Category: Cover Stories

Compiled by Matt Ingersoll, Angie Sykeny and Amy Diaz
[email protected]

Spring is awesome.

Sure, it can be blizzardy or flower-filled, muddy or suddenly strangely summer-like, but the stretch between mid-March and Memorial Day is packed with fun, from arts and music to the changing outdoor offerings and food events like NH Craft Beer Week in early April. Here are 63 reasons to get excited about spring.

• The 2023 New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival starts on Thursday, March 16, and runs through Sunday, March 26, with screenings at locations in Manchester, Bedford, Keene, Concord, Portsmouth and Hooksett — to be followed by bonus weeks, March 27 through April 16, when four of the feature films shown in theaters will be available for streaming at home. See nhjewishfilmfestival.com for film trailers, tickets (individual and multi-film packages) and all the details, and check out our story in this issue.

• The annual Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament, originally scheduled for late January outdoors, has been postponed to Friday, March 17, through Sunday, March 19, and will take place inside the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). Go to blackicepondhockey.com to view the full schedule.

• When you need a break from emails and spreadsheets throughout your work day, head to the New Hampshire Audubon’s Manchester Peregrine Cam to check out the progress of the breeding season for the peregrine falcons living at 1750 Elm St. in Manchester. A visit to the cams (find the links at nhaudubon.org/education/birds-and-birding/peregrine-cam/) on March 9 showed a falcon surveying downtown from the perch. The local peregrine falcon pair in Manchester stays around all winter, according to Chris Martin, conservation biologist at New Hampshire Audubon. The breeding season “really heats up in March. Expect to see eggs appear beginning around the last week in March and hatching to start at the end of April. Early June is when the youngsters will start flying,” Martin said in an email. The Peregrine Cam at Brady Sullivan Tower is operated by Peregrine Networks, an internet services provider based in Dover, Martin said. During the 2022 season five peregrine falcons hatched and fledged from the nest (a photo on the Audubon’s website showed the five chicks newly banded on May 20), according to the Audubon.

• Have fun with versatile fashion pieces that can be modified for spring’s warmer and cooler days, like an oversized blazer. “An oversized blazer is the perfect option to put over thick sweaters now, that will also be perfect when worn as a spring coat over tanks and shorter sleeve options once the weather warms up,” Elyssa Alfieri, owner of Lilise Designer Resale in Concord. Another tip, which comes from Ashley Lyons, owner of Chic Boutique Consignments in Bedford, is to layer with spring and summer dresses until the weather is warm enough to wear them on their own. “With the help of a good tight, bootie or boot, and a leather moto jacket or cardigan, you can take full advantage of your warmer weather pieces even in cooler months,” she said.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) is open to visitors Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live animals and exhibits, including a reptile room, nature store and raptor mews, which are home to a bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, barn owl and barred owls. The center also features 3 miles of mostly forested trails, pollinator gardens, grassland fields and access to the Great Turkey Pond shoreline, which are free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. Call 224-9909 or visit nhaudubon.org.

• You may still (maybe? possibly?) be able to go ice skating outdoors on some city and town ponds that offer it, depending on the current weather conditions. But regardless of what it’s doing outside, public ice skating indoors at the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) remains available through Thursday, March 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $6 per person (free for kids ages 3 and under) and skate rentals are available in the pro shop for $6. See concordnh.gov. Other local spots offering indoor skating include The Icenter (60 Lowell Road, Salem) — this month the arena will be open for about one hour and 20 minutes each time, on Saturday, March 18, at 4 p.m.; and Sunday, March 19, at 2:15 p.m.; as well as on Saturday, March 25, at 4 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 26, at 2:15 p.m. The cost is $8 per person (cash only), and free for kids ages 4 and under. Visit icentersalem.com.

• St. Patrick’s Day is Friday, March 17 — check out a rundown of food and drink specials at area bars and restaurants on page 25 in the March 9 issue of the Hippo. You’ll find details on where to go to get that ceremonious plate of corned beef and cabbage with a glass of green beer, as well as all kinds of St. Paddy’s Day-related festivities from live Celtic music to comedy shows. In this week’s issue Michael Witthaus takes a look at some pub-based celebrations; find that story on page 34.

• Firefighters and police officers from across New Hampshire will renew their friendly rivalry for charity during the Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship, which returns for a 15th year to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester) on Saturday, March 18. The puck drops at 1 p.m., and proceeds from the game benefit the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD). Tickets are $16 in advance online and $20 on game day for attendees ages 6 and up (kids ages 5 and under are free). See chadhockey.org.

• Springtime means, in many cases, the return of local seasonal eateries — ice cream stands like Sundae Drive (346 Route 13, Brookline) and The Big 1 (185 Concord St., Nashua), for instance, opened for the season in late February, while King Kone (336 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) and Memories Ice Cream (95 Exeter Road, Kingston) are each set to reopen on Saturday, March 18. Clam Haven (94 Rockingham Road, Derry), known for its fried seafood specials, was scheduled to open for the season on Wednesday, March 15, and Cremeland Drive In (250 Valley St., Manchester) is also set to begin its season soon.

• This coming weekend — Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19 — is also New Hampshire Maple Weekend, when sugarhouses and farms across the Granite State welcome visitors for tours, demonstrations, tastings and other family-friendly activities, all revolving around local maple syrup production. Learn how sap is collected and trees are tapped, and enjoy samples of everything from maple syrup to fudge, roasted nuts, ice cream and more, depending on where you go. See the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association website at nhmapleproducers.com for a full list of participating sugarhouses. Find more coverage of Maple Weekend on page 26.

• Maple Weekend also means the return of the annual Kearsarge Maple Festival, a regional event featuring two days of local sap house tours, pancakes, a syrup tasting contest and more. A pancake breakfast and raffle will be held on Saturday, March 18, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the United Church of Warner (43 E. Main St.), with proceeds going toward the town’s 250th birthday celebration committee (Warner will turn 250 in 2024). The cost is $12 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7 to 12 and free for kids under 6, and the breakfast will feature plain and blueberry pancakes, waffles, home fries, baked beans and sausage. The maple syrup tasting contest happens on Sunday, March 19, from noon to 3 p.m. in front of Town Hall (5 E. Main St.). See warnerhistorical.org or kearsargechamber.org for more details on festival happenings.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com, 483-5623) is celebrating Maple Month with its Maple Express event featuring a ride to the sugar shack, where you can watch the syrup making process, get a look at tree tapping, meet farm animals and taste syrup on silver dollar pancakes, according to the website. Admission costs $22 per person. The Maple Express continues this weekend — Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19 — and next (Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26), with entry times starting at 10 a.m. On Saturday, March 18, the farm will hold Sugar Shack Live, with entry times from 5 to 6 p.m.; the evening will feature live music from Morgan-Nelson (Dan Morgan and Lynda Nelson), horse-drawn and tractor rides, a visit to the sugar shack and a campfire (BYO marshmallows for toasting or hot dogs for roasting), the website said. Tickets to this evening event cost $29 per person.

• It may not look like it outside at the moment, but the first day of spring is Monday, March 20. For many — er, or at least those of us who aren’t already year-round iced coffee drinkers — this means the kickoff to iced coffee season! Pinard Street Bakery (1 Pinard St., Manchester; inside Charlie’s) is one shop celebrating spring with several specialty coffee flavors all month long in March, including Scout’s Samoa (coconut with a caramel and mocha swirl) and In Bloom (blueberry, lavender, melted raw honey and white chocolate swirl). See pinardstreetbakery.business.site for their full list of spring-inspired coffee flavors.

• Catch some action on the ice when the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Championship comes to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) Thursday, March 23, and Saturday, March 25. See the arena’s website for times (which are to be announced) and tickets.

• The Educational Farm at Joppa Hill (174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford) will host a Cacao Ceremony with Empress Alchemy on Saturday, March 25, from 7 to 8 p.m. In this immersive and interactive experience, held outside around a firepit, participants will be served ceremonial grade cacao in the form of “hot chocolate” while being led through a series of guided meditation exercises. Dress warm and bring a blanket to sit on and a journal to write in. The event costs $35 and is open to participants ages 16 and up. Visit theeducationalfarm.org.

• Catch a show at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry), which has a full lineup of live acts scheduled throughout the season. They host Blues Brothers The Next Generation on Saturday, March 25, for instance, as well as their next Tupelo Nights of Comedy on Friday, March 24, and Friday, April 14. Visit tupelomusichall.com to view the full concert schedule and to buy tickets.

• The Manchester St. Patrick’s Parade returns on Sunday, March 26, kicking off at noon at the intersection of Salmon and Elm streets in the Queen City and continuing south on Elm. Admission is free, and shuttle services will run from 10 a.m. to noon from the corner of Central and Chestnut streets to the parade’s assembly area. See saintpatsnh.com. The parade immediately follows the Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle, a road race organized by Millennium Running starting and finishing in front of Veterans Memorial Park (723 Elm St.). Visit millenniumrunning.com.

• McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way in Manchester; mcintyreskiarea.com, 622-6159) plans to wrap up its season of skiing, snowboarding and tubing on Sunday, March 26 (see the website for hours), according to an email. On Saturday, March 18, the Pond Skim and Hawaiian Festival will run from 1 to 3 p.m., with competition starting at 1 p.m., according to the website. “End the season with a splash and join us at the pond. Wear your most festive attire as we celebrate the end of an amazing season! Prizes awarded for biggest splash, best costume and best skim!” the website said.

• You voted and we counted. In mere weeks, Hippo will present the Best of 2023 readers poll results. Find out who fellow readers picked as the best pizza purveyor, beer brewer or cupcake creator. Keep your eyes on Hippo newsstands for that issue.

• Get into birding by focusing on the Eastern Bluebird. The New Hampshire Audubon will hold “NestWatch Volunteer Training: Bluebird Monitoring” on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Massabesic Audubon Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; 668-2045, nhaudubon.org) where there are “almost 100 monitored nest boxes,” according to the website. The workshop costs $5; register by March 30. Learn how to be a volunteer monitor (monitors usually spend about an hour or two weekly from April to August to record data in their sections, according to the website) or just learn more about the Eastern Bluebird. The workshop features inside and outside sessions.

• The Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) will host a guided full moon hike on Saturday, April 1, at 7 p.m. During the hike, a naturalist will share moon facts and lore and talk about how animals are adapted for the night and how they prepare for seasonal changes. The cost is $22, and registration in advance is required. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Join the Franco-American Centre for a traditional sugaring off celebration on Saturday, April 1, at the Oscar Barn Wedding Venue (191 W. River Road, Hooksett). The event will feature a maple syrup demonstration from Chisholm Farm from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a traditional cabane à sucre (sugar shack) dinner served family-style from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and music and dancing from 7:30 to 10 p.m., featuring a live performance by the Reel McCoys. The cost is $25 for adults, $15 for kids ages 5 to 12 and free for kids under 5. Visit facnh.com to register.

• The craft fair scene ramps up again in the spring. On Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Capital City Craft Festival will bring more than 125 artisans to the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord), according to castleberryfairs.com, where you can purchase tickets ($8 for adults, under 14 get in free; one admission is good for both days). Tickets will also be sold at the door. The spread of arts and crafts includes folk art, candles, apparel, metal art, fiber arts, personal care items, jewelry, glass and more as well as specialty foods, the website said.

• Conversations with Concord Authors returns for the second year to the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) on Wednesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. Laura Knoy, formerly the host of New Hampshire Public Radio’s The Exchange, will host a discussion with local authors including Kathleen D. Bailey, Sarah McCraw Crow, Dan Lawton, Paul Brogan and Margaret Porter. Admission is free. Visit ccanh.com/show/conversations-with-concord-authors-2023.

• Enjoy a First Thursday Hike at The Fells (456 Route 103, Newbury) on Thursday, April 6, at 11 a.m., with landscape director Nick Scheu and education director Simon Parsons. No reservations are necessary, and non-members are welcome with the regular admission price ($10 for adults), $8 for seniors and students, $4 for kids and teens ages 6 to 17 and free for kids ages 5 and under, or $25 per family of two adults and 2 or more children under 6. Visit thefells.org.

• The nationally touring Arts & Dance Company’s Hispanic Flamenco Ballet Ensemble will perform a matinee show at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Thursday, April 6. The show celebrates the art and culture of Latin America and Spain, featuring flamenco dancing in an immersive experience. Visit theaudi.org/events/matinee-arts-dance-company-on-tour-presents-flamenco-ballet.

• Join Etz Hayim Synagogue (1 ½ Hood Road, Derry) for a Passover Second Seder on Thursday, April 6, at 6 p.m. The meal will be catered by Levine’s Kosher Market and will include roast chicken, kugel, carrot tzimmes, chicken soup with matzo balls and gefilte fish and costs $49 for adults and $29 for kids ages 10 and under. Reserve online at etzhayim.org by March 26.

• New Hampshire Craft Beer Week, an annual 10-day celebration of the Granite State’s craft brewing industry, returns from Thursday, April 6, through Saturday, April 15. The campaign is presented by the New Hampshire Brewers Association and is meant to coincide with National Beer Day (April 7). Check back at nhbrewers.org or follow Craft Beer Week’s Facebook page @nhcraftbeerweek for updates on ongoing events and happenings as they become available.

• The Derry Author Fest will bring a day of books, speakers and panels to the Derry Public Library (64 E Broadway in Derry; 432-6140) on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Author Ann Dávila Cardinal kicks off the day with a keynote on “Writing from the In Between: Navigating Identity as a Writer Between Worlds,” according to a press release. Find the lineup of speakers and more at derryauthorfest.wordpress.com.

• The 14th annual Our Promise to Nicholas Indoor Maze to the Egg Hunt returns to New Hampshire Sportsplex (68 Technology Drive, Bedford) on Saturday, April 8, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. There will be 15,000 plastic colored eggs filled with candy and prizes on the indoor fields for children to collect. Other festivities will include face painting, photos with the Easter Bunny and other mascots, games, DJ music, balloon creations, a bake sale, raffle baskets and an auction. Tickets cost $8 per person, $28 for four to seven people or $56 for eight people if purchased online in advance, and $10 per person at the door. Visit ourpromisetonicholas.com.

• Next year — April 8, 2024 — parts of New Hampshire will be in the “path of totality for a total solar eclipse! This hasn’t happened since 1959 and won’t happen again until 2079!” according to the website for the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827), which has started the countdown for the big event. On Saturday, April 8 (of this year), the Center will hold an “Eclipse Countdown Kick Off Event” from 1 to 4 p.m. with presentations, eclipse giveaways, solar telescope viewing with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and pizza, according to the website. Admission prices are as usual: $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and students 13 through college, $9 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for children ages 2 and under.

• Get your orders in for a special pastry tray sale being offered by St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1160 Bridge St., Manchester). The cost is $35 per tray, which includes six pieces of baklava, six kourambiethes (powdered sugar cookies) and koulourakia (butter cookies), and orders must be placed by April 5 for pickup on Friday, April 14 (Greek Easter is observed on Sunday, April 16, this year). Contact parishioner Barb George at [email protected] or at 925-330-9966 to place your order.

• And while you’re at it, join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) in welcoming the Easter Bunny by air travel on Saturday, April 1 — he’ll arrive at the museum at 11 a.m. via the student-built RV-12iS aircraft after a planned low pass over Runaway 35. After landing, he’ll taxi under a water cannon arch courtesy of the Manchester Airport Fire Department, greeting families in front of the museum, posing for pictures and giving out candy (courtesy of Granite State Candy Shoppe). The event will take place rain or shine, and the museum will be open for visitors, with regular admission charges applying. See nhahs.org.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com, 483-5623) will hold its Egg-City Egg Hunt on the weekends of Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, and Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9. Pick a time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (morning only on Easter Sunday, April 9) and kids ages 2 to 12 can hunt for candy-filled eggs, meet the Easter Bunny, meet farm animals and new spring baby animals, take a horse-drawn or tractor train ride and more, according to the website. Tickets cost $22 per person and will only be available online.

• New Hampshire poets and poetry lovers will have all kinds of opportunities throughout April to celebrate National Poetry Month, with readings, workshops, contests and more, spearheaded by state Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary in partnership with NHPR, NH Humanities Council, Poetry Society of NH and others. Peary will present a program on mindful writing techniques at Goffstown Public Library (2 High St., Goffstown) on Tuesday, April 4, and as an online event on Friday, April 14; a poetry reading at NHTI (31 College Drive, Concord) on Wednesday, April 12; a celebration of life for the poet Charles Simic at UNH (105 Main St., Durham) on Wednesday, April 19; and a teen poetry contest with Under the Madness Magazine (underthemadnessmagazine.com). See Peary’s blog, newhampshirepoetlaureate.blogspot.com, for updates on Poetry Month happenings.

