July, being the peak of summer, has proven to be the busiest month here so far. It’s nice being able to see how more and more people from the community, as well as out of state visitors, are taking advantage of all that the Grey Rocks Conservation Area has to offer, whether it’s fishing early in the morning or going out on a kayak for a paddle. I’ve gotten to see families having picnics together, old friends taking a morning stroll, and many friendly dogs enjoying the outdoors! During my time lake hosting at Grey Rocks, I also get to occasionally chat with some frequent visitors or even those who are just dropping by and seeing Newfound Lake for the first time. These friendly faces are a highlight of my weekend days lake hosting, and it’s always nice meeting people who have grown just as fond of the area as I am.
As part of our service, we lead monthly “Guided Explorations” that focus on educating the public on conservation and wildlife while also providing a fun activity or excursion. We brainstormed these events quite early on in our service term, and it was exciting to finally put them into action. My first guided exploration was a “Turtle Trek”, where participants joined me for a guided paddle to look for and learn about local turtle species. It went better than I could have expected! All the participants were enthusiastic and we had a great time pointing out turtles from our kayaks and canoes. I also got to remember just how much I enjoy doing research and learning about the wildlife that live in a new area, and I’m glad I can use these guided explorations not only to increase my knowledge, but also pass it along to others. Not only was I able to help teach a little bit about the seven turtle species of New Hampshire, but I also learned a great deal about New Hampshire just from talking with everyone who came while we were out on the water.
I can also feel myself growing more confident in the skills I have picked up thus far, especially when it comes to carrying them out independently or without the presence of our program manager to guide us. For example, a few weeks ago I was tasked with taking part in the Loon Census organized by the Loon Preservation Committee. The Committee relies on volunteers to go out on varying bodies of water in New Hampshire and count the loons they see for a single hour of the morning. Although it’s a simple job, it assists them in an important way: keeping track of how the loon populations of New Hampshire are doing. While I was more than happy to help, I had never driven or docked the pontoon boat by myself before, and of course my brain helped conjure up some worst case scenarios as to what could happen out on the water. As the morning began and my solo boating skills were put to the test, my nerves dissipated altogether and I got to enjoy the quiet, peaceful morning alone on Newfound Lake. Even though I only saw one loon during the actual census hour, I still rank that morning as one of my favorite moments on Newfound.
As August approaches, the days don’t appear to be getting any less busy; we definitely have a lot planned for the rest of the summer months. It’s a bit overwhelming to think that we’re almost halfway through our service term, but for now I’m just trying enjoy my time here and cherish the memories I’ve made so far. I can’t wait to make new ones as the second half of our term commences!
