NH at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Themes - Seasonal Work & Recreation

New Hampshire has an abundance of natural resources Over 80% of New Hampshire is covered in forest. There are 56 State Parks and the White Mountain National Forest, which stretches across central New Hampshire into western Maine, has over 800,000 acres of trees, streams, rivers and mountains. New Hampshire has lots of water too! There are over 1,300 lakes or ponds, about 40 rivers, and 18 miles of Atlantic Ocean seacoast.

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There are a wide range of traditional occupations, forms of recreation and crafts in New Hampshire that have grown out of people's love for being outside in all kinds of weather-hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, snow shoeing, dog sledding, or skiing.

Making traditional crafts that can work well and safely in the outdoors under a variety of weather conditions requires an understanding of the materials and great skill. These are traditions that are taught one person to the next and treasured by those who know them and use them.

This theme area focused on the how the change of seasons and the love of the outdoors affects folklife traditions in New Hampshire.

1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Traditions represented in this area of the festival were organized by season:

• Fall:
  • Hunting and fishing - canoe building, fly tying, rod making, and flintlock rifle building.
• Winter:
  • Moving around in the winter – snow shoe making, dog sled making, snowmobiling, and skiing.
  • The integration of technology into the work culture of winter recreation – snowmaking, snow slope grooming, and ski slope design.
  • The dangers of winter terrain – search and rescue demonstrations.
  • The challenges of the seasons – weather forecasting.
• Spring:
  • The Appalachian Mountain Club's heritage of hiking & trail preparation.
  • The importance of good outdoor foot wear – custom made hiking boots.
• Summer:
  • Summer camp activities in New Hampshire

Festival Site Description:

The entryway to this theme area was a large timber framed truss.

The hub was a series of large photos of spring, summer, fall and winter with poems that captured a sense of the seasons and granite benches.

There was one scheduled area called "Summer Camp."

It focused upon the heritage of summer camps in New Hampshire and presented hands-on activities and family oriented performances.

2000 Celebrate New Hampshire festival

Traditions represented in this area of the festival were:

Tradition represented in this area were the same as those presented at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Festival Site Description:

The theme gateway and scheduled venues were the same as those presented at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

There were two scheduled areas "Summer Camp" and "Camp Adventure." Both focused upon the heritage of summer camps in New Hampshire and presented hands-on activities and family oriented performances.