• It’s almost time for baseball! The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are due to hold their home opener of the 2023 season on Tuesday, April 11, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) against the Portland Sea Dogs. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m., starting a six-game homestand that continues through Sunday, April 16. See nhfishercats.com for the full schedule of games, which runs through mid-September this year.

• Through the New Hampshire Astronomical Society’s Library Telescope Program, you can check out a telescope from your local library just as you would a book. April is full of astrological events, including the best day of the year to view Mercury on Tuesday, April 11, a hybrid solar eclipse the night of Wednesday, April 19, and a meteor shower expected to peak between Friday, April 21, and Sunday, April 23. Visit nhastro.com for a list of local libraries participating in the telescope program and to connect with a New Hampshire Astronomical Society member who can provide information about upcoming astrological events and tips on how to have your own skywatch.

• It’s Reba Live in Concert! Reba McEntire comes to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) on Thursday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. with special guests Terri Clark and The Isaacs. Tickets start at $49.75.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) presents its annual gala celebration on Friday, April 14, from 6 to 10 p.m. The evening will include a curated fine art auction, a reception with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet dinner and a fundraising program highlighting the museum’s Art & Wellness programs. Attire is formal. Tickets cost $350 per person, and tables can be purchased for eight people. Visit currier.org/event/gala-celebration or call 669-6144

• The annual Made in New Hampshire “Try It & Buy It” Expo, presented by Business NH Magazine and Events NH, returns for a 26th year to the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.) from Friday, April 14, through Sunday, April 16. Show hours are from 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, when attendees will have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of products and services made right here in the Granite State. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors ages 65 and over and for military service members, $3 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2. Visit madeinnhexpo.com or follow the event page on Facebook @madeinnhexpo to see the full list of this year’s participating vendors.

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra presents its annual “Drawn to the Music” concert on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center at Salem High School (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem). The program will include music from Copland’s Appalachian Spring, as well as Rossini’s Overture “Barber of Seville,” Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Ginastera’s “Estancia.” The concert is a collaborative arts project for which elementary school students from across New Hampshire submitted their original artwork inspired by the featured music. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $8 for students and $5 for Salem School District students. Visit nhphil.org.

• After the Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) production of the musical Little Women wraps up this weekend (March 17 through March 19 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday) the next big show on the schedule is the musical Rent, which opens Friday, April 21, and runs through Sunday, May 14. As with Little Women, shows run Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. along with a show on Thursday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for adults cost $44 to $51, based on seating ($35 for 60+ and veterans; $30 for ages 6 to 12).

• The Anselmian Abbey Players of Saint Anselm College in Manchester will perform Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the college’s Dana Center for the Humanities (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) with showtimes on Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $8 for youth and students. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

• Celebrate the joy of flipping through albums to find new-to-you tunes at Record Store Day on Saturday, April 22. Participating shops will have specialty releases (CDs, vinyl, cassettes, etc.) from a variety of artists. Find a complete list of the offerings this year at recordstoreday.com, where you can also find a list of area participating stores including Music Connection in Manchester; Metro City Records in Manchester; Pitchfork Records in Concord; Bull Moose in Salem, and Newbury Comics in Manchester and Nashua.

• Celebrate Earth Day — Saturday, April 22 — by getting out in the fresh air. Millennium Running’s Stonyfield Earth Day 5K & Fair starts at 9 a.m. and will feature a 3.1-mile course that starts and finishes in Londonderry’s West Soccer Complex (90 West Road), just steps away from the Stonyfield Earth Day Fair, which will include local vendors, live music, games and more. Visit millenniumrunning.com.

• The New Hampshire Audubon will celebrate Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, with a celebration at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; 668-2045, nhaudubon.org) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $15 for a family of four and pre-registration is recommended, according to the website. The day will include guided walks, storytimes, live reptile meet-and-greets, live raptor presentations, crafts, a master gardener available for answering questions, food sales from the Walking Gourmet Food Truck and more.

• Head to Hampstead Congregational Church (61 Main St.) on Saturday, April 29, from noon to 5 p.m. for Hampstead Eats, the third annual food truck festival held outdoors on the church grounds. There will be a variety of options from local food trucks, along with live music, and a portion of the event proceeds goes toward the New Hampshire Food Bank. See “Hampstead Eats” on Facebook for updates as they become available.

• Among Symphony NH’s spring concert lineup is “Momentum! 100 Year Anniversary Concert” on Saturday, April 29, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com). According to symphonynh.org, the symphony “marks the anniversary of its very first concert to the day” with the celebration featuring cellist Amit Peled, and a movement from Schubert’s “unfinished” Symphony and Strauss’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube,” two works played at the Symphony NH’s first concert in 1923. Tickets for the concert start at $39 for adults ($12 for ages 12 to 17 and free for children under 12 with an adult or senior ticket purchase). After the concert, Symphony NH will hold a gala from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott Nashua; tickets to this dinner (which must be purchased separately) cost $110 for a single ticket or $1,000 for a table.

• Saturday, April 29, is Independent Bookstore Day, a nationwide celebration of independent bookstores and the book-lovers who frequent them. Participating bookstores sell merchandise released exclusively for that day, which may include special-edition books, signed art prints and covers and literary-themed novelty items. Some bookstores may host additional festivities, such as author visits, readings and book signings, live music, food, activities for kids, contests and giveaways and more. Visit indiebookstoreday.com to see a list of this year’s featured merchandise and to find a bookstore near you that is participating.

• New Hampshire Roller Derby returns to JFK Memorial Coliseum (303 Beech St., Manchester) with a season-opening doubleheader on Saturday, April 29, at 5 p.m. More home bouts are scheduled for Saturdays, May 20, June 24 and Aug. 5. Tickets cost $12 at the door; admission is free for kids age 12 and under and veterans. Visit nhrollerderby.com.

• After a successful comeback year in 2022, Taco Tour Manchester will return in full force to downtown Elm Street on Thursday, May 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. Now presented by the Greater Manchester Chamber, more than 60 area restaurants, food trucks, bakeries and other establishments will be participating in this year’s event, selling their signature tacos for $3 apiece. Each has a shot at winning a custom “Golden Taco Trophy,” in addition to $1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, as voted by taco tasters. New to this year’s Taco Tour will be a concert at Veterans Memorial Park (723 Elm St.), thanks to the support of 92.5 The River, with performing acts to be announced in the coming weeks. See tacotourmanchester.com for details.

• The Craftworkers’ Guild presents its Spring Craft Shop from Thursday, May 4, through Saturday, May 13, at the historic Kendall House (5 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. There will be handmade items by more than 50 juried artisans and craftspeople, including seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabrics, sewn and knit specialties, stained and fused glass art, mixed media, jewelry, doll clothes and more. Visit thecraftworkersguild.org.

• Get a little magic when the Champions of Magic come to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com, 800-657-8774) on Thursday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $69.

• The two-day New Hampshire Farm, Forest & Garden Expo returns for its 40th year on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, this time at the Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road). Expo hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, when there will be a wide array of local exhibitors, live animal visits, gardener showcases, workshops, demonstrations of farm machinery and other family-friendly activities. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under. Visit nhfarmandforestexpo.org to view the full schedule of expo happenings.

• Perhaps May’s best holiday, Free Comic Book Day takes place Saturday, May 6, at your favorite participating comic book shop. Get totally free comics produced especially for the day; see previews of this year’s books at freecomicbookday.com. Notables on the list so far include a Dog Man comic from Dav Pilkey, a Baby-Sitters Little Sisters comic, a graphic novel biography of Stan Lee, an Investi-Gators comic, Smurfs, Last Kid on Earth, Garbage Pail Kids and several Marvel titles. Local participants include Merrymac Games and Comics(550 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Merrimack) and the Double Midnight Comics in Manchester (252 Willow St.) and Concord (341 Loudon Road). For this first Free Comic Book Day at its new Manchester location, Double Midnight is offering free comics in the store and running a free comic con in The Factory’s event space, with artists and vendors, food trucks, a video game truck, movie cars, lawn games, lightsaber training, a scavenger hunt, live music, kids’ activities, costume contests and more, according to an email from Double Midnight’s Chris Proulx. Up in Concord it’s a more laid back Free Comic Book Day and a good alternative for families with kids who have sensory issues, he said. See dmcomics.com.

• Also doing Free Comic Book Day up big is Jetpack Comics (37 N. Main St. in Rochester; jetpackcomics.com), which is the hub for a city-wide Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival, which starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m., according to the website. The day will include a free comic book scavenger hunt throughout the city, comic creators and special guests, vendors and others at the Event Hall at the Governor’s Inn, a food truck and beer garden, a costume contest at 4 p.m. and more. See the website for locations and other details.

• A few local farmers markets are due to start their seasons outdoors this spring. The Concord Farmers Market is one of the first — it’s due to return to Capitol Street in downtown Concord (adjacent to the Statehouse lawn) on Saturday, May 6, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, continuing every weekend through October, according to its website.

• The Senie Hunt Project performs at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) on Friday, May 12, at 8 p.m. The blues rock band, fronted by guitarist and singer Senie Hunt, takes influence from classic blues rock and Southern rock and soul powerhouses such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and The Allman Brothers. Tickets cost $21.75. Visit ccanh.com/show/the-senie-hunt-project.

• If your kids love comics, comic book or movie characters, books in general, Jedi training, puppets, princesses, magic or dressing up as their own adventure creations, check out Kids Con New England, a comic book and pop culture convention for kids and families, on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord). Tickets cost $12 for adults and kids 5 and over (kids 4 and under get in free) and are available at kidsconne.com, where you can see the line-up of activities, participating authors and artists and more.

• Stock up on annuals, perennials, seedlings, veggie plants, herbs and more at a local garden club’s spring sale. The Amherst Garden Club’s annual sale takes place on Saturday, May 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside on the grounds of Wilkins School (180 Boston Post Road, Amherst); Nashua Garden Club’s sale is on Saturday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Nashua Historical Society (5 Abbott St., Nashua); and Bedford Garden Club’s sale is also on Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Bedford Village Common (15 Bell Hill Road, Bedford).

• Get big truck action when the Monster Jam comes to SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) on Saturday, May 13, at 1 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 14, at 1 p.m. Ticket prices are $18 to $73, according to the arena website. See monsterjam.com for details on likely featured competitors (Grave Digger, Megalodon, El Toro Loco, etc.) and for information on the Pit Party events scheduled for 10:30 a.m. each day, when you can meet drivers and see the trucks up close; tickets to the Pit Party cost $20, according to Ticketmaster.

• Sunday, May 14, is Mother’s Day — be sure to check back in early May for our annual listings detailing special Mother’s Day brunches at area eateries. The Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way), for instance, will serve a three-course prix fixe dinner that day, with reservations available from 2 to 7 p.m. The cost is $75 for adults and $39.98 for kids ages 10 and under. See bedfordvillageinn.com or call 472-2001 to make a reservation.

• Tickets are on sale now for the second annual New England Coffee Festival, returning to downtown Laconia on Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20. Organized by Wayfarer Coffee Roasters in Laconia, the inaugural event last year drew more than 5,000 attendees to the area. “We received so much amazing feedback and are excited to elevate the next festival,” Karen Bassett of Wayfarer Coffee Roasters told the Hippo via email, going on to note that this year’s event will feature even more hands-on workshops and outdoor vendors than before, plus a “latte art throwdown” on the Main Stage of the Colonial Theatre in front of a grand audience. See newenglandcoffeefestival.com for the full schedule of events, or follow the event page on Facebook @newenglandcoffeefestival for updates as they become available.

• Preparations are now underway for the annual Greek food festival to return to St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church (500 W. Hollis St., Nashua) on Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20. Following a series of pop-up and takeout events held the past few years, plans are in the works for this year’s event to return in person with a full menu. Visit stphilipnashua.com or follow the event page on Facebook @stphilipgreekfoodfestival.

• Explore all the natural beauty New Hampshire has to offer with a New Hampshire State Parks season pass. Passholders are guaranteed access to day-use parks with exemption from entrance fees. Passes, which are good for one year, cost $60 for individuals; $105 for New Hampshire resident families of up to two adults and up to four dependents; and $120 for non-resident families. Seacoast parking passes are also available for $175, granting one vehicle exemption from the $15 parking fees at Hampton Beach State Park and Wallis Sands State Park for one year. To purchase a pass, visit nhstateparks.org/planning/schedule-and-fees/passes-promotions.

Featured photo: Amherst Garden Club’s annual plant sale. Courtesy photo.

Compiled by
Matt Ingersoll, Mya Blanchard, Katelyn Sahagian and Angie Sykeny

[email protected]

Whether your kids are looking to boost their creativity with music, arts or theater, or stay active with sports like soccer, lacrosse or golf, they can find all of those opportunities and more at area summer camps. Did we miss one? Let us know at [email protected].

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT

College Preparation; Find Your Voice – Jump Start Your College Essay The Derryfield School, 2108 River Road, Manchester, 641-9426, derryfield.org/page/summer/college-prep
What: This intensive writing workshop is designed to create a space for 11th- and 12th-graders to begin drafting their college essay. In the collaborative setting, students will uncover their unique stories and draft an essay that truly reflects their values and life experiences. On the final day of the workshop, a college admissions officer will provide the college perspective on the personal statement and read essay drafts. Who: Students entering grades 11 and 12 When: Monday, June 26, through Friday, July 30, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (session is taught remotely) Cost: $395

SAT/ACT Preparation The Derryfield School, 2108 River Road, Manchester, 641-9426, derryfield.org/page/summer/college-prep
What: Students will learn strategies and components of the SAT and ACT from Derryfield teachers and test-prep instructors in one-on-one settings as well as with group work. Who: Students entering grades 11 and 12 When: Verbal sessions run Monday through Friday from 9:15 to 11:45 a.m., and math sessions run from 12:15 to 2:45 p.m., dates offered July 31 to Aug. 4. Cost: Ranges from $395 for half-day sessions to $685 for full-day sessions

ART

Creative Ventures Art Gallery 411 Nashua St., Milford, 672-2500, creativeventuresfineart.com
What: Programs include a nature-inspired art camp for kids and an art camp for teens. Who: Nature-inspired art camp is open to ages 8 through 12, and teen art camp is open to ages 12 through 16. When: Monday, July 31, through Thursday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon each day; teen art camp runs Monday, Aug. 7, through Thursday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Cost: $125

Currier Art Center, 180 Pearl St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org/education-programs
What: The Currier Museum of Art’s education center will offer five weeks of summer programming. Who: Varies by program. When: Program dates are TBA. Cost: Call for details. Online registration opens in early March.

Kimball Jenkins School of Art 266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com/summer-camp-2023
What: Campers explore artistic media, including sculpture, painting, clay, printmaking, drawing and more, and spend time outdoors, collaborating in group activities and learning about history. This year’s camp week themes include Branching Out, Art Olympics, Into the Wild, Fantasy & Cosplay, Mythology & Folklore, Kinetic Art, Choose Your Own Adventure and Bite Sized Art. Who: Ages 6 and up When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 18 Cost: $300 per week.

New England College’s Institute of Arts & Design Pre-College Summer Program, 148 Concord St., Manchester, 623-0313, nec.edu/precollege
What: Two-week residency program for high school students that includes college-level courses covering creative writing and visual arts, and elective courses and workshops in sculpture, mixed media, comic arts, drawing and painting, game design, graphic design, illustration, photography and portfolio development. Campers who complete the program are eligible to earn up to four college credits. Who: Students ages 14 through 18. Space is limited — apply by May 1 for priority consideration. When: July 9 through July 22 Cost: $3,200 for the Resident Program, which includes on-campus housing, meals and materials, and $2,200 for the Commuter Program, which includes meals and materials.

Studio 550 Kids Art Camp Studio 550 Community Art Center, 550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com
What: Programs include an Arts Explorer camp, in which students sample a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art forms, working with paint, paper, pencil and clay; and a Clay camp for teens and tweens, in which students learn the basics of the pottery wheel as well as various sculpting techniques. Who: Arts Explorer camp is open to ages 8 and up; Clay camp is open to ages 11 and up When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, in half-day sessions. Dates TBA. Cost: Call for details.

DANCE

Alicia’s School of Dance 563 Route 106, Loudon, 496-9762, aliciasschoolofdance.com
What: Campers will learn all styles of dance, including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and hip-hop, and will also have the opportunity to play games and make crafts. A mini performance will be held on the last day of camp. Who: Ages 6 and up When: Monday, July 17, through Friday, July 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day Cost: $130 per child, plus a $25 required deposit. Register by June 30.

