Live Animal Outreach Programs

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center outreach Invite us to bring live wildlife programs to your site or enjoy a virtual presentation for your group!

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center animal outreach programs feature live animals and are led by our expert naturalists. Select from a variety of informative and inspiring programs or let us create a customized program to match your interests.

"All of the students, no matter what the age (and believe me, I’m including all the adults that attended in this statement), were enthralled by all the animals and learned so much. …it was an extraordinary worthwhile experience, and quite simply, great!"

Outreach Program Reservation Request Information for Schools

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In-person Programs:

Expert naturalists lead these 45 minute live animal outreach programs at your site. The programs feature two of our live animal ambassadors in an engaging presentation with plenty of opportunity for audience questions.See rates below.

Virtually Wild Programs:

Unable to bring groups together at your facility? Bring our live animal outreach programs to your group in the comfort of their own homes. Our Virtual Live Animal Outreach programs are 45 minutes in length, taught by our expert naturalists, and feature two live animal ambassadors. Programs are best for 40 or fewer logins. See rates below.

How does a Virtual Outreach Program work?

Science Center Naturalists connect securely to program participants via Zoom. This platform allows us to incorporate a lot of interactivity into the program and provide a more personal experience for program participants.
We utilize all recommended security features for Zoom meetings. During the program, participants will not be able to unmute themselves or screen share, and comments in the chat will not be visible by other program participants.
Live animals are right in front of the camera, giving program participants a closer look than they may get at an in-person program.
The host organization will need to have participants register in advance of the program. The maximum number of participants (logins) is 100, but participants will have a much better experience with a group size of 40 or fewer so that we can include as much interactivity during the program as possible. If you have more than 40 interested families, we suggest you schedule multiple programs.
We will send you the Zoom link via email. You provide the link to registered families directly. We ask that you do this the day of the program. Do not post the link on a publicly visible website.

2026 Library Summer Reading Program

Hidden Stories: The Unseen Lives of Animals

Have you ever wondered what happens in the natural world when people aren’t around? Using real photos and videos from trail cameras, a Squam Lakes Natural Science Center naturalist reveals the hidden lives of local wildlife and the stories unfolding right in our own backyard. Discover surprising animal behaviors, explore how animals survive in the places they live, and meet a live animal ambassador connected to the story.

When scheduling a program, choose from one of the three trail camera storylines below for the focus of your program:

The Fox Family’s Field – Follow a fox family through their first year as curious kits grow, play, and learn the skills they need to survive in the wild.
The Vernal Pool Parade – Discover the surprising variety of animals—from bears and owls to smaller forest visitors—that visit a vernal pool as it changes throughout the year.
A Fawn in the Forest – Experience life as a young fawn, from carefree exploration to learning how to navigate the challenges of growing up in the forest.

Program is 45 minutes in length and must be presented indoors.

Library Cost:

In-person: $275 per program (discounted non-profit rate) plus mileage.
$25 discount per program when scheduling two or more programs for the same organization.

Programs for All Ages

Animal Adaptations
What do a turtle’s shell, a skunk’s stripes, and an owl’s talons all have in common? They are all examples of adaptations that help the animal survive. Join a Squam Lakes Natural Science Center naturalist to meet some of our animal ambassadors and discover the adaptations that help them survive and thrive in the wild places they live.

Animals with Bad Reputations
Can you think of any animals disliked by people? The public image of some animals is often inaccurate and can result in negative attitudes. A Squam Lakes Natural Science Center naturalist will introduce you to live animals with a bad "rep" and help you consider the good side of these wild neighbors.

Critter Communities
Are you curious about the critters that call the Granite State home? Join a Squam Lakes Natural Science Center naturalist to meet wild animals that you could encounter in our forests, fields, or wetlands. Discover what makes them well-suited for surviving in the natural communities they inhabit.

Home Sweet Habitat
What do wild animals need to survive? Join a Squam Lakes Natural Science Center naturalist to discover the six things essential to an animal’s survival. Meet some of our live animal ambassadors to learn how they meet their survival needs.

New Hampshire Wildlife
Join a Squam Lakes Natural Science Center naturalist to meet some of our animal ambassadors up close and personal. Learn about the natural history of these animals and conservation actions you can take to help their wild counterparts and the places they live.

Looking for something else?
We can customize programs to meet your needs.

Live Animal Outreach Program Rates

In-person Program	In-person Non-profit Program
$350 - one program reserved	$275 - one program reserved
$325 - 2 to 6 programs reserved	$250 - 2 to 6 programs reserved
$300 - 7 or more programs reserved	$225 - 7 or more programs reserved
Virtual - $225	Virtual - $175

In-person programs add round trip travel fee of $1/mile.

Materials to help you promote your event

Each press packet below contains a link to a press release for your organization to customize (Word document) and high resolution images. Please see our Media Kit for Science Center logos and other media assets.

Animals with Bad Reputations

New Hampshire Wildlife

Press Release

PHOTO: Broad-winged Hawk

PHOTO: Porcupine

PHOTO: Red-tailed Hawk

PHOTO: Screech Owl

PHOTO: Wood Turtle

Media Kit

Programs for Schools

Grades Pre-2 Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12

Sam Ann, 07/11/23
Great place to take littles. Lots of hand on activities and fun. Great play ground. Lots of animals though many of them seem to be sleeping every time we go. Fun outdoor place. Bring a picnic or stop at bk down the road.
Karen Kuller, 09/21/21
My 7 year old was engaged and excited the entire time we spent walking through the exhibits, which were truly so beautifully and respectfully done. It was clear how much care, thought and love had gone into preparing an engaging educational experience for young kids that was entirely unique. It was exciting to watch my daughter soak it all in and thoroughly enjoy learning so much about science and nature. So grateful we happened upon this place.
Patricia Johnston (Patti), 09/21/21
We went on their pontoon boat Squam Lake tour. It is a 90 minute tour, and is quite enjoyable. This lake has lots of water fowl, including lions, cormorants and eagles. It was also used for the filming of "On Golden Pond". The guide was very knowledgeable. The only downside was that the nature center was hard for us to find. Their are signs, but they are small, hard to see from a moving car. Google maps took us to the wrong place using the street address. But, I would definitely go again.
Bryan Doyon, 10/11/21
Fun experience with wild animals and interactive exhibits. The animals are local wild species and fun to see up close and the information on them is presented in an engaging way for children. The walk around the loop can take a few hours depending on how long you spend at each stop but it's an enjoyable time and a great place for families.
Scott Mellott, 09/18/24
Great place to see native animals of New Hampshire and eco conservation education.