Since 2022, Chocorua Lake Conservancy and Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth have been convening an ongoing program series entitled Climate & Community. The goal of this program series has been to examine and respond to climate change and adaptation as a community through conversation, learning from subject experts and each other, and constructive action and creative response at home and in community—that is, to practice being in community, and listening, so that we can be resilient as a community in complex times.
Coming up:
Please join Cook Memorial Library and Chocorua Lake Conservancy on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM at Cook Library in Tamworth for a discussion of the award-winning book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World, by John Vaillant. Please register in advance via chocorualake.org/events.
Climate Book Discussions
To go along with the “Climate & Community” series, we occasionally hold book discussions of titles that examine climate in some way. Borrow books ahead of time at the library and join us! Our next book will be announced soon.
Books list from past discussions:
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
- Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
- The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson, discussion led by Karen McCall
- The Bear by Andrew Krivak. This book and discussion was also the One Book One Valley community read for 2023
- The Treeline by Ben Rawlence
- The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
- Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge by Erica Gies
Past Climate & Community programs
Recordings of the online programs in this series may be found on the Cook Memorial Library Youtube channel.
Lake Water Quality: Cyanobacteria & eDNA – February 12, 2025: A talk presented by Amanda McQuaid, UNHCE State Specialist/UNH Professor of Water Quality and Ecotoxicology and Director of UNH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program and Jill Emerson, Water Quality Coordinator at Green Mountain Conservation Group (GMCG).
Explore a Forester’s Mind – December 2, 2023: A walk in the north and south lots at C.C. Browne Woods with longtime consulting forester Dan Stepanauskas.
Big Solutions to Climate Change – October 25, 2023 with David Kunhardt, retired solar leader, long-time climate advocate, and member of the Chocorua Lake Conservancy Board and the Tamworth Energy Committee
Harvest Potluck and Conversation – September 27, 2023, a late summer harvest pot luck and community conversation about our town’s energy future.
Forest Management and Carbon – August 2 and August 5, 2023, a talk and field trip with UNH Cooperative Extension Natural Resources Field Specialist Wendy Scribner
Backyard Habitat in a Changing Climate – May 9, 2023, 7PM with Chocorua Lake Conservancy Stewardship Director Debra Marnich
Pollinators & Climate Change Considerations – April 17, 2023 with Athena Contus, beekeeper and teacher of Apiary Management
Solar Energy and Beneficial Electrification – March 1, 2023 with Ted Vansant, Founder and President of New England Commercial Solar Services
Climate and Health – February 7, 2023 with retired cardiologist Bob Dewey of NH Healthcare Workers for Climate Action
New Hampshire, New Normal – November 16, 2022 with (then) New Hampshire State Climatologist Dr. Mary Stampone
Community Climate Conversation – November 30, 2022, a discussion that asked: What would you like to learn about climate change? What will help our community be resilient and able to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change here in our state? Input gathered at this community meeting helped guide Chocorua Lake Conservancy’s and Cook Memorial Library’s plans for the “Climate & Community” program series.