Education & Training Opportunities
At NHACC we offer guidance and training to our conservation commissioners on a variety of issues including conservation funding, developing natural resource inventory, and many other topics. We help educate our members with programs like the on-line Lunch & Learn presentations, Regional Roundtables and our electronic newsletter, NHACC Enews.
GIS Tools for Wetlands Assessment
Get ready for an interactive introduction to NHDES online GIS mapping tools. Join NHDES Mary Ann Tilton and Emma Berger as they unveil the Land Resources Management Permit Planning Tool (LRMPPT), to assist in wetland assessment. In this interactive session, you'll: Uncover the powerful features of the LRMPPT, ideal for desktop site reviews and screenings. Learn how to effectively use online tools to gather vital wetland functional assessment and values information. Engage with these tools both before and during the class to maximize your learning experience. This presentation will showcase the immense power and versatility of these tools, enabling you to: Evaluate potential natural resource functions and values. Identify potential impacts on wetland functions. Spot local restoration or conservation priorities within municipalities.
Beyond Boundaries; Collaborative Large Scale Land Management
Wednesday, September 17 12 noon
Join NHACC, UNH Extension, and Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail to learn more about the benefits of managing land across property boundaries to benefit wildlife and your community. UNH Extension Forester, Steven Roberge will explain the advantage of landscape-scale management and how to protect natural resources by expanding the scope of stewardship beyond boundaries. Michael Nerrie from Distant Hill Gardens will highlight different examples of what can happen when a community works together. This program will also provide an opportunity to brainstorm ways your community could develop a collaborative land management strategy!
WETLANDS ASSESSMENT FIELD STUDY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 from 1:00 to 4:30 pmLocke Road Concord
This field study session will focus on learning how to visit a site and identify basic wetland functions and services of diverse wetland types, including forested wetlands, marsh, scrub-shrub, and riparian floodplain wetlands. The program will provide participants with the opportunity to visit a site and provide an introduction to wetlands field assessment. This session will include 4 field stations that feature wetland functions and benefits. Wetland functions demonstrated include; wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, flood storage, sediment trapping, nutrient retention, and educational potential. Each station will be 40 minutes, and all groups will rotate through 4 field stations during the training. REGISTER HERE
TRAIL SKILLS
FRIDAY, October 3 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
This hands on workshop will focus on trail analysis to help trail builders and maintainers develop a “trail eye” and empower them to make real time decisions to prioritize trail issues. The workshop will start in the classroom with a “meet and greet” followed by a ½ hour discussion of the fundamentals of trail design such as identifying fall-line vs sidehill trails, fundamental features, slope and grades, the ½ rule, common issues of different styles of trail, and how trails evolve over time. In addition, this workshop will identify trail location and design features that contribute to erosion and drainage issues and discuss methods to minimize these impacts and protect natural resources. Join the AMC Trail Department staff in this workshop dedicated to sharing experiences and highlighting common strategies to minimize the overuse of recreational sites. REGISTER HERE
Lunch & Learn Webinars
Recycling 101, September 23 at noon on Zoom
Join Reagan Bissonnette, Executive Director of NH Recycles, to learn more about solid waste and recycling across the country and recycling in New Hampshire. What happens to materials when they are recycled? What challenges and possible solutions does New Hampshire face when it comes to solid waste and recycling? Bring your questions and learn what steps New Hampshire residents can take to make a difference. REGISTER Here.
Foam Recycling Reimagined: A Regional Collaboration, October 8 at noon on Zoom
Join Meghan Theriault, Gilford Public Works Director, for an inside look at the New Hampshire Regional Foam Recycling Program — a first-of-its-kind hub-and-spoke model built on the power of community collaboration. Learn how nearly 30 towns across the region are participating in this innovative initiative, where municipalities and dedicated volunteers work hand-in-hand to collect and densify polystyrene foam. Discover how this recycled material is transformed into new consumer and industrial products, and explore how your community can get involved in closing the loop on foam waste. REGISTER HERE
Clothing Waste, Conservation & Community, October 22 at noon on Zoom
Conservation is not just about protecting land and water. It is also about using resources wisely. Clothing waste and clothing insecurity are closely linked, and both are growing challenges for communities across New Hampshire. In this session, Apparel Impact will introduce the Municipal Impact Program, a unique initiative that helps towns reduce landfill waste, support residents in need, and create meaningful environmental and social benefits. Learn how simple, local actions can lead to real conservation results. This is a practical and community-focused solution for turning textile waste into lasting value. REGISTER HERE
ZERO Waste & Reuse Strategies That Work, November 5, at noon on Zoom
Join the NH Network Plastic Working Group, a volunteer organization focused on reducing plastic waste and the toxic chemicals associated with plastics, to learn more about reducing waste in NH. This online program will share case studies from cities around the country that have effectively increased municipal waste diversion rates through strategic plans and policies, including the impact on disposal costs and how Conservation Commissions can contribute to the effort. REGISTER HERE.
Handbooks and Guidance Documents
We publish the Handbook for New Hampshire’s Municipal Conservation Commissions, and the NH Municipal Conservation Fund Guidebook. We keep our members up-to-date with monthly E-newsletter with a current list of training opportunities. We provide wetlands guidance documents and sample templates for policies and procedures. Contact the NHACC office if you are looking for examples from other conservation commissions.