NH Outdoor Learning

The New Hampshire Outdoor Learning Center (NHOLC) operates from Wolfeboro and offers real outdoor instruction from people who actually hunt, fish, and trap for a living. This isn't classroom learning—it's practical skills taught in the field by licensed guides and certified specialists.

Founder Scott R. Jackson grew up hunting and trapping in Maine starting at age 8, spent 10 years in the Alaskan bush flying and hunting, then returned to New Hampshire in 2004 to start the center in 2010. He's a Certified Master Outdoorsman, licensed NH and Maine guide, and co-founder of Great North Woods Guide Service.

Marc Hallee brings 22+ years teaching martial arts plus expertise in bushcraft, wilderness survival, and handcrafted primitive archery. Sandy Turcotte, program director for women's outdoor learning, comes from a family line of Canadian hunters and trappers—she's spent 18+ years as a fitness instructor and brings that teaching skill to outdoor education.

Mike Colby, chief archery instructor, ran M&D Archery for years and brings 45 years of bow hunting and shooting experience. Craig Rennie is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with degrees from Unity College, decades working with Ducks Unlimited and NH Fish & Game, and has harvested the 10th largest buck in NH (225 lbs) plus 2 moose.

John McKernan, fly fishing instructor, has 38+ years teaching experience across 14 states and remote Alaska waters. Wes Reed breeds and trains Labrador and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers through Rise and Shine Retrievers and judges AKC and HRC hunt tests. Dr. Rick Van de Poll is a botanist and mycologist teaching wild edible and medicinal plant courses since 1977.

Photography instructors Jackie Robidoux and Nancy Lucia Daniels bring 20+ years of nature photography experience with published work.

NHOLC offers structured certification paths:

• •Master Outdoorsman - Multi-skill comprehensive outdoor certification
• •Hunting Specialist - Hunting-focused training and certification
• •Fishing Specialist - Fishing and casting instruction
• •Wilderness Survival Specialist - Backcountry skills and survival techniques

• •Hunting instruction - Whitetail, upland birds, waterfowl; firearms and bow hunting
• •Fly fishing and casting - FFI Casting Instructor-led programs across multiple states
• •Archery - Instruction from NASP and USA Archery Level 2 certified instructors
• •Wilderness survival - Pathfinder Advanced Survival and Woodsman School curriculum
• •Backcountry camping and bushcraft - Navigation, fire craft, shelter building
• •Dog training for hunting - Bird dog and retriever training
• •Wildlife photography - Nature and wildlife capture for all skill levels
• •Hunter education - Certified NH Hunter Education Instructor courses
• •Fishing mechanics - Rod selection, casting technique, water reading

These aren't instructors reading from textbooks. Craig Rennie bagged a 225-lb buck and 2 moose. John McKernan has fished 14 states. Wes Reed's dogs run AKC and HRC hunt tests. Mike Colby spent 45 years in competitive archery.

Every instructor holds certifications—Wilderness First Aid, CPR/AED, hunter safety, guide licenses. Several are board members of the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH and NH Guides Association. They don't just teach skills; they pass on knowledge gained from actually doing this work.