Be a Steward for the Natural Resources of New Hampshire

If you love being outdoors and want to learn more about New Hampshire’s natural world, the Natural Resources Stewards program may be just what you’re looking for.

UNH Extension’s 2026 Natural Resources Stewards course is an 11-week hybrid program held on Fridays from September 11 through November 20 in Keene.

This is the first time the course will be offered in this part of the state. The Keene area presents a unique opportunity to study how communities are responding to widespread red pine decline and working toward more diverse and resilient urban forests and parks.

In 1938, a hurricane swept through the region, devastating the forests and resulting in significant areas being replanted with monocultures of red pine.  These trees are now suffering from infestations of red pine scale and the community is beginning a multi-year process of removing affected trees and revisioning its urban landscape. 

Participants explore topics including tree health, invasive species, soils, water quality, pollinator habitat, wildlife, and ecologically friendly landscapes through a combination of online learning and hands-on field experiences. That learning will be applied in several hands-on projects in Keene to turn knowledge into skills.

Most classes and projects will take place in parks and reserves around Keene, giving participants the opportunity to learn directly in the field while exploring how trees, plants, soil, fungi, water, wildlife, and people are connected through ecosystems.

At the orientation you will be provided with a full list of locations with a map and addresses so you will know week to week where we will meet. The teaching team varies week to week and includes UNH Extension and NH Department of Forests and Lands specialists, as well as some special guests. During the class, Ethan Tapper (author of How to Love a Forest and the soon-to-be-released The Forest Year: Finding Hope in a World Worth Saving ) will lead a walk-and-talk through some of the changing urban forest spaces in Keene, and give a public lecture at the Keene Library.

The 11-week course is just the start. The course will give you the foundation you need to start your stewards volunteer work, and you can start volunteering as soon as the course begins. The expectation is that you will complete 40 hours of volunteering in the first year following the course. And the goal is that stewards continue to volunteer in their communities beyond that.  

The course fee for this 11-week program is $445.  Once accepted, you will be able to register online. A limited number of scholarships are available to individuals with financial challenges. 

 If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact jo Russavage (jo.russavage@unh.edu) prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Natural Resources Stewards course. Learn more and apply at nhstewards.org