Learning Series: Elizabeth Rush Book Tour: "The Quickening"
2023-11-14 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
2023 Land Trust Learning Series
Register to Attend the Presentation IN PERSON
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Elizabeth Rush joins us to celebrate the release of her new book, The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth. Books will be available for sale beginning at 6 pm.
Pulitzer-prize nominated author Elizabeth Rush tackles three daunting topics in her new book: Antarctica, climate change and motherhood.
Author Robin Wall Kimmerer describes The Quickening as “an immersive journey through both exterior and interior landscapes, deftly crossing the boundaries between the frigid Antarctic and the warm heart.”
In 2019, fifty-seven scientists and crew set out onboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer. Their destination: Thwaites Glacier. Their goal: to learn as much as possible about this mysterious place, never before visited by humans, and believed to be both rapidly deteriorating and capable of making a catastrophic impact on global sea-level rise.
In The Quickening, Elizabeth Rush documents their voyage, offering the sublime—seeing an iceberg for the first time; the staggering waves of the Drake Passage; the torqued, unfamiliar contours of Thwaites—alongside the workaday moments of this groundbreaking expedition. A ping-pong tournament at sea. Long hours in the lab. All the effort that goes into caring for and protecting human life in a place that is inhospitable to it. Along the way, she takes readers on a personal journey around a more intimate question: What does it mean to bring a child into the world at this time of radical change?
What emerges is a new kind of Antarctica story, one preoccupied not with flag planting but with the collective and challenging work of imagining a better future. With understanding the language of a continent where humans have only been present for two centuries. With the contributions and concerns of women, who were largely excluded from voyages until the last few decades, and of crew members of color, whose labor has often gone unrecognized. The Quickening teems with their voices—with the colorful stories and personalities of Rush’s shipmates—in a thrilling chorus.
About Elizabeth Rush
Elizabeth Rush is the author of The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth and Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Rush’s work has appeared in a wide range of publications from the New York Times to Orion and Guernica.
She is the recipient of fellowships from the National Science Foundation, National Geographic, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Howard Foundation, the Andrew Mellon Foundation and the Metcalf Institute. She lives with her husband and son in Providence, Rhode Island, where she teaches creative nonfiction at Brown University.
2023 Learning Series Presenting Sponsor

Elizabeth Rush Sponsor
Friends of the Barrington Public Library

Leadership Sponsors

The Cicione Family and Brickyard Wine

Partner Sponsor

Community Sponsors
East Bay Oyster Bar
Jaffe Orthodontics
Steve Primiano’s Custom Window Treatments
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors

We are grateful to the Barrington Pubic Library for hosting this event

Day After Thanksgiving Walk at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2023-11-24 11:00 - 13:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
On the day after Thanksgiving, walk at your own pace and discover one of Barrington’s rarely seen wilderness areas with the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.
On Friday Nov. 24, between 11 am and 1 pm, Land Trust volunteers will be stationed at waypoints to guide visitors through the Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, a 32-acre expanse of field, forest and wetland between Sowams Road and the Palmer River.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT.
Dogs are not allowed because of the birds and animals that make this wildlife preserve their home. You may arrive anytime between 11 am and 1 pm. Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is located on Sowams Road, 0.7 miles north of Sowams Elementary School. The walk takes approximately one hour over wet and moderate terrain. Wear boots! Severe weather cancels the event. Parking is available on site.
Be aware that the primary bridge which connected the two sides of the property was washed out during a king high tide storm last winter. You will be able to walk both sides of the property, but you won’t be able to walk it as a loop trail. A new bridge is in the planning phase.
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve was acquired by the Land Trust in 1991 through a combination of Rhode Island and Barrington Open Space bonds and charitable donations to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. Due to the sensitive native plants and animals on the property, it is not generally open to the public. The Land Trust hosts several guided walks each year to enable the public to experience the property, which has been preserved as a wilderness reserve in perpetuity.