Broadway Bound Performing Arts Center 501 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-8844, broadwayboundpac.com
What: Programs include a two-week Musical Theatre Camp, in which campers will prepare and perform a junior production of Annie; Kids Dance Camp, where campers will practice various styles of dance, singing and acting and participate in theater games and crafts; and an Intensive Dance Camp, modeled after the intensive dance workshops in New York City. Who: Kids Dance Camp is open to ages 4 through 11, and Musical Theatre Camp welcomes campers ages 6 through 15 as performers and campers ages 14 through 18 as assistants and backstage crew. When: Musical Theatre Camp runs July 10 through July 22; Kids Dance Camp runs July 30 through Aug. 4; and Intensive Dance Camp runs Aug. 7 through Aug. 11. Cost: $500 for Musical Theatre Camp and $275 for the Kids Dance Camp and the Intensive Dance Camp. A $50 deposit is required to reserve a spot.

Concord Dance Academy 26 Commercial St., Concord, 226-0200, concorddanceacademy.com
What: Recreational dance camp teaches a variety of dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop. A mini camp for younger children and an intensive camp for serious dancers are also offered. Who: Recreational dance camp is open to ages 4 through 12; mini camp is for ages 3 through 5; and intensive camp is open to ages 8 through 13. When: Monday, July 24, through Friday, July 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a full day and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a half day. Cost: $250 for a full-day week and $150 for a half-day week.

Martin School of Dance 288 Route 101, Suite 202, Bedford, 488-2371, martinschoolofdance.com
What: Dance camp features dance instruction, crafts, outdoor activities and more. games, crafts and more. Themed weeks include Princess Tea Party, Under the Sea, Safari Adventure and Tropical Vacation. A three-week dance intensive is also offered. Who: Camp is open to ages 3 through 6, and the intensive program is open to ages 7 through 18. When: Camp dates are offered July 10 through Aug. 25. Intensive runs July 24 through Aug. 11. Programs run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Cost: Varies, depending on the program.

Miss Kelsey’s Dance Studio 2626 Brown Ave., Manchester, 606-2820, mkdance.com
What: Dance camps include a half-day afternoon camp with the theme All Things Disney; and two full-day camps with the themes Under the Sea and Spa Retreat. Who: All Things Disney is for ages 6 and up, Under the Sea is for ages 5 and up and Spa Retreat is for ages 8 and up. When: All Things Disney runs Monday, June 26, through Friday, June 30, from 3 to 6 p.m. each day; Under the Sea runs Monday, July 17, through Friday, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Spa Retreat runs from Monday, July 24, through Friday, July 28, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: Call for details

Nancy Chippendale’s Dance Studios 49 Range Road, Building No. 2, Suite A, Windham, 458-7730, chippswindham.com
What: Programs include themed dance camps like Princess Power, Popstar Bop and Royal Academy, as well as a dance boot camp. Who: Themed camps are open to dancers in preschool through grade 2, and boot camp is open to dancers in grades 2 through 12. When: Themed camps are offered July 24 through Aug. 4 and Aug. 21 through Aug. 25 and run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon each day; boot camp runs Monday, Aug. 7 through Friday, Aug. 11. Cost: Themed camps are $250 and boot camp is $500

New England School of Dance 679 Mast Road, Manchester, 935-7326, newenglandschoolofdance.com
What: A week-long summer intensive and musical theater workshop provides a comprehensive multi-level experience for dancers with at least two years of dance training that includes technique classes in a variety of dance styles, mind-body wellness sessions, stretch workshops, Progressing Ballet Technique, pilates, dance-related art projects, choreography exploration and more, culminating with a showcase performance for family and friends. Two-day mini camps are also offered for younger dancers. Who: The intensive is open to ages 6 through 19, and the mini camps are for ages 3 through 6. When: The intensive runs Monday, July 24, through Saturday, July 29; mini camps are offered various dates from July 18 through Aug. 10 Cost: Mini camps are $110 each, and the intensive is $750, with a musical theater workshop for an additional $50.

Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater 19 Harvey Road, Bedford, 637-4398, snhdt.org
What: Programs include Princess Camp and Prima Ballerina Camp; the Young Dancer Workshop for beginner and intermediate dancers; a Nutcracker Dance Intensive; and a three-week Summer Intensive for serious dancers. Who: Princess and Prima Ballerina camps are open to ages 3 through 5; Young Dancer Workshop is open to ages 6 through 12; the Nutcracker Intensive is for ages 8 through 11; and the Summer Intensive is for ages 10 and up. When: Princess Camp is offered June 27 through June 29 and July 11 through July 13; Prima Ballerina Camp is offered July 6 through July 8; the Nutcracker Intensive runs Aug. 14 through Aug. 18; the Young Dancer Workshop runs July 17 through July 21; and the Summer Intensive runs July 24 through Aug. 11. Cost: $165 for Princess and Prima Ballerina camp; $225 for Young Dancer Workshop and Nutcracker Intensive; and the Summer Intensive ranges from $750 to $1,500, depending on the number of weeks.

GENERAL INTEREST

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire Locations in Andover, Concord, Epsom, Holderness, Hopkinton, Laconia, New London, Pittsfield, Stoddard, Sutton Warner and Weare, 224-1061, nhyouth.org
What: Each center offers general camps and specialty camps, with activities that include arts and crafts, sports, water games, field trips and more. Who: Children entering kindergarten through 8th grade When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from the end of the school year through Aug. 25 Cost: $185 per week if registered before May 1, plus a $40 registration fee.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem 3 Geremonty Drive, Salem, 898-7709, salembgc.org
What: Activities include field trips, swimming, gym, games, outdoor play and more. Who: Ages 4 and up When: 10-week sessions run Monday through Friday, dates offered June 19 through Aug. 25 (no camp Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4) Cost: $260 per week ($156 for the shortened week of July 5 through 7), plus a $50 membership fee

Boys & Girls Club of Manchester Camp Foster, 36 Camp Allen Road, Bedford; Union Street Clubhouse, 555 Union St., Manchester; 625-5031, mbgcnh.org
What: A wide variety of activities are available to campers each day. Camp Foster (grades 1 through 7) features daily activities like swimming, arts and crafts, playgrounds, field games, athletics, hiking and canoeing. The Teen Adventure Camp (grades 8 and up) features weekly adventure field trips, like beach trips, hiking and biking. Teen campers split the rest of their days between programming at Camp Foster and the Union Street Clubhouse. The Club also remains open for its oldest campers all summer long with a drop-in program of daily and special activities. Who: Grades 1 through 12 When: Various days and times, dates offered June 19 through Aug. 25 (no camps on Tuesday, July 4). Cost: $185 per week ($150 for the week of July 4), plus a $25 membership fee

Brentwood Recreation Day Camp 190 Route 125, Brentwood, hosted by the Brentwood Parks & Recreation Department, 642-6400, brentwoodnh.gov/recreation What: Traditional day camp with activities like weekly field trips, arts and crafts, team-building activities, games and more. Who: Children entering grades 1 through 8 When: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 18 (no camp on Tuesday, July 4). Before and after care are also available. Cost: Online registration of a $100 deposit for Brentwood residents and $150 for non-residents is required to hold your spot. Weekly rates are $150 for residents and $175 for non-residents through June 1. After June 1 they are raised $175 and $200, respectively.

Camp 603 13 Blevens Drive, Concord, 568-8107, camp603.com
What: Activities include trips to Lake Winnisquam for water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing and other water sports; Mount Major, Mount Cardigan and other local mountains for days of hiking; and Hampton Beach for beach trips, swimming and more. Who: Ages 10 to 16 When: Weekly sessions run from Monday through Friday, dates offered July 10 through July 28 Cost: $975/week

Camp Kettleford 26 Camp Allen Road, Bedford, hosted by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, 888-474-9686, girlscoutsgwm.org
What: Set on 30 wooded acres on the shore of Sebbins Pond, this traditional day camp features swimming, boating, archery, cooking out, day trips and more. Who: Girls who will be entering kindergarten through 8th grade When: Sessions run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 18 (closed from Monday, July 3, through Friday, July 7) Cost: $350 per week, or $625 for two-week sessions.

Camp Lincoln 67 Ball Road, Kingston, 642-3361, ymcacamplincoln.org, hosted by Southern District YMCA, sdymca.org
What: A wide variety of programming is available to campers, with activities that include archery, arts and crafts, hiking, boating, basketball, baseball, ropes courses, climbing walls and more. Who: Ages 3 and up When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, dates offered June 19 through Aug. 25 — see program guide online for details on programming as it pertains to each age group Cost: Ranges from $330 to $345 per one-week session, or $660 to $690 per two-week session, depending on the camper’s age.

Camp Lovewell 2nd Nature Academy, 10 Groton Road, Nashua, 881-4815, camplovewell.com
What: Campers will enjoy hiking, field games and sports, swimming, skits and songs, kayaking, arts and crafts, a ropes course and more. Who: Ages 6 to 14 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on Tuesday, July 4) Cost: $400 per week for kids entering grades 1 through 3, and $390 per week for kids entering grades 4 through 9. Extended care is also available, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. or from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Camp Ponemah Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, ext. 272, hampshirehills.com/camp-ponemah
What: Day camps feature activities like swimming, tennis, weekly field trips, crafts, dance parties, playgrounds, trails, games and more. Who: Kids entering kindergarten through 7th grade. A full-day camp for teenagers called Troop T is available for campers entering 8th grade, and there is also a half-day camp called Little Warriors for kids ages 3 and 4. When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, dates offered June 12 through Aug. 25 (some weeks are full or have waiting lists; visit the website for the most up-to-date status) Cost: Camp Ponemah starts at $283 per week for Hampshire Hills Athletic Club members and $367 per week for non-members. Troop T is $256 per week for members and $347 for non-members. Little Warriors is $85 for two days and $160 for four days for members and $119 for two days and $228 for four days for non-members.

Camp Seawood 350 Banfield Road, Portsmouth, hosted by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, 888-474-9686, girlscoutsgwm.org
What: Set among pine forests, wetlands and wildlife, this traditional day camp features archery, cooking out, nature hikes, day trips and more. Who: Girls who will be entering kindergarten through 8th grade When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., dates offered July 10 through Aug. 4 Cost: $350 per week, or $625 for two-week sessions.

Camp Starfish 12 Camp Monomonac Road, Rindge, 899-9590, campstarfish.org What: Camp Starfish provides structured, nurturing and fun group programs to foster the success and growth of children with emotional, behavioral or learning problems. Who: Kids and teens ages 6 and up When: Weekly camps run from June 25 through Aug. 19 Cost: Rates vary depending on type of camp.

Camp Trek Teen Adventure Camp 116 Naticook Road, Merrimack, hosted by Merrimack Parks & Recreation, 882-1046, merimackparksandrec.org
What: Camp Trek Teen Adventure Camp is a trip- and activity-based summer camp program geared towards campers entering grades 5 to 9 in Fall 2023. Camp Trek is intended as an alternative to the traditional day camp experience found at Merrimack Parks & Recreation’s Naticook Day Camp. Each week of the summer will feature a mix of traditional camp activities, along with five weekly field trips exploring destinations across New England. Camp tuition fees include transportation and admissions fees to all field trip destinations, as well as activities when they are at Wasserman Park. Who: Kids entering grades 5 to 9 When: Nine weekly sessions, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday, dates offered June 19 through Aug. 18 Cost: $320 per week for Merrimack residents, and $370 per week for non-residents

Camp Witzel McKelvie Intermediate School, 108 Liberty Hill Road, Bedford, hosted by the Bedford Parks & Recreation Department, 472-5242, BedfordRecOnline.com What: A traditional summer day camp featuring themed weeks (past themes have been Let’s Go Green and Gold Rush Week), in addition to games, crafts, swimming on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and weekly field trips on Wednesdays. Who: Ages 6 to 13 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 11. Before and after care is also available. Cost: Varies, depending on how many days per week are chosen and on the camper’s residential status.

Candia Springs Adventure Camps Candia Springs Adventure Park,446 Raymond Road, Candia, 587-2093, candiasprings.com/camps
What: Activities include ziplining, aerial ropes courses, arts and crafts, color wars, nature walks, fire building, shelter building and archery. Each week also features a different theme. Who: Ages 7 to 13 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., dates offered June 19 through Aug. 18 Cost: $269 per week; full payment is due by May 1

Dreamers’ Ranch 125 N. Lowell Road, Windham, 327-4449, youthstorm.org
What: Dreamers’ Camp (ages 8 to 12), according to Dreamers’ Ranch’s website, is a faith-based camp hosted in an outdoor setting offering activities like experiential entrepreneurship games, gardening, farm and animal care and more. Other programs include a Little Dreamers’ Camp (ages 6 and 7), a youth cattle program (ages 10 to 14) at Normanton Farms in Litchfield, a cowgirl camp (girls ages 13 and up) and Follow Your Dreams Farm in Derry and a young entrepreneurs program (ages 10 to 17) Who: Ages 6 to 17 When: Dreamers’ Camp runs Monday, July 31, through Thursday, Aug. 4 (Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 a.m., overnight on the ranch. Little Dreamers’ Camp runs Monday, Aug. 7, through Thursday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. The youth cattle program has three sessions available, Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dates offered June 20 to June 22, July 18 to July 20 and Aug. 15 to 17. Cowgirl camp runs Friday, Aug. 25, at 9 a.m., overnight through 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. Dates and times of the youth entrepreneurs program TBA Cost: Varies depending on the program; see website for details

Granite Base Camp 300 Blondin Road, Manchester, 617-615-0004, experiencebasecamp.org
What: With a focus on character development, leadership skills and personal fitness, this outdoor camp features a variety of hands-on activities, such as archery, swimming, crafts and more. A special family camp program is also available, offering a variety of open areas for families to enjoy activities like arts and crafts, camping and hiking together. Who: Rising 1st- to 5th-graders When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered July 3 through Aug. 18 (no camp on Tuesday, July 4). The family camp has two sessions on Fridays and Saturdays, dates offered July 21 and July 22 or Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. Cost: $330 for Granite Base Camp and $50 per attendee for family camp

IMAGINE Camps New Morning Schools, 23 Back River Road, Bedford, 669-3591, newmorningschools.com
What: Campers enjoy various cognitive and physical activities that encourage social, emotional and problem-solving skills. There will also be organized gym games, STEAM activities, outside play and themed art projects. School-age campers can enjoy choice-based enrichment activities throughout the day that challenge them to try new things while being in a fun and dynamic environment. Who: Boys and girls entering kindergarten through 6th grade can join the IMAGINE program, and children ages 3 to 6 can join the preschool camp. When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (preschool hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), dates offered June 12 through Aug. 25 Cost: $325 per week or $75 per day

Naticook Summer Day Camp Wasserman Park, 116 Naticook Road, Merrimack, hosted by Merrimack Parks & Recreation, 882-1046, merrimackparksandrec.org What: Campers participate in a wide variety of activities, including swimming, boating, group games, team building, archery, drama, nature exploration, sports, arts and crafts, special events and more. Who: Kids who will be entering kindergarten through 5th grade. Campers entering 5th grade also have the option to move up to the Camp Trek program for grades 5 through 9; see that listing for details. When: Nine weekly sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 19 through Aug. 18 Cost: $290 per week for Merrimack residents and $340 per week for non-residents

New Hampshire SPCA New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Learning Center, 104 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 772-2921, nhspca.org What: With various programs combining fun and education, campers will interact with animals and participate in service projects, crafts, games and more. Who: Ages 6 to 12 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (half days for ages 6 and 7 are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., or 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.; full days for ages 8 to 12 are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday), offered various weeks from June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camps on Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4) Cost: Ranges from $100 to $325 per week, depending on the number of days, the camper’s age and the length of each session. Registration begins March 6.

Pelham Veterans Memorial Park Summer Camp 109 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Pelham, 635-2721, pelhamweb.com
What: Activities include swimming, kayaking, field games, mock olympics, arts and crafts, talent shows and field trips. Who: Ages 6 to 13 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., dates offered July 10 through Aug. 18 Cost: $575 for the full six-week session

SummerQuest and Enrichment Camp at World Academy 138 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 888-1982, worldacademynh.com
What: Activities at SummerQuest (kindergarten through grade 4) include arts and crafts, games, cooking activities and much more, all intended to encourage the child’s creativity and imagination. The Enrichment Camp (grades 4 through 8) features a project-based learning curriculum integrating English and math skills, along with theme-based activities like swimming, field trips, and team-building exercises. Who: Kids entering kindergarten through grade 8 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for SummerQuest and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Enrichment Camp, dates offered June 20 through Aug. 25 Cost: $320 per week for SummerQuest and $350 per week for the Enrichment Camp. Extended hours are also available for both camps for an additional $20 per week.

UNH Youth Programs and Camps University of New Hampshire, Thompson Hall, 105 Main St., Durham, 862-7227, unh.edu/youthprograms
What: More than 50 programs are offered in a variety of areas, from academic enrichment and creative arts to athletics, STEM and traditional camp recreation. See website for a full list. Who: Boys and girls ages 5 and up When: Various dates/times from June through August Cost: Varies depending on the program.

YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown Branch of Granite YMCA, 116 Goffstown Back Road, 497-4663, graniteymca.org
What: Kids at Camp Halfmoon (ages 6 to 11) and Camp Quartermoon (ages 4 to 5) will enjoy weekly themes and activities like swimming, field games, sports, arts and crafts, and more. Specialty programs are also available including sports and specialty camps (ages 6 to 13), Discovery Camp (ages 6 to 11), gymnastics camps (ages 4 to 15), tennis camp (ages 7 to 15), adventure camps (ages 10 to 14), teen camps (ages 12 to 16), leadership camps (ages 14 to 16), and more. Who: Ages 4 to 16 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4). Before and after care are both also available for an extra charge. Cost: Varies by week and camp.

YMCA Day Camp of Hooksett Branch of Granite YMCA, Hooksett Memorial School, 5 Memorial Drive, Hooksett, 497-4663, graniteymca.org
What: Campers participate in weekly themes and activities like swimming, field games, sports, arts and crafts and more. Teen camp (ages 11 to 13) and leadership camps (ages 14 to 16) are also available. Who: Ages 5 to 16 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4). Before and after care are both also available for an extra charge. Cost: Varies by week and camp.

YMCA of Concord Branch of Granite YMCA, 15 N. State St., Concord, 228-9622, graniteymca.org
What: Kids at Camp Mowkawogan (ages 5 to 11) will enjoy weekly themes and activities like swimming, field games, sports, arts and crafts and more. Leadership camp (ages 13 to 14) is also available. Who: Ages 5 to 14 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4). Cost: Varies by week and camp.

YMCA of Downtown Manchester Branch of Granite YMCA, 30 Mechanic St., Manchester, 623-3558, graniteymca.org
What: Kids at Camp Namoskeag will enjoy weekly themes and activities like swimming, field games, sports, arts and crafts, and more. Specialty programs are also available including sports camps, specialty camps and more. Who: Ages 6 to 14 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4). Before and after care are both also available for an extra charge. Cost: Varies by week and camp.

YMCA of Greater Londonderry Branch of Granite YMCA, 206 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 437-9622, graniteymca.org
What: Kids at Camp Pa-Gon-Ki (kindergarten to Grade 9) will enjoy weekly themes and activities like swimming, field games, sports, arts and crafts, and more. Specialty programs are also available, including Windham Explorers Camp (kindergarten to Grade 8), Derry Voyagers Camp (kindergarten to Grade 5), sports and specialty camps (grades 2 to 8), leadership camps (ages 14 to 16) and more. Who: Ages 5 to 16 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4). Before and after care are both also available for an extra charge. Cost: Varies by week and camp.

YMCA of Greater Nashua 10 Cotton Road, Suite 1, Nashua, nmymca.org/summercamps
What: Summer camps at the YMCA of Greater Nashua are all about discovery — kids have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, build on sports skills, make new friendships and more. Day camp options are available for ages 3 through Grade 12 at each of the YMCA of Greater Nashua’s branches (24 Stadium Drive, Nashua; Westwood Park, 90 Northwest Blvd., Nashua; 6 Henry Clay Drive, Merrimack) as well as at Camp Sargent (141 Camp Sargent Road, Merrimack) Who: Ages 3 and up When: Various dates offered throughout the summer, beginning in June and through Sept. 1 Cost: Varies.

YMCA of Strafford County Branch of Granite YMCA, 63 Lowell St., Rochester, 332-7334, graniteymca.org
What: Kids at Camp Coney Pine (ages 4 to 12) will enjoy weekly themes and activities like archery, adventure, swimming, arts and crafts, and more. Specialty programs are also available including coding camp (ages 8 to 12), lego camp (ages 8 to 12), fort building camp (ages 5 to 12), ultimate sports camp (ages 8 to 12), art camp (ages 8 to 12), teen trip camp (ages 13 to 14), leadership camp (ages 13 to 14) and more. Who: Ages 4 to 14 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on Monday, July 3, or Tuesday, July 4). Before and after care are both also available for an extra charge. Cost: Varies by week and camp selection.

YMCA of the Seacoast Branch of Granite YMCA, 176 Tuttle Lane, Greenland, 431-2334, graniteymca.org
What: Kids at Camp Gundalow (ages 5 to 13) will enjoy weekly themes and activities like swimming, field games, sports, arts and crafts and more. Specialty programs are also available including ultimate sports camp (ages 8 to 12), theater camp (ages 8 to 12), lego camp (ages 8 to 12), football camp (ages 8 to 12), soccer camp (ages 8 to 12), art camp (ages 8 to 12), leadership camp (ages 14 to 15) and more. Who: Ages 5 to 15 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (no camp on July 3 or 4). Before and after care are both also available for an extra charge. Cost: Varies by week and camp selection.

MULTIMEDIA

Flip the Script Camp SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org
What: Campers work together to write, film, direct, star in, and edit science videos that are creative, factual, and fun. Who: Ages 10 to 14 When: One-week session runs Monday, July 24, through Friday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Cost: $300 for the week

Londonderry Access Center Media Camp 281 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 432-1100, lactv.com
What: Kids will learn to make better-quality videos appropriate for YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, composing shots and learning about editing and graphic design. They’ll learn not only about short-form videos but also longer television shows in a professional studio setting, where they get to be the camera operator, sound technician and director. New this year is a podcast studio, where campers can put their voiceover skills and podcasting ideas to the test. Who: Rising 5th- to 8th-graders When: Two-week session runs Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dates offered July 10 through July 21 (campers must be able to attend for the entire two week session) Cost: $85

MUSIC

Concord Community Music School 23 Wall St., Concord, 228-1196, ccmusicschool.org
What: Programs include a weekly Music & Movement program for young children and their caregivers that includes songs, stories, movement games, rhythm instruments, improvisation, art, dance and more; a Piano Dynamos Camp for piano students with at least one year of study that includes instruction in ear training, theory, sight reading, improvisation, practice strategies and more; Folk Frontier Camp for string players with at least one year of study that includes building musical skills, learning about folk traditions and performing in a group; Summer Jam Camp, where campers of all experience levels can play their chosen instruments in a collaborative setting, exploring a variety of musical genres while developing ensemble skills, working in a recording studio and creating an album together; and Creative Arts Camp, where campers will create musical, dance and visual arts pieces Who: Music & Movement is open to children ages 5 months through 7 years and their caregivers; Piano Dynamos is open to ages 9 through 15; Folk Frontier is open to ages 8 through 16; Summer Jam is open to students entering grades 5 through 12; and Creative Arts is open to students entering grades 1 through 6. When: Music & Movement is held on Tuesday mornings, June 6 through July 18; Piano Dynamos runs Monday, June 26, through Friday, June 30, (full-day sessions); Folk Frontier runs Monday, July 10, through Friday, July 14 (full-day sessions); Jam Camp runs Monday, July 17, through Friday, July 21 (half-day sessions); and Creative Arts runs Monday through Friday and is offered for three weeks, from July 24 through Aug. 11. Cost: $350 for Piano Dynamos, Folk Frontier and per week of Creative Arts; $275 for Jam Camp; rates for Music & Movement are TBA.

Manchester Community Music School 2291 Elm St., Manchester, 644-4548, mcmusicschool.org
What: AtMusical Exploration Camp, campers will explore a variety of musical instruments, play musical games and grow in their musical knowledge. Who: Grades 1 through 3, and grades 4 through 6 When: Camp for grades 1 through 3 runs Monday, July 31, through Friday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon; camp for grades 4 through 6 runs Monday, Aug. 7, through Friday, Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Cost: $225

Nashua Community Music School 2 Lock St., Nashua; outdoor programs will be held at Greeley Park Bandshell, 100 Concord St., Nashua, 881-7030, nashuacms.org What: Outdoor music camp themes include Instrument Safari, Broadway Babies and Music Around the World. Indoor music camp themes include Broadway Week, Rise Up & Create and DJ Camp. Three-day ensemble programs for preteens and teens include Chamber Ensemble, Rock Band and Voices of Steel. Who: Outdoor camps are for ages 4 through 7; indoor camps are for ages ranging from 8 through 14, depending on the camp; and ensemble programs are for ages 12 through 17. When: Outdoor and indoor camp weeks are offered July 10 through July 28 and run Monday through Friday, outdoor camp in half-day sessions, and indoor camp in full-day sessions. Ensemble programs run on various dates in August. Cost: $185 for outdoor camps, $325 for indoor camps, and $150 for ensemble programs.

Walden School Young Musicians Program 18 Lehmann Way, Dublin, 415-648-4710, waldenschool.org/young-musicians-program
What: A five-week music residency camp where campers study musicianship, composition, improvisation, music theory, computer music and chorus at the school’s Dublin campus. Who: Ages 9 to 18 When: June 24 through July 30. An abbreviated three-week program is available for students who have not yet completed 8th grade. Apply by April 5. Cost: $9,300 for the five-week residency, which includes full tuition, room and board; $6,200 for the abbreviated three-week residency. There is a $55 non-refundable application fee. Need-based financial aid is available.

NATURE

Beaver Brook Nature Camps Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org What: Campers will explore, learn and play outside, building forts in the forest, catching frogs, cooking at the campfire, hiking, drawing, learning survival skills and more. Who: Pre-K through 9th grade When: Sessions run from June 26 through Aug. 11, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: TBA; registration opens March 1 for Beaver Brook Association members, March 6 for non-members

Educational Farm Camp Educational Farm at Joppa Hill, 174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford, 472-4724, theeducationalfarm.org
What: Each week features a different theme based on animals living at the farm. Campers will have the opportunity to explore the farm and forest grounds, interact with the animals, and engage in a variety of hands-on learning experiences. Who: Ages 5 to 8 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, half days from 9 a.m. to noon, and full days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 19 through Aug. 18 Cost: $175 per half-day week, $325 per full-day week

Lake Discovery Family Days New Hampshire Boat Museum, 399 Center St., Wolfeboro Falls, 569-4554, nhbm.org
What: This program features a variety of hands-on activities related to New Hampshire’s lakes, rivers and streams, including boating safety, boat games and building, science experiments, arts and crafts, map-making and more. Who: Grades K through 5 When: Thursdays, June 29, July 27 and Aug. 10, from 10:30 a.m. to noon Cost: Free

New Hampshire Audubon Nature Day Camps McLane Audubon Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord; Massabesic Audubon Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn; 224-9909, nhaudubon.org
What: Programs include a half-day Wonders Camp for ages 4 and 5; Discovery Camp (ages 6 through 9), featuring hikes, crafts, storytelling, games and live animal presentations; Explorers Camp (ages 10 through 12), which includes field trips, hiking, swimming and conservation projects; and Leaders-in-Training (ages 13 through 15) for teens interested in building leadership skills and becoming camp counselors in the future. Who: Ages 4 to 15 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (9 a.m. to noon for Wonders Camp), dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 Cost: Ranges from $180 to $300.

Paleontology Camp North End Montessori School, 698 Beech St., Manchester, 621-9011, northendmontessori.com
What: Campers will learn about fossils and dinosaurs, from Allosaurus to Zephyrosaurus, as well as various aspects of paleontology, from archeological digs to identifying dinosaur skeletons. Who: Ages 3 to 10 When: Summer session runs June 19 through Sept. 1 Cost: Call for details

Pony Farm Summer Camp Touchstone Farm, 13 Pony Farm Lane, Temple, 654-6308, touchstone-farm.org
What: The camp integrates horseback riding into its program, and each camper has a horse or pony of her own during her stay to ride and care for. Campers may also bring their own horses to ride. Small group riding lessons are also offered. Who: Girls ages 8 to 14 When: Sessions run Sunday through Saturday, dates offered June 25 through Aug. 12 Cost: $1,100 for a one-week session or $2,150 for a two-week session, with a 50 percent deposit required to hold the spot.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center 23 Science Center Road, Holderness, 968-7194, nhnature.org
What: Programs include week-long outdoor natural adventure camps taught by experienced naturalists and educators. Who: Preschoolers through 12th grade When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, dates offered June 26 through Aug. 11 Cost: Ranges from $390 to $435, depending on the program; registration will open in March

OVERNIGHT

Camp Allen 56 Camp Allen Road, Bedford, 622-8471, campallennh.org
What: Activities include nature exploration, creative arts, games, sports, music and more. Residential and day camp options available. Who: Campers ages 6 and up When: Sessions run various days and durations. Residential camp runs from June 11 to Aug. 25. Day camp runs from June 19 to Aug. 18 (some weeks are full or have waiting lists; visit the website for the most up-to-date status) Cost: Day camp programs are $475 per week; residential camp programs range from $1,050 to $2,250 per week

Camp Bernadette 83 Richards Road, Wolfeboro, 931-5500, bfcamp.com
What: Traditional overnight camp for girls, with activities like swimming, kayaking, canoeing, baseball, softball, lacrosse, ropes courses, archery, arts and crafts and more. Who: Girls ages 5 to 16 When: Residential camp runs for two-week, four-week, six-week or eight-week sessions, dates offered June 25 to Aug. 12 Cost: Starts at $1,950 per two-week session

Camp Birch Hill 333C Birch Hill Road, New Durham, 859-4525, campbirchhill.com What: Campers can choose their own schedule from dozens of available activities, including land sports, water sports, arts and crafts, zip-lining, rock-climbing, ropes courses and more. Who: Boys and girls ages 6 to 16 When: Two-, four- and six-week sessions run various days/weeks from Sunday, June 25, through Saturday, Aug. 5 (some sessions may be full or near capacity — see website for the most up-to-date details) Cost: Starts at $3,600 for a two-week session, $6,400 for a four-week session and $7,600 for a six-week session; payment is due by June 1

Camp Brookwoods 34 Camp Brookwoods Road, Alton, 875-3600, christiancamps.net
What: A Christian-based outdoor camping experience for boys Who: Boys ages 8 to 16 When: Various one-week, two-week, four-week or eight-week sessions are available, dates offered June 25 to Aug. 19 (some weeks are full or have waiting lists; visit the website for the most up-to-date status) Cost: Starts at $1,345 for a one-week session and $2,745 for a two-week session

Camp Carpenter 300 Blondin Road, Manchester; hosted by Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America, 625-6431, nhscouting.org
What: Located on the outskirts of Manchester, Camp Carpenter is a 250-acre wooded property offering outdoor activities such as archery, BB gun shooting, field sports, scout skills and more. Camp Carpenter consists of nine campsites, six Adirondack shelters, eight unheated cabins and program theme areas. Who: Rising 1st- to 5th-graders When: Overnight sessions are from Sunday through Thursday, dates offered July 9 through Aug. 10. Cost: $600

Camp Deer Run 34 Camp Brookwoods Road, Alton, 875-3600, christiancamps.net What: A Christian-based outdoor camping experience for girls Who: Girls ages 8 to 16 When: Various one-week, two-week, four-week or eight-week sessions are available, dates offered June 25 to Aug. 19 (some weeks are full or have waiting lists; visit the website for the most up-to-date status) Cost: Starts at $1,345 for a one-week session and $2,745 for a two-week session

Camp Deerwood Route 3, Deerwood Road, Holderness, 279-4237, campdeerwood.com
What: A resident camp for boys with activities like ceramics, mountain biking, riflery, archery, tennis, woodworking, canoeing, kayaking, waterskiing, swimming and more. Who: Boys ages 8 to 15 When: One full eight-week session or two half four-week sessions are available, dates offered June 24 through Aug. 12 Cost: $5,900 for a half session and $10,200 for the full session

Camp Fatima 32 Fatima Road, Gilmanton Iron Works, 931-5500, bfcamp.com What: Traditional overnight camp for boys, with activities like swimming, kayaking, canoeing, baseball, softball, lacrosse, ropes courses, archery, arts and crafts and more. Who: Boys ages 5 to 16 When: Residential camp runs for two-week, four-week or six-week sessions, dates offered June 25 to Aug. 12 Cost: Starts at $1,950 per two-week session

Camp Foss 242 Willey Pond Road, Strafford, 269-3800; hosted by the Granite YMCA, 232-8642, graniteymca.org
What: Campers enjoy a traditional camp experience with arts and crafts, archery, various sports, swimming, whitewater rafting, ropes courses and more. Who: Girls ages 8 through 15 When: One-week sessions offered each week from Sunday, June 25, through Saturday, Aug. 12; two-week sessions are offered from Sunday, June 25, through Saturday, Aug. 5 Cost: $1,350 for one week and $2,300 for two weeks.

