Wildside Challenges
The Wildside Seasonal Challenges by New Hampshire 4-H are a fantastic way to engage with the wilderness, improve fitness, expand environmental literacy, and develop wilderness skills to get in touch with your Wildside! These challenges are designed to help youth gain a deeper understanding of New Hampshire’s natural environment through various activities and tasks. Completing these challenges also help youth formulate topics to share at their local 4H Presents Day and at county fairs.


How to participate in any Wildside Challenge
- Register for the Wildside Challenge at https://4h.zsuite.org/
- Receive instructions and any materials needed (by email and/or mail)
- Mail your completed Logbook (if challenge uses a logbook) to the Belknap County Extension Office, 64 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246
- Earn your Wildside patch!
* Note: Your ZSuite profile will show current challenges. Please connect with your county 4-H program team if a challenge is not available in your county.
Wildside Challenge Patches
Of course the real prize is the fun you'll have getting outdoors, but each challenge has a patch you can earn. The patches are perfect on jean jackets or backpacks.
Challenges
Campfire Skills Challenge

The Campfire Skills Challenge has two parts. The first centers around how to build a fire, fire safety and extinguishing a fire. What do you need to start a fire, how can you be safe around the fire and what tools do you need to put it out? All things you will learn with this challenge.
The second part of this challenge is to cook two (2) dishes over your campfire using two (2) different methods. There are many methods. Will you use a grill or cast-iron pan or something else? What you are going to cook also makes a difference in your choice of methods. We can't wait to see what you made!
This challenge runs from September 15, 2025, through October 31, 2025.
Register today in ZSuite to get your logbook. Once you have completed the Challenge, fill out your logbook and send it back either by email to Alison.Coleman@unh.edu or by mailing it to the Belknap County Extension Office, 64 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246 for a patch!
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
September 15, 2025 - October 31, 2025
Register
Contact
Mike Harris
Belknap County 4-H Program Manager
Accommodations, including language access services, available upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request.
Fire Tower Fitness Challenge

This Autumn Fire Tower Fitness Challenge is designed to get you moving!
Not only will you find some cool spots where these towers are located, but with this challenge, you will also learn what gear to pack for hiking. Think about items like a first aid kit, flashlight, bug spray and more.
Additionally, learning the "leave no trace" outdoor ethic principle is a part of this challenge. While enjoying the outdoors we must respect and protect our environments with the 7 guidelines of the "leave no trace" principles.
This challenge runs from September 15, 2025, through October 31, 2025.
Register today in ZSuite to get your logbook. Once you have completed the Challenge, fill out your logbook and send it back either by email to Alison.Coleman@unh.edu or by mailing it to the Belknap County Extension Office, 64 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246 for a patch!
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
September 15, 2025 - October 31, 2025
Register
Contact
Mike Harris
Belknap County 4-H Program Manager
Accommodations, including language access services, available upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request.
Tree Identification Challenge

When out on a hike have you ever wondered "what kind of tree is that?" This challenge is designed to help you identify some species of trees.
You will identify a deciduous tree (a tree that drops its leaves), coniferous tree (one that bears cones) and a specific species (you choose which one) of apple trees.
This challenge runs from September 15, 2025, through October 31, 2025.
Register today in ZSuite to get your logbook. Once you have completed the Challenge, fill out your logbook and send it back either by email to Alison.Coleman@unh.edu or by mailing it to the Belknap County Extension Office, 64 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246 for a patch!
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
September 15, 2025 - October 31, 2025
Register
Contact
Mike Harris
Belknap County 4-H Program Manager
Accommodations, including language access services, available upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request.
Autumn Challenge Series Limited Edition Patch

If you complete all three of the Autumn Wildside Challenges you will receive a cool Limited-Edition patch!
You must complete the Fire Tower, the Tree Identification and the Campfire Skills challenges to qualify.
This challenge runs from September 15, 2025, through October 31, 2025.
Register today in ZSuite to get your logbooks. Once you have completed the all three of the Challenges, fill out your logbooks and send them back either by email to Alison.Coleman@unh.edu or by mailing it to the Belknap County Extension Office, 64 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246 for the Limited-Edition patch!
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
September 15, 2025 - October 31, 2025
Register
Contact
Mike Harris
Belknap County 4-H Program Manager
Accommodations, including language access services, available upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request.
Summer State Park Challenge

The newest Wildside Challenge is designed to highlight our amazing State Parks from July 1 through September 1, 2025. Visit and engage in a variety of activities such as hiking, swimming, fishing, camping and boating. To find all the New Hampshire State Parks visit: NH State Parks - Home
Don't forget to take pictures to attach to your logbooks. Be safe and have fun!
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
July 1, 2025 - September 1, 2025
Register
Contact
Mike Harris
Belknap County 4-H Program Manager
Accommodations, including language access services, available upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request.
Spring & Summer Wildflower Challenge

All living things exist in balance with each other. Everything needs energy (food) to survive. Every ecosystem first takes energy from the sun and then cycles it with various different organisms to create a food web. There are three stages to this energy cycling process, and every organism has a role to play. This Challenge will get you up close with all three.
Your challenge is to explore the wilderness to identify and document native wildflower species.
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
June 15, 2025 - September 15, 2025
Contact
Mike Harris
Belknap County 4-H Program Manager
Accommodations, including language access services, available upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request.
Spring Wildside Challenge

Spring is a very important time of year for trail maintenance. Without upkeep, trails can quickly become hazardous, eroded, and overgrown. This can disrupt the quality of the experience for visitors and cause harm to the environment. There are some general types of trail maintenance that promote a healthy relationship between trail users and the environment so both can thrive together.
This is a BINGO-type of scavenger hunt. To complete the challenge, go on as many hikes as it takes to find 4 in a row or grouping of 4 of trail Maintenace efforts. Since is 4, not 5, We are calling it “DIRT” instead of “BINGO.”
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
April 22, 2025 - June 19, 2025
Contact
Mike Harris
Belknap County 4-H Program Manager
Accommodations, including language access services, available upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request.
Mission Maple Challenge

The Mission Maple Challenge is one that will have you complete a series of secret missions all centered around maple-related tasks.
Register today to get your passport book. Once you have completed the Challenge, fill out your passport book and send it back to the Belknap County Extension Office, 64 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246 for a patch!
Program Questions? Contact Mike Harris, michael.harris@unh.edu
Winter Recreation Challenge

Winter Recreation Challenge
The Winter Recreation Challenge is here! This challenge encourages you to get out and stay active during the winter months.
For this challenge you should participate in 2 hikes and one additional winter recreational activity. Additional activities are ice skating, horseback riding, snow shoeing, ice fishing, cross country skiing, tubing or sledding, build a snow sculpture, or downhill skiing or snowboarding.
Please provide photos of each hike and the additional activity to document you completed the challenge.
Register to get your logbook. Do the Challenge, fill out your logbook and send it back to the Belknap County Extension Office, 64 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246 for a patch!