Winter Wellness Walk - Sowams Woods - Wed., Dec. 6, 9 am
2023-12-06 09:00 - 10:00 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Boost your spirit and experience the benefits of outdoor exercise on our Winter Wellness Walk at Sowams Woods. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
These walks are different than our traditional guided walks. Since it’s cold outside, we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace rather than stopping to explain the history and ecology of the property. These will be informal walks where we can get to know each other and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Sowams Woods is a 12-acre nature preserve located off Washington Road in Barrington, RI. Visit the Sowams Woods property page for more information, including map and GPS coordinates.
We’ll meet in the parking area at the juncture of North Lake and South Lake Drives in Barrington and walk by Echo Lake and through the trails at Sowams Woods. Round trip, the distance is about 2 miles. Walking at a moderate pace, we’ll be finished in under an hour.

Winter Wellness Walk - Osamequin Nature Preserve - Sat., Dec. 9, 9 am
2023-12-09 09:00 - 10:00 | Osamequin Nature Preserve, 1580 Rte. 114 North, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Boost your spirit and experience the benefits of outdoor exercise on our Winter Wellness Walk at Osamequin Nature Preserve. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
These walks are different than our traditional guided walks. Since it’s cold outside, we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace rather than stopping to explain the history and ecology of the property. These will be informal walks where we can get to know each other and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Osamequin Nature Preserve is a 42-acre property located on the Wampanoag Trail, bordering Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington, RI. Visit the Osamequin Nature Preserve page for more information, including map and GPS coordinates.
We’ll meet in the parking area at the entrance to Osamequin Nature Preserve, which is located on the Northbound side of Rte. 114, just after Walker Farm. Round trip, the distance is about 2 miles. Walking at a moderate pace, we’ll be finished in under an hour.

Winter Wellness Walk - St. Andrews Farm - Wed., Dec. 13, 9 am
2023-12-13 09:00 - 10:00 | St. Andrews Farm, 101 Middle Highway, Barrington, RI, 02806
Boost your spirit and experience the benefits of outdoor exercise on our Winter Wellness Walk at St. Andrews Farm. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
These walks are different than our traditional guided walks. Since it’s cold outside, we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace rather than stopping to explain the history and ecology of the property. These will be informal walks where we can get to know each other and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
St. Andrews Farm is a town-owned nature preserve located at 101 Middle Highway in Barrington, RI. Visit the St. Andrews Farm page for more information, including map and GPS coordinates.
We’ll meet in the parking area at St. Andrews Farm. Round trip, the distance is about 1.5 miles. Walking at a moderate pace, we’ll be finished in under an hour.

Winter Wellness Walk - Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge - Sat., Dec. 16, 9 am
2023-12-16 09:00 - 10:00 | Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge, 111 George St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Boost your spirit and experience the benefits of outdoor exercise on our Winter Wellness Walk at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
These walks are different than our traditional guided walks. Since it’s cold outside, we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace rather than stopping to explain the history and ecology of the property. These will be informal walks where we can get to know each other and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge is a town-owned nature preserve located at 111 George Street in Barrington, RI. Visit the Doug Rayner Wildlife Preserve page for more information and directions. It’s situated on Nockum Hill on a peninsula extending into the Barrington River and Hundred Acre Cove estuary. The Refuge’s public hiking trails traverse more than 70 acres of field, forest and shoreline.
We’ll meet by the monument next to the parking area just outside the Refuge. Round trip, the distance is about 2 miles. Walking at a moderate pace, we’ll be finished in under an hour.

Winter Wellness Walk - Allin's Cove Conservation Area - Wed., Dec. 20, 9 am
2023-12-20 09:00 - 10:00 | Allin’s Cove, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Boost your spirit and experience the benefits of outdoor exercise on our Winter Wellness Walk at Allin’s Cove Conservation Area. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
These walks are different than our traditional guided walks. Since it’s cold outside, we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace rather than stopping to explain the history and ecology of the property. These will be informal walks where we can get to know each other and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Allin’s Cove Conservation Area is a combination of more than a dozen properties owned by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, the Town of Barrington, and the State of Rhode Island. Visit the Allin’s Cove page for more information and directions.
We’ll meet outside St. Matthew’s Church at 5 Chapel Road. You may park along Chapel Road or in the St. Matthew’s parking lot. Round trip, the distance is about 2 miles. Walking at a moderate pace, we’ll be finished in under an hour.

