Ranger Walkabouts are back! Join Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park rangers this summer on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM during June, July, and August to investigate the many stories of the Blackstone River Valley. Visit nps.gov/blrv/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm to learn more.
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
May 16, 2022

Volunteers Got a Raise!

During National Volunteer Week last month, Independent Sector announced new hourly values for volunteer service.

The national average is now $29.95 per hour, up from $28.54! The Massachusetts rate is now $36.38 and Rhode Island is $29.17.

These volunteer hours are not only valuable for the impact they have in our Corridor communities, but the dollar value counts as in-kind contributions and can go toward grant matches and more!

Want to learn more about volunteering with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and the Historical Park? Reach out to Molly Cardoza, Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, at mcardoza@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.

You can also visit us during Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park's First Strike Festival on Saturday, May 21st at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket!
VIPs are CPR & First Aid Certified

Congrats to our Class of 2022 CPR and First Aid graduates!

Pictured here from left to right: Kathy Parlante and Bill McGinnis, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassadors; John Marsland, Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone; Al Menard, North Smithfield Heritage Association, and Mark Dennen, a BHC Bikeway Ambassador who is certified to offer CPR and First Aid training. Not pictured: Molly Cardoza, Blackstone Heritage Corridor's Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement.
Thank you to Whitinsville Christian School for a very impactful Day of Service on May 6th! The students were so enthusiastic and made great impressions on our hosts at Daniels Farmstead, Waters Farm, and Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park (MassDCR). The total value of their day of service to the Volunteers-In-Parks program is $7,128.10.

If you'd like to plan a Day of Service for your school, employees, or community group, contact Molly Cardoza, Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, at mcardoza@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
Join Us for Blackstone Valley Day at Polar Park- Tuesday, June 14
Devon Kurtz, BHC's Executive Director, will be throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the WooSox game on Tuesday, June 14.
Tickets are $25 and include a $10 loaded value
for concessions, beverages, and the team fan shop too!.

Note: Register and purchase tickets at this link, not at the box office:
May is National Preservation Month
With many historic cemeteries throughout the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor that have fallen into disrepair and experienced neglect, there are many volunteers who have the skills and passion to preserve and protect them.
This spring, as part of Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries Awareness and Preservation Weeks, several Blackstone Heritage Corridor Cemetery Conservation Ambassador volunteers are offering workshops and hosting cleanups and cemetery walking tours.

In addition, Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors in Sutton, MA, have an ongoing restoration project at Sutton Center Cemetery that you can get involved with! If you are interested in learning more about this cemetery conservation project and how you can contribute, contact Molly Cardoza, BHC's Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, at mcardoza@BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.
Free Cemetery Restoration Workshop - July 22

The North Smithfield Heritage Association is hosting a free cemetery workshop conducted by Jon Appell of Atlas Preservation, a national stone preservation supplier and professional historic stone conservator. 
The workshop is open to the public and will start at 9 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2022, and will run until projects are complete (possibly 4 p.m.). Participants will receive personal hands-on education, including the proper techniques and use of correct materials to restore these valuable pieces of history.


The event will be held at the Hotchkiss Cemetery on Great Road in North Smithfield. Parking is available at the adjacent Union Cemetery.

No registration is required. For more info, contact the North Smithfield Heritage Association at 401-651-6316 or email nsha@nsheritageassn.org.
Become a Bikeway Ambassador!
Blackstone Heritage Corridor Volunteer Linda Primel (in orange vest) volunteered recently at the Accessible Cycling for Veterans event at the Blackstone River Greenway. If you'd like to volunteer, visit https://bit.ly/VeteransVIP2022.
Accessible Cycling for Veterans
The Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassadors will be supporting All Out Adventures this season with its free accessible cycling events for Veterans and their loved ones along the Blackstone River Bikeway/Greenway in MA and RI. This program is made possible by a federal Veterans Adaptive Sports Grant received by AOA. Click on the flyer for details.

Pre-registration is required! To register for the event, contact info@alloutadventures.org or call 413-584-2052.