Camp Fully Involved New Hampshire State Fire Academy, 222 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, [email protected], campfullyinvolved.com
What: Camp for girls considering a career in firefighting or emergency medical services. Curriculum provides a comprehensive overview of the firefighting profession through hands-on drills and activities. Please note that this camp is very intense and physically demanding. Who: Girls ages 14 through 20 When: Sunday, July 30, through Friday, Aug. 4 Cost: $400

Camp Gottalikeachallenge Brewster Academy, 80 Academy Drive, Wolfeboro; Lions Camp Pride, 180 Lions Camp Pride Way, New Durham; 868-2140, campgottalikeachallenge.org
What: Camp Gottalikeachallenge is a one-week overnight creativity camp. Campers dabble in plenty of hands-on learning and challenging activities, from muscle-stretching games to programs focusing on critical thinking, leadership skills, problem-solving and teamwork. Who: Ages 10 to 14 (going into grades 5 to 9) When: Overnight sessions run Sunday through Friday, dates offered July 30 to Aug. 4 (at Lions Camp Pride) and Aug. 6 to Aug. 11 (at Brewster Academy) Cost: $775; financial assistance is available. A 10 percent early-bird discount applies for registrations submitted by March 31.

Camp Kabeyun 43 Camp Kabeyun Road, Alton Bay, 875-3060, kabeyun.org
What: A resident camp for boys with activities like archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, rock climbing, ropes courses, stand-up paddleboarding and more. Who: Boys ages 7 to 16 When: Two-week, four-week, six-week and eight-week sessions are available, dates offered June 25 through Aug. 18 (some weeks are full or have waiting lists; visit the website for the most up-to-date status) Cost: Starts at $4,490 for an introductory two-week session

Camp Mi-Te-Na 65 YMCA Road, Alton, 776-3000; hosted by the Granite YMCA, 232-8642, graniteymca.org
What: Campers enjoy a traditional camp experience with arts and crafts, archery, various sports, swimming, whitewater rafting, ropes courses and more. Who: Boys ages 8 through 15 When: One- and two-week sessions offered from Sunday, June 25, through Saturday, Aug. 19 Cost: $1,350 for one week and $2,300 for two weeks; discounts are available for current Granite YMCA members

Camp Quinebarge 100 Sibley Road, Moultonborough, 253-6029, campquinebarge.com
What: An overnight camp offering activities like swimming, boating, fencing, archery, horseback riding, ropes courses, a zip-line and much more. Who: Ages 6 to 16 When: Residential camp runs for two-week, four-week, six-week or eight-week sessions, dates offered June 25 to Aug. 19 Cost: Starts at $3,925 per two-week session

Camp Sno Mo Hidden Valley Reservation, 260 Griswold Lane, Gilmanton Iron Works, hosted by Easterseals, 364-5818, easterseals.com/nh
What: Campers participate in activities like water sports, hiking, archery, ecology, riflery, adaptive horseback riding, wood working, black smithing and more. Who: Children and young adults ages 11 through 21 with disabilities and special needs When: Sessions run overnight Sunday to Friday, dates offered June 25 through Aug. 18, with an additional week from Aug. 20 to Aug. 25 for campers ages 22 and up Cost: Ranges from $1,400 to $1,900

Camp Walt Whitman 1000 Cape Moonshine Road, Piermont, 1-800-657-8282, campwalt.com
What: An co-ed overnight camp offering activities like ceramics, woodworking, drama and music programs, ropes courses, weekly hikes, whitewater rafting, sports and more. A one-week program for families is also available in August. Who: Boys and girls entering grades 2 through 11 When: Several sessions are available throughout the summer, dates offered June 25 through Aug. 11. The one-week Family Camp runs from Monday, Aug. 14, through Friday, Aug. 18 Cost: Ranges from $1,750 to $15,000, depending on the length of each session

Cohen Camps Camp Tel Noar, 167 Main St., Hampstead, 329-6931, camptelnoar.org; Camp Tevya, 1 Mason Road, Brookline, 673-4010, camptevya.org; cohencamps.org
What: Jewish educational and cultural camps where campers will enjoy swimming, boating, outdoor learning, athletics, arts and crafts, plus shira (singing) and rikud (Israeli dancing). Who: Grades 2 through 10 When: Session dates offered Wednesday, June 28, through Wednesday, Aug. 16 Cost: Starts at $7,000 for the first session (June 28 through July 23) and $6,700 for the second session (July 24 through Aug. 16)

New Hampshire Police Cadet Training Academy New Hampshire Technical Institute, 31 College Drive, Concord, nhpcta.org
What: This program is designed to help young people develop their skills and knowledge of law enforcement and to refine their life skills in the future. Who: Ages 14 to 20 When: Saturday, June 24, through Friday, June 30 Cost: TBA; applications should be available by March 1

Water Monkey Camp 298 Merrymeeting Road, New Durham, 617-855-9253, watermonkeycamp.com
What: Campers will enjoy wakeboarding, waterskiing, wakesurfing and wakeskating on Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham. Who: Ages 10 through 17 When: Sessions run Sunday through Saturday, dates offered June 18 through Aug. 11 Cost: $2,950/week, all-inclusive.

Windsor Mountain Summer Camp 1 World Way, Windsor, 478-3166, windsormountain.org
What: A co-ed overnight camp offering a variety of activities, including sports, arts, music, swimming, boating, ropes courses, cooking, videography and more. Who: Ages 7 through 16 When: Two full-length sessions are offered, each lasting four weeks. Dates run June 25 through July 19, and July 23 through Aug. 16. Mini sessions are also available within those dates (some weeks are full or have waiting lists; visit the website for the most up-to-date status) Cost: $7,295 for each full-length session; mini session rates range from $3,795 to $4,395

SCIENCE

Aviation Summer Camp: “Flights of Discovery” Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org What: Campers will learn about aviation and aerospace by engaging in curriculum-based lessons, hands-on activities and challenges. Flight simulators, wind tunnels and guest speakers will help students better understand the many different aviation careers through a hands-on approach. Field trips are incorporated into the end of each lesson to help kids see what they learned in practice. Two programs are available: Level 1 (ages 10 to 13) and Level 2 (ages 14 to 17). Core subjects for both will include aeronautics and aerodynamics, aircraft structure and function, aviation history, airports, astronomy and astrology, space exploration and more. Who: Ages 10 to 17 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered July 10 through Aug. 3; a special end-of-camp field day will be held on Aug. 3, complete with pizza delivered by helicopter. Cost: $450 per week, or $1,800 total for the full four-week program.

Brainwave STEAM Camps 2nd Nature Academy, 10 Groton Road, Nashua, 881-4815, 2ndnatureacademy.com/brainwave
What: A variety of STEAM day camps that are all about creative exploration and mind expansion, with themes like science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Who: Ages 6 through 14 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 Cost: Ranges from $250 to $440 per week, depending on the session, plus a $35 registration fee; includes all supplies. Extended care is available at an additional cost.

Camp Summer Science SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org
What: Through hands-on activities, campers will explore four topics — Chemistry Capers, Earth, Space & the Universe, Exhibit Design & Prototype and Reverse Engineering. Who: Ages 7 to 13 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dates offered July 10 through July 14, or July 17 through July 21 Cost: $300 for the week.

iSpy Camp SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org
What: This camp will encourage kids to use their investigation skills in an introduction to crime scene investigation, espionage, and forensic science. Who: Ages 7 to 13 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dates offered July 10 through July 14, or July 17 through July 21 Cost: $300 for the week.

LEtGO Your Mind Multiple locations throughout New Hampshire, 731-8047, letgoyourmind.com
What: Campers explore STEM subjects through activities with Lego bricks, introduction to robotics, stop-motion animation, and programming Minecraft. Who: Ages 4 through 14 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dates offered June 19 through Aug. 18. Half days from 9 a.m. to noon are also available for kids ages 4 and 5 Cost: Starts at $385 per week for a full day and $225 per week for a half day. Before- and after-school care is also available.

Manchester Community College Camps 1066 Front St., Manchester, 206-8161, mccnh.edu
What: Week-long summer day camps with programs that include Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs, STEM Camp, Solid Modeling and Robotics Who: Rising 6th- to 8th-graders When: Sessions run Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dates offered from July 10 through Aug. 3, depending on the camp Cost: $175 per week

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center 2 Institute Drive, Concord, 271-7827, starhop.com
What: Campers will learn about astronomy, aviation and Earth science through hands-on activities and adventures. This year’s seven themes are “Blast Off!,” “Storm Chasers,” “Up, Up, and Away!,” “Codename: Robot Camp,” “Discover the Dinosaurs,” “So You Want to be an Astronaut?” and Star Hunters. Who: General age range is 5 to 14 but varies depending on the program theme When: Most sessions run Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 11 (no programs Tuesday, July 4, or Wednesday, July 5) Cost: Ranges from $210 to $345 per week

SPORTS

Auburn Parks & Recreation Summer Basketball Camp 483-5052, auburnparksandrec.com, find them on Facebook @auburnnhparksandrec
What: Campers will have the opportunity to work on ball handling and defensive skills as well as how to move and handle themselves on the court, practicing in daily full scrimmages. Who: Students entering grades 5 through 8 When: A one-week session will be held from Monday, Aug. 14, through Friday, Aug. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the gymnasium of Auburn Village School (11 Eaton Hill Road, Auburn) Cost: $199 for the full week

Caramba Soccer Skills Camp Locations in Concord, Nashua, Canterbury and Chichester, 496-3579, soccerskillscamp.org
What: Soccer program specializes in skill development for goaltenders, defenders, midfielders and strikers. Players are divided by age for the first half of the day, then by ability level for the second half. Who: Grades 1 through 12 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, times vary depending on the location (a half-day option is also available), dates offered July 10 through Aug. 3 Cost: $235 per week for a full-day program, and $150 per week for a half-day program

Challenger Sports Soccer Camps Various NH locations, 800-878-2167, ext. 280, challengersports.com
What: Campers will develop core soccer skills and understanding of the game as well as sportsmanship and leadership skills. Locally, this year’s programs take place in conjunction with the New Boston Recreation Department, the Weare Athletic Club, the Windham Soccer Association, the Hopkinton Recreation Department, the Pelham Parks & Recreation Department, the Gilford Recreation Department, the Gilmanton Youth Organization, the Exeter Parks & Recreation Department and the Northwood Recreation Department. Who: Ages 2 to 14 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday; exact dates and times vary depending on the location; see website for details Cost: Varies, depending on the camp and the location

The Derryfield School Co-ed Basketball Camp 2108 River Road, Manchester, 641-9426, derryfield.org/summer/sports-camps
What: Run by Derryfield School faculty member Courtney Cheetham, this camp will include skills stations, breakout groups, games, a contest of the day and other activities revolving around basketball. Who: Rising 4th- to 10th-graders When: Monday, June 26, through Friday, June 30, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost: $250, with a $30 lunch option (lunch paid separately)

The Derryfield School Field Hockey Skills & Shooting 2108 River Road, Manchester, 641-9426, derryfield.org/summer/sports-camps
What: Derryfield School head field hockey coach Kelsey Federico will lead this three-day camp. The first hour will focus on the fundamentals of passing and receiving for players of all positions, and the camp will then progress into goal scoring drills. Who: Rising 6th- to 12th-grade field hockey players When: Sessions run Monday through Wednesday, from 1 to 3 p.m., dates offered June 26 to June 28 or Aug. 7 to Aug. 9 Cost: $150

The Derryfield School Field Hockey Goalkeeping Camp 2108 River Road, Manchester, 641-9426, derryfield.org/summer/sports-camps
What: Derryfield School head field hockey coach Kelsey Federico will lead this three-day camp, which will focus on the fundamentals of saving and clearing, as well as diving, split saves and more. Who: Rising 6th- to 12th-grade field hockey players When: Sessions run Monday through Wednesday, from 2 to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 to June 28 or Aug. 7 to Aug. 9 Cost: $150

The Derryfield School Summer Strength & Conditioning 2108 River Road, Manchester, 641-9426, derryfield.org/summer/sports-camps
What: Program focuses on the essentials of foam rolling, mobility and motor control, as well as proper strength training and conditioning, to maximize the results of a camper’s performance and minimize the risk of injury. Who: Rising 8th-graders to newly graduated 12th-graders When: Sessions run June 20 through Aug. 3 Cost: Ranges from $120 to $450, depending on the number of sessions taken and the length of each

Fisher Cats Baseball & Softball Camps Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, 1 Line Drive, Manchester, 641-2005, nhfishercats.com
What: Instructed by New Hampshire Prospects Baseball Club players and Fisher Cats front office staff, these camps teach the fundamentals of the game, including throwing, fielding, hitting and pitching. Who: Boys and girls ages 6 through 15 When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon, offered April 24 through April 28; June 26 through June 30; July 24 to July 25 and July 27 to July 28; and Aug. 21 through Aug. 25 Cost: Ranges from $150 to $175 per week, depending on the session. Campers also receive a T-shirt and complimentary tickets to an upcoming Fisher Cats home game (dates vary depending on the sessions chosen).

Foster’s Golf Camp Derryfield Park, 581 Bridge St., Manchester, 622-1553, fostersgolfcamp.com
What: Campers travel to different par-3 courses across New Hampshire and participate in practice clinics, chipping and putting contests, time on the driving range and at least nine holes of golf with instruction. Trophies and certificates are awarded at the end of the session. Drop-offs and pick-ups are at Derryfield Park in Manchester. Golf camps take place at a variety of locations, depending on the day of the week. Who: Ages 7 to 16 of all experience levels. When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered April 24 through April 28 and June 19 through Sept. 1 (no camp the week of July 4) Cost: $325 per week

Hogan Camps Various NH locations, 340-1719, hogancamps.com
What: Specialty basketball and soccer camps under the direction of Paul Hogan, retired athletics director and men’s basketball coach at NHTI in Concord. Programs include the Point Guard Basketball Camp, Rip City Basketball Camp, Shooter’s Gold Basketball Camp and a Specialty Basketball Camp Who: Boys and girls entering 1st grade and up; individual camps vary on the age range When: Sessions run various days and times, dates offered June 23 through Aug. 3 Cost: Varies.

In the Net Sports Academy Locations in Bedford, Hooksett, Manchester and Nashua, 429-0592, inthenetsportsacademy.com
What: A variety of sports camps, including baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, field hockey, lacrosse and volleyball Who: Ages 3 through high school When: Sessions run Monday to Friday, with half-day, full-day, evening and overnight options, dates offered throughout June, July and August Cost: Ranges, depending on the sport

Magic Touch Soccer Academy 120 Huse Road, Manchester, 232-2314, magictouchsoccer.com
What: Run by varsity soccer coach Jeff Cousineau of The Derryfield School in Manchester, this soccer camp is oriented around a playful and game-like atmosphere with a focus on building a player’s technical skills, using music as a unique foundation to teach creative flair with the ball. Who: Boys and girls entering grades 9 through 12 When: Sunday, Aug. 6, through Thursday, Aug. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., at The Derryfield School (2108 River Road, Manchester) Cost: TBA

NH Climbing Camps NH Climbing and Fitness, 10 Langdon Ave, Concord, nhclimbinggym.com
What: Programs include Summer Indoor Camp, in which campers can learn basic top-rope climbing; and NH Adventure Camp, in which campers take hiking-based field trips across the state. Each day is loaded with top-rope climbing of the facility’s 40-foot walls, bouldering games, crafts and more. Who: Ages 6 to 12 When: Summer Indoor Camp sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and NH Adventure Camp sessions run Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 18 for both programs. Cost: Varies; see website for details.

NH Hoop Skills Stan Spirou Field House at Southern New Hampshire University, 2500 N. River Road, Manchester, 645-9662, nhhoopskills.com
What: A basketball camp for girls featuring SNHU women’s basketball coach Karen Pinkos as the director. Campers learn the basic fundamentals, rules and sportsmanship of basketball through fun-filled instruction and exercises. Who: Girls entering grades 2 through 10 When: Sessions run Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dates offered June 26 through June June 29 or July 24 through July 27 Cost: $275 per week

NH Tomahawks Girls Lacrosse Camp Back River Sports Complex, 15 Camp Allen Road, Bedford; Joppa Fields, 176 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford; girls.nhtomahawks.com What: Players will be divided by position, age and ability, and will focus on improving fundamental skills in lacrosse, including offensive moves, shooting, cutting, feeding and one-on-one defense. Goalies will have specific training and integrate in with the rest of the camp for game play. Who: Girls ages 5 to 17 When: Three weekly sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon this year, dates offered Monday, June 26, through Thursday, June 29, at the Back River Sports Complex; Monday, July 10, through Thursday, July 13, at Joppa Fields; and Monday, July 24, through Thursday, July 27, also at Joppa Fields Cost: $195 per session

Nike Basketball Camps Locations in Manchester, Nashua and Hampton, 800-645-3226, ussportscamps.com/basketball/nike
What: Camp for basketball players who want to improve their skills. Includes lectures, team games and daily emphasis on fundamental development. Who: Boys and girls ages 8 to 16. When: Sessions run Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dates vary depending on the location; see website for details. Cost: Most camps range from $180 to $375 per week, but may vary depending on the location and the length of each session.