Winter Wellness Walk - Hampden Meadows Greenbelt - Saturday, Dec. 23, 9 am
2023-12-23 09:00 - 10:00 | Hampden Meadows Greenbelt, Kent Street, Barrington, RI, 02806
Boost your spirit and experience the benefits of outdoor exercise on our Winter Wellness Walk at Hampden Meadows Greenbelt on Saturday, Dec. 23, at 9 am. All ages are welcome. You may bring dogs on leashes.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
These walks are different than our traditional guided walks. Since it’s cold outside, we’ll keep moving at a moderate pace rather than stopping to explain the history and ecology of the property. These will be informal walks where we can get to know each other and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Hampden Meadows Greenbelt is a town-owned conservation area with a public trail that is open from dawn to dusk all year long. It runs between Kent Street and Linden Road in Barrington, RI. We’ll start at the Kent Street end, walk to Linden, and return to Kent Street. The total distance is about one mile, so you’ll be finished in under an hour.

Clean Up - Osamequin Nature Preserve - Sat., Jan. 27, 1 pm - 3 pm
2024-01-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Osamequin Nature Preserve, 1580 Rte. 114 North, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Winter is a great time to collect litter that can be hard to see when the leaves are out and the plants are in full bloom. Help us keep Osamequin Nature Preserve pristine by joining our clean up on Saturday, Jan. 27.
The clean up will begin at 1 pm and end at 3 pm, but we welcome you to come even if you can only stay for a half hour. Many hands make light work! When you’re finished, you can enjoy a self-guided walk of the preserve. Maps will be provided. All ages are welcome; parents must be responsible for the safety of their own children.
REGISTER FOR THE CLEAN UP
We’ll notify registrants if the clean up is rescheduled due to inclement weather.
Osamequin Nature Preserve is located on the northbound side of Rte. 114, approximately one mile north of the intersection of County Road and Massassoit Ave, in Barrington, RI. There is a parking lot on the right hand side at the entrance to the preserve.
We will provide trash bags and trash-picking tools (as supplies last). Please bring your own gloves. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
If you have any questions, email cindyelder@blct.org.
Thank you for helping to keep our natural places clean for wildlife and humans!

Student Stewardship Team - Sunday, Feb. 4, 1-3 pm
2024-02-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Feb. 4, we’ll be working at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve doing trail clearing and other tasks. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
REGISTER FOR THE FEB. 4 WORK DAY

Pollinator Pathway Meet Up - Tues., Feb. 6, 6:30 pm
2024-02-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Are you already missing your time in the garden?
Did you have an amazing growing season, or do you have more questions than answers when it comes to this native plant gardening business?
Join the Pollinator Pathway group on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 pm in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library for a casual sharing of ideas and questions, whether it’s about or how to speak with your neighbors about the “tidiness” of your space, or “what on earth is a nativar”?
You can send us 3-5 photos of your garden (by January 28 please) and we will share them with the group at the event. If you’d like to speak about your successes and challenges, please be prepared to present for about 5 minutes. If you’d rather not speak, but have photos to share, please send those along too.
Register for the Event and Upload Your Photos
You may also email your photos, questions and concerns to pollinatorpathways@blct.org.

