Squam Lakes Butterfly Count [2026]

Be part of the first-ever Squam Lakes Butterfly Count with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center! Spend a day in the field surveying for monarchs, swallowtails, skippers, and more! Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or brand new to butterflies, all are welcome! Beginners will be supported throughout the day, making this a great opportunity to learn, connect, and explore.

Our results will be shared with the New Hampshire Butterfly Monitoring Network, a community science effort that invites participants to explore the beauty and diversity of local butterfly populations while contributing valuable data to ongoing conservation efforts. Help us kick off this new tradition in the Squam Lakes region—we hope you’ll join us for a day of discovery, learning, and contributing to meaningful conservation science!

Ages 12 and Up. No cost to participate but advance registration is required. Youth must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the day.

Come prepared to spend several hours in the field. Bring water, lunch, snacks, sun and insect protection, and appropriate outdoor clothing (long pants are recommended for ticks, biting insects, and poison ivy). Helpful items include a field guide, binoculars, camera or smartphone.
 

During the month of July, join the NH Butterfly Monitoring Network to complete a collaborative butterfly survey count across New Hampshire! Volunteers will meet in various parts of the state on a given day to complete an organized survey in a 15-mile diameter count area. A coordinator will help to organize participants providing locations to visit, maps, and datasheets. Participants will work in small teams, providing a great opportunity for learning and connecting with other butterfly enthusiasts while spending the day counting butterflies for a national dataset. Throughout the course of the day, each team will visit 2-4 sites, exploring fields, woodlands and wetlands to observe which species and how many individuals are present. Over time, these results can be used to monitor changes in butterfly populations and study the effects of weather and habitat change on North American butterflies. All butterfly enthusiasts are welcome, with or without prior experience!