Pro Ambitions Hockey Day Camps Tri-Town Ice Arena, 311 W. River Road, Hooksett; Conway Arena, 5 Stadium Drive, Nashua; proambitions.com
What: At the Battle Camp, players learn skating skills and game theory elements while engaging in a situational battle. The Boston Bruins Camp features training in all aspects of ice hockey, plus daily appearances and autograph sessions with members of the Boston Bruins organization. A goaltending camp is also offered. Who: Ages 6 to 16 When: The Battle Camp and the goaltending camp run from Wednesday, July 5, through Friday, July 7, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Boston Bruins camps run from Monday, July 17, through Thursday, July 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: Ranges from $499 to $649.

Soccer Sphere Summer Soccer Camp Locations in Madbury and Portsmouth, soccersphere.org
What: Programs include day and residential soccer camps, high school preseason training, goalkeeper training and more. Who: Boys and girls ages 5 and up When: Four-day sessions run at various days and times, dates offered June 19 through Aug. 4 at Tibbetts Field (25 Lee Road, Madbury) and July 31 through Aug. 4 at Portsmouth Community Fields (Campus Drive, Portsmouth) Cost: Ranges from $185 to $275.

UNH Wildcats Camps University of New Hampshire, 145 Main St., Durham, 862-1850, unhwildcats.com
What: Programs offered for basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, track and field, football, soccer, volleyball and more. Day and overnight options are available. Who: Boys and girls entering kindergarten through 12th grade When: Sessions run various days/weeks, beginning the week of June 26 (some dates TBA; see website for the full up-to-date schedule) Cost: Varies depending on the camp

THEATER

Bedford Youth Performing Company 155 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3894, bypc.org What: A variety of dance and musical theater camps are offered for all ages, as well as music and movement camps for preschoolers. Who: Ages 3 and up, varies by camp When: Dates and times vary by camp, dates offered June 12 through Aug. 17 Cost: $275 for preschool camps; dance and musical theater camps range from $95 to $395

The Derryfield School Repertory Theatre Camp 2108 River Road, Manchester, 641-9426, derryfield.org/summer/theatre-camp
What: Campers will practice acting, singing, script writing, dance and improvisation and participate in a performance at the end of the camp. Who: Rising 4th- to 12th-graders When: Sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dates offered July 10 through July 21, and July 24 through Aug. 4 Cost: $630

The Majestic Theatre 880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net What: Campers will learn about all aspects of theater and build skills in acting, movement, improvisation, music and cooperative abilities. Who: Ages 5 through 14 When: One-week half-day camps for ages 5 through 7 are offered June 26 through July 1 and July 24 through July 29. For ages 8 through 14, a two-week full-day camp runs July 10 through July 22, and a one-week full-day camp runs July 31 through Aug. 5. Cost: $160 for the half-day camps, $225 for the one-week full-day camp and $325 for the two-week full-day camp

Merrimack Summer Stage Wasserman Park Theater, 116 Naticook Road, Merrimack, hosted by Merrimack Parks & Recreation, 882-1046, merrimackparksandrec.org/summer-stage
What: In this week-long theater camp, participants will learn about scene acting, vocal work, dance and creative movement, theater games and improvisation. Campers will put together and perform a youth production of The Wizard of Oz. Who: Ages 8 through 15 When: Monday, July 17, through Friday, July 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day Cost: $265 for Merrimack residents and $275 for non-residents.

Palace Youth Theatre 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org What: Campers will learn about all aspects of theater, including music, dance, acting, costume design, technical theater and more, all while developing teamwork skills, confidence and creativity. Each camp concludes with a fully staged production on stage. This year’s productions include Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr., Peter Pan, Elf the Musical Jr., Snow White, High School Musical Jr. and Winnie the Pooh.Who: Rising 2nd- through 12th-graders When: One-week or two-week sessions run Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., dates offered June 26 through Aug. 25 (see website for details on when each theater performance is held and which sessions last one week versus two weeks) Cost: Ranges from $250 to $499 per session

Peacock Players 14 Court St., Nashua, 886-7000, peacockplayers.org
What: Campers will spend a week immersed in theater, music and dance to prepare a variety showcase performance. Camp themes include “Blast from the Past,” “Getting Spooky,” “Rock & Roll,” “Tales & Legends” and “Hollywood.” Who: Rising 1st- to 9th-graders When: Camps are offered July 17 through Aug. 18. Cost: $350 per week

Triple Threat Theater Camp Londonderry Dance Academy, 21 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 432-0032, triplethreattheatercamp.com
What: Focuses on the core aspects of theater, including acting, dancing and voice. Led by experienced theater educators, directors and choreographers, campers will participate in workshops and rehearsals to prepare for a public performance at the end of the session. Who: Ages 7 to 17 When: A three-week program runs July 10 through July 28, with full-day sessions. A one-week program with full-day and half-day options, open to ages 6 through 11, is offered July 10 through July 14 and July 17 through July 21. Cost: $850 for the three-week program; the one-week program costs $325 for full days and $200 for half days.

Local shelters talk about their dogs, cats and other pets looking for new homes

Compiled by
Matt Ingersoll, Mya Blanchard, Katelyn Sahagian and Angie Sykeny
[email protected]

Looking for a new animal companion? We spoke with local shelters and rescue leagues about the work that’s involved in bringing dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals to their forever homes. The shelters also describe a few of their pets that (at least as of presstime) are looking for new families.

Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire

545 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3647, rescueleague.org

Serving more than 2,000 pets a year, the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire was incorporated in 1904, making it one of the longest-running animal-focused nonprofits in the area. Its first shelter facility opened in a renovated home in Goffstown in 1942. The ARLNH is now in its 25th year of operation in its current facility in Bedford, which opened in 1998, according to chief executive officer Marianne Jones.

“We specialize in helping … companion animals, so cats, dogs [and] small animals like hamsters, rabbits and gerbils,” Jones said. “We offer many community-based programs. We’ll help folks with adoption [or] if they need to surrender an animal. We also have resources like a pet food pantry, human education and low-cost spay and neuter clinics. The list goes on and on.”

Jones said a regularly updated adoption page on the ARLNH’s website provides the details on currently available animals.

“We encourage people to look on the website, read [the animals’] bios to see if they may potentially be a fit for them, and then if they feel that it would, to give us a call to speak further and assess a fit,” Jones said. “We are appointment-only right now, usually in the afternoons because we clean all morning. … We’re here seven days a week.”

Appointments are usually booked within a day or two, but never more than 48 hours, according to the ARLNH’s website, in order to not hold any animals back from other adoption opportunities. Those who already have resident dogs are encouraged to bring them if they are adopting an additional dog. Some animals can go home the same day if they are perfect fits, while others may need additional time. Adoption fees do vary, depending on the type of animal and the animal’s age.

“We certainly want everyone to have the best animal for them, but we always welcome the animal back,” Jones said.

Adoptable pets from the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire:

• Bashful and Lover Boy: This pair of 15-year-old domestic shorthair cats is looking for a kind and patient human to help them break out of her shell. Due to their age and medical concerns, they would do best in a home without any dogs.

• Eugene: Eugene is a 2-year-old bearded dragon who came to the shelter after his previous owners realized they didn’t have as much time to take care of him as they used to. He’s looking for an adopter who has experience with bearded dragon ownership, diet, care and the appropriate environments for him to live a happy and healthy life.

• Jo: Jo is a 4-year-old female Angora mix rabbit who was surrendered to the ARLNH after her owners realized it was too much to take care of her with all her hair. She prefers to live without any other rabbits as she can be territorial of her space if they are around. Those interested in adopting her should learn about her overall hair and upkeep needs.

• Mami: Mami is a 4-year-old domestic shorthair cat who found her way into the shelter after her previous owners discovered that a home with kids was less than ideal for her. She’s known for being a very playful, active and affectionate companion once she is comfortable around her humans.

• Nike: Nike is a 3-year-old female German shepherd who enjoys being active and hopes to find a home where she can continue to be. She’s a bit of a drama queen — especially when she gets excited to go for a walk — and would do best in a home with teenagers and adults, without other animals.

Darbster Rescue

Doggy: 109 Dover Road, Chichester, 635-4495, darbsterfoundation.com

Kitty: 332 Kelley St., Manchester, 856-9233, darbsterfoundation.com

Darbster started out as a cats-only shelter after founder Ellen Quinlan was encouraged to find pets for friends and family when she moved to Florida. Quinlan said that friends would go to New Hampshire-based animal shelters and not be able to find any cats, but they were practically crawling across her new state.

“Our mission as a rescue is to reduce euthanasia rate of animals,” Quinlan said. “Lots of animals are getting put down in southern states.”

New Hampshire, the second of two states to pass no-kill laws for shelters, was the perfect place for Darbster Kitty and, later, Darbster Doggy. Located in Manchester and Chichester, respectively, the two shelters also offer transport service, and have a home base in South Beach, Florida.

Quinlan said that she’ll transport dogs and cats by car from Florida, Georgia and other surrounding states twice a month. She flies small dogs from Los Angeles to Boston before coming to New Hampshire.

Adoptable pets from Darbster Doggy:

• Angela: Angela is a 4-year-old female hound mix who is currently in foster care. This sweet and adorable dog has a great personality and gets along well with cats and children, as well as other dogs. She is spayed and house trained, and is up to date on all of her current vaccinations.

• Lele: This 2-month-old female black Labrador retriever and goldendoodle mix is 8 pounds right now, but will grow to be up to 60 pounds. According to Darbster Doggy’s website, she is good with kids, dogs and cats and is up to date on all her vaccinations.

• Pascal: This 5-year-old terrier mix has been available since the beginning of February. He would be fine in a house with other dogs but doesn’t do well with cats or children. He is fully grown, at 17 pounds, and has all of his shots. He is also neutered and house trained.

• Sparrow: Sparrow is an 11-month-old Belgian Malinois mix. Right now he weighs 53 pounds, but he has the potential to grow bigger. He is good with cats, dogs and kids, has all of his vaccinations, and is neutered.

• Tandy: A 2-year-old mixed breed female, Tandy is currently 47 pounds and has both a playful and a more relaxed personality. She’s in foster care right now and would do well in a house that didn’t have any cats. She is spayed and up to date on her vaccinations.

Adoptable pets from Darbster Kitty:

• Artley:This2-year-old female tabby is both extremely affectionate and high-energy. She will also give head butts and meander around people’s legs. She isn’t sure of other cats and would do best as an only pet. She is spayed and up to date on all her shots.

• Belle: This is the second time this6-year-old girl has found her way into Darbster Kitty, through no fault of her own. She is a playful cat that would do well with others. She is spayed and up to date on her shots.

• Blue: This little8-month-old tuxedo kitten is the life of the party at his foster home. He loves cardboard scratchers, balls, feather wands and his favorite, the cat dancer. He doesn’t have any experience with children yet, but he gets along well with the other dogs and cats in his foster home. He is up to date on his vaccines and is neutered.

• Licorice:Found abandoned in an apartment complex, this 2-year-old gray and black tabby cat hasn’t had the easiest life. He is recently recovered from surgery but is ready to find his forever home. He is good with other cats, is neutered, and is up to date on his shots.

• Plum: This little 8-month-old tuxedo cat loves to play with any toy he can get his paws on. He is also infatuated with lap naps and will curl up while watching TV. He does well with cats, both young and older, but doesn’t have experience with children or dogs. He is up to date on his vaccines and is neutered.

Greater Derry Humane Society

East Derry, 434-1512, derryhumanesociety.com

Marty and Paula Dunladey, the president and chair of the Greater Derry Humane Society, respectively, said there are a lot of logistics that come into play when there isn’t a brick-and-mortar shelter to rely on.

“The thing about foster situations [is] our animals aren’t displayed, but they’re learning how to live in a home and are much less stressed than animals in a shelter,” Paula Dunladey said. “[Shelters] are stressful for people and for the animals in them.”

The Society has approximately 40 homes fostering animals at a time, but that isn’t usually enough for the number of dogs and cats they know need care. Marty Dunladey said the Society works hard to keep the number of animals they take in in proportion to the number of homes available for fostering.

“We get surrenders and take in strays,” Marty Dunladey said. “We get animals from Animal Control in Derry, and cats especially. Most of what we do is getting them veterinary care. That’s our biggest thing.”

Marty Dunladey suggests that people looking for a new pet adopt some that are older. While puppies are new, he said that older dogs are just as fun and loving.

“Senior dogs are tougher to get adopted,” he said. “We just adopted a 14-year-old dog. We know he doesn’t have long but we don’t want to see any dog spend last years not at home.”

Adoptable pets from the Greater Derry Humane Society:

• Andy: This 11-year-old chihuahua loves curling up on laps and receiving belly rubs. He’s good with new people and other dogs, but hasn’t been exposed to cats while being fostered.

• Emma: Emma is a 2-year-old corgi mix who was brought up from Georgia. She is a very affectionate and athletic girl who is good with other dogs in the family, but does have a tendency to be skittish around men. She loves sleeping on laps and beds, but she is only crate trained.

• Finnegan: This 3-year-old chihuahua mix is good with other dogs, but not so great with kids and cats. He’s up to date on his vaccinations and is neutered. He’s a very snuggly guy, even though he’s still struggling with potty training.

• Katana: This American pit bull terrier and Shar-pei mix has traveled from Texas to find a forever home in New Hampshire. He is good with other dogs and kids, but not so much with cats. He is just over 2-and-a-half years old and is neutered and up to date on all of his vaccinations.

• Rafael: This almost 2-year-old Boston terrier and rat terrier mix is a sweet dog with a huge heart. Because he is cautious with new people, the Greater Derry Humane Society does not recommend him for families with children.

Happy Tails Pet Rescue

14 Pine Road, Hudson, 595-7387, happytailspetrescue.org

Happy Tails Pet Rescue is a cat-only shelter run exclusively by volunteers and on donations.

“We started … just to help the cats in the area that the larger humane societies couldn’t help, like the hard-to-adopt animals [and] the cats with special needs,” said April Guilmet, one of the shelter’s board members.

Located in Hudson, the shelter usually has around a dozen cats on average, taking them in from kill shelters in New York City and Florida as well as surrenders. Animals who come to the shelter are also available for adoption at PetSmart locations in Plaistow and Chelmsford, Mass.

Adoption applications can be found on the rescue’s website, and prices vary depending on the age of the pet — they range from $120 for senior cats over the age of 10 to $220 for kittens under 6 months old. Interested applicants also have opportunities to volunteer at the shelter or foster available cats.

“There’s so many different personality types,” Guilmet said. “A cat’s a great pet for everyone.”

Adoptable cats from Happy Tails Pet Rescue:

• Artemis: Artemis is a 3-year-old domestic shorthair mix. She is very timid and shy, but with love and proper care will show how sweet and loving she likely is.

• Mama Sue: This 1½-year-old cat is now an empty nester who would do well in a quiet home without dogs or little kids. According to her foster parent, she doesn’t enjoy being picked up, but does love to play with wand toys.

• Millie: At 2 years and 9 months old, Millie has had a tough start to her life. She is often overlooked due to her shy and timid nature, but shows a strong desire to trust people, as she is learning to do every day. It would benefit Millie to be adopted along with one of her current roommates at the shelter, or go to a home that has a friendly cat who can help her adjust.

• Sasha: Sasha is a 3-year-old domestic shorthair mix. It is assumed she had a tough life before coming to the shelter, but she is learning to trust people. She is gradually coming out of her shell and loves to play. Sasha would do best in a quiet home with a patient parent so she is able to warm up to her new home.

Hearts and Tails Animal Alliance

Weare, heartsandtails.org

About five years ago Cathy Bailey and her partner were vacationing in Puerto Rico when a stray black dog started following them around.

“As soon as I saw him I broke into tears. … He had ticks all over his face and he couldn’t walk on his back right leg,” Bailey said.

The couple went to a nearby store to pick up dog food, but when they came back to where they had encountered the dog, it was nowhere to be found.

“We had this great itinerary planned for our two-day vacation and we did none of it,” she said. “All we did was look for this dog, and we never found him.”

Bailey would return home to New Hampshire, but the thought of the stray dog never left her mind. A few weeks went by, and she decided she needed to return to Puerto Rico to find it.

“We looked and looked and we couldn’t find him. I was so discouraged,” she said. “So then I saw a black dog and a white dog laying on the sidewalk and I said, ‘Well, I’ll just go ahead and feed these dogs, at least.’ My boyfriend let me out and he started driving away and then I just started screaming, ‘It’s him, it’s him!’”

They took the dog to a local vet, where it tested positive for ehrlichia, anaplasmosis and heartworm disease. The dog was ultimately able to get into the hands of a local shelter.