Young Explorers Wilderness Adventure - St. Andrews Farm - Sat., Feb. 17, 10 am
2024-02-17 10:00 - 11:00 | St. Andrews Farm, 101 Middle Highway, Barrington, RI, 02806
Pull up your boots and zip up your coats, Young Explorers… we’re heading for adventure! This experience is tailor-made for families with young children, but all ages are welcome to participate in this fun-filled outdoor experience.
Join us Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10 am at St. Andrews Farm, a town-owned nature preserve located at 101 Middle Highway. The adventure will last about an hour, but you can leave whenever you’re ready.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT.
We’ll run and jump to keep warm, sing hiking songs and tell stories while we discover nature’s hidden treasures in the field and forest at St. Andrews Farm. If it snows, we’ll build snow sculptures! Bring your camera to get some memorable family photos.
This event is free and open to all, so invite your friends, playmates and grandparents! There’s plenty of parking in the lot at St. Andrews Farm.
To learn more about this special property, visit our St. Andrews Farm page.

Student Stewardship Team - Sunday, Feb. 18, 1-3 pm
2024-02-18 13:00 - 15:00 | RI
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
Thanks for registering for the Student Stewardship Team event on Sunday, Feb. 18, from 1-3 pm. We’ll be working inside at Cindy Elder’s house building “excluder cages” for the Terrapin Conservation Project.
REGISTER FOR THE FEB. 18 WORK DAY

Learning Series: "Gather" Documentary
2024-02-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 7 pm for a screening of the documentary, Gather, followed by discussion of the movie. Pokanoket Sachem Tracey Dancing Star Brown will introduce the move and provide a land acknowledgment. event will take place in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library, 281 County St., Barrington, RI. There is no Zoom option for this event.
Gather follows the stories of Indigenous Peoples on the frontlines of a growing movement to reconnect with spiritual and cultural identities through a closer connection to their traditional foodways and native plants.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT.
The 74-minute documentary is directed by Sanjay Rawal and produced by Illumine in association with Ager Meillier Films and First Nations Institute. Rawal earned the James Beard Award for his film, Food Chains, and his films have won many festival prizes.
This film follows the experiences of several Indigenous people as they engage with their ancestral lands and food. A chef embarks on an ambitious project to reclaim ancient food ways on the Apache reservation. In South Dakota, a gifted Lakota high school student, raised on a buffalo ranch, proves her tribe’s native wisdom through her passion for science. A group of young men of the Yurok tribe in Northern California struggle to keep their culture alive and rehabilitate the habitat of their sacred salmon.
The stories show how the reclaiming and recovery of ancient food ways is helping Indigenous Peoples to restore health and vitality to their people.
This event is held in partnership with the Barrington Public Library and through the generosity of our sponsors. For information on how you can sponsor the Learning Series, email Cindy Elder.
Watch the Gather Trailer
Thanks to our 2024 Land Trust Learning Series Sponsors!
Leadership Sponsor

Partner Sponsors

Supporting Sponsor
Meridian Custom Homes
Community Sponsors
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors
The Gob Shop
Jaffee Orthodontics

Student Stewardship Team - Sunday, March 10, 1-3 pm
2024-03-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On March 10, we’ll be working at Sowams Woods clearing trails, removing invasives and other tasks. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
REGISTER FOR THE MARCH 10 WORK DAY

