Barrington Land Trust

Guided Walk: Andreozzi Nature Preserve & Lombardi Park - Thursday, June 22, 9 am
2023-06-22 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Andreozzi Nature Preserve, Lee Ann Drive, Barrington, RI, 02806
Join us on Thursday, June 22, at 9 am for a walk to Andreozzi Nature Preserve and Lombardi Park. These two conservation areas are within 100 yards of each other off the East Bay Bike Path. Both properties are owned and managed by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.
The terrain is gentle but may be wet in places. The guided walk will last about 45 minutes. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The walks will be led by Jerry and Ginny Gonville, who are avid bird watchers and Land Trust volunteers. Jerry is the property steward for both properties.
Andreozzi Nature Preserve
Andreozzi Nature Preserve
Andreozzi Nature Preserve was donated by Annie J. Andreozzi in memory of her husband, Emilio L. Andreozzi, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a unique natural area where plants, birds and other forms of animal life could be protected.
She also wished to have the property used to further public knowledge and appreciation of plants, animals and natural resources.
Lombardi Park
Lombardi Park
Salvatore Lombardi and his wife Josephine emigrated from Italy to Barrington in 1924. He worked at the Barrington Brickyard and became a skilled stone mason and, together with their family, they grew a construction and real estate development business.
Lombardi Park was donated by Salvatore Lombardi, Jr., Anthony Lombardi and Joseph Lombardi in 2004. The site includes Little Echo Lake, where many members of the Lombardi family swam in their youth.
For more information on the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, email Executive Director Cindy Elder.

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER - Guided Walk: PIC-WIL Nature Preserve - Saturday, June 24, 9 am
2023-06-24 09:00 - 10:00 | Pic-Wil Nature Preserve, Washington Rd., Barrington, RI, United States
This walk has been cancelled due to weather. Please select a different event.
Join us on Saturday, June 24, at 9 am for a walk to PIC-WIL Nature Preserve. This 17-acre preserve of forest, field, salt marsh and coastal dunes on the east shore of the Providence River in Barrington.
The terrain is gentle but may be wet in places. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. You may wish to bring a walking stick or poles to assist you when crossing wet areas.
The walk will last about one hour. All ages are welcome.
Once home to a bottling facility owned by Deep Water Rock Company, the property was donated to the Nature Conservancy by Catherine Picerelli in December of 1986 and deeded to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust in 1987, to be preserved in perpetuity as a nature preserve. The donation was made in memory of the families of Peter J. Picerelli and Clifford M. Wilson: thus the name “PIC-WIL.” Although the property is generally closed to the public due to its status as a nature preserve, the Land Trust opens PIC-WIL periodically for guided walks.

The walk will be led by Peter Burke, property steward and former President of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. The forest includes a wide variety of deciduous trees. The property is home to deer, coyote, fox, weasels, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits.
Purple Martins nest here in late spring and summer. Common birds of the marsh and tidal creeks include Mallards, American Black Ducks, Snowy and Great Egrets, Green-backed Herons, Great Blue Herons, and Osprey. Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Belted Kingfishers and various shorebirds are other likely visitors of the wetland.
Nesting birds of the forest and its shrub border include Song Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Flicker, Cardinal, Goldfinch, Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, Mockingbird, Catbird, Brown Thrasher and others.
Three plants at PIC-WIL have “special interest” status in the state of Rhode Island: Creeping Spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata), Maritime Seablite (Suaeda maritima) and Robust Bulrush (Scirpus robustus).
For more information on the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, email Executive Director Cindy Elder.

