For Teachers and Schools

Make learning come alive at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center!

Give your students the opportunity to connect to the natural world through a program at the Science Center or your school. Outdoor programs offer hands-on explorations of fields, forests, and ponds at the Science Center or the natural areas in your own schoolyard. Indoor programs provide unique and up close encounters with live native New Hampshire wildlife, either here or in your classroom. Lake Education Programs give your students an opportunity to study the ecology of Squam Lake aboard pontoon boats. All programs align to Next Generation Science Standards and New Hampshire Career and College-Ready Science Standards.

For questions or to schedule your field trip contact Jeremy Phillips, School Programs Coordinator/Naturalist at 603-968-7194 x 18 or email

School Programs by Grade

Grades Pre-2

Grades 3-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12

Homeschool Programs

Resources for Teachers

Things to Know about Field Trips

All programs align to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and New Hampshire Career and College-Ready Science Standards.

Relevant Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Performance Expectations are listed for each program. The materials and activities presented during programs and provided in follow-up lessons help students reach the Performance Expectations. Grades listed are guidelines based on NGSS connections. Teachers may select programs that meet their needs.

Types of Field Trips and things to do at the Science Center

Indoor Live Animal Program: These one-hour sessions in amphitheater-style classrooms feature live, native New Hampshire wildlife like porcupine, coyote, skunk, woodchuck, peregrine falcon, great horned owl, and many more.
Outdoor Program: Give your students an active outdoor leaning experience as they make observations, collect data, use their senses, and participate in activities. These programs are one and a half hours and start with a short introduction in the classroom before heading outdoors, ending with an indoor summary featuring a live animal.
Lake Education Program: Take your students aboard our floating classroom to study the ecology of Squam Lake. These two-hour programs accommodate a maximum of 42 students. Each program includes an introduction and wrap-up in the classroom. If your class size exceeds 42, you can split the group with one half enjoying the live animal exhibit trail while the other half participates in the lake program, and then switch the two groups.

Live Animal Exhibit Trail: See native New Hampshire animals in natural enclosures and interact with and learn from the hands-on exhibits along the self-guided three-quarter mile live animal exhibit trail. Allow a minimum of two hours for the loop walk (open May 1 through November 1).

Learn about the live animal exhibit trail
Hiking Trails: Explore the Ecotone Trail (1/3 mile) where field meets forest or hike the Forest Trail (2/3 mile) to learn about the forest history and animals in the forest. For a bit more exercise, climb Mt. Fayal (1 mile with elevation gain) for a bird’s eye view of Squam Lake.

Explore Hiking Trails

Programs at your school

We can bring live animal programs to you! These programs are the same as the ones taught at the Science Center by expert teacher naturalists. Select from programs included in our School Program Catalog or customize a program for your specific interests.

School Program Catalog

School Program Rates* (2018)

*Minimum program fees apply

Field Trips to the Science Center	Exhibit Trail Open May, June, September, October	Exhibit Trail Closed November 2 - April 30
Indoor	$8.00 per student	$5.00 per student
Outdoor	$11.00 per student	$7.00 per student
Trail Only	$7.00 per student
Lake Education Program	$225 per boat

The minimum fee for programs held at the Science Center is $100.
There is $1 discount per student if two programs are reserved for the same class on the same day.
One adult is free for every five students. Additional adults pay the student fee. Paraeducators with a 1-on-1 student are free.
Indoor and Outdoor Program fees include admission to the live animal trail.
There is no minimum fee for exhibit trail use only.

Science Center Programs at Your School
Indoor	$6.00 per student plus mileage
Outdoor	$7.00 per student plus mileage

For schools 25 miles or less from the Science Center, there is a minimum fee of $125 per program.
For schools 25 miles or further from the Science Center there is a minimum fee of $200 per program.
Schools that schedule programs out of state must pay any "out-of-state" permit fees.
There is also a round trip travel fee for mileage. Please call 603-968-7194 x 18 for current rates.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your reservation within 1 month of the program date, there is a 25% charge.
If you cancel your reservation within 2 weeks of the program date, there is a 50% charge.
Cancellations due to school closings will be accepted and no charges will be incurred.
Cancellations due to weather are not accepted, except for lightning or severe snow or ice.
A rescheduling fee of $25 applies to all date changes that occur within 1 month of the program date.
"No Shows" will be charged full price.

Programs for Scouts

Scouts may (from Daisies to Ambassadors and Cubs to Eagles) earn badges and reach their goals through programs offered year round, including live animal presentations, lake explorations, hikes, or hands-on activities led by experienced naturalist educators. A variety of programs for scout troops are available at your site, too. We will be happy to customize a program just for your group. For information contact Education Director Audrey Eisenhauer at 603-968-7194 x 14.

For questions or to schedule your field trip contact Jeremy Phillips, School Programs Coordinator/Naturalist at 603-968-7194 x 18 or email

Chip Work, 07/01/18
We stopped by here on the suggestion of 2 NH natives as a place our 10 year old grandson would enjoy. Well to use "enjoy" would be an understatement, if I were to describe my grandson's experience. There are so many different exhibits, each inviting and engaging young and old minds alike. The animal habitats are brilliant in design. We watched a presentation on the porcupine that had my techno-geek grandson filling up the Q & A session with his curiosity gone wild. The whole staff is very knowledgeable, professional, and polite. The trail and exhibits are clean and well kept. The whole experience was great for our grandson and myself as well.
Cailin Nelson, 08/03/18
Very nice place, clean and informative. Different from other places - lots for kids to learn hands on. I was a little apprehensive due to the cost and not many animals but felt like it was worth every penny. I would recommend packing a lunch and taking advantage of the trails - make a full day out of it.
Howard Nash, 10/08/18
Very well presented exhibit on the wildlife of New Hampshire. Coming from the UK, we had some concerns about the moral question of keeping wild animals in cages. This was set against the very obvious great condition of the animals on display and the effort taken to educate on the natural world - a video or even holograph would not have the same impact. The reason we give it only 4 stars is that not enough effort is made to explain why the animals, particularly the large animals, are kept in relatively small enclosures. Looking at the negative reviews that focus on the moral question, your responses are very encouraging. Perhaps you should cut out the middleman and make more effort at the Centre to explain why the animals are maintained in captivity from a conservation perspective.
Sandra Lungariello, 06/10/18
My Husband and I stopped here on the way home from visiting Mt. Washington, and we were pleasantly surprised! It was very clean and well maintained, and there were a lot of healthy active animals. We did the live animal exhibit trail...I’m pregnant and wanted something nice and easy. We took our time and it took about 2 hours (if you have kids, there’s so much to do with them, like a playground and picnic area). There were many benches, most of it was in the shade, no big hills, and it was very stroller friendly and handicap accessible. It was so educational, and lots of care and thought went into all of the exhibits, great for kids and adults! Can’t wait to take the baby back here in a few years!
Lauren Busby, 10/17/18
We go here once a year and always love it. My son has been going since he was 2 and gets something out of it every year. It's a great little home and we love to learn about the animals.