Seek The Peak Hike-a-thon for Mount Washington Observatory

On Friday, July 21st-Saturday, July 22nd, participate in the largest annual fundraiser for the Mount Washington Observatory at the Annual Seek the Peak Hike-a-Thon.

Hike the beautiful and challenging Mount Washington, explore the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire, raise money for a good cause, win prizes, meet and join other outdoor enthusiasts, enjoy the outdoor expo tents, explore the Weather Discovery Center, meet the staff of the observatory, dine and party with participants, and most importantly – SEEK YOUR PEAK! 

There is a $10 registration fee per person, and this fee counts towards the minimum $200 fundraising goal. Ask your network of family and friends to pledge you during the event and tell them about the cause! Participants may register in teams of up to 8 people.

There are many ways to win prizes! The first 500 participants to raise $200 earn an exclusive Seek the Peak backpack and T-shirt. Join the event as a team to earn special prizes as the top fundraising team or the most spirited team, among other categories. For each fundraising milestone, starting at $200 and exceeding $20,000, participants may win select prizes for each milestone and are entered to win other fabulous prizes for their accomplishments. To see the full list of incentives, visit https://www.mountwashington.org/seek-the-peak/prizes.aspx.

In addition to pledges, interested businesses may purchase sponsorships for the event. The sponsorship categories are as follows:

• Presenting Sponsor: $12,500
• Gold Sponsor: $5,000
• Silver Sponsor: $2,500
• Bronze Sponsor: $1,000
• In-Kind Sponsors ($1,000+)
• In-Kind Sponsors (Under $1,000)
• Team Sponsor: $2,000

For more information on sponsorships, visit https://www.mountwashington.org/seek-the-peak/sponsorship.aspx.

Since Seek the Peak was established in 2001, this great event has raised over $1.6 million for the nonprofit Observatory, helping it maintain its famous weather station on the summit of Mount Washington and continue its important work collecting weather data, performing research, and educating the public about the science of climate and weather.

For more information, or to register, visit https://www.mountwashington.org/seek-the-peak/. Pack your gear – the mountains are calling!

Mount Washington Observatory Announces a Full Line-Up of Summer Educational Opportunities

Press Release by Krissy Fraser, Director of Events & Marketing
kfraser@mountwashington.org | (603) 356-2137, ext. 231

North Conway, NH – June 1, 2017– The non-profit Mount Washington Observatory has announced a full line-up of summer educational offerings on the summit of Mount Washington and in the valley including overnight Edutrips and workshops.

EduTrips:
Back by popular demand the Observatory will be offering five overnight Edutrips including expert instruction on various topics and the opportunity to stay the night on the summit of Mount Washington with Observatory staff.

Edutrip dates and topics include: July 8-9 and August 12-13 – Life, Work and the Environment Atop Mount Washington; July 15-16 and August 19-20 – Thunderstorms; October 7-8 – Fall Foliage Photography.  Trips will cost $399 to Observatory members and $475 to non-members.

Workshops:
Returning for summer 2017 the Observatory will also offer two popular workshops.

The Star Party Astronomy Workshop: Presented by John Gianforte, Astronomy lecturer for the Physics Department at U.N.H., this will be a fun and educational outing for anyone interested in astronomy from novice to advanced. The Star Party Astronomy workshop will take place on Saturday, August 5 (“Cloud” Date – Sunday, August 6). This will be a two part program starting with an indoor session at the Weather Discovery Center from 2:30 pm-5:30 pm followed by an outdoor session from 7:30 pm-11:00 pm.

The Geology and White Mountains Workshop: Presented by geologist Woody Thompson of the Maine Geological Survey, this will explore the glacial geology of the northern White Mountain region and the history of geological exploration and understanding of the area.

The workshop will begin with an informal classroom presentation and then proceed to sites of geological interest in the northern White Mountains region. Taking place on Saturday, September 9, 2017 (rain date: Sunday, September 10).  The workshop run from 8:30 am-4:30 pm, starting at the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center in North Conway, NH.

Workshop fees are $75 for observatory members and $105 for non-members. The fee includes instruction and all associated materials.

Additional Offerings:
In the summer months the Mount Washington Observatory provides additional educational offerings including a free Science in the Mountains lecture series, summit weather station tours for observatory members and daily “Live from the Rockpile” call-ins to the summit observers from the Weather Discovery Center.