Learning Series - Behind the Scenes: The Terrapin Conservation Project
2024-03-12 18:45 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Join us on Tues., March 12, at 6:45 pm at the Barrington Public Library for “Behind the Scenes: The Terrapin Conservation Project.”
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY. EMAIL CINDYELDER@BLCT.ORG TO BE PLACED ON THE WAITING LIST.
Every year in late spring, a miraculous thing happens in a remote corner of Barrington, RI.
Hundreds of rare Diamondback Terrapin turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, ensuring the survival of their species for another generation.
Just as remarkable are the dozens of volunteers who spend hours preparing for their arrival. At this special event, you’ll hear directly from volunteers who are there to greet the nesting turtles, protect their nests, watch the adorable hatchlings emerge, and scientifically track the results of each season. The project draws volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, including college students interested in pursuing a career in environmental studies.
Kathryn Beauchamp, co-leader of the Terrapin Conservation Project
Kathryn Beauchamp and Madeleine Linck, co-leaders of the Terrapin Conservation Project, will be joined by other long-time volunteers who have invested heart and soul — along with a lot of sweat equity — in the project. Volunteers will share their experiences, answer questions, and provide a glimpse into the daily activities of a Terrapin Conservation Project volunteer.
“When you go through a whole season, there’s such a reward when you see those tiny, perfectly formed little babies,” says volunteer Nancy Maddocks, a retired librarian from the Barrington Middle School. “They’re incredible. It gives you hope that nature still persists. It’s exciting to think that here in little suburban Barrington, this exists. I feel a sense of pride that there’s a decent-sized community who really cares about nature and is trying to preserve it.”
Mary Caplan, who spent 30 years as a nurse at RI Hospital, became an active volunteer when she retired. “I’m outside with like-minded people who care about the environment. We’re doing something positive. It’s scientifically interesting, and we see the benefit when the babies are born. We look in each little cage and their little faces peek up. They’re saying, let me go. Let me do my thing.”
Deb Matson, whose career in social work led her into many volunteer activities, now divides her time between the Barrington Farm School and the Terrapin Conservation Project. “What has been the most meaningful is to witness the mother turtles coming in late spring to lay their eggs and watching the little baby hatchlings emerge in late summer. It’s a miracle and we are all relieved to see them coming out of their nest and healthy! No words can describe the feeling. You have to experience it. Volunteering here, interacting with nature, has given me a deepened respect and humility towards all of wildlife. I truly have grown.”
We’ll cap off the night with a 20-minute documentary, “Turtles on the Hill,” a love story about this population of rare turtles, the dedicated people who are conserving them, and the changing coastal landscapes that they share.
The documentary is told through the eyes of a young woman scientist who joined this community to reveal how—despite the existential threats of coastal development, predation, and sea level rise—the lives of the people, the Diamondback Terrapins, and the estuary are inextricably intertwined.
The movie is written and directed by Carolyn Decker, and produced & edited by Jason Jaacks. It is a Splitframe Media production produced in partnership with the Science & Story Lab at the University of Rhode Island.
For more information on the Terrapin Conservation Project, visit the Terrapin page on our website.
Thanks to our 2024 Land Trust Learning Series Sponsors!
Leadership Sponsor

Partner Sponsors

Supporting Sponsor
Meridian Custom Homes
Community Sponsors
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors
The Gob Shop
Jaffee Orthodontics

Student Stewardship Team: Sowams Woods
2024-03-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On March 24, we’ll be working at Sowams Woods clearing trails, removing invasive plants and other tasks. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
We’ll meet in the PIC-WIL parking area on Washington Road across from Tallwood Drive.
REGISTER FOR MARCH 24 WORK DAY

Young Explorers Wilderness Adventure: Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
2024-03-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
Let’s go deep into the woods and down to the edge of the saltmarsh to discover the hidden places where animals live at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve.
This special event on Saturday, March 30, at 10 am is designed for our youngest explorers, but all ages are welcome. We’ll run, jump, sing songs and go on a scavenger hunt for nature’s treasures.
REGISTER FOR THE ADVENTURE
Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is a 32-acre expanse of field, forest and salt marsh that is generally closed to the public. We are delighted to make it available through guided tours and events. Inspire young explorers to love nature!
Bring your camera to get some memorable family photos. This event is free and open to all, so invite your friends, playmates and grandparents! There’s plenty of parking in the grass lot at Johannis Farm.
Visit this page more information about Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve.

Public Walk: Springtime in Sowams Woods
2024-03-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Experience the first burst of spring, just after the Spring Equinox, at Sowams Woods in Barrington.
Join us for a guided tour on Saturday, March 30, at 1 pm for a gentle two-mile walk along Echo Lake into the enchanting forest of Sowams Woods.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
All ages are welcome. The walk is about two miles round trip over mostly gentle terrain, with slight elevation changes and a few steps to climb. We’ll walk at a moderate pace while we share the history and ecology of the property.
The area around Sowams Woods is part of the ancestral homelands of the Pokanoket people. It is believed to be a sacred area set aside for women and for childbirth, a place of peace.
In 2006, the Barrington Land Conservation Trust acquired Sowams Woods with the support of local, state and federal funding and local philanthropists. The property encompasses 12 acres of forested land with a network of trails bordering Echo Lake.
We’ll gather in the dirt parking lot at the juncture of North Lake and South Lake Roads in Barrington, RI.

