Feb. snowshoe tracking event geared to youngsters

Parents and kids both having fun at a recent 'Moosies' event. (Courtesy/Emily Lord)

MILTON MILLS - Moose Mountains Regional Greenways and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust will offer a kids' snowshoe tracking activity on Feb. 24.

The children's event is part of MMRG's new program of nature-oriented events for families called 'MOOSE-ies for Families'.

'Little Trackers' will take place at Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills with leaders Emily Lord of UNH Cooperative Extension and Middleton Pastor Tom Gardner and help from MMRG staff and volunteers.

Lord is Stewardship Outreach Coordinator for UNH Cooperative Extension and a member of MMRG's Board of Directors. Her passion for wildlife tracking began as a winter camp counselor for Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia.

In addition to serving as Pastor at Middleton Gospel Chapel, Pastor Gardner teaches the Middleton Nature Club after-school program. He captivated children and adults alike at MMRG's Family Bonfire Storytime event last October with his stories of real-life strange and creepy organisms. Both Lord and Gardner trained as NH Coverts Project volunteers and serve on MMRG's Education Outreach Committee, which designed MMRG's new MOOSE-ies for Families program.

MOOSE-ies for Families creates opportunities for families to have fun together outdoors while learning about nature, in order to foster future generations of conservationists. Anticipating the upcoming event, Pastor Tom said, "Little Trackers is a chance to introduce kids to the animals that share our community and show them how to read the signs and stories that wildlife leave behind, like footprints, food, and much more." Emily Lord added, "The first MOOSE-ies for Families event was so much fun, we're really looking forward to this next one!"

The event is planned for 10-11:30 a.m. Although it is designed as a snowshoe activity while looking for tracks in the snow, trip leaders confirm it will take place even if snow is scarce. In case of rain, however, it will be postponed to February 25, 1-2:30 p.m. Children of all ages are welcome with their families and loaner snowshoes for both kids and adults will be available. The outing is free for MMRG member families (see below) but pre-registration is required. For more information, directions, and to pre-register, call MMRG's Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info.