Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor |
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Welcome to New Volunteers from Worcester!
We met so many new people when we tabled at the Worcester Tercentennial Festival last month that were interested in our National Park Service Volunteers-In-Parks program! We followed up right away and invited them to a New Volunteer Open House at the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center in Worcester to learn more about the program and to learn more about them!
We are excited to mentor these new volunteers and share their skill sets with you!
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Volunteer Skills Workshop: Invasive Water Chestnuts |
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Thank you to Katie DeGoosh, Environmental Analyst at the RI Department of Environmental Management for presenting a Skills Workshop on the invasive water chestnut just days before the volunteer water chestnut pull hosted by the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone on the Blackstone River in Valley Falls, RI, last month. |
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Congrats to the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone on a very successful two-day volunteer water chestnut pull on June 25 and 26 on the Blackstone River in Valley Falls, RI! Technical assistance was provided by the RI Department of Environmental Management. A total of eight cubic yards were pulled over the two days.
Pictured here are (left to right): John Marsland, Bill Luther, John O'Brien, Kevin Burns, Josh Pontbriant, and Katie DeGoosh.
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North Smithfield Heritage Day - Saturday, July 9 |
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North Smithfield Heritage Day
Saturday, July 9
North Smithfield Town Hall
83 Greene Street, North Smithfield, RI
North Smithfield remembers its indigenous, colonial and republican heritage with walking tours, antiques, art, and car displays. Includes vendors, food, and more.
Event Schedule:
8:30 a.m.: Memorial Town Building opens
9:00 a.m.: Slatersville Walking Tour with National Park Service Rangers
10:00 a.m.: Heritage Hall opens (Antique Display lower hall). Car Show at Town Hall (NS Road Angels). Local Vendor sales at Village Commons
11:00 a.m.: Kids Day at Pacheco Park
1:00 p.m: Slatersville Cemetery Walking Tour
4:00 p.m:: Walking Tour of the Blunders
North Smithfield Fireworks at North Smithfield High School
- Food trucks and DJ at 6:30 pm. Fireworks at dusk.
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park will be exhibiting together during the day. Come and visit us!
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Uxbridge Premeer 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks |
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Uxbridge Premeer 4th of July Fireworks: Celebrating UniBank 150 (+2) Years of Service
Saturday, July 9
Food Trucks - Inflatables - Fun 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Fireworks at 9 p.m.
McCloskey Field, 62 Capron St., Uxbridge
This year the celebration is extra special as the event also celebrates UniBank's 150 (+2) Years of Service to Uxbridge and beyond!
And new this year... the event is FREE to get in!
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Happy 250th Birthday, Northbridge! |
250th Anniversary Parade
Saturday, July 16
10:00 a.m.
250th Anniversary Fireworks
Saturday, July 16
Gates Open at 6:00 p.m.
Northbridge Middle School
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Learn About Cemetery Restoration |
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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 22nd, 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.
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Before and After at Sutton Center Cemetery |
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Headstones of the six Harbach siblings before the restoration. |
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Headstones of the six Harbach siblings after the restoration. |
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These stunning before and after photos were sent in by Blackstone Heritage Corridor Cemetery Conservation Ambassador Ross Weaver, who is also a 2021 John H. Chafee Heritage Award recipient.
Volunteers are welcome to assist with ongoing projects in Sutton's historical cemeteries. To learn more, reach out to Molly Cardoza, Blackstone Heritage Corridor's Director of Volunteer & Community Engagement, at mcardoza@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
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Become a Bikeway Ambassador! |
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Join Us on Rides of Discovery
Join our Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassadors on guided bike rides this summer to explore different sections of the Blackstone River Bikeway. Bring your own bike, helmet, and water. Rides depart at 6:30 p.m. and return by 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 13: Worcester, MA
Meet at the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center at 3 Paul Clancy Way, Worcester, MA. We will ride the bikeway 2.5 miles where it ends in Millbury and bike over to Christopher's Homemade Ice Cream for a refreshing summer treat. Bring your own cash or credit. This ride is just over 5 miles, round trip.
Wednesday, July 27: Lincoln, RI
Meet at the Capt. Wilbur Kelly House Museum at Blackstone River State Park, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI, for a guided ride along the Blackstone River Bikeway and Canal Towpath as we ride south to Lonsdale and back. The approximate round-trip distance is seven miles.
Wednesday, August 10: Blackstone, MA
Meet at the Blackstone River Greenway, 85 Canal Street, Blackstone, MA, for a guided ride along the Blackstone River Greenway to Uxbridge, MA, and back. The round-trip distance is just over seven miles.
Wednesday, August 24: Lincoln, RI to Old Slater Mill
Meet at the Lonsdale Drive-In parking lot, 110 John Street, Lincoln, RI, for a guided ride to Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI. Much of this ride will be off of the bikeway and on the street. The approximate round-trip distance is five miles.
