The live animal exhibit trail and all hiking trails are CLOSED.
Two children walking on path to Water Matters Pavilion

Membership

Become a member of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Become a member today!

Membership dues provide support for educational programs for schools, families and children, care and feeding of the animals, upkeep and maintenance of trails, exhibits, and buildings, Kirkwood Gardens, lake education cruises, and general operating expenses. Most importantly, membership helps to support Squam Lakes Natural Science Center’s mission: to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. Please, join us today by completing your membership purchase below. Learn more about membership privileges and membership levels.

Your membership DOES make a difference.
Use the online Membership Form Print and mail the Membership Form
Gift a Gift Membership
Fill out my online form.

Basic Membership Privileges

  • Free admission to trails and exhibits
  • Discounted tickets for Squam Lake Cruises, extra guest trail admission, and education programs (discount applies to guest tickets when accompanied by member)
  • 10% discount at the Howling Coyote Gift Shop
  • 15% discount for facility rentals
  • Reciprocal admission at over 150 nature centers through the Association of Nature Center Administrators
  • Special benefits at various regional attractions throughout the season that change annually. See Bonus Member Benefits.
  • Subscription to quarterly Tracks & Trails newsletter and notification of upcoming programs
  • A Caregiver Pass may be purchased for four-person membership or higher. Contact Joy Huke at 603-968-7194 x 146 or

Membership Levels

One-Person $60*
Basic Membership Privileges for one named adult
*$10 discount for seniors 65 and up, college students, and educators – must show proof of status
Two-Person $75

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of two people per day
Four-Person $120

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of four people per day
  • 15% Room rental discount
  • Eligible for $25 Caregiver Pass
Six-Person $150

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of six people per day
  • 15% Room rental discount
  • Eligible for $25 Caregiver Pass
Eight-Person $180

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of eight people per day
  • 15% Room rental discount
  • Eligible for $25 Caregiver Pass
Family Access Membership: Six-Person $25

The Family Access Membership is available to families receiving food assistance (SNAP/EBT/WIC). Application must be in-person May 1 through November 1 (not available online). An eligible adult must provide their name, address, email, phone number, and show a current EBT card or WIC assistance and ID. It includes Basic Membership Privileges for one named adult.

  • Admits a total of six people per day
Wetlands $250

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of eight people per day
  • 15% Room rental discount
  • Eligible for free Caregiver Pass
  • Two transferable lake cruise passes
  • Invitation to donor event
Field $500

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of eight people per day
  • 15% Room rental discount
  • Eligible for free Caregiver Pass
  • Five transferable trail passes and two transferable lake cruise passes
  • One free Two-Person membership to give as a gift
  • Invitation to donor event
Forest $750

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of eight people per day
  • 15% Room rental discount
  • Eligible for free Caregiver Pass
  • Ten transferable trail passes and two transferable lake cruise passes
  • One free Four-Person membership to give as a gift
  • Invitation to donor event
Mt. Fayal $1,000

Basic Membership Privileges for two named adults at the same address

  • Admits a total of eight people per day
  • 15% Room rental discount
  • Eligible for free Caregiver Pass
  • Ten transferable trail passes and two transferable lake cruise passes
  • Two free Four-Person memberships to give as gifts
  • Invitation to donor event

Caregiver Pass

The Caregiver Pass is available to members who purchase a minimum four-person membership to extend their membership privileges to allow caregivers - such as babysitters, nannies, grandparents - to escort the member's children (under the age of 18) to the Science Center in their absence.

No other benefit is given to the Caregiver Pass except trail admission with the member's children.

Caregiver Passes are $25 each and limited to two Caregiver Passes per membership. Caregiver Passes may be purchased by the member at the Admissions window at the Science Center or by calling 603-968-7194 x 7.

Caregivers will receive a Temporary Membership Card with the Member ID, level, and expiration date. All Caregiver Passes expire at the end of the trail season on November 1.

Caregivers must be 16 years or older. A photo ID must be presented with the Caregiver Temporary Membership Pass at the Admissions window.

PLEASE NOTE

  • Memberships are not valid for school field trips or other organized groups.
  • Please bring your membership card with you when you visit.
  • Members may be asked to show identification.
  • Memberships are not transferable and may not be loaned to individuals not named on the card.
  • Members must be at least 18 years old or more. Children under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Membership fees are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Read more.

Membership fees are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Your payment, less the fair market value (FMV) of goods and services received, is deductible for income tax purposes.

The IRS allows members of qualified 501(c) 3 organizations to accept certain insubstantial membership benefits. Since the estimated value of benefits for some membership levels is insubstantial, the full amount of membership fees is deductible for those levels.

For annual membership payments over $75, you may deduct as a charitable contribution only the excess of the membership payment over the estimated fair market of the benefits included in the membership.

For upper level memberships, which receive Trail Passes (valued at $12 each) and/or Lake Cruise Passes (valued at $26 each), the tax deductible amount of your membership payment is reduced. Gift memberships offered as benefits for some levels do not affect the fair market value of your membership or reduce the deduction.

The tax deductible amount will be provided on your membership acknowledgment letter. You may also see more information in the chart below.

Member Level     FMV of Benefits
One-Person $60 $60 $0
Two-Person $75 $75 $0
Four-Person $120 $120 $0
Six-Person $150 $150 $0
Eight-Person $180 $180 $0
Wetlands $250 $194 $56
Field $500 $304 $196
Forest $750 $429 $321
Mt. Fayal $1,000 $488 $512

Should you wish to have your membership be fully tax deductible, you may waive your substantial benefits and you will not receive Trail or Cruise Passes or gift memberships, but will continue to receive free admission and discounts.

Memberships paid through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) are not eligible to receive extra benefits with a substantial fair market value. Payments from DAFs may only be used to pay for memberships with insubstantial or no fair market value ($180 or less). Payments from DAFs for memberships with substantial benefits having a fair market value ($250 or more) must waive extra benefits.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Our tax ID number is 02-0271824. Prices and fair market values are subject to change. Please consult a tax advisor with questions.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Our tax ID number is 02-0271824. Prices and fair market values are subject to change. See our Annual Report or IRS Form 990, or request a copy.

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