The tenth anniversary of The (603) Challenge is here! Gifts made to UNH Extension April 8-12, 2024 during this annual fundraising challenge ensure our programs can continue to make life better in every community in the Granite State. You can help Extension extend our reach by making a gift to our general fund or to a specific volunteer program.
Extension's volunteers do amazing work in New Hampshire — from stewarding our natural resources to supporting youth and families to helping downtowns become more vibrant.
The beginning of this challenge is especially important because Extension is competing with fellow UNH programs for $350,000 of matching funds. Gifts to Extension will be matched up to $350 per donor until the matching funds run out, which means that donors can double their impact if they give early on.
Additionally, if UNH Extension reaches 500 donors during The (603) Challenge, we will unlock $10,000 from Branch Hill Farm. Help us earn this generous donation! Donations of any amount can help us reach our 500 donor goal. Thank you!
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Specific Areas You Can Support!
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) aims "to be a premier source of lifelong learning and collegial activity for adults over the age of 50 in New Hampshire," and they achieve this by providing enriching courses in topics of interest to NH residents, all offered in safe, relaxing environments, with no pre-requisites, tests, or grades. Support OLLI now!
Extension Internship Program
Extension Interns work on projects addressing agriculture & horticulture, community & economic development, nutrition & healthy living, natural resources, citizen science, and youth & family resiliency. Interns will work with their mentors and their cohort develop as young professionals and help UNH make an impact across New Hampshire. The more support we have for this fantastic program, the more interns we can deploy across the Granite State. Support the Extension Internship Program now!
Coastal Research Volunteers
The Coastal Research Volunteer (CRV) program engages volunteers in meaningful citizen science and stewardship to enhance local coastal research. They provide important information to evaluate climate change and water quality health in the area. They’re on the front lines of pressing environmental issues important to the state—monitoring the phenology of rockweed and green crabs, collecting blue mussels, analyzing pollution and gathering beach erosion data. Support CRV now!
Community & Economic Development
The Community and Economic Development team trains volunteers and leaders in New Hampshire communities to strengthen main streets, keep and grow businesses, expand local tourism and strengthen the connection between downtowns and natural assets like parks, trails and rivers. Their work with local residents, community leaders and business owners enriches the high quality of life in New Hampshire, which is essential to the economy and civic pride. Support Community & Economic Development now!
UNH Extension Education Center
Serving as the focal point for UNH Extension's yard and garden education programs, the Education Center, located in Goffstown, is dedicated to delivering invaluable information, practical education, and outstanding services to residents statewide, thereby enriching lives and fortifying communities. Together, we can create an environment that promotes hands-on learning, ignites a passion for sustainable practices, and nurtures growth for generations to come. Support the Extension Education Center now!
Food & Agriculture
Extension's agriculture specialists use trusted research-based information to give New Hampshire farmers, businesses and citizens the tools they need to succeed. We provide a wide-range of resources, including workshops, fact sheets, programs, on-site consultations and comprehensive pest, plant and soil diagnostics. Support Food & Agriculture now!
Health & Well-Being
Public Health drives economic and community strength - it creates a productive workforce, lowers healthcare costs, and contributes to overall well-being. There is a need to provide education and resources to empower individuals to make healthy choices and there is also a need to couple this education with 'upstream' systems-level changes that can make the places where NH residents live and work healthier places to be. UNH Extension Health & Well-Being staff have implemented online and in-person in-depth educational programs across all ten counties reaching over 7,900 participants in 2023 alone to make positive impacts on public health. Support Health & Well-Being now!
Lakes Lay Monitoring
Through the Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, UNH scientists, students and over 250 seasonal and year-round volunteers participate in collecting water quality measurements in over 40 lakes all across New Hampshire. This data helps inform the decision-making of towns and lake associations to mitigate problems, improve water quality and protect residents and visitors. Volunteers inform their neighbors and local public officials on their lake’s conditions and best stewardship practices, leading to improvements like a reduction in stormwater runoff and fertilizer applications. Support Lakes Lay Monitoring now!
UNH Marine Docent Program
The UNH Marine Docent Program mission is to "provide a lens through which the marine and associated environments can be viewed, understood and appreciated by people of all ages." Docents present a variety of educational programs that provide a link between the University's research community and the public. Docents teach marine science to students in schools, on boats and at camps, adults in community groups and organizations, and at public events. Marine docent boat builders help families build small sailboats over a three-day weekend. Docents also lead public tours on the UNH Research Vessel Gulf Challenger, into Great Bay and out to Appledore Island. Support Marine Docents now!
Natural Resources Stewards & NH Big Trees
Natural Resource Stewards are people of all ages and walks of life who love New Hampshire’s outdoors. They volunteer to help our trees and parks, forests and fields, plants and pollinators. In 1950, the NH Big Tree Program began in an effort to find, record and recognize magnificent individual trees. Volunteers search the state for the largest examples of tree species; the list of recorded trees now includes over a thousand county, state and national champions. Support Natural Resource Stewards & NH Big Trees now!
Nature Groupie
Nature Groupie makes it easy for more people to volunteer for nature. We all love getting outside, hiking on trails and enjoying outdoor places, but those places need our help too; trees need to be planted, wildlife needs to be monitored and trash needs to be cleared. Nature Groupie connects volunteers to these projects, and since 2013 more than 7,000 people have helped restore salt marshes, counted amphibians, pulled invasive plants, built trails and much more. Support Nature Groupie now!
NH Coverts Project
The NH Coverts Project trains volunteers from a broad array of backgrounds and professions who are passionate about wildlife conservation and forest stewardship. After the training, volunteers return to their communities as stewards of NH’s wildlife and forest resources where they take on projects that fit their skills and interests such as leading field walks, coordinating volunteer workdays, serving on town boards or managing their own property for wildlife habitat. Support NH Coverts now!
NH Master Gardeners
The NH Master Gardeners Program is part of a national effort to train people who are passionate about gardening so they can become volunteers who share science-based horticultural knowledge with the public. UNH Master Gardeners can apply for Special Projects Grants to fund gardens that make a difference in their communities. A few recent examples include food pantry gardens, school gardens and pollinator gardens. Gifts will help Master Gardeners further enhance their skillsets on topics of interest by attaining further training, enabling them to become even stronger supporters of healthy gardens and happy gardeners. Support Master Gardeners now!
Robert H. Rines Young Inventors' Program
The Robert H. Rines Young Inventors' Program "inspires the next generation of STEM leaders by fueling excitement for innovation." The program " ignites students’ curiosity by applying knowledge to solve real-world problems. Through inventing, they tap their talents for learning and experimenting leading to aspirations for a future in science and technology." You can support this next generation of STEM leaders yourself during (603). Support YIP now!
New Hampshire 4-H
4‑H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime. The NH 4-H program helps youth acquire knowledge, develop life skills and form attitudes to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. Youth are encouraged to take on leadership roles in supportive environments with guidance from adult mentors in the areas of STEM, healthy living, agriculture and citizenship. Professional 4-H youth development educators are located in each of New Hampshire’s 10 counties. Support NH 4-H now!
Volunteering
Each year, about 6,000 volunteers donate their time and energy to extend the work of Extension. Our 16 volunteer programs provide opportunities for anyone wanting to make life better in New Hampshire.
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