Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Since 1966, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has brought visitors Nearer to Nature!
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The mission of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (SLNSC) is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. Through spectacular live animal exhibits, natural science education programs, and lake cruises, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has educated and enlightened visitors for over forty years about our natural world. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located on Route 113 in Holderness, exit 24 off I-93, and is open daily from May 1 through November 1.

We are so excited to announce that we have been awarded Gold for Best Museum and Silver for Best Family Attraction in Be...
06/24/2026

We are so excited to announce that we have been awarded Gold for Best Museum and Silver for Best Family Attraction in Best of the Lakes Region!

This recognition is meaningful as we celebrate our 60th anniversary. For six decades, our community has supported our mission to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world, and we are truly honored by these awards.

Thank you for voting for us! We look forward to many more years of joy, connection, and wonder!

Join us on June 24 from 4:00 to 7:00pm for a special Members Summer Solstice Celebration! Enjoy an exclusive evening of ...
06/23/2026

Join us on June 24 from 4:00 to 7:00pm for a special Members Summer Solstice Celebration!

Enjoy an exclusive evening of after-hours access to the Live Animal Exhibit Trail!
We'll have light refreshments and snacks available, plus members can enjoy 20% off purchases in the Howling Coyote Gift Shop!

Free to attend for current members. Not a member yet? There's still time to join and be part of the celebration! No advance registration required!

Join us at the Curry Place Gazebo in Holderness on Friday, June 26, from 10:00 to 11:30 am for a fun-filled StoryWalk fe...
06/22/2026

Join us at the Curry Place Gazebo in Holderness on Friday, June 26, from 10:00 to 11:30 am for a fun-filled StoryWalk featuring Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner!

Stroll along the channel as you read the story, then enjoy snacks, crafts, and a discovery table featuring live animals. It's a wonderful way for families to explore nature and reading!

This free community event, the StoryWalk will be open daily though the summer!

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day from all of us at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center!

Thank you to all the dads and father figures who have shown us joy and wonder!

During last week’s NH Bat Counts training and colony count, volunteers counted a total 802 bats emerging from the Scienc...
06/20/2026

During last week’s NH Bat Counts training and colony count, volunteers counted a total 802 bats emerging from the Science Center’s five bat houses! Our highest total ever!

656 bats were counted from the large bat house near the trail alone, up from about 450 last year.

Based on their size and flight patterns, we believe many may be little brown bats, a species that severely declined in New Hampshire after the arrival of white-nose syndrome. Seeing numbers like these offers an encouraging sign for local bat populations.

Our next bat count will take place on July 22 after our showing of The Invisible Mammal, a new feature-length documentary, which follows an all-woman team of biologists as they set out to save bats from the ravages of white-nose syndrome.

06/19/2026

The Loons are back!

Starting June 22, join our Loon Cruise with the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC)! Every Monday and Friday at 3:00 pm!

Learn about Loon conservation, biology, monitoring, and the work that the LPC does from one of their biologists. The cruise route changes weekly and is chosen to maximize the chance of seeing Loons.

Advance registration is required, so reserve your spot now at nhnature.org!

Monarch Monitoring Mondays are back! Join us weekly on Mondays from June 29 through August 31, from 9:00 to 10:30 am at ...
06/18/2026

Monarch Monitoring Mondays are back! Join us weekly on Mondays from June 29 through August 31, from 9:00 to 10:30 am at Pemi Oxbow Preserve in Holderness as we search for monarch eggs and caterpillars.

Participants will contribute to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, a community science initiative tracking monarch populations across North America. The data collected helps researchers better understand monarch population trends and habitat health. Attend every week or drop in when your schedule allows.

This program is free but advance registration is required at nhnature.org.

Did you know that Emma Erler, our Lead Horticulturist and Exhibit Assistant, has a weekly segment on NHPR?Every Saturday...
06/17/2026

Did you know that Emma Erler, our Lead Horticulturist and Exhibit Assistant, has a weekly segment on NHPR?

Every Saturday at 8:35 a.m., tune in to Homegrown NH to hear Emma and co-host Jessica Hunt share practical gardening tips, seasonal advice, and insights for gardeners of all experience levels.

Last week, they discussed how to tell if your plants are getting enough water!

Missed an episode? Listen to past segments at: https://www.nhpr.org/show/homegrown-nh

Save the Date!Join us at the Curry Place Gazebo in Holderness on Friday, June 26, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. for a fun-fil...
06/16/2026

Save the Date!

Join us at the Curry Place Gazebo in Holderness on Friday, June 26, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. for a fun-filled StoryWalk featuring Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner!

Stroll along the channel as you read the story, then enjoy snacks, crafts, and a discovery table featuring live animals. It's a wonderful way for families to explore nature and reading!

This free community event, the StoryWalk will be open daily though the summer!

06/15/2026

Join us on June 24 from 4:00 to 7:00pm for a special Members-Only Summer Solstice Celebration!

Enjoy an exclusive evening of after-hours access to the Live Animal Exhibit Trail! We'll have light refreshments and snacks available, plus members can enjoy 20% off purchases in the Howling Coyote Gift Shop.

Free to attend for current members. Not a member yet? There's still time to join and be part of the celebration! No advance registration required!

Address

23 Science Center Road
Holderness, NH
03245

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

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