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Biking Beyond 50: Worcester
On-Bike Skills
Monday, July 11
9:30 AM - 12 PM
Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center at Worcester
3 Paul Clancy Way, Worcester, MA 01607
Join MassBike instructors for an on-bike skills clinic to teach the basics of getting back on the bike and riding comfortably.
You will be in a protected lot and practice the Power Pedal start, safe and secure braking, swerving, signaling, and scanning. These skills will come in handy for riding on bike paths, out in traffic on the roads, or even for just casual rides to the ice cream parlor with friends. A working bicycle, helmet, and appropriate clothing like closed-toe shoes are required for this event.
The series continues with:
Mechanics and Bike Modifications
Monday, August 8
9:30 AM – 12 PM
Landry's Bicycles - Worcester
Group Ride on the Weekend
Sunday, September 25
10 AM - 1 PM
Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center, Worcester
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Blackstone Valley Paddle Club Celebrates Its 22nd Season! |
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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.
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2022 Paddle Schedule:
All paddles are on Tuesdays. Meet at 6 p.m. for a 6:15 p.m. launch.
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.
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Let's Hit the Hiking Trails! |
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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!
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Save the dates for hikes with BHC Trail Ambassador Ernie Germani!
Friday, November 25: Wolf Hill, Smithfield, RI
Watch for hikes in the Massachusetts Corridor communities coming soon!
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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.
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Free "Movies in the Park" Is Coming to
River Bend Farm/Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park
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Help Us Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ZAP the Blackstone |
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Planning is underway to re-enact the region's largest environmental cleanup ever, which took place on September 9, 1972. Operation ZAP attracted 10,000 volunteers who pulled 10,000 tons of debris from the Blackstone River.
This year, on Saturday, August 27, 2022, volunteers throughout the 39 communities of the Blackstone River Watershed will roll up their sleeves and clean up and green up the Blackstone River, its tributaries, local waterways, local parks, and neighborhoods to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ZAP. Will you be one of them?
Several communities are planning town-wide cleanups, while others have community groups organizing projects. Businesses are also getting involved with Day of Service volunteer events.
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Save the date of Saturday, September 10, for the 50th anniversary ZAP the Blackstone celebration at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark in Pawtucket, RI!
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News from Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
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New Faces at the Park: Meet Jill
Jill Forrester began her position as a Park Ranger this June. Jill recently graduated from Providence College (Providence, RI) with a B.A. in History and Global Studies. While she works for the National Park Service, Jill will begin pursuing her M.A. in History, also at Providence College, beginning in August of this year.
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NEW JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM! |
Looking for a fun, family-friendly activity to do at your local national park?
The theme for this program is revolutions.
Every page of your activity set is in the shape of a circle. Learn about waterpower, water cycles, what clothing is made of, the history of time, and much more.
Get started at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI.
Open Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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Become a Junior Birder with Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park! |
Stop by the Little Red Shop Museum at 12 Hopedale Street in Hopedale, MA to look for birds and learn a bit of local history this Sunday, July 10, from Noon to 3 p.m.
Did you know there are over 433 different bird species in the Blackstone Valley? Get to know some of these avian friends by joining birding ambassadors for short walks into the Hopedale Parklands. Birders of all ages and experience levels are welcome. FREE.
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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 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
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Screening of "Run of the Mill" at Old Slater Mill - Thursday, July 14 |
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Join Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park rangers on Sundays in July and August for FREE family-friendly activities.
July 10: Birding in the Blackstone
Note: This program will run from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Little Red Shop Museum, 12 Hopedale Street, Hopedale, MA
July 17: Meet the Birds of the Blackstone with Rhode Island Audubon Society
Location: Blackstone River State Park, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI
July 24: Bat Boxes and Birdhouses
Location: Blackstone River State Park, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI
July 31: World Ranger Day
Location: Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
August 7: “Dog Days of Summer” B.A.R.K. Ranger Open House
Location: Blackstone River State Park, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI
August 14: World War II Comes to the Valley
Location: The Whitin Mill- Open Sky (Alternatives), 50 Douglas Rd., Whitinsville, MA
August 21: What’s Growing at Slater Mill?
Location: Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
August 28: Take Me Fishing Day
Location: Blackstone River State Park, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI
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Volunteer to Assist with
Sunday Funday Events
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Visit Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark
Summer Schedule:
Through 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. Free admission. The visitor center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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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: 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.
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Volunteer Opportunities:
Park Ambassadors Needed at
Old Slater Mill and
Roger Williams National Memorial
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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.
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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.
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"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!
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Calling All Scouts - Earn a Scout Ranger Certificate or Badge! |
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Click here to learn about the Boy Scout Ranger program. |
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Click here to learn about the Girl Scout Ranger program. |
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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.
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Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
With Our Interactive Map!
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Blackstone Heritage Corridor, working with community partners, provides strong leadership to preserve, promote, and celebrate the Valley’s historic, natural and recreational resources for current and future generations. |
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670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588
(508) 234-4242
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