Summer Guided Discoveries

Guided Discoveries are week-long outdoor natural adventure camps for children ages 4 to 12.

Programs, taught by experienced naturalist educators, give children an in-depth exploration of nature and science. We are delighted to offer Guided Discoveries this summer and look forward to a fun and safe experience for everyone.

Guided discovery programs are limited to children who are residents of New England. Please contact us for guidance about participants from outside of New England.
View full Day Camp guidance from the State of New Hampshire

Guided Discoveries Cancellations... Yours and Ours!

If you cancel at least two weeks prior to the start of the program, your payment will be refunded minus a $20 handling fee. If you cancel within two weeks of the start of the program, your payment will not be refunded.

If there is low enrollment, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center will cancel weeklong programs on the Wednesday prior to the scheduled start date and will fully refund your payment at that time. The Science Center will make every effort to alert participants to possible cancellations one month in advance.

Summer 2021 Guided Discoveries

June 28 - July 2

Woodland Wonders FULL, waitlist available
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
Our explorations will introduce the wonders of woodlands. Through many outdoor activities and discoveries we will explore, enjoy, and learn together.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

Things with Wings
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 7-9
How many things can you think of with wings? Explore the world of flight as we learn about birds, insects, mammals, and even plants that take to the sky. Each day we will meet a live animal ambassador that relies on its wings to survive.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

July 5-9

Tales and Trails FULL, waitlist available
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
Stories of animals and nature will serve as our inspiration. We will meet live animal ambassadors from the books we read and explore the forests, ponds, and fields these animals call home.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

Building in Nature I: Forts, Boats, and More
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 9-12
We will construct a fort village in the midst of trees in the forest, build boats to float on the pond (not human sized!), dam a stream, and even build small scale shelters for tiny make believe creatures!
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

July 12-16

Flap, Hop, and Wiggle FULL, waitlist available
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
Flap like a falcon, hop like a hare, and wiggle like a worm! It's all about movement as we explore different groups of animals and focus on the ways they move. Become an expert on animal locomotion through up close observations of our animal ambassadors, outdoor activities, and stories.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

Building in Nature II: Forts, Boats, and More FULL, waitlist available
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 7-9
We will construct a fort village in the midst of trees in the forest, build boats to float on the pond (not human sized!), dam a stream, and even build small scale shelters for tiny make believe creatures!
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

July 19-23

Junior Animal Keepers I FULL, waitlist available
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 9-12
Otter popsicles? Training time for a skunk? Treats and puzzles for opossums? Do you love caring for animals? Do you wonder what the Science Center’s animals eat for dinner? Learn how New Hampshire’s wild animals survive. Then apply that knowledge by helping to care for and feed the wildlife at the Science Center. Go behind the scenes to watch staff members train animals and help make puzzles and treats to engage our resident animals.Please note that sessions I & II are identical.
Cost: $150/member; $170/non-member

Sky Hunters FULL, waitlist available
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
Learn about the hunters that command the skies. Investigate the world of flying predators. Visit with live owls, hawks, and falcons. Meet other airborne predators too, such as dragonflies and bats.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

July 26-30

Animal Superheroes FULL, waitlist available
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
You may not consider animals to be superheroes, but they do have super powers. We call them adaptations. Learn about nature's super powers as we explore ways animals find food, avoid being eaten, and protect themselves from the elements. Discover some of these adaptations through experiments, games, and visits with live animals.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

Mad Science
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 7-9
Experience a week of wacky, hands-on, fun as we explore science inspired by the natural world around us. Each day will be filled with mixing, growing, fizzing, bubbling, and more as we ask questions and see what kinds of answers explode around us!
Cost: $150/member; $170/non-member

August 2-6

Junior Animal Keepers II
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 9-12
Otter popsicles? Training time for a skunk? Treats and puzzles for opossums? Do you love caring for animals? Do you wonder what the Science Center’s animals eat for dinner? Learn how New Hampshire’s wild animals survive. Then apply that knowledge by helping to care for and feed the wildlife at the Science Center. Go behind the scenes to watch staff members train animals and help make puzzles and treats to engage our resident animals. Please note that sessions I & II are identical.
Cost: $150/member; $170/non-member

Marvelous Mammals
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
Discover what makes mammals special as we focus on this diverse group of animals. From herbivores and insectivores, to carnivores and omnivores, mammals serve a range of functions in the natural world. Meet a mammal up close each day and learn about the role it plays and the adaptations it uses to survive.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

August 9-13

Summer Sensations FULL, waitlist available
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
Explore New Hampshire’s summer environment with a focus on each of the five senses. Smell, taste, touch, see, and hear your way through a week full of fun.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

Hooray for Herps FULL, waitlist available
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 7-9
Join us for adventures in herping. Turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders are all herps! We will learn all about reptiles and amphibians during this week of exploring forest, pond, wetland, stream, and field in our search for herps. Meet some of the Science Center’s resident herp ambassadors up close and personal.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

August 16-20

Adventures in Nature FULL, waitlist available
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Ages 4-6
Our adventures will introduce the wonders of the natural world. Through outdoor activities and discoveries we will explore, excite, and learn together.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

Predator-Prey
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Ages 7-9
Who eats what? How do predators catch their prey? How do prey avoid predators? Become an expert on the adaptations of predators and prey as we explore the fascinating relationships between these groups of animals.
Cost: $140/member; $160/non-member

Registration will open in mid-March. For program questions email us at or call 603-968-7194 x 7.

cheryl lemay, 07/31/19
Very nice area for walking. Lots of hands on activities to increase knowledge. There is a small picnic area towards the beginning of you wanted to bring some food to eat. There is also a small cafe, if you didn't bring your own food.
Kimberly Wright, 06/12/19
We enjoyed our visit to Squam Lakes Nature Center. The exhibits were informative and animals were out and about. Nice clear trails to walk. The kids interactive play area and barn was impressive. The gift shop was a bonus-with many books and misc items to purchase. We were interested in the lake cruise but unfortunately it was not available due to school groups on the day of our visit. Keep up the good work for New Hampshire nature!
Jill Cokely, 09/27/18
My family and I had such a great day here. I loved the flower gardens. It's so beautiful and smells amazing! We all enjoyed the exhibits and will return again in the future.
Lauren Busby, 10/17/18
We go here once a year and always love it. My son has been going since he was 2 and gets something out of it every year. It's a great little home and we love to learn about the animals.
Eric Jewart, 08/20/19
Had a fun visit there with my kids. We saw a presentation with a live porcupine which was cool. The presenter was very engaging. We spent about two hours total, just drifting around the main loop looking at everything there. The mountain lion and bobcat were pretty neat to see.