Guests can also explore the world of weather at the Mount Washington Observatory’s two museums – The Weather Discovery Center located in North Conway and Extreme Mount Washington located on the summit of Mount Washington in the Sherman Adams State Park building.

For more information on the Mount Washington Observatory educational programs visit MountWashington.org or call (603) 356-2137, ext. 225.

About Mount Washington Observatory
Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create the Earth’s weather and climate. Since 1932, the Observatory has been monitoring the elements from its weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, using this unique site for scientific research and educational outreach. For more information, call (800) 706-0432 or visit MountWashington.org.

A Year in Review: Views from the Summit of Mount Washington

Please enjoy the latest time lapse compilation shot from the Mount Washington Observatory, located on the summit of Mount Washington, NH. 

Snow Much Fun: Extreme Mount Washington!

An all-new visitor experience will open atop Mount Washington in June 2014. 

The Mount Washington Observatory recently announced the successful completion of its capital campaign to build ‘Extreme Mount Washington,’ a high-tech, educational experience on the summit of Mount Washington. The nonprofit scientific research and educational institution has been planning and fundraising for the complete renovation of its mountaintop museum since 2010, and a ribbon-cutting event for the opening of Extreme Mount Washington is being planned for early June 2014.

Replacing the Observatory’s forty year-old Mount Washington Museum, Extreme Mount Washington will deliver the awe and wonder of Mount Washington in winter, the mountain’s most extreme season.  Through hands-on, high-tech exhibits, Extreme Mount Washington will present a compelling sampling of the “World’s Worst Weather” to summer visitors from all over the world. Designed by Jeff Kennedy Associates of Somerville, Massachusetts, the new museum will feature a user-controlled flat-panel display showing “clear day” views from the summit in all seasons, an interactive snowcat simulator, a recreation of the 1930s Observatory including the anemometer used to record the famous 231 mph wind, a special display on rime ice and more.

More information about Extreme Mount Washington can be found at: Extreme.MountWashington.org. Plan to make a visit to the new Extreme Mount Washington sometime this summer or fall.

The Observatory offers numerous events each month, including a special fundraiser at the Port City Music Hall in Portland, Maine on Friday, April 4, with stories from regional meteorologists, a live connection with the Observatory’s mountaintop weather station, and an inside look at the life and work of American’s favorite meteorologist and storm chaser, Ginger Zee. Tickets required. For more information, click here.

MOUNT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY PRESENTS ‘AN EVENING WITH GOOD MORNING AMERICA METEOROLOGIST AND STORM CHASER GINGER ZEE’

On Friday, April 4 Good Morning America Meteorologist and storm chaser Ginger Zee will light up the stage of the Port City Music Hall in Portland, Maine in an exclusive benefit event for the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory.  Presented by WMTW News 8, the Residence Inn Marriott North Conway and the Mt. Washington Cog Railway with support from Vigilant Capital Management, ‘An Evening with Ginger Zee’ will offer an inside look at the world of storm chasing through the eyes of America’s favorite meteorologist.

“I’ve been fascinated by weather for as long as I can remember,” says Zee, who grew up watching storms over Lake Michigan. “For everything we know, there is still so much we don’t—this is what inspires me to continue learning and pushing the limits as a meteorologist and a storm chaser.”

Recently replacing Sam Champion as Good Morning America’s Chief Meteorologist and Senior Meteorologist for ABC News, Zee is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist and a former member of storm chaser Reed Timmer’s team of experts. Through heart-pounding video and first-person narration, she’ll detail some of her most challenging and frightening experiences in the field.

The evening will also feature a live video connection with Mount Washington Observatory’s famous weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire, where Observatory scientists will share what it’s like to live and work in the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.”

The entire WMTW News 8 First Warning Weather Team will be on hand to meet viewers, and WMTW Meteorologist Roger Griswold will provide opening remarks.

Doors will open at 5:30pm for a cash bar cocktail hour and heavy hors d’oeuvres, followed by the live connection with Mount Washington Observatory at 6:30pm. The feature presentation will begin at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $79 for supporting members of Mount Washington Observatory or $89 for non-members. Preferred seating is available for $99. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit MountWashington.org/Events or call (603) 356-2137, ext. 231.

