Tourism, Outdoor Recreation & Nature Economy

  • New Hampshire bridge

Leveraging Natural, Cultural and Historical Assets

From forests to farms to historic downtowns, New Hampshire has a wide variety of natural and cultural resources that can enhance quality of life for residents and generate economic benefits to communities. Oftentimes, these assets require proactivity, intentionality, and strategy for communities to leverage them. UNH Cooperative Extension provides communities with support to bring these assets to their full potential.

Tourism

New Hampshire’s iconic natural beauty, local culture and recreational offerings draw more than 10 million visitors annually. These strengths also have the power to revitalize communities, incentivize investment, and attract new residents and workforce talent. Extension is committed to supporting tourism development that sustains and improves the quality of life for residents and protects our cultural and natural resources.

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Portsmouth NH waterfront

Outdoor Recreation

We work with communities to leverage their natural and cultural resources to create resilient and sustainable economies that highlight the state's diverse natural resources and unique quality of life.

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hikers feet on a dirt trail

Nature Economy

We aim to help communities connect the environment and natural resources with community goals to create vibrant economies and high quality of life for all. This can be in the form of assisting communities in identifying and utilizing their natural capital, such as connecting their downtowns with trails and leveraging green infrastructure to reduce or maintain costs of community services.

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scenic New Hampshire mountain view

Each community and project is unique. We are happy to consult with you about how our team may be helpful to your community's specific needs.

In general, below is a sample of services we have provided or helped to facilitate with our partners:

  • Long-term community-based programming
  • Educational workshops 
  • Project technical assistance
  • Technical reports
  • Community or regional assessments
  • Asset inventories
  • Economic impact analyses
  • Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research
  • Strategic planning and visioning
  • Group facilitation work
  • Funding and grant writing guidance (note: we do not provide direct grant writing services)

Please click the topic area link above for more information about our programs or contact us.

 

Articles

wooden benches being contructed on the town common
Barrington Town Center Day brings together the local economy and the outdoors
Barrington’s Town Center Day marked a vibrant start to autumn, bringing residents together for a walkable celebration of community, connection, and vi... Learn More
Shannon Rogers, wearing a red life vest, padding a canoe on Lake Winnipesaukee
Paddling Together: Lakes, Tourism, and Balancing Uses
During the NETtra Tourism Conference in Meredith, UNH Extension hosted a mobile workshop at the Squam Lakes Association in Holderness, NH, where parti... Learn More
people seated in a large room facing a presenter and presentation screen
Exploring Collaboration and Resilience
NETtra Tourism Conference Insights
Attending the NETtra conference was a powerful reminder of how dynamic and collaborative the tourism and outdoor recreation fields have become. From r... Learn More
Cecelia Martinez
Finding Agritourism Inspiration
A Student’s Reflections from the 2025 NETtra Tourism Conference
Sophomore Cecilia Martinez shares a heartfelt reflection on attending the 2025 NETtra Tourism Conference in Meredith, NH, where she found both profess... Learn More
Stevens Mill renovation circa 2024
Ten Years Later: Uncovering Lessons from Franklin’s Story of Revitalization
Once a struggling mill town, Franklin, New Hampshire has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, thanks in large part to the Frank... Learn More
Two UNH Extension staff members at a table and tent set up
UNH Cooperative Extension Celebrates "New Hampshire Outdoor Industry Day"
On June 10, members of the UNH Cooperative Extension Community and Economic Development (CED) team joined colleagues from UNH’s Department of Recreati... Learn More

Events

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Resources

Several hundred marathon runners passing under the start banner hung over a wide street
Fostering Social Capital Through Community Events
Community events play a crucial role in fostering social capital, which is essential for community development. Social capital refers to the networks,... Learn More
Downtowns and Trails 5 year evaluation report cover
Downtowns & Trails 5 Year Evaluation Report
This report provides an in-depth look a the program's journey, the valuable assets each community discovered, the opportunities that emerged, and... Learn More
Two people walking down city street
Ten Components of Vibrant Communities
A vibrant community relies on several key components, including economic vitality, community health, natural resources and recreation, community engag... Learn More
Cover page of webinar slide presentation, title bar with walkway covered in autumn leaves in the background
Connecting Downtowns & Trails: Opportunities & Challenges
Many communities have trails in close proximity to their downtowns/village centers/business districts. We share the opportunities and challenges of wo... Learn More
Report cover with picture of the Contoocook River from the bridge
Strengthening Connections: Downtowns & Trails - Hopkinton-Contoocook, 2023
Over a series of months, we worked with the Hopkinton, New Hampshire community on how to better connect its trails with its business center, the Villa... Learn More
birdhouse hanging from a tree branch with people in the background
Cultivating Farm Experiences: Can Agritourism add to your bottom line?
Cultivating Farm Experiences is a four-part Zoom webinar series that examines agritourism. Each session focuses on the different aspects of incorporat... Learn More

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