Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor |
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In This Edition: July 1, 2021
- Volunteer Open House Pop-Up Tour
- New Volunteer Opportunities
- Rides of Discovery with the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassadors
- Plein Air Painting at Slater Memorial Park - Saturday, July 17
- Walking Tour of Whitinsville with Ken Warchol - Saturday, July 24
- Movie Under the Stars featuring Microplastic Madness - Saturday, July 31
- News from Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
- UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge - Saturday, Sept. 25
- GearHeads/Junior Rangers: Be a River Ranger for the Day - Saturday, July 10
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Volunteer Open House Pop-Up Tour |
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We're taking our Volunteer Open House program on the road in July! Come and learn about exciting new volunteer opportunities with the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. We'll be at each location (weather permitting) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
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New Volunteer Opportunities! |
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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
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Join us this summer on our Rides of Discovery! We'll explore different sections of the Blackstone River Bikeway/Greenway and other places in the Blackstone Valley to enjoy riding your bike. We'll also offer interpretation along the way!
Bring your bike and helmet, and check out our Bicycle ABCs before you head out!
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Ride of Discovery: Geology Tour of Lincoln Woods State Park |
Friday, July 9
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Lincoln Woods State Park
2 Manchester Print Works Rd.
Lincoln, RI
Come explore the geology of Lincoln Woods State Park with Blackstone River Bikeway Ambassador Mark Dennen. As a follow-up to Mark's presentation earlier this year on the Geologic History of the Blackstone River Valley, he will lead us by bike to some unique geological features in the park.
This is a permitted event, and space is limited. Pre-registration required. Meeting spot will be sent with registration confirmation.
Photo by Dave Newton.
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Ride of Discovery: Ten Mile River Greenway |
Tuesday, July 13
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Slater Memorial Park
831 Armistice Boulevard, Pawtucket, RI
Join Bill Luther, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassador and Board member of the Ten Mile River Watershed Council, for a guided bike ride along the Ten Mile River Greenway between Pawtucket and East Providence. The six-mile round trip ride will pass by the Turner Reservoir.
Meet at the pavilion at Slater Memorial Park near the Looff Carousel.
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Ride with a Ranger:
Molly from Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park
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Wednesday, July 21
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Blackstone River Greenway
85 Canal Street, Blackstone, MA
Join us for a Ride of Discovery with Molly Cardoza, a visitor services ranger at Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park. This 7-mile round trip ride to Uxbridge and back will feature interpretation along the way, including stops at Factory Pond, the Triad Bridge, Millville Lock, and more.
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Blackstone Valley Paddle Club |
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Summer is here and another great way to enjoy it is by paddling the beautiful waterways of the Blackstone River Valley. Join our Blackstone Valley Paddle Club volunteers on Tuesday evenings for group paddles and learn about some great spots to enjoy your canoe or kayak. Learn more at www.ricka-flatwater.org/bvpaddlers.htm.
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Plein Air Painting at Slater Memorial Park |
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Arts in the Parks: Plein Air Painting |
Saturday, July 17
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Slater Memorial Park
831 Armistice Boulevard
Pawtucket, RI
Come celebrate World Watercolor Month and paint with us outdoors! Enjoy painting in the media of your choice on the grounds of Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket, home of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, the Looff Carousel, and much more.
This is a non-instructional event, and pre-registration is required.
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Plein Air Painting in the Blackstone River Valley:
Alternatives' Whitin Mill
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Curious what our Plein Air painting events are like? Take a look at scenes from our June 5th Plein Air session at the Alternatives' Whitin Mill in Whitinsville. If you'd like to get on the list, contact Suzanne Buchanan at volunteer@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
Video produced by Dennis Smith, Blackstone River Valley Volunteers-In-Parks volunteer.
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Walk Through Whitinsville's History with Ken Warchol |
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Walking Tour of Whitinsville with Ken Warchol
Saturday, July 24
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Meet at Northbridge Town Hall
7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA
Step back in time to when Whitin Machine Works employed nearly 5,000 workers from around the globe, and most of them lived right in town.
