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squam lakes association

Volunteer Opportunities

Join the SLA in our mission to protect the watershed

Since 1904 the Squam Lakes Association has been dedicated to conserving for public benefit the natural beauty, peaceful character, and resources of the watershed. For over 120 years we have worked with staff, partners, and the community to bring this mission to life. Join us in continuing this legacy of stewardship to keep our lakes and mountains healthy for future generatons to come!

A Place for
Everyone

The Squam Lakes are clean “oligatrophic” lakes. However, it wasn’t always this way. The Squam Lakes Association was formed over 100 years ago to address the challenges to the lake from farming and deforestation. A group of concerned community members formed the Squam Lakes Improvement Association, later known as the Squam Lakes Association.

These concerned community members became stewards for the Squam Lakes and brought it up to the extraordinary clean levels we see today.

We continue this legacy with a strong core of volunteers dedicated to the health of the watershed. Become a steward for the lakes to protect this invaluable resource for generations to come!

Become a steward for the lakes

The SLA is not only dedicated to keeping our lakes in pristine condition but the watershed as a whole. This includes the mountains, tributaries, and communities within the Squam region. This is no small feat. We rely on dedicated volunteers to help us deliver the best possible boots on the ground work that keeps these invaluable natural resources whole. Whether your heart is in the forested trails which lead you to stellar mountaintops, on the lakes surrounded by peaceful backdrops of waves and loon calls, or surrounded by the camaraderie of likeminded individuals who share your passion for community and the outdoors, we have a place for you!
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities/Positions

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Contact

[email protected]
Volunteer and Membership Manager:

[email protected]

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Public Education Program Support
Become an Educational Program Leader
Do you have a specialized skillset or passion related to Squam? Share your knowledge and enthusiasm with the public by joining our volunteer educational leader program! We are currently seeking volunteers to run educational programs such as hiking, paddling, art, ecology, conservation, and other skills or topics that support the Squam Lakes Association’s educational mission. No teaching experience is required – just bring your passion!
What is Educational Programming at the SLA?
Our educational programs are free to the public and designed to engage participants in learning about the Squam Lakes Watershed. We offer a variety of program formats including hikes, games, paddling, workshops, crafts, powerpoints, online lectures, and more.
Programs are designed for a wide range of age groups and skill levels, providing accessible, informal education for people of all backgrounds. Our programs leave participants feeling more connected with their community and their natural environment. As a lead your role is to foster this connection by facilitating safe, fun, and enjoyable learning experiences.
Why Teach with Us?
Educational programming is a key pillar of watershed conservation. By giving the community an opportunity to safely interact and explore the watershed you inspire awareness and action through connection.
When programs succeed, participants feel closer to the resources at their fingertips and are motivated to become more active in conservation efforts. Communities with strong social ties and connection to land are more resilient to change and are likely to experience more positive outcomes. The Squam Lakes Association uses education as a tool to advance its mission of conserving the watershed and its resources. 
Our Volunteer Program
After completing an interest form, you will be connected to a member from our education team and provided a wealth of information to prepare for a successful education program. We will provide annual training days, access to a detailed resource library, and direct contact with your point staff. Once confident in your program, you will gain access to our educational calendar, where you can schedule a one-time or repeating event that works around your availability.
Arboretum Stewardship
How the SLA Arboretum Came To Be: Community in Action
In the Fall of 2025 our community came together to turn the dream of a shared arboretum into reality. The project was developed as part of a community activation initiative supported through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) and the Community Center Investment Program. Through community conversations during the planning process, we heard a strong desire for more welcoming public spaces and greater awareness that the Squam Lakes Association campus is open for the community to enjoy.

On planting day, 31 volunteers joined together to plant 23 fruit and nut trees. With support from ReTreeUS, a nonprofit dedicated to ecological restoration, the planting process was both educational and impactful. Now we need your help to maintain this community space!
Water Quality Monitors
Water Quality Sampling on Squam
In the Fall of 2025 our community came together to turn the dream of a shared arboretum into reality. The project was developed as part of a community activation initiative supported through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) and the Community Center Investment Program. Through community conversations during the planning process, we heard a strong desire for more welcoming public spaces and greater awareness that the Squam Lakes Association campus is open for the community to enjoy.

On planting day, 31 volunteers joined together to plant 23 fruit and nut trees. With support from ReTreeUS, a nonprofit dedicated to ecological restoration, the planting process was both educational and impactful. Now we need your help to maintain this community space!
Weed Watchers Program
Take part in the effort of monitoring the growth of aquatic invasive species by becoming a volunteer Weed Watcher!
Aquatic invasive plants are those that are not found naturally in New Hampshire waterbodies. Since they are not originally from this region, they have no natural predators and can grow very quickly, outcompeting the native plants in our area. As these invasive plants take over, they displace native fish and aquatic insects already living there.

Variable milfoil is the most common aquatic invasive plant within Squam Lakes. This submerged plant grows very quickly and can reach up to 3 meters tall, creating dense mats near shorelines. Outbreaks of variable milfoil can decrease shoreline property values and cause damage to boat engines and water intake systems.
Weed Watchers: Our Eyes on the Lake
The Weed Watchers volunteer program enables anyone to help protect our lakes against the spread of invasive species by becoming an extra pair of eyes to spot and report potential invasions. Volunteers will use boats, kayaks, canoes, or snorkels to survey areas on Squam Lake, and report any sightings of invasive species to the Squam Lakes Association. This helps the SLA dive team effectively locate and remove new growth to prevent outbreaks in our lakes.
Volunteers can conduct surveys anytime they are on the water, at a minimum once a month from May-Sept. Free kayak and canoe rentals are available for volunteers on their survey days
Lake Host
Keep our lake clean!
Lake Hosts are our first line of defense against invasive aquatic species. Boats and personal watercrafts are the number one spreader of invasive species. These invasives will outcompete native species and forever change the ecology of Squam Lakes. These invasives hitchhike from one body of water to another and require vigilance to be stopped.

Lake Hosts teach and use the principles of “Clean, Drain, Dry” to help prevent new invasives and manage the spread of invasives we already have. By approaching boaters and inspecting their watercrafts while also teaching them about how to keep their boats clean when moving from waterbody to waterbody, we can prevent and slow the spread of invasives!
What you will learn
Lake Hosts will be trained to identify native vs invasive plants and animals as well as the principles of “Clean, Drain, Dry”. They will be provided with plastic bags to bag up suspicious specimens for further identification. Lake Hosts will be provided with an online questionnaire to fill out for each boater.

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© Squam Lakes Association 2026. All Rights Reserved. The SLA is a non-profit 501 (C) 3.

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