“Storm chasing and severe weather phenomena capture the attention of academics and adrenaline junkies alike,” says Mount Washington Observatory Executive Director Scot Henley. “Mount Washington Observatory has been living this adventure for more than 80 years, and we’re excited to be partnering with Ginger to offer an inside look at this incredible world.”

About Mount Washington Observatory
Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create the Earth’s weather and climate. Since 1932, the Observatory has been monitoring the elements from its weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, using this unique site for scientific research and educational outreach. For more information, call (800) 706-0432 or visit MountWashington.org.

Top of Mount Washington, courtesy of MW Observatory

MOUNT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY OFFERING ‘OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN’ PRESENTATION MAY 4

 

Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the fall of New Hampshire’s famous “Old Man of the Mountain,” Mount Washington Observatory will be offering a special program at its Weather Discovery Center in North Conway on Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 PM. Mount Washington Observatory life trustee Brian Fowler, a retired engineering geologist and recognized expert on the “Old Man,” will discuss how the famed rock profile came to be and why it fell.

Fowler studied the Old Man intensively in association with the construction of Route 93 through Franconia Notch. Probably no one is as familiar with the geological history and structure of the Old Man, or can offer such informed insights as to why the Old Man tumbled from its lofty perch.

Fowler is also a student of the human history associated with the Old Man, including

karen stancik photography

its importance as an emblem of the Granite State and the many attempts to stabilize and preserve it. His presentation will include important facets of the profile’s geological and human history, and will also discuss the work of the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund to keep the heritage of the Old Man alive for future generations.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Donations to the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory are welcomed.

About Mount Washington Observatory

Operating within the 59-acre Mt. Washington State Park, Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported research and educational institution with a mission to advance understanding of Earth’s weather and climate. Since 1932, the Observatory has been observing Mount Washington’s incredible extremes from its mountaintop weather station, amassing one of North America’s longest and most unique climate records while conducting scientific research and educational outreach. For weather reports, webcams, summit trips, photos and more, please visit MountWashington.org.

 

MOUNT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY EARNS $20,000 GRANT IN CHASE COMMUNITY GIVING CONTEST

Local nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory was among the 30,000 charities from across the country nominated to participate in the 2012 Chase Community Giving contest. The philanthropy program asked the public to vote for their favorite charities, awarding a total of $5 million in grants to the top 196 vote-getters. At the end of the contest Mount Washington Observatory landed in 55^th place with a total of 3,250 votes, earning the nonprofit a $20,000 grant.

“We are so, incredibly humbled by the outpouring of support from our fans,” says Mount Washington Observatory Executive Director Scot Henley. “When we were nominated to participate, we were wary—we’re much smaller than many of the other groups. But our members, donors, and fans rallied around our cause. Their support helped us surpass charities ten times our size.”

Eligible charities included 501(c)(3) organizations with an operating budget under $10 million, nominated by Chase customers and employees from June 12 to July 9. Voting took place September 6-19 on Facebook and ChaseGiving.com, open to all with Facebook and Chase accounts. More than 1.5 million votes were cast.

The charity that received the most votes, the Egyptian Cancer Network, won a $250,000 grant. The next ten runners-up won $100,000, the next 35 won $50,000, the next 50 won $20,000, and the next 100 won $10,000.

“This grant represents a significant sum of money for our small institution,” notes Kerry MacDougall, the Observatory’s Director of Development. “Membership dues and charitable gifts comprise the majority of our income, so receiving a grant of this amount—especially during a down economy, when charitable gifts are increasingly difficult to secure—is a major boost.”

The Observatory plans to put the grant to work immediately, helping to fund its weather station atop Mount Washington and its educational outreach efforts.

“The Observatory has been able to continue its work in weather observation, science education, and weather and climate research for more than 80 years thanks to the support of our members and fans,” says Henley. “This grant helps us continue that legacy.”

 

About Mount Washington Observatory

Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create the Earth’s weather and climate. Since 1932, the Observatory has been monitoring the elements in one of the most extreme locations on Earth, using this unique site for scientific research and educational outreach. For more information, call (800) 706-0432 or visit MountWashington.org.