Through the narration of town historian Ken Warchol, you'll envision what daily life was like back then and appreciate how, through the dedication of the town's factory employees, Whitin Machine Works became world-renowned for its textile machinery.
Learn the inside story of the town's heritage and the role the Whitin Family played as Northbridge transformed from farm to factory, ultimately becoming a leader in America's Industrial Revolution.
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Outdoor Movie Night at BRWC/FOB on July 31 |
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MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: Microplastic Madness
Saturday, July 31
Screening at Sunset - Gates Open at 5 p.m.
Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone
100 New River Road
Lincoln, RI
Join us down by the river to watch an inspiring story about students from Brooklyn who take on plastic pollution and create change in their school and community!
Gates open early for picnicking, games, Junior Ranger activities, and recreation on the nature trails, the Blackstone River, or the Blackstone River Bikeway.
Our special guest is Dan Meharg, former National Park Service Ranger at Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and a star in the film! Come celebrate World Ranger Day and say hello to Dan! It's also Plastic Free July, and Max Man from Rhode Island Resource Recovery will be joining us too!
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News from Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
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Slater Mill is Now Open for Free Tours! |
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Discover the stories that the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution still tells us today.
Tours will be offered at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays.
All guided tours are free and open to the public.
The Visitor Contact Station at Slater Mill will remain open Thursdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Wilkinson Mill and Sylvanus Brown House remain closed at this time. Visit the Park's calendar for the latest updates: nps.gov/blrv/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.
Address: 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
Photo on the right: The model 1832 Spinning Frame in action at Old Slater Mill.
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Healing Arts in the Parks
Thursdays: August 5, 12, 19, 26
7:00 p.m.
Slater Mill Historic Site
67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
This August, RI Music Hall of Famer Mark Cutler will be leading collaborative songwriting workshops on Thursday evenings at Slater Mill.
No musical talent or previous songwriting experience is necessary. Come on out and join people from all over the community as we create some new music and enjoy the beauty of the Blackstone River.
Click here to learn about Soul Freedom - a songwriting workshop at Roger Williams National Memorial on July 8, 15, 22, and 29.
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Revolution in the Air Winter Lecture Series is on YouTube
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Save the Date!
Wednesday, August 25
Founders Day
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Save the date of Wednesday, August 25, to celebrate Founders Day, the 105th birthday of the National Park Service.
We're working on a special celebration and will share details with you soon!
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The UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge Celebrates its 20th Year - September 25 |
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Come and VOLUNTEER with us!
Looking for an exciting volunteer opportunity?
We are sponsoring a transition site at the River Bend Farm Visitor Center at Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge.
Volunteers will help with transitions from street bikes to trail run, trail run to paddle, and final paddle to run. Site jobs include timing, direction posts, crowd control, etc.
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Become a GearHead Junior Ranger |
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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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Meet Us On the Blackstone River! |
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Saturday, July 10 at 10:30 a.m.
Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone
100 New River Road, Lincoln, RI
Join us for a nature hike along the Blackstone River and learn about water quality and what you can do to protect the river and the Blackstone River Watershed.
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We'll meet with Nick, who receives the water quality samples that volunteers collect on sampling day, to learn about the testing and reporting. Then we'll go for a Blue Mind walk along the river trails at Sycamore Landing. Finally, we'll stop at the new meditation area to work on a nature journal and read the "Appreciate the Blackstone River" activity book. Pack a lunch and stay for a picnic on the grounds where you can enjoy a pollinator garden and more!
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Make your own nature journal for your outdoor adventures!
Nature Notes is your own private collection of notes, thoughts, ideas, and drawings about what you observe outside.
You can organize and decorate your journal any way you would like.
Note: print double-sided and fold in half.
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, July 31
Movie Under the Stars:
Microplastic Madness
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Gates will open at 5 p.m. 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.
Special guests include Max Man from Rhode Island Resource Recovery and Dan Meharg, former National Park Service Ranger at Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and a star in the film!
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.
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Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
with our Interactive Map!
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