In celebration of National Rivers Month and Nature Photography Day earlier this week, we share a photo submitted by Dave Newton of Cumberland, RI. Dave captured this Catalpa tree "tickling the Blackstone River" while visiting the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone in Manville, RI. Don't miss our Corridor Chats event there on Saturday, June 26. See event info posted below.
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
In This Edition: June 17, 2021

  • New Volunteer Opportunities with Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
  • VIP Betty Mencucci Authors New Book on Burrillville History
  • Rivers Month Cleanups - June 17 and 27
  • Corridor Chats Is Back - June 26
  • Pollinator Week Events - June 19, 22, 24, and 26
  • BHC Public Input Survey Through June 30
  • GearHeads News: Free Outdoor Screening of Microplastic Madness on July 31
New Volunteer Opportunities!
Looking for some exciting new volunteer opportunities? Want to work alongside Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park's rangers and staff? Check out the Visitor Services and Groundskeeping opportunities below.

Visitor Services:
  • Kelly Barn at Capt. Wilbur Kelly House Museum, 1075 Lower River Rd., Lincoln, RI
  • Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket,
  • Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main St., Providence, RI

Groundskeeping:
  • Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI
  • Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main St., Providence, RI

For more information, contact Suzanne Buchanan, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
VIP Betty Mencucci Authors New Book on Burrillville History
Betty Mencucci, a Volunteers-In-Parks volunteer since 2011 and president of the Burrillville Historical & Preservation Society, is celebrating the release of a new book in the Images of America Series: Burrillville Revisited. Betty selected over 200 photographs from the Burrillville Historical & Preservation Society archives and private collections to tell the exciting history of Burrillville’s past. This is the second book about Burrillville in the series.

Join Betty on Sunday, June 20, and again on Sunday, June 27, at The Assembly Theatre in Harrisville, RI, for two different celebrations for the book. Both events are free of charge. See below for more info.
Learn more here.
Learn more here.
BHC Launches Trash Responsibly Cleanups for Rivers Month
June is National Rivers Month, and we're planning cleanups throughout the Blackstone River Valley. Thank you to the Narrangansett Bay Commission for the grant which funded new cleanup supplies.

Cleanup projects are still being planned and will be announced on social media and BHC's website. Here is what we have so far:
  • Thursday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m.: Costa Park in Woonsocket, RI
  • In partnership with the City of Woonsocket, Solid Waste Division
  • Monday, June 28 at 5:00 p.m.: Donigan Park in Providence, RI
  • In partnership with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
Do you see a hot spot that needs cleaning? Want to volunteer?

Contact Bonnie Combs at bcombs@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org to participate or report a site.

Pictured above is Costa Park at the corner of Fairmount Street and First Avenue in Woonsocket, RI.
Corridor Chats Is Back on June 26
Corridor Chats Is Back!
Join us Saturday, June 26, for an overdue, in-person celebration! We'll be paying tribute to Pollinator Week, National Rivers Month, and National Great Outdoors Month!

Thank you to our friends at the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone for hosting Corridor Chats at their Sycamore Landing property in Manville, RI, situated perfectly between the Blackstone River on the back and the Blackstone River Bikeway on the front! They have also built a large garden area, including a turtle-shaped pollinator garden! The garden project was funded in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation.

We're also excited to announce afternoon-long performances of native music by the Eastern Medicine Singers, who will bless the pollinator garden in a special ceremony.

  • Bring your bike for a guided ride to the Native Pollinator Garden at the Kelly House Museum (six miles round trip).
  • Bring your canoe or kayak for a paddle on the Blackstone River.
  • Bring your walking shoes for a guided Blue Mind walk along the river with BRWC/FOB's John Marsland.
BHC Celebrates Pollinator Week!
Join us in celebrating Pollinator Week (June 21 to 27) and visit our Pollinator page to take our Pollinator Pledge.
Pollinator Week events highlight ways to help the bees

LINCOLN - With fewer bee sightings so far this spring, local experts and organizations are buzzing with events and tips for how people can do their part to save this vital population.Among the ways that the average citizen can help are by...

