Vernal pools are small, temporary woodland ponds that serve both as critical breeding habitat for a suite of amphibian species and as important feeding grounds and shelter for many reptiles, birds, and mammals. In efforts to protect these vital (yet often overlooked) ecosystems, the Harris Center for Conservation Education is training volunteers to identify and document vernal pools, with special focus on lands where information is needed for conservation planning – including our own protected lands. We’ll cover the building blocks of vernal pool ecology in an indoor presentation at Distant Hill Gardens, then venture outside for hands-on instruction in vernal pool identification and documentation at Distant Hill’s beautiful vernal pool complex. Registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Brett Amy Thelen at thelen@harriscenter.org or (603) 358-2065. Co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education and Distant Hill Gardens.