Look & Find Family Nature Walk & Raffle
2024-04-06 08:00 - 2024-04-21 17:00 | Osamequin Nature Preserve, 1580 Rte. 114 North, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
This free family activity is brought to you by the Barrington Public Library and the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.
Nature detectives: Put your skills to test with the Look & Find Family Nature Walk/Raffle. Search for clues as you explore the beautiful trails of Osamequin Nature Preserve anytime between Saturday, April 6 to Sunday, April 21, dawn to dusk. There’s plenty of parking!
Hidden clues along the trails will help you solve a word scramble. Submit your completed word scramble to the Barrington Public Library by Sunday, April 21, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a hiking backpack full of goodies! Just snap a picture of your completed word scramble with your child’s name and email it to kids@barringtonlibrary.org. Or you can drop it off before April 21 to the McCulloch Children’s Room at Barrington Public Library during open hours. The drawing will be held on Monday, April 22.
Click here to download a copy of the word scramble from the Library’s website. Word scramble sheets are also available in the Children’s Room at the Library.
Directions to Osamequin Nature Preserve:
This trailhead is right on Route 114 North, also known as County Road and Wampanoag Trail.
From the South take Route 114 North. You will pass Federal Road in Barrington — the “White Church” (Congregational Church) bridge intersection — and Walker’s Farm, and then about 0.2 mile beyond the turnaround exit for Route 103 to Riverside look for a sign for the preserve on your right as well as a parking area next to the road.
From the North take Route 114 South to the turnaround exit on the left 0.15 miles south of Primrose Hill Road. Take this turnaround, which puts you on Route 114 north. Go 0.2 miles and look for a sign for the preserve on your right as well as a parking area next to the road.

A Celebration of Nature Through Poetry and Music
2024-04-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Join Notable Works and Crosswinds Poetry on Saturday, April 6 at 1 pm in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library for A Celebration of Nature Through Music and Poetry.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
This special event kicks off National Poetry Month and highlights the efforts of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and the East Providence Conservation Commission, three organizations that are working together to preserve and maintain Hundred Acre Cove and the surrounding area. The event is free and open to all.

This event will feature six poets who submitted works and were selected blindly by a panel of judges to have their works showcased at this event. There will also be a special presentation by Cynthia Elder, Executive Director of Barrington Land Conservation Trust as well as a video presentation created as part of this project. Notable Works’ composer and Artist in Residence, Noreen Inglesi, and Notable Works’ Resident Poet, David Dragone will each create works, which will be premiered at this event. There will also be a special performance by the Notable Works Ensemble.
Through this project, Notable Works hopes to help nurture the connection between humans and nature and we will strive to highlight the efforts of the local agencies, which see the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between caring for both urban communities and natural habitats.
Call for Poetry
Notable Works and Crosswinds Poetry are seeking original poems which celebrate the beauty of nature or speak to any personal or collective experience regarding the natural environment. The submission period is January 1 – February 29, 2024. For complete guidelines, visit Notable Works. Cash prizes will be awarded: First Place ($150), Second Place ($75), Third Place Award ($50), and three Honorable Mentions. This six winners will read at the event on April 6, and the Barrington Public Library’s Dial-A- Poem will feature the top three winners on April 1 in recognition of National Poetry Month and Earth Month.

