Explore University of New Hampshire’s 204-acre Thompson Farm to learn how physical factors (soil texture, nutrients, water drainage, and topography) affect forest composition and practice your tree ID skills along the way. Visit three main forest communities: an upland site with shagbark hickory, pignut hickory and eastern red cedar among others; a site with more nutrient-rich soils containing sugar maple, American basswood and white ash; and a lowland site with seasonally-flooded marine-sediment soils supporting red maple and a particularly impressive swamp oak. With the use of a soil auger, get the feel for different soil textures and soil parent elements. Other highlights include an abandoned beaver pond as well as a recently burned meadow. Prepare to walk off-trail and over uneven terrain at times. Bring sturdy hiking boots as well as a lunch. Participants should have strong legs, strong lungs and a good sense of balance.