ocean Society. You can learn more about Eva here!