“We started making all kinds of contacts and finding out just how bad the problem is,” Bailey said. “By then we had decided that we wanted to start rescuing more dogs.”

That, Bailey said, was how Hearts and Tails Animal Alliance, a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to preventing the euthanization of adoptable dogs, was born. Today she rescues dogs from several states across the Southeast and has partnered with other adoption agencies and organizations like Darbster Doggy in Chichester and the Humane Society for Greater Nashua.

Adoption applications can be filled out online and visits are by appointment. Bailey said the adoption fees range from $450 to $650, depending on the age of the dog, and those who don’t have prior veterinary references are required to get pet insurance.

“All of the money that we get from the adoptions … includes [the] spay or neuter [procedure], the microchip, all of your required vaccines and then we give three days of food, a small leash and a martingale collar,” Bailey said.

Adoptable dogs from Hearts and Tails Animal Alliance:

• Billy: Billy is a 4-year-old Catahoula Leopard dog who loves to go out for walks and is great on a leash. He was brought into an animal control facility in South Carolina as a stray before making his way up to New Hampshire. He is house trained and crate trained, neutered and microchipped, and has all his required vaccinations.

• Honey Pie: A terrier mix, Honey Pie is approximately 2 years old, described by her foster mother as the “most perfect house dog.” She arrived at the shelter after wandering in for a visit to the town’s local library. The staff had been hoping she would be reunited with her owner but no one showed up to claim her. Honey Pie walks well on a leash and does always have some energy to burn, so an active family or a fenced yard where she could run would be best for her.

• Tango: Tango is a 1-year-old Plott Hound mix who is good with other dogs and absolutely loves people. He came to New Hampshire from a foster home in North Carolina, and is neutered and up to date on all his required vaccinations.

Humane Society for Greater Nashua

24 Ferry Road, Nashua, 889-2275, hsfn.org

The Humane Society for Greater Nashua has animals of all shapes and sizes, ranging from dogs, cats and bunnies to guinea pigs, parakeets and hedgehogs. They usually receive new dogs from places like Texas and Arkansas every two to three weeks, and have two rooms dedicated to cats. The shelter also has a vet space that gives people access to low-cost vet care, offering services like emergency surgeries, spaying and neutering, dental care and more. There is also a dog trainer at the shelter.

“[We are] able to provide certain services so that families can make sure that they’re getting quality … medical care for their pets. It’s what we’re here for,” said Jennifer Adams-LeBlanc, the shelter’s director of partnerships and corporate gifts.

Adams-LeBlanc also noted that adopting a pet is a long-term commitment, and it all comes down to one’s own lifestyle.

“[These] animals … have already had their lives disrupted [and] that’s traumatizing for [them],” she said. “So we want to make sure if we’re sending the dog home that we’re not disrupting their life again.”

Anyone interested in adopting any of the animals at the shelter can go on the website and print out an adoption application to bring with them to the shelter.

“You’ll meet with an adoption counselor that will talk with you about all the different [animals],” Adams-LeBlanc said.

During this process, one can inquire about the adoption cost, or visit their website for a list, since the price depends on the age of the pet.

“The goal is to do an adoption and make it last,” Adams-LeBlanc said.

Adoptable pets from the Humane Society for Greater Nashua:

• Pebble: At 10 years old, cat Pebble has an independent personality, striking green eyes and a face that’s half gray and half beige. She has had a tough time finding home so far, but is still looking for a family of her own.

• Potato and Chad: Potato and Chad are a friendly guinea pig duo looking for a happy home. They are a bonded pair and must be adopted together. The 3-year-old guinea pigs would love to go to a home where they can have time to roam outside of their enclosure and receive lots of love and attention.

• Sargent: Sargent is a 6-year-old hound mix looking for his forever family. “He’s super friendly [and] loves long walks,” said Nichole Marcoux, an animal care associate and adoption counselor at the shelter. “He loves sniffing around and just being outside, [and] he’s super snuggly.” Sargent is good with kids but would do best in a family without other dogs.

• Wednesday: Wednesday is a 2-year-old bunny who has been at the shelter since December. She is very sweet and affectionate and loves her lollipop hay toys. “She is people-friendly and will come up to the cage to say hello and to be pet,” Jennifer Adams-LeBlanc, the shelter’s director of partnerships and corporate gifts, said in an email.

Manchester Animal Shelter

490 Dunbarton Road, Manchester, 628-3544, manchesteranimalshelter.org

For more than two decades the Manchester Animal Shelter has sheltered, provided medical care and spayed or neutered more than 25,000 animals since its founding. Volunteer coordinator Alie Perkus said that this is one of the best parts of working at the shelter.

“Shelters are so important because if it wasn’t for shelters all these animals would be on the streets,” Perkus said. “A lot of times, people worry about animals in shelters getting [the] right care. We have a full-time staff and dedicated volunteers until they’re able to be adopted out.”

Manchester Animal Shelter’s Fix-a-Pit program has led to more than 1,000 of Manchester’s pit bulls being spayed and neutered, while another program, known as Barn Cats, is designed to get scared, angry and mistrusting cats a forever home. These cats are adopted and made a part of a barn ecosystem, keeping pests like mice away from horses.

“A lot of these animals have never had a loving home,” Perkus said. “Given that opportunity, they become totally different animals than in the shelter. It really is getting a friend or companion and adding someone to your family.”

Adoptable pets from the Manchester Animal Shelter:

• Bruin: This 2-year-old German shepherd mix is a good boy who is still working on his behavior. He would do well in a family with only one human who is experienced with dogs. While he is shy to start, once he accepts his human into his circle, he’ll become a cuddle bug.

• Diamond: This 7-year-old pit bull mix is an affectionate and adventurous girl who loves going for walks as much as showing off how smart she is with commands. Diamond would be fine in a home with other dogs but would prefer one without kids.

• King: This 6-year-old brindle mix breed dog is friendly, athletic and affectionate. He loves to play with kids but isn’t a big fan of cats. He would be happiest in a home with an active person who will support his love of fetch, tug-of-war, scritches and peanut butter.

• Panda: This 1-and-a-half-year-old pit bull mix is full of energy. She would make a great hiking or running partner for her future human. Because she’s young and energetic, she’s still working on her manners and would do better in a house without young kids or cats.

• Sonny: This beautiful orange medium-length-fur cat was first adopted from the shelter in 2016 and has now been returned. He was a very friendly cat before, but now is shy and hard to get out of his shell. He needs a calm home and a patient human to help him feel safe and loved again.

• Zeke: This sweet 9-year-old pit bull terrier is excellent with other dogs but doesn’t do too well with kids or cats. He is a quiet senior who loves going for walks and wading through streams. He’s also an absolute cuddler and loves taking time to rest and relax after his adventures.

Motley Mutts Rescue

14 Londonderry Turnpike, No. 4, Hooksett, motleymuttsrescue.org

Motley Mutts Rescue works with animal rescue partners in the South, primarily in rural Mississippi, to transport homeless dogs to New Hampshire, where they’re taken in by volunteer foster homes until they’re found a forever home. The rescue takes in dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages and provides them with veterinary care, including vaccines, preventatives and spaying and neutering procedures.

“Since our inception in 2020 we have been able to successfully adopt out close to 2,000 dogs,” said Katie Hyatt Milewski, vice president on the board.

Adoption fees range from $500 for adults and $600 for puppies, though there are occasionally adult dogs who are sponsored or senior dogs available for lower fees.

Hyatt Milewski said prospective adopters should watch the rescue’s Facebook page — facebook.com/motleymuttsrescue — and submit an application on the rescue’s website when they see “a dog that sparks their heart.”

If there is a possible match, the rescue will arrange a meet-and-greet between the dog and prospective adopter.

Adoptable dogs from Motley Mutts Rescue:

• Cassidy: Cassidy is a happy, sociable 6-month-old pooch, guessed to be a retriever mix, who gets along well with other dogs.

• Gargamel: Gargamel is a Jack Russell terrier mix, around 10 years old, who is looking for a quiet home without younger dogs where he can enjoy being spoiled and being the center of attention.

• Hanes: Hanes is around 11 months old and guessed to be a retriever mix. He loves to play, crates well and would enjoy the company of another playful pup.

• Thad: This sweet 2-year-old Boston terrier mix loves to play with other dogs.

• Tipsy: Tipsy is a sweet and playful 4-month-old mixed-breed pup.

New Hampshire SPCA

104 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 772-2921, nhspca.org

The New Hampshire SPCA celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022 and serves more than 120 communities across New Hampshire, southern Maine and northern Massachusetts.

“Our adoption center receives nearly 2,500 unwanted, neglected or abused animals from our region each year,” Rich Hegarty, NHSPCA’s annual fund and digital marketing manager, said in an email. “We provide each one with a warm bed, medical care, nutritious food and the time it takes … to place them in the best possible new home.”

The NHSPCA is an open-admission, unlimited-stay facility, meaning there is no time limit associated with animals finding their new homes. Animals can range from dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs and rabbits to horses, donkeys, pigs, goats and sheep.

Adoptions, Hegarty said, are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis with an approved application. All adopters must be at least 18 years old and have a valid photo identification with the current address and knowledge and consent of all adults living in their household. The adoption center has open hours every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on Wednesdays.

“We strongly encourage folks to visit in advance to get pre-approved, as some of our animals … are in very high demand,” Hegarty said.

Adoptable pets from the New Hampshire SPCA:

• Annie: Annie is a 22-year-old thoroughbred mare who is adoptable by companion only. She has been great with other horses during her time at the New Hampshire SPCA. She has a crooked mouth, which causes her tongue to stick slightly out on one side, but this does not cause her any pain or issues chewing. She is up to date on vaccines and is microchipped.

• Bandit: This adorable male American foxhound puppy is curious, sweet and always following his nose. He is young — less than a year old — so he is working on his manners, but is very eager to learn. He loves snacks and running as fast as he can in the yard. Though he doesn’t need to go home with another dog, he would love to have a doggie friend to play with.

• Doodles and Snickers: Doodles and Snickers are a pair of bunny companions. They both arrived at the shelter after their owner became allergic. Doodles does tend to be elusive, but would do best if she and her brother, Snickers, are housed together in a closed room. Both are also big foodies, enjoying carrots, blueberries, apples and other treats.

Pope Memorial SPCA

94 Silk Farm Road, Concord, 856-8756, popememorialspca.org

Pope Memorial SPCA is dedicated to protecting and advocating for abandoned and homeless pets and promoting the humane treatment of all animals. Qualified staff medically and behaviorally evaluate all animals that come to the shelter, provide veterinary care and work closely with prospective adopters.

Development coordinator Beth Nemchick said the shelter currently has 60 animals in its care, though it averages around 100. Those animals include dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and birds.

Adoption fees range from $25 to $400, depending on the type of animal and the animal’s age.

To begin the adoption process, prospective adopters can fill out an application online or visit the shelter during walk-in hours, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m., and fill out a paper application.

“Please be prepared to answer questions about your life, your home and how you plan to care for your pet,” Nemchick said. “This information assists us in matching you with a pet that is sure to become a beloved family member and companion.”

Adoption counselors review applications and contact adopters when they identify a possible match. Applications are kept on file for several months and re-reviewed as new animals arrive.

Adoptable pets from Pope Memorial SPCA:

• Banks: This 2-year-old neutered male pointer mix would prefer a home with no cats or children under the age of 8. He is active and exuberant and would make a great hiking pal.

• Bentley and Tucker: Twelve-year-old Bentley and 6-year-old Tucker aren’t biological brothers, but they are brothers in spirit. These neutered male cats would enjoy a quiet home with no dogs or children under the age of 12 where they can lay around and snuggle.

• Cooper: Cooper is a 6-year-old neutered male Labrador retriever mix who loves kids. But cats? Not so much. This outgoing goofball spends most of his time playing with toys and chewing on bones.

• Gihan: Gihan is an 11-year-old neutered male American Staffordshire terrier mix who is looking for a low-key retirement home without cats or children under the age of 8, where he can be free to be a couch potato.

• Milkshake and Boba: This pair of female guinea pigs loves fresh veggies, playtime and lots of attention. They would prefer a home without children under the age of 8.

Salem Animal Rescue League

4 SARL Drive, Salem, sarlnh.org

Since 1992 the Salem Animal Rescue League has been taking in cats and dogs in need of homes and giving them a second chance.

It all started with a goal of rescuing 50 stray and unwanted animals in the Salem area. The goal was quickly surpassed, with a total of 157 rescues during that first year. Now the shelter adopts nearly 800 dogs and cats every year.

The rescue generally has upwards of four to five dogs and 20 to 25 cats at any given time.

Anyone interested in adoption can visit their website, view the animals currently at the shelter, fill out an application, and get a response to set up an appointment within 24 hours.

“This is kind of just a preemptive way for us to see what they are interested in and temperament, and just [the] overall lifestyle of the animal,” said the shelter manager, Hannah Kinsey. “That way we can also see what kind of environment the animal is going into, [and then] we can make better recommendations and we know which animals would do best in said place.”

Prices vary depending on the age of the animal and whether you’re choosing a dog or a cat.

Adoptable pets from the Salem Animal Rescue League:

• Kato: Kato is a striking 14-month-old Siberian husky mix who, while very sweet, can be a bit timid when you first meet him. Once he is comfortable with you, he comes right out of his shell. He walks great on the leash and loves the outdoors. He has also lived with cats in the past and has done fine with them.

• Rico: This 10-month-old domestic shorthair mix was adopted and then left behind, as his family was moving and did not want to take him along with them. He loves attention from humans and especially loves playing with his toys. He will do best with someone who is willing to spend lots of time playing with him.

• Tiana: Tiana is a 2-year-old domestic shorthair mix who was found living outside trying to keep her babies and herself fed. She was not sure how she felt about humans when she arrived, but is much more relaxed knowing they are caring for her. She will need an adopter who has experience with cats and will give her the time she needs to feel safe in her new home. She is a very social cat who enjoys being around people, but also loves to just sit in her bed.

Sato Heart Rescue

Milford, satoheartrescue.org

Sato Heart Rescue is made up of a team of volunteers who dedicate their time to rescuing stray dogs by working with Second Chance Animal Rescue in Villalba, Puerto Rico, to find them homes.

“We operate solely for charitable purposes, and we bring education and awareness to the issues … of animal welfare and neglect,” said Laurie Gouley, who oversees social media and public relations for the shelter.

After filling out an application online, potential adopters will receive a call to set up a meet and greet with the dog they were interested in. All dogs cost a one-time fee of around $450 and come up to date on shots — they’re also sterilized and fully vetted with a New Hampshire certification.

“We always have to have the application done first because we kind of have to … vet who’s adopting,” Gouley said. “We try to lessen the chances of these dogs being brought back to us because they’ve already been through a lot of trauma. So we try to match the best family with the dog and the dog’s personality.”

Upon arriving at the shelter, the dogs tend to be timid and wary, but they eventually grow comfortable once they realize they are safe.

Adoptable dogs from Sato Heart Rescue:

• Electra and Volt: Electra and Volt are two athletic Labrador retriever mixes who were rescued in September. Despite being found together in an abandoned garage, they are both friendly, curious and loyal. Although they were found together in Puerto Rico, the two are available separately for adoption.

• Mildred: Mildred is a shar-pei and black mouth cur mix who was just 4 months old when she was rescued last fall. Friendly, affectionate and playful, she would be good in a home with other dogs. Mildred is house-trained and walks great on a leash. She is also spayed and up to date on vaccinations.

• Skky: A basenji mix, Skky was rescued in July when she was 6 months old. X-rays show that she was likely from an abusive situation, as she had a fractured leg that has since healed. Friendly and smart, she does well with other dogs. “She’s just a happy puppy,” Gouley said. “She is wary of new people, which, if she did come from an abusive situation [then] that is understandable.”

• Wally: Wally, a medium-size adult Labrador retriever mix, was found behind a dumpster along with his brothers. He was very fearful of people upon arriving at the shelter but has come a long way with his foster family, according to Gouley. Once he grows to trust you, he is incredibly sweet and affectionate.

Second Chance Ranch Rescue

449 Joe English Road, New Boston, 854-1690, secondchanceranchrescue.com

Established in 2017 by Kristin Morissey and Cameron Jordan, Second Chance Ranch aims to give lost, misunderstood or forgotten dogs a “second chance” at a forever home. Much of the focus is also placed on dogs that have other dog issues, such as reactivity and aggression, and working through those issues to help successfully rehome them.

Depending on the dog, the adoption timeline can last about one to two weeks for adult dogs, although for puppies it can be much faster.