Read more
www.valleybreeze.com
Saturday, June 19
1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Pollinator Craft & Nature Tour with Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
414 Massasoit Rd.
Worcester, MA

Join us at Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook for an early celebration of Pollinator Week. We will have a pollinator-themed craft, followed by a nature tour.

Tuesday, June 22
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Pollinator Walk Along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway in Providence with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Join Eric Larson from the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) for a morning stroll along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway to see pollinators in action in the many plantings he designed and implemented. Meet at Riverside Park, 50 Aleppo Street, Providence, RI. 
Thursday, June 24
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

"Protecting Pollinators" Skills Workshop with the Audubon Society of Rhode Island

On Zoom

The pollinators of the world are losing ground at an alarming rate. Take a look at what you can do on your property to encourage, assist, and help save pollinators.

We will look at the food, nesting, and sheltering needs of pollinators, as well as simple changes you can make to your gardens, maintenance schedule, and use of pesticides.
Saturday, June 26
11:00 a.m.. to 4:00 p.m.

Native Pollinator Garden Tours at the Kelly House Museum with the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI

Stop by the new native pollinator garden at the Kelly House Museum and meet with the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society volunteers to learn about the plants selected for this garden and the important role they play in the ecosystem.
Saturday, June 26
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pollinator Garden Bicycle Tour - Bike between pollinator gardens at the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone and the Kelly House Museum in Lincoln, RI.

Join us for a bike ride between two pollinator gardens along the Blackstone River Bikeway! We'll meet at the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, 100 New River Road, Manville, RI. We'll ride three miles south to the Kelly House Museum to see the native pollinator garden sponsored by the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society. Meet Ranger Tyler from Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, whose vision created the garden, and meet volunteers from RIWPS who donated the plants and volunteer to maintain the garden.

Bring your bike, helmet, and water. The ride is six miles round trip.
BHC SURVEY EXTENDED TO JUNE 30th!
SHARING IS CARING!

Please share this survey with others.
Become a GearHead Junior Ranger
"Explore, Discover, Protect, and GO!"

The Junior Ranger motto is recited by children around the country, each taking an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family. Here in the Blackstone River Valley, Junior Rangers are called GearHeads. What's a GearHead, you might ask?

GearHead (n.): a kid, powered by the gears in their brain, who explores nature, discovers history, protects the environment, and goes on adventures throughout the Blackstone River Valley.

Click through the GearHeads website and claim your Junior Ranger status today! Submit a completed activity, and we'll send you a Junior Ranger badge!
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, July 31
July 31 is World Ranger Day and the last day of Plastic Free July. We have a special celebration planned for GearHeads/Junior Rangers and their families!

Join us at the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone in Manville, RI, for a free outdoor movie night!

We'll be watching Microplastic Madness!

Gates will open early to explore the 12-acre Sycamore Landing, home of the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone. Bring your canoes and kayaks for a paddle on the river, and/or bring your bikes for a ride along Blackstone River Bikeway. Bring your chairs and blankets for a picnic before the movie at sunset. Watch for more details soon!

Watch for news about a special guest joining us and GearHeads/Junior Ranger activities leading up to the movie night.

This free screening is presented in partnership with the Providence Children's Film Festival. Microplastic Madness received PCFF's Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary 2020. Learn more here.
Celebrate National Rivers Month and Great Outdoors Month
With Our Interactive Map
How will you celebrate National Rivers Month and Great Outdoors Month? If you don't know where to begin, we have a handy tool to get you started! Check out our interactive map, which now lists Canoe/Kayak Launch Sites, in addition to Blackstone River Bikeway/Greenway parking areas, and a list of 100 Parks & Trails! Use it for National Trails Day on Saturday, June 5th! And now that visitor centers are back open, we've added a category for those too!

Looking to rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard? Fin & Feather Sports in Upton, MA, rents all of those! And in Rhode Island, you can rent a kayak through Providence Kayak in Providence and now at Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, RI. Watch for more announcements soon!
From all of us at BHC, we wish you well and look forward to seeing you soon!