To register to volunteer at the event, visit https://bit.ly/VeteransVIP2022.
Pollinator Garden Bike Tour
Wednesday, June 22
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Celebrate Pollinator Week by visiting two pollinator gardens along the Blackstone River Bikeway. First, we will meet at the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone at 100 New River Road, Manville, RI (just below the Manville parking area for the bikeway). We will visit the pollinator garden and then bike three miles south to the Capt. Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum to see the native pollinator garden planted by the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society. We will then bike back to the watershed council, where you can take an optional walk along the riverside trail.

Blackstone Valley Paddle Club Announces Its 22nd Season!
Get Your Canoe or Kayak and Join the Fun!
The Blackstone Valley Paddle Club proudly celebrates its 22nd season! This all-volunteer program will lead guided paddles throughout the Blackstone River Valley on Tuesday evenings from May 17 through August 30. See the schedule and details below!

Participants must bring their own canoe or kayak and life jacket.
2022 Paddle Schedule:

All paddles are on Tuesdays. Meet at 6 p.m. for a 6:15 p.m. launch.
Find all paddle details and addresses at https://ricka.org/BVcalendar.html.

May 17: Quinsigamond River, Grafton, MA
May 24: West River, Upton, MA
May 31: Nipmuc River, Harrisville, RI
June 7: Lackey Dam, Sutton, MA
June 14: West River, Uxbridge, MA
June 21: Blackstone River & Valley Falls Marsh, Lincoln, RI
June 28: Blackstone River & Rice City Pond - Uxbridge, MA
July 5: Bowdish Lake, Glocester, RI
July 12: Providence River - Bold Point, E. Providence, RI
July 19: Slatersville Reservoir & Branch River, North Smithfield, RI
July 26: Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln, RI
August 2: Manville Dam, Cumberland, RI
August 9: Blackstone Gorge, Blackstone, MA
August 16: Hopedale Pond, Hopedale, MA
August 23: Stump Pond, Smithfield, RI*
August 30: Spring Lake, Burrillville, RI*

*Note: for August 23 and August 30, meet at 5:45 p.m. for a 6 p.m. launch due to earlier sunsets.

To participate in the Blackstone Paddler's events, a RI Canoe and Kayak Association (RICKA) membership fee of $15.00 is required, as is a $10.00 membership fee for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club. These fees provide a family membership and are good for the entire season. If you are a current RICKA member, you may join for the additional $10.00 membership fee. If you are not yet a RICKA member, you may join and pay your dues for both RICKA and Blackstone Valley Paddle Club by going to the membership page for payment options. Please note: the Paddle Club will not be taking payment for dues at the paddle locations. Please pay your dues in advance.
Let's Hit the Hiking Trails!
Who is ready for some group hikes?

We are actively planning guided hikes throughout the Blackstone River Valley this year.

We hope you'll join us!
Save the dates for hikes with BHC Trail Ambassador Ernie Germani!

Sunday, June 26: Historic Providence, Providence, RI
Sunday, July 31: Tri-State Marker, Thompson, CT; Douglas, MA; Burrillville, RI
Saturday, August 6: Mercy Woods, Cumberland, RI
Sunday, September 25: Turner Reservoir, East Providence, RI
Saturday, October 1: Moshassuck River Preserve, Lincoln, RI
Friday, November 25: Wolf Hill, Smithfield, RI

Watch for hikes in the Massachusetts Corridor communities coming soon!
Second Saturday Hikes With the North Smithfield Heritage Association
Join the North Smithfield Heritage Association for its History and Nature Walks series on the second Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m.

Find the complete schedule at https://www.nsheritageassn.org/historic-tours.

Additional details are posted on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northsmithfieldheritage.
Support Us and the Environment
Reuse. Recycle. Give Back.
When you buy a reusable Community Bag at the Uxbridge Hannaford location during the month of May for $2.50, Hannaford will donate $1 to the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor!
Conserve Water and Save Money with a Rain Barrel
Help protect our waterways!
Order a rain barrel today!
The City of Worcester will be distributing 60-gallon rain barrels with prices starting at $74 each.

Orders must be made by Tuesday, June 14, at https://www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com/community/.

Pick up date is Thursday, June 23, at the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center
3 Paul Clancy Way
Worcester, MA
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This offer is open to all. There is no residency restriction.

For more information, visit GreatAmericanRainBarrel.com, email info@tgarb.com, or call 800-251-2352.
Make Your Own Rain Barrel with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council!