“With our adoption process, specifically with those dogs that we’re working with that have those issues with other dogs, it will be a much longer process, because we really want to get to know them,” Second Chance Ranch lead kennel worker Paige Armitage said. “We put in so many hours of work, especially Kristin, and she’s been teaching me all of the exercises to do with those specific dogs … to really make sure they are learning them, so that we can put out reliable dogs back into our community.”

Adoptable dogs from Second Chance Ranch are listed on Petfinder, Facebook and Instagram, and often, Armitage said, they will share short videos on their progress. All who are interested in adopting are required to fill out an application and go through a background check before meeting the dog onsite, which is by appointment only inside of a small barn.

“We place … smaller amounts of dogs, so that we can have those extra hours to focus on what the dog needs,” Armitage said. “Ninety-five percent of the job is really just making sure that the dog gets love … and just making sure that they know how to live in a home.”

If it’s a good fit and the dog clears all its health requirements, Armitage said the dog can go home in as soon as 48 hours. Adoption fees vary depending on the age of the dog, but range from $400 for senior dogs ages 8 and up to $600 for puppies up to 12 months old.

Adoptable dogs from Second Chance Ranch Rescue:

• Bentley: This 8-year-old pit bull-boxer mix was fostered by his emergency doctor, then adopted when the rescue in charge had elected to euthanize him. Bentley is diabetic and requires insulin injections twice daily. Although he would do best in a home with no other animals, Bentley is great with children — his current owner has three young boys — and loves walks and short runs, in addition to snuggling up on the couch.

• Chance: Chance is an approximately 11-month-old pit bull terrier who came to the ranch from Atlanta as a stray. He is described as a “goofball who loves to play, zoom and fly through the yard,” with high intensity and friendliness around other dogs. However, he has not met cats and prefers to stay away from them. Chance is crate-trained and is not much of a barker but does need a lot of regular exercise.

• Cricket: This female 10-month-old pit bull terrier comes from a family in the military, who unfortunately just had way too much on their plate to have a dog. She loves kids and other dogs, and would be perfect for a family who is active and enjoys the outdoors. She isn’t spayed yet, but would go home under the shelter’s “spay and neuter” program, in which the adopter signs a contract and collects a deposit that is refunded when they provide proof of being spayed within six months of adoption.

• Ralph: Ralph is an approximately 1-year-old black Labrador retriever mix who is highly affectionate with humans. He is also very good with other dogs and would prefer to co-exist with a good mix of gentleness and playfulness. Ralph has been at the shelter for several weeks now and has steadily improved on his training and skills. He is, however, still working on getting comfortable with his humans closing his crate, and will require a family who will work on managing his guarding behaviors. For this reason, the shelter recommends he be in a house without children.

Tailgait Transport and Rescue
Manchester, 785-7662, tailgaitrescue.org

Despite not having their own shelter location yet, Tailgait is hoping to make that change sooner rather than later.

“It’s definitely still in the talks,” said Stephanie Kehas, the founder of the Manchester-based transport service. “Real estate is coming down and [factors into] the whole thing. We had a successful fundraiser in the fall, and a few more going on right now, but we are definitely moving in that direction.”

Kehas said it was traveling to Texas for work as a nurse that showed her exactly how dire the situation for animals can be. She said that everywhere she looked, she saw “no dumping pets” signs as often as she saw “no littering” signs in the Granite State. She said that she felt she had to do something.

“These dogs suffer,” she said. “They go starving, get hit by cars … and [for] shelters, they’re over-burdened and can’t always help every dog.”
Currently, Tailgait makes trips monthly from Massachusetts to Maine, moving animals to give them a better chance at finding a forever home. Every few months or so, Kehas will travel to the South, usually one of the Carolinas, to transport as many shelter dogs as possible.

Kehas said her biggest hope is for people to realize that they can find purebred dogs, like German shepherds or Labrador retrievers, at many different shelters. If they are determined enough, Kehas said that future owners could even find rescues that deal with only specific breeds.

Bouquets for Valentine’s Day and blooming plants to brighten every day

Roses are red …

Valentine’s Day bouquets and custom floral arrangements

By Matt Ingersoll

[email protected]

Bouquets are simply defined as arranged bunches of flowers, making the varieties in what you can include seemingly limitless.

“It’s a term that covers a lot of different design styles,” said Brad Harrington, floral artist and owner of Harrington Flowers in Londonderry. “An arrangement in a vase can be considered a bouquet, or you could also have a hand-wrapped bouquet.”

Business will kick into high gear for Harrington Flowers and many other local florists and flower shops on Feb. 14 — throughout the day, most will offer bouquets of roses or other flowers you can choose from, either in the form of a pre-set arrangement online or flowers you can hand-pick if you visit in person.

Jacques Flower Shop in Manchester, for instance, will be open extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day to accommodate its expected influx of Valentine’s Day orders.

“I would say that the actual day on Valentine’s Day is neck and neck with Mother’s Day in terms of business in the store, from people coming in and the phones ringing to the internet,” said Adam Godbout, who runs Jacques’ day-to-day operations with his sister, Aimee. “We take orders right up until 4 or 5 [p.m.] on Valentine’s Day, and get those delivered locally.”

While it can be easy to click through an order form online, Godbout said it oftentimes doesn’t compare to what you can discover when you visit a flower shop in person.

“I think there are a lot of folks that come in on Valentine’s Day just thinking they’re going to buy a dozen roses, but then they come in and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, what is this, I’ve never seen this or heard of this,’” he said. “You can come in and hand-pick whatever you want. We have lots of folks that will just go right into our cooler and just pick one of these, two of these and three of those and they’ll bring them up to us and say, ‘Can you put these together.’ … Some people just sort of leave it up to us, which is always a great choice too.”

At Apotheca Flowers in Goffstown, owner Alyssa Van Guilder will open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13, a weekday she is normally closed, to accept Valentine’s Day orders.

“It’s definitely one of the more exciting holidays for us,” Van Guilder said. “I just think it’s something exciting to look forward to, and it’s kind of almost like a light toward the end of the tunnel of winter. … I also think flowers just give us a unique opportunity to cultivate connection. Obviously, it’s definitely a holiday for lovers, but love goes well beyond that.”

Flower power

Red roses are far and away the most popular selling flower for Valentine’s Day, Godbout said.

“Whether it’s six, 12 or 24, that’s sort of the go-to for both guys and gals. I don’t know if that’s just ingrained in our culture, but that’s what they gravitate toward,” he said. “But if someone comes in and says, ‘I like the roses, but I want something more unique,’ then I may offer them some fresh-cut flowers that we have from some local New Hampshire growers. … If it’s for ladies I may recommend some pinks or purples. We have lilies and Gerber daisies that are really popular. We’ve also got some local snapdragons and calla lilies that we always run out of.”

This time of year, he added, is also prime season for bulb flowers like tulips and hyacinth.

“They remind you of spring, so it’s something different and unique as well,” he said. “I would say our roses should last between five and seven days, but obviously we offer other flowers that are going to outlast those a little bit, depending on conditions of course, so that would be your daisies, your regular lilies [and] your cala lilies.”

Each year, Harrington Flowers will arrange several preset flower designs to choose from for Valentine’s Day that go beyond a standard bouquet of red roses — one is called “There’s ‘Gnome-body’ Like You.”

“We look at trendy things,” Harrington said. “Right now everyone loves gnomes. My wife is crazy about them, so we found these little Valentine’s Day gnomes and we just incorporated them into a Valentine’s Day-themed arrangement with stock flowers … and some pink Gerbers and peachy orange roses.”

Others include an arrangement Harrington called “Heartbreaker,” featuring a collection of fuschia roses, Gerber daisies, eucalyptus and hydrangeas; and “Bananas for You,” adorned with tulips, white hydrangea, roses and a stuffed monkey.

Apotheca, Van Guilder said, will also always sell its fair share of red roses, in addition to some early spring blooms, like anemone and ranunculus.

“We have a cooler that our customers can walk inside of, and we definitely try to curate it so that you can’t fail,” she said. “We’ve got a couple of different curated pallets that you’re able to pick your own blooms [from] if you want, and kind of create a design that speaks to you based on what we’re offering. … One element that I feel like just keeps getting more and more popular … are the dried flowers, like bunny tails and preserved ruscus.”

An ongoing impact

Like for just about every other industry, the pandemic has created all kinds of challenges for florists, from flower shortages to increased prices on goods.

“Some product is just untouchable at times,” Harrington said. “Peonies right now, their cost is about $30 for a five-stem bunch, and that’s just wholesale. I mean, it’s priced itself out, which is a shame because it’s one of the flowers that I like to have [for] Valentine’s Day, and this year I just totally cut it out.”

While he was able to keep the costs of red roses the same as last year, Harrington said they’re still up about 20 cents a stem compared to where they were pre-pandemic.

“That doesn’t seem like a lot, but we may buy probably 1,400 roses, so when you add that in and the fact that we’re getting fuel surcharges now, it’s a big increase,” he said.

In fact, ongoing inconsistencies in the supply chain have compelled Harrington Flowers to regularly offer a Designer’s Choice arrangement option, which features a bouquet of whichever types of quality flowers Harrington can obtain at a given time that he can sell at a fair price point. His Valentine’s Day offerings this year also include a themed Designer’s Choice arrangement.

“It’s an honest selection of what I can represent,” he said. “Basically, they’re flowers that I didn’t advertise, [but] if I see them in person and they look good, then I’ll buy them. … It’s definitely taken a little bit for our customer base to get used to it, but now a lot of them are ordering the Designer’s Choice, because they know that I’m going out every morning and I’m hand-selecting fresh flowers to put together that are good quality flowers.”

Van Guilder said she has especially felt the pandemic’s impacts on the wedding side of her business at Apotheca.

“We have contracts that are sometimes two years old with old pricing,” she said. “Our flowers are suddenly much more expensive, and so I think that was definitely one of the bigger challenges for us, was … how do we keep our promises to clients and provide the level of products that they’re used to, while making sure that we’re still generating a profit.”

One of their solutions, she said, was creating mockup centerpieces for clients.

“Ninety percent of the time, they can expect exactly what they’re seeing at the mockup on their wedding day,” she said. “Rather than selling specific flower varieties, we’ve had to just sell … a look and a feel, because we don’t know for sure that we’ll be able to get that specific flower like we have in the past.”

New Hampshire florists and flower shops

Here’s a list of southern New Hampshire shops and florists offering their own arrangements of roses and other flowers for Valentine’s Day.

• A&A Floral 58 Range Road, Windham, 952-0085, aafloralnh.com
• Amelia Rose Florals 704 Milford Road, Merrimack, 402-1020, ameliaroseflorals.com
• Anne’s Florals & Gifts 142 Lowell Road, No. 6, Hudson, 889-9903, annesfloralsgifts.com
• Apotheca Flowers 24C Main St., Goffstown, 497-4940, apothecaflowershoppe.com
• Celeste’s Flower Barn 580 Mast Road, Manchester, 623-5835, celesteflowerbarn.com
• Chalifour’s Flowers 46 Elm St., Manchester, 623-8844, chalifours.com
• Countryside Florist 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 432-4110, countrysidefloristnh.com
• Cranberry Barn Flower Shop 232 Park Ave., Hopkinton, 746-3963, cranberrybarnflowers.com
• Crystal Orchid Florist 45 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, 627-1925, crystalorchidflorist.com
• Flora Bella 20 River Road, Suncook, 485-7874, florabellanh.com
• Flower Outlet 165 Amherst St., Nashua, 883-7676, nashuafloweroutlet.com
• Flowers on the Hill 290 Derry Road, Suite 11, Hudson, 883-7080, flowersonthehill.net
• Ford Flower Co. 83 S. Broadway, Salem, 893-9955, fordflower.com
• Fortin Gage Flower & Gift Shop 86 W. Pearl St., Nashua, 882-3371, fortingage.com
• Harrington Flowers 539 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-4030, harringtonflowers.com
• Jacques Flower Shop 712 Mast Road, Manchester, 625-6153, jacquesflowers.com
• Lily Flower Floral Designs 161 Main St., Pembroke, 419-0677, lilyflowerfloral.com
• Manchester Flower Studio 388 Wilson St., Manchester, 669-6060, manchesterflowerstudio.com
• Marshall’s Florist & Gifts 151 King St., Boscawen, 796-2272, marshallsflowersandgifts.business.site
• Merrimack Flower Shop & Greenhouse 4 Railroad Ave., Merrimack, 424-3145, merrimackflowershop.com
• Nicole’s Greenhouse & Florist 91 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, 228-8294, nicolesgreenhouseandflorist.com
• PJ’s Flowers & Weddings 176 Route 101, Unit B3, Bedford, 471-3411, pjsflowers.net
• Rimmon Heights Florist 150 Kelley St., Manchester, 935-9485, rimmonheightsflorist.com
• Shirley’s Flowers & Sweets 138 Concord St., Nashua, 595-2208, shirleysflowersandsweets.com
• Ultimate Bouquet 64 Freetown Road, Raymond, 244-2749, ultimatebouquet.com
• Willows on Elm 377 Elm St., Manchester, 606-1688, willowsflorist.com
• Woodman’s Florist 469 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3545, woodmansflorist.com
• Works of Heart Flowers 109 Main St., Wilton, 654-1065, worksofheartflowers.com

Blooms for a year

Give longer-lasting flowers with a potted houseplant

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

While a dozen roses is one of the most standard Valentine’s Day gifts, fresh-cut flowers last only a week or two. Buying potted plants hasn’t always been the Valentine’s tradition, but some gardening centers and nurseries are seeing an uptick in their popularity on the holiday.

“[We] have seen in recent years that potted plant sales on Valentine’s Day have gone up [more] than previous years,” said Shane Robinson, owner of Sunny Valley Greenhouse and Garden Center in Amherst. “I see both sides of it, but potted plants are the gift that keeps on giving, versus fresh-cut flowers that, in two weeks, you’re either drying or throwing them away.”

When asked about plants that are good for beginners and still nice Valentine’s gifts, Robinson said he usually sees people go for orchids. He said that, despite the belief that they can be temperamental, the most common variety of the exotic bloom is fairly low-maintenance, requiring a humid and warm temperature and watering once a week.

In addition to a sweet smell, plants bring a certain feeling to the atmosphere around them, said Alexis Clark, who owns The Terracotta Room in Manchester with Nicole Rocha. She said when customers enter the shop they’ll comment on how relaxing the atmosphere is, or how fresh and clean the air feels.

“Almost all plants purify in some way,” Clark said. “Greenery is just good to have in your home. It’s life and they carry that energy.”

Clark and Rocha said that they both favor philodendrons and plants from that family due to how forgiving they can be. Clark joked that her philodendron won’t croak on her if she forgets to water it after a week.

Rocha agreed, adding that even people like her, with busy schedules between work and family life, can keep them alive. She said plants add a natural comfort, especially in cities.

“You just need two plants and it’ll transform the room,” Rocha said, “and [plants] make you happy.”

Other plants recommended for beginners included the Zanzibar gem — also called the ZZ plant — and snake plants. Flowering potted plants with low maintenance requirements that Lisa Cartier, the greenhouse manager at Osborne’s Farm & Garden Center of Hooksett, recommended were African violets, flowering anthuriums and cyclamen.

“Owning plants should be a relaxing and fun hobby,” Cartier said. “A potted plant will give you years of enjoyment and memories.”

New Hampshire nurseries and greenhouses

Amherst Garden Center
303 Route 101, Amherst, amherstgardencenter.com
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bedford Fields
331 Route 101, Bedford, bedfordfields.com
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Black Forest Nursery
209 King St., Boscawen, blackforestnursery.com
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brochu Nurseries and Landscaping
121 Commercial St., Concord, brochunursery.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cole Gardens
430 Loudon Road, Concord, colegardens.com
Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Demers Garden Center
656 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, demersgardencenter.com
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Faulkner’s Landscaping and Nursery
1130 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, faulknersnursery.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Freshwater Farms
1 Kip Cam Road, Atkinson, freshwaterfarmsflorist.com
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The House by the Side of the Road
370 Gibbons Hwy., Wilton, housebyshop.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Knotted Finds
707 Milford Road, Merrimack, theknottedfinds.com
Hours: Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

Lake Street Garden Center
37 Lake St., Salem, lakestreet.com
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Osborne’s Farm and Garden Center
258 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, osbornesfarm.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shady Hill Greenhouse and Nursery
1 Adams Road, Londonderry, shadyhillgreenhouses.com
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Springlook Farm
112 Island Pond Road, Derry, springlookfarm.com
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunny Valley Greenhouse and Garden Center
42 Route 101A, Amherst, sunnyvf.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tanglewood Gardens
424 Route 101, Bedford, tanglewoodgardens.wordpress.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Terracotta Room
1361 Elm St., Suite 102, Manchester, theterracottaroom.com
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Featured photo: Apotheca Flowers in Goffstown. Courtesy photo.