THE FOREST CLASSROOM
Are We There Yet? Take Advantage of Technology to Enhance the Outdoors By Anna Berry
A
fter a wet and humid summer, hiking in New Hampshire’s forests this autumn and winter has been a breath of fresh, crisp air. But for every hiker who revels in the quiet of a winding mountain trail, there is a family like mine with children who jump through crunchy leaves and ask “Are we there yet?” barely two feet away from the trailhead. In the last five years that I’ve hiked with my twins, I’ve learned that we often need a boost along the way—and I don’t mean from the M&Ms I keep on hand to coax a few more steps out of their little legs. I’m talking about a boost of technology. Since I already carried my smartphone outdoors to take photos, I thought why not put it to use to help find and map trails, interpret what we’re seeing, and learn more about the organizations that care for these beautiful spaces? For my family, hiking and nature apps make the journey more fun and meaningful. There are also hikers with varying abilities and interests who could benefit from adding technology to their outing. Some may want to know how far it is to the next bench for a rest or are curious about the history and science of a granite boulder along the trail. These apps tend to offer more information than what’s featured on the trailhead kiosk and on interpretive signs. And while technology won’t replace the need to bring a map and compass on every trip outdoors, it can enrich your adventures across New Hampshire. Earlier this year, my family visited the Forest Society’s 718-acre Hay Reservation in Newbury. We knew we didn’t have enough time to make it to the top of Sunset Hill, but we were excited to explore a new forest. During our walk, my kids noticed pock marks on the beech trees lining the trail and wondered what they 14 | FOREST NOTES Autumn 2021
Jake Berry helps his six-year-old twins find the end of the Lower Pond Trail at Champlin Forest in Rochester on the Forest Society’s Mobile App. were. Using the Forest Society’s recently launched free mobile app, we learned that the marks were caused by the beech scale insect, which introduces fungus into the tree’s cambium, a layer of living tissue underneath the bark, by sucking up the tree’s sap. We also noticed carvings people made in the tree bark. I told my kids about following Leave No Trace principles when we venture outside and why carvings like this can hurt trees. Realizing the damage it can do, my kids wanted to come up with their own PSAs about how to respect trees. It was getting late, so we used the app to find an interesting place to turn around: a stone wall that once bordered crop fields. I found that it was easier for me to navigate and keep my kids engaged with a
mobile guide in my pocket compared to using a map. The app, which is powered by OuterSpatial, not only features the Forest Society’s 191 forest reservations, but it also includes interpretive excursions, called outings, at some of the most popular properties, including Mount Major in Alton, the Merrimack River Outdoor Education and Conservation Area in Concord, and Madame Sherri Forest in Chesterfield. Available on both iPhone and Android devices, the app includes offline mapping and navigation, and it is accessible even without a cell phone signal. OuterSpatial helps park agencies and nonprofits across the country publish
Online: You can learn more about how to download and use the app at forestsociety.org/app.
