2022 Southeast Land Trust Wild & Scenic Film Festival

2022 Southeast Land Trust Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Friday April 22nd, 2022 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM
The Music Hall
28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH 

On Friday April 22nd, 2022, the public is invited to join the Southeast Land Trust (SELT) in person and online for the 12th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival.  

This year’s films combine exceptional filmmaking, beautiful cinematography, and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation.

Attendees can expect award-winning films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, and more. 

A volunteer film committee has hand-picked a program from the award-winning films curated by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and national Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

Tickets are $20 For more information, visit https://seltnh.org/wildandscenic/

To watch the program remotely participants must create an account with Qudio. If opting to buy virtual tickets viewers will be prompted to create an account during the purchase process.

If tickets are purchased through The Music Hall, ticketholders will receive an email with directions to register for the online event to watch virtually or in person.  

All ticket holders to SELT’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival will be able to watch the program on Demand from 10:56PM on Friday, April 22 through 11:56 PM Wednesday, April 27 through a registered Qudio Account. 

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started in 2003 by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL, pronounced ‘circle’), a watershed advocacy group based in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. 

The festival’s namesake is in celebration of achieving Wild & Scenic status on 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. The festival celebrates its annual event in Nevada City, CA each winter featuring over 150 award-winning films and welcoming filmmakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement.

SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a call to action. The films illustrate not only the challenges facing our planet but the work communities are doing to protect the environment and the places we love. The stories give us a sense of place and what it means to be responsible stewards of the earth.

The Southeast Land Trust (SELT) conserves and stewards land for the benefit of people and nature in New Hampshire. SELT serves 52 towns and cities of Rockingham and Strafford counties and has conserved tens of thousands of acres, including nature preserves, hiking trails, farmland, and scenic vistas. Learn more at seltnh.org.

source: Southeast Land Trust

Leaf Peeping Tips

Autumn is prime time for leaf peeping in New England. This article offers a variety of tips for planning a trip to view fall foliage and other natural beauty in New England.

To experience beautiful views of fall foliage in the New England region, travelers should plan ahead whenever possible. Leaf peeping can be done on day trips, overnight excursions, or multi-day vacations.

New England states provide travelers with extensive resources for trip planning. Most states provide fall foliage forecasts, weekly updates, and route information.

Other sources of leaf peeping information can be include local contacts such as county tourism officials, innkeepers, restaurant staff, and members of the travel industry.

Although many travelers prefer to enjoy fall foliage from their own vehicle, an array of options exist. Leaf peeping can be enjoyed by train, bus, or other modes of transportation. More intimate views can sometimes be found by hiking. 

Choosing items to take on a trip will depend on the length, transportation mode, and other factors. For most travelers, water is an essential item. Other useful accessories might include snacks, eyewear, proper clothing, and a digital camera.

For independent travelers, navigation is an important subject to consider. Although smartphones and other electronic devices are convenient, it's usually good to have paper maps and possibly a compass.

Weather can be another factor to consider. Fall is usually a time when there are plenty of bright clear days which are suitable for leaf peeping and nature appreciation. Between periods of fair weather, storms or other natural events can limit travel opportunities.

The fall season in New England can be a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Travelers can make the most of their time by doing pre-trip research, being ready on short notice, and taking opportunities when they arise. 

Vermont Free Ice Fishing Day 2021

 

This year's Vermont free ice fishing day is Saturday, January 30, 2021. On Vermont free ice fishing days, anyone, resident or nonresident, may go fishing in Vermont without a fishing license.

Due to COVID restrictions this year, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VFWD) is unable to host its normal in-person Ice Fishing Festival that is normally held on Free Fishing Day. In place of that, VFWD created a Virtual Ice Fishing Festival that will give anglers the opportunity to learn about ice fishing basics.

According to a 2019 VFWD angler survey:

• Yellow perch, northern pike, and lake trout were the three most preferred species when fishing through the ice
• A majority of anglers rated the quality of fishing in Vermont as good or excellent
• Crowding at access areas and overall access to fishing was not seen as a significant problem in Vermont. 

source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

First Day Hikes in New England 2021

A mix of virtual and group First Day Hikes will be held in New England to celebrate New Year's Day 2021. This article includes a selection of First Day hikes, walks, virtual tours, hiking areas, and other resources in New England.

First Day hikes are popular with individuals and families as a way to welcome the new year while enjoying the outdoors and connecting with nature.

In 2020,  nearly 85,000 people celebrated the New Year outdoors, collectively hiking over 176,366 miles throughout the country on the guided hikes. Other participants hiked state park trails throughout the day.

In normal circumstances, America’s State Parks host a full range of First Day Hike events. According to America’s State Parks (www.stateparks.org), states will be adapting their 2021 First Day hikes to keep people safe and healthy during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.

Changes will include hikes with smaller groups, virtual hikes, self-guided hikes and trail challenges. States will be adding events and trails throughout the month of December. Hike distances and difficulty levels may vary from park to park.

 

New England First Day Hike Events:

Maine

Virtual Adventures - Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

New Hampshire

Virtual First Day Hike Event - New Hampshire State Parks

Connecticut

Virtual and Self-Guided Hikes in Connecticut - Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)

Hiking Areas in New England

While many First Day hikes are affected by the pandemic, the region has plenty of public lands and other areas where individuals and families can enjoy hiking, walking, and other outdoor recreation. The following are a few locations where hiking and exploring are possible.

The Green Mountain National Forest in western Vermont is one of New England's most popular hiking destinations. A public, federally managed national forest, Green Mountain is home to miles of trails and other areas for outdoor recreation. For information about health and safety precautions for Vermont, visit https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19

In Northwest Massachusetts, the Mohawk Trail Woodlands encompasses 361,941 acres of northern forests, wetlands, unique geology, and a biologically diverse ecosystem.

Along the coast of Massachusetts, Cape Cod National Seashore includes miles of sandy beaches, lighthouses, marshes, ponds, cranberry bogs, and upland landscapes. Twelve walking trails at the Cape Cod seashore are open year round. Cape Cod National Seashore is located approximately 20 miles east of Hyannis, MA.

In Rhode Island, state parks and saltwater beaches are open with limitations in place. The number of parking spots will be reduced, and parking gates may need to be closed at times depending on beach capacity. For more information, visit: https://riparks.com/covid19.php

 

2021 First Day Hikes Resources

The full listing of First Day Hikes and other special programs in America’s State Parks is available at:

https://www.stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes/

America's State Parks - First Day Hikes

American Hiking Society - First Day Hikes

 

Related Information

First Day Hikes in New England 2020

Christmas in New England