Saturday, June 18
12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Riverside Park, Providence, RI

The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council’s popular rain barrel workshop is back! Rain barrels are a low-cost, easy-to-install solution to capture rainwater for reuse for your lawn or garden.
 
This workshop will teach you the steps to build and install your own rain barrel – and add a creative touch to your barrel by painting your own design along the sides. The workshop fee ($55) includes the barrel and the other materials you will need to make your own rain barrel.
 
Please bring with you: a battery-charged (pre-charged) drill; eye protection (we will have eyewear if you don’t have any), and clothes for painting.

If you would like more information on this event, please reach out to our Education Director Amanda at apeavey@wrwc.org.
BRWA Hosts Film Screening and Family Fun Fishing Day

Annual Meeting and Screening of "Pakachoag: Where the River Bends"
Wednesday, May 18
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Grafton Public Library
35 Grafton Common, Grafton, MA

Find more info about the annual meeting/film screening and register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVpDb7T0v_H9bdEdI4VpPrsWgsjaoXOcQnrtR25RMMccLvxA/viewform.
Family Fun Fishing Day
Saturday, June 4
River Bend Farm, Uxbridge, MA

Family Fun Fishing Day returns to River Bend Farm on June 4th! All ages and abilities are welcome to this FREE event which includes rods, bait, and instruction with pre-registration. Prizes will be awarded.
Family Fun Fishing Day returns to River Bend Farm on June 4th! All ages and abilities are welcome to this FREE event which includes rods, bait, and instruction with pre-registration. Prizes will be awarded.

Food and ice cream will be available for purchase from GottaQ BBQ and Sweet Wise Ice Cream truck. Rain date is Sunday, June 5.


This event is presented by Open Sky Community Services, Blackstone River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Volunteers are Needed for Family Fun Fishing Day!
BRWC/FOB Hosts "Connecting with Canoes"
The Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone invites you to come and enjoy a canoe adventure on the Blackstone River. No experience is required.

Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.: May 21, June 18, July 16, July 20, September 17, and October 15.

Meet at the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone's Sycamore Landing, 100 New River Road, Lincoln, RI.

Fee is $30 per person. BRWC/FOB will provide life jackets, paddles, boats, and a guide. Please wear good water shoes and bring something to drink. Check for rain dates. To reserve your spot, call 401-644-3215.
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Hosts Rivers Day on June 5
News from Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
New and Familiar Faces at the Park Service
Longtime seasonal Park Ranger Tyler Shepard will be rejoining the teams at Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial. In previous seasons, Tyler has worked on various projects for the park, including the Kelly House Museum Native Pollinator Garden. Tyler is originally from Marblehead, MA, and he now calls Rhode Island home. 
Tim Bone joins the staff after four years of experience with the National Park Service. Most recently, he was employed at Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama and Grand Portage National Monument in Minnesota. Tim's background includes geology and industrial history. Tim hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is looking forward to working and living in the Blackstone River Valley.
slater mill
Old Slater Mill Reopens for Tours

Summer Schedule:
May 19 - September 11, 2022
Thursday - Sunday
10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM.

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30-minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill and what valuable lessons the building is still teachings us. For more info, visit nps.gov/blrv.

Saturday, May 21
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Be part of the inaugural First Strike Festival at Slater Mill!

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park will cohost The First Strike Festival with The Haus of Glitter on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Come for a day full of live dance, song, and storytelling from 11am – 5pm. The entire event is free and family-friendly. The First Strike Festival is centered around a celebration of spring weather, honoring the struggle for labor rights, acknowledging the complexity of American history, and welcoming rest and peace.

Performances by:
11am - Mystic Garland Dancers
12pm - Capeverdean American Community Development of R.I.
1pm - Mark Cutler
2pm - Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS)
3pm - Eastern Medicine Singers
4pm - Jay Brunelle 

Learn more at nps.gov./blrv.
May is Preservation Month
 
This year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognizes “historic place-savers" with the theme “People Saving Places.” This is a nationwide “high-five” for everyone who works as a preservationist. 
 