Student Stewardship Team - PIC-WIL Nature Preserve
2024-04-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Pic-Wil Nature Preserve, Washington Rd., Barrington, RI, United States
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On April 7, we’ll be working at PIC-WIL Nature Preserve clearing trails and other tasks. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
We’ll meet in the PIC-WIL parking area on Washington Road across from Tallwood Drive.
REGISTER FOR APRIL 7 WORK DAY

"Earth Day Eve" Clean Up at Allin's Cove
2024-04-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Allin’s Cove, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
In preparation for Earth Day, let’s put a shine on one of Barrington’s most beautiful coastal properties, Allin’s Cove Conservation Area.
Join us Sunday, April 21, from 1 to 3 pm to help us clean up litter as well as debris that has washed ashore over the winter. All ages are welcome with parental supervision.
REGISTER FOR THE CLEAN UP
We’ll share the history and environmental challenges of this property, which includes land owned by the Land Trust, Town and State.
Visit this page for more information about Allin’s Cove Conservation Area.

Learning Series: This Land Is Your Land
2024-04-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Celebrate Earth Month with a journey through hundreds of acres of natural open space preserved by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust and the Town of Barrington.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT.
Through photos and stories, we’ll discover the hidden gems of forest, fields, and coastal properties that have been preserved for future generations. The event is free and open to all.
How do these natural places benefit you? What is the history of these places? Why are some open to the public, while others are only open for guided tours or open only for stewardship and research activities?
Participate in a discussion on the value of open space in our community and the challenges associated with preserving them in a lasting way.
The presentation will be delivered by volunteers who play critical roles in the management and care of these properties. Speakers include Peter McCalmont, Chair of the Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge Management Committee; Ellen Berren, Property Steward of Sowams Woods; Peter Burke, Property Steward of PIC-WIL Nature Preserve; Ginger Brown, Property Steward of St. Andrews Farm; Bill Kirkpatrick, Property Steward of Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve; Victor Lerish; Chair of the Land Trust’s Stewardship Committee; and Gail Read, President of the Barrington Farm School.
Thanks to our 2024 Land Trust Learning Series Sponsors!
Leadership Sponsor

Partner Sponsors

Supporting Sponsor
Meridian Custom Homes
Community Sponsors
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors
The Gob Shop
Jaffee Orthodontics

Student Stewardship Team - Tree Planting at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge
2024-04-27 09:00 - 11:00 | Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge, 111 George St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Saturday, April 27, from 9-11 am, we’ll be working at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge planting trees. The holes will already be dug – we just need to place them and cover them.
This is a multi-day project because we have to plant 60 trees. Please join us for one or more of the days so we can get them in the ground while they’re fresh.
If you can’t there on time, email Cindy Elder in advance – Thanks!
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
We’ll meet in the parking area at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge at 111 George St., near Four Town Farms.
REGISTER FOR STEWARDSHIP EVENT

Student Stewardship Team - Tree Planting at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge
2024-04-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge, 111 George St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Sunday, April 28, from 1-3 pm, we’ll be working at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge planting trees. The holes will already be dug – we just need to place them and cover them.
This is the last day of a multi-day project to plant 60 trees.
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear.
We’ll meet in the parking area at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge at 111 George St., near Four Town Farms.
REGISTER FOR STEWARDSHIP EVENT

Student Stewardship Team - Pollinator Path at Barrington Middle School
2024-05-03 15:00 - 17:00 | Barrington Middle School, 261 Middle Highway, Barrington, RI, 02806
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Friday, May 3, from 3-5 pm, we’ll be spreading woodchips over the pathway we established behind the Barrington Middle School, where a pollinator pathway will be.
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear. Wear long pants and a long shirt, and your Land Trust hat.
We’ll meet in the parking area in the back of the Barrington Middle School.
REGISTER FOR STEWARDSHIP EVENT

Student Stewardship Team - Sunday, May 5, Mussachuck Grove
2024-05-05 13:00 - 15:00 | Mussachuck Grove, Corner of Appian Way and Grove St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
This event is for registered members of the Land Trust’s Student Stewardship Team ONLY.
If you are not a registered member and would like to join, visit our Student Stewardship page for more information.
On Sunday, May 5, from 1-3 pm, we’ll be planting native shrubs along the edge of Mussachuck Grove that borders Appian Way.
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear. Wear long pants and a long shirt, and your Land Trust hat. Bring a water bottle!
REGISTER FOR STEWARDSHIP EVENT

