GoodEggGrants | Projects

OBS- Museum renovation Phase I – Science in the Mountains series

The mission of Mount Washington Observatory is to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate. It serves this mission by maintaining a weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, performing weather and climate research, conducting innovative science education programs, and interpreting the heritage of the Mount Washington region.

Science in the Mountain series: The series was initiated to address the issue of climate change. The 6-part lecture series was created to examine the fundamentals of the climate change discussion by boiling the issue down to its facts, its implications and what our state and region can to address the issue.

Weather Discovery Center (WDC): The Center is a hands-on, interactive science and weather museum in the heart of North Conway Village. Welcoming roughly 18,000 people each year, the WDC is a cultural and educational asset for the town, the state of New Hampshire and the region as a whole.

The WDC was established through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1999. This stately brick building houses a science museum that brings to life the wonder of the atmosphere ‘right to your fingertips!’

The Weather Discovery Center went through a two phases of museum updates that included an exhibit of a three-dimensional relief map of the Mount Washington area with geological and glaciological background information. Another exhibit highlighted the instruments and techniques used to observe and document National Weather Service standard weather observations.

Tin Mountain-Afterschool program, Family Nature Project

The mission of the Tin Mountain Conservation Center is “to promote an appreciation of the environment among children, families, and the community through hands-on programs in the schools, at camp, and in the community and to demonstrate responsible stewardship of natural resources through land protection, research, sustainable forestry, agriculture and energy.”

The Nature Learning Center in Albany, NH boasts solar electric and solar thermal energy, local woods and craftsmanship, as well as many new environmental education programs. Many activities also are based at the 228-acre Tin Mountain Field Station in Jackson, NH. Tin Mountain owns and manages 1,200 acres of forest land in Conway, NH that is used for education, to demonstrate sustainable forest management, and to provide high-quality timber to local processing facilities.

Throughout the calendar school year, Tin Mountain provides environmental learning programs that are tailored to the individual curricula of participating schools. This sustained weekly contact with school children over the entire academic year is a unique feature of Tin Mountain’s approach to environmental education.

Every summer, Tin Mountain operates camps for ages 4 to 16 years in Fryeburg, ME, and Jackson, Albany, South Conway, and South Tamworth, NH. Younger children attend day camp while a variety of weeklong ventures to wild areas in northern New England are offered to older age groups. Nearly 300 local children and families benefit each year from summer programs.

For adults and families, Tin Mountain offers Community Nature Programs — a series of slide shows, hikes, lectures, and field trips sponsored by L.L. Bean and the Evenor Armington Foundation featuring local natural history experts and the region’s spectacular natural areas. Community programs provide a diverse array of over 60 programs each year that promote an appreciation of the environment in children, adults, and families.