Did you know? 101 years ago this spring, Simon Willard Thayer, the treasurer of Lebanon Knitting in Pawtucket, purchased Old Slater Mill for $40,000. Old Slater Mill Association was created in March 1921 to preserve Slater Mill for future generations. Learn more about the history and work of OSMA here: OSMA Timeline — Old Slater Mill Association
 
Ranger Walkabouts Are Back!

Join a Park Ranger Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM during the months of June, July, and August to investigate the many stories of the Blackstone River Valley.

This year’s lineup covers all six of the sites, or “nodes,” that make up Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. Rangers will also be offering tours in other Blackstone Valley communities, including Providence, RI, Central Falls, RI, and Worcester, MA.

The 2022 Summer Walkabout Series begins Thursday, June 2, 2022, and will run on consecutive Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM through August 25, 2022.

All programs are free and do not require registration.

Click on the photo to view the schedule.

Learn more about the Ranger Walkabouts at
Jenks Walking Tours of Pawtucket 
Saturday, May 21
10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Meet at Old Slater Mill, 67 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI. 

Take a guided outdoor walk around downtown Pawtucket this spring with the Old Slater Mill Association! Learn about the area around Fishing Rock and the history of the 17th century Jenks settlement. 
 
Free. No registration is required. Walk is held "light rain or shine."
Meditation and Movement at the Mill  
On select Saturdays through fall 2022, Metamorphosis Dance Co. Will be presenting free meditation and movement workshops at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark. Join them for Contemplative Dance Practice (CDP) from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 
 
CDP combines meditation and movement. Bring a blanket, yoga mat, and your own cushions to be comfortable on the ground. When you arrive to the mill, arrange your cushions around the edges of the space. 
 
This practice was created by Barbara Dilley. Nikki Lee will facilitate at Slater Mill. There are no fees to participate and no need to register. 
Dates: May 7, May 14, May 28, June 4, June 11, June 18, July 2, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13, August 20, August 27, September 3, September 10, September 17, September 24, October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22, October 29. 
Volunteer Opportunities:

Park Ambassadors Needed at
Old Slater Mill and
Roger Williams National Memorial

Join us in welcoming visitors to our national park sites in the Blackstone Valley becoming a volunteer park ambassador. Serve as a front-line representative of the National Park Service at Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and/or Roger Williams National Memorial.

To learn more, view the volunteer job description below and reach out to Molly Cardoza, Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, at mcardoza@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
Self-Guided Tours on the NPS Mobile App
Do you plan on visiting Slater Mill or Slatersville? If so, check out Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park's new self-guided tours.

These audio tours are available on the NPS Mobile App. The Mobile App can be downloaded for Apple or Google phones. Once on the app, choose Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, then select self-guided tours.

More self-guided tours will soon be available for the Blackstone River State Park and Ashton, Whitinsville, and Hopedale.

Do you enjoy learning about the history of the Blackstone River Valley? Subscribe to the park's YouTube page to see recordings of past programs, episodes of Along the Blackstone, and more. 

Parked at Home Videos 
Check out the Parked at Home playlist to learn more about the six nodes that make up Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park--and their connections to other National Park Service sites.
 
The Parked at Home playlist features talks on Community, Construction, Family, Equality, Space, and Cotton. Presented in partnership with Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Special thanks to all of the additional co-hosts: Pullman National Monument, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Canaveral National Seashore, and Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve / Fort Caroline National Memorial.
 

"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!
Tomb It May Concern
Celebrate Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Preservation & Awareness Weeks and take our cemetery discovery activity with you to one of the featured events, or visit a historical cemetery on your own.


Calling All Scouts - Earn a Scout Ranger Certificate or Badge!
Click here to learn about the Boy Scout Ranger program.
Click here to learn about the Girl Scout Ranger program.
Be a Scout Ranger in the Blackstone River Valley!
Scouts and Park Rangers have a lot in common! We are all inspired to act as good stewards of public lands and to learn more about our communities.
Participants in the Scout Ranger program can earn a certificate or a patch.

As a Scout Ranger you will:
  • Learn about the mission of the National Park Service.
  • Help protect the nation’s natural, cultural, and historic resources.
  • Explore and learn about your national parks.
  • Achieve unique recognition from the National Park Service.
Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
With Our Interactive Map!

670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588
(508) 234-4242