Learning Series: Protecting Our Salt Marshes with Tom Kutcher
2024-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Join us on Tuesday, May 14, at 7 pm for a presentation on Protecting Our Salt Marshes by Tom Kutcher, Wetlands Scientist with the Rhode Island Natural History Survey. The presentation will last approximately one hour followed by a Q&A.
The event will take place in the Salem Family Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library, 281 County St., Barrington, RI. The event is free and open to all. The program will be recorded and offered on the Library’s YouTube if you are unable to attend.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
Tom will share his on-the-ground (and in the muck) experience with Rhode Island’s salt marshes. He’ll discuss the critical threats facing our salt marshes due to sea level rise and salt marsh restoration programs that are responding to that threat.
The presentation will provide insight into the condition of Barrington’s salt marshes and how the RI Natural History Survey’s research in these locations, carried out in partnership with RIDEM, Narragansett Bay Research Reserve, CRMC and USEPA, contributes to our understanding of salt marshes.
About Tom Kutcher
Tom Kutcher is a Wetland Scientist for the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, where he works to develop wetland monitoring, assessment, and restoration protocols for Rhode Island’s state environmental agencies.
He is a recent co-author of the Rhode Island Salt Marsh Monitoring Strategy (2016) and principal author of the Rhode Island Coastal Wetland Restoration Strategy (2018).
Tom has developed and implemented wetland monitoring and assessment methods across Rhode Island, including for recent large-scale salt marsh restoration projects. Tom formerly worked as Stewardship Coordinator at the Narragansett Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, where he wrote the Habitat and Land Cover Classification Scheme for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (2008), and served as the Narragansett Baykeeper with Save The Bay and the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Tom lives and recreates along the shores of Narragansett Bay with his marine-biologist wife and two salty kids.
Thanks to our 2024 Land Trust Learning Series Sponsors!
Leadership Sponsor

Partner Sponsors

Supporting Sponsor
Meridian Custom Homes
Community Sponsors
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors
The Gob Shop
Jaffee Orthodontics

Guided Walk: Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge
2024-05-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge, 111 George St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Experience springtime at the Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge on a free guided walk. The Refuge is located on Nockum Hill on a peninsula extending into the Barrington River and Hundred Acre Cove estuary. Owned by the Town of Barrington, the Refuge’s public hiking trails traverse 82 acres of field, forest and shoreline.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The walk will be led Peter McCalmont, Chairman of the Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge Management Committee, and Charlie Brown, retired DEM wildlife biologist, Co-Manager of the Refuge and Co-Chair of the Management Committee. The walk is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, at 10 am (rain date, Wednesday, May 22, 10 am).
Nockum Hill has figured prominently in Barrington’s history. Once home to the Pokanoket people, it is the site of the first Baptist meetinghouse in the New World. Legend has it that the first shots of King Philip’s War were fired nearby.
The terrain is mostly gentle but may be wet in places, with moderate inclines. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots. The walk will last about an hour and a half. All ages are welcome.
The town acquired the land in the 1960s and designated it as a wildlife refuge in 1994. The Barrington Land Conservation Trust was granted a conservation easement on the property in 2005 to ensure the property remains protected in perpetuity. This sensitive land is managed by the Doug Rayner Management Committee in collaboration with the Land Trust.
In 2000, the Refuge was named after ardent naturalist Doug Rayner, a member of the Barrington Conservation Commission and a board member of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.
Doug was instrumental in protecting the marshes and upland buffers of the Palmer and Barrington Rivers, Nockum Hill and Hundred Acre Cove, and was active in protecting endangered species and their habitats.
The Barrington Land Conservation Trust has preserved approximately 300 acres of open space in perpetuity for the benefit of the public.
