Educational initiatives
MERE has several educational initiatives that range from public contact to research and citizen science for high school and college students. Local high schools participate in our Adopt-A-Crevice Community program including Keene High School and Dublin School.
Mount Monadnock Summit Steward Program
Adopt A Crevice Community
We are also hard at work developing materials that hikers, families, classroom teachers, and other educational professionals can use to expand understanding of the mountain and the region.
The bare rocks of the upper slopes of Mt. Monadnock are home to beautiful and unique alpine vegetation including rare plant species that, in New England, are only found above tree-line in the alpine zone. These hardy alpine species thrive in the harsh conditions commonly experienced above tree-line yet they cannot survive a hiker’s footstep.
Conservation of rare alpine vegetation in New England has been a recognized concern of non-profit, educational, and government organizations since the 1930’s. Significant work has been done in this area by such conservation organizations as the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Green Mountain Club, Baxter State Park, and the Dartmouth Outing Club. A decline in abundance of alpine species on Mt. Monadnock was acknowledged in the Monadnock Guide published in 1980. Since then visitation to Mt. Monadnock has increased from approximately 65,000 visitors to more than 100,000 visitors annually. Without protection alpine vegetation on Mt. Monadnock is likely to succumb to trampling by thousands of human footsteps as hikers stray off the trail and onto fragile plants.
Mount Monadnock Summit Steward Program
Adopt A Crevice Community
We are also hard at work developing materials that hikers, families, classroom teachers, and other educational professionals can use to expand understanding of the mountain and the region.
The bare rocks of the upper slopes of Mt. Monadnock are home to beautiful and unique alpine vegetation including rare plant species that, in New England, are only found above tree-line in the alpine zone. These hardy alpine species thrive in the harsh conditions commonly experienced above tree-line yet they cannot survive a hiker’s footstep.
Conservation of rare alpine vegetation in New England has been a recognized concern of non-profit, educational, and government organizations since the 1930’s. Significant work has been done in this area by such conservation organizations as the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Green Mountain Club, Baxter State Park, and the Dartmouth Outing Club. A decline in abundance of alpine species on Mt. Monadnock was acknowledged in the Monadnock Guide published in 1980. Since then visitation to Mt. Monadnock has increased from approximately 65,000 visitors to more than 100,000 visitors annually. Without protection alpine vegetation on Mt. Monadnock is likely to succumb to trampling by thousands of human footsteps as hikers stray off the trail and onto fragile plants.