Come join us on a 2.0-mile hike around Belknap Woods to identify and learn about different moss species. We will carpool from the Squam Lakes Association due to limited parking. On July 19, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Squam Lakes Conservation Corps member Emma Murray will lead an exploratory hike about mosses. There are at least 12,000 species of moss in the world, and we will see a very small yet incredibly diverse fraction of them on our hike. We will also learn about the different growth forms and life strategies of these bryophytes.

We will see all the major forms of moss on our hike: carpet, cushion, and dendroid. These all require different amounts of water and grow in different habitats, all of which we will see and discuss on the hike. We will have dichotomous keys and ID books to help us in our discovery. You’ll be amazed at the amount of diversity that can be seen on just one rock! Hand lenses for magnification will be provided.