Guided Walk: Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve - Sunday, June 25, 8 am
2023-06-25 08:00 - 09:00 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
Early risers, this walk’s for you! Join us on Sunday, June 25, at 8 am for a walk to Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve. This 32-acre expanse of field, forest, and salt marshes lies the border of the Palmer River, off Sowams Road in Barrington, RI.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The terrain is gentle but may be wet in places. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. You may wish to bring a walking stick or poles to assist you when crossing wet areas and narrow foot bridges. Dogs are not allowed on this property.
The walk will last about one hour. All ages are welcome.
Bill Kirkpatrick, the Land Trust’s property steward for Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, will lead the walk. He will guide you through the forest trail and take you down to the salt marshes, where you can see the effects of sea level rise in real time. The bridge which allowed circumnavigation of the site was washed out during the floods of December 2022. It will be rebuilt this fall by a team of students from Roger Williams University’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
You’ll also see the first stage of a three-year planting program at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, funded in part by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Land Trust volunteers and the Audubon Youth Conservation League Team planted 38 native trees and shrubs in September 2022, with more planting to come in 2023 and 2024.
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.
For more information about the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, email Executive Director Cindy Elder.

Guided Walk: St. Andrews Farm - Saturday, July 8, 9 am
2023-07-08 09:00 - 10:00 | St. Andrews Farm, 101 Middle Highway, Barrington, RI, 02806
Join us on Saturday, July 8, at 9 am for a walk to St. Andrews Farm. This 28-acre expanse of field, forest and athletic fields off Middle Highway in Barrington, RI is owned by the Town and managed by the St. Andrews Farm Management Committee, which is composed of Land Trust members, abutters, and several Town officials.
The terrain is gentle and the property is open to the public year-round, dawn to dusk. The guided walk will last about 45 minutes. All ages are welcome.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The walk will be led by Charlie and Ginger Brown, Land Trust stewards for the property. Charlie served for 24 years with the RI Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, where he was the expert on mammals, including coyotes, bats, fishers, bears, foxes, bobcats, and even pumas. Ginger is a former president of the Land Trust and author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Rhode Island.

The property was operated by St. Andrews School as a working farm from the 1890s until the 1960s. In 2000, the McAdams Charitable Foundation, through the generosity of Norman (“Sandy”) and Dorothy (“Dotty”) McCulloch, purchased the property from St. Andrews School and donated it to the Town of Barrington.
This generous gift ensured that the property would be preserved and maintained as open recreational space for the benefit of the public. Part of the property was set aside for the construction of an athletic field. The remaining acres of rolling grassland and trees bounded by upland and wetland forests are preserved as conservation land.
Consistent with the McCullochs’ goals for the property, the Town and the Land Trust have worked together to restore the property to its original condition and encourage greater public use for walking, birding and educational purposes.

The McCulloch Fields contain a mix of plant communities ranging from field grasses and wildflowers interspersed with islands of shrubs and trees to a woodland buffer around the periphery.

Of particular note are a rare Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticullata) and a champion white oak tree with a trunk exceeding 12 feet in diameter. The fields provide a habitat for a wide variety of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects. Their proximity to the coastal flyway makes it a potentially important stop-over for migratory birds.
For more information about the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, please email Executive Director Cindy Elder.

Land Trust Days - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve Walk - Wed., Sept. 6, 4 pm
2023-09-06 16:00 - 17:30 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
Join us for an autumn walk to Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve. This 32-acre expanse of field, forest, and salt marshes lies the border of the Palmer River, off Sowams Road in Barrington, RI.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The terrain is gentle but may be wet in places. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. You may wish to bring a walking stick or poles to assist you when crossing wet areas and narrow foot bridges. Dogs are not allowed on this property.
The walk will last about an hour and a half. All ages are welcome.
The walk is part of Land Trust Days, a two-month series of programs offered by land trusts across the state who are members of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council.
We will guide you through the forest trail and take you down to the salt marshes, where you can see the effects of sea level rise in real time. The bridge which allowed circumnavigation of the site was washed out during the floods of December 2022. It will be rebuilt this fall by a team of students from Roger Williams University’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
You’ll also see the first two stages of a three-year planting program at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, funded in part by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Land Trust volunteers and the Audubon Youth Conservation League Team planted dozens of native trees and shrubs in 2022 and 2023, with more planting to come in 2024.
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.
For more information about the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, email Executive Director Cindy Elder.

Land Trust Days Walk - Sowams Woods Walk - Sat, Sept. 9, 9 am
2023-09-09 09:00 - 10:30 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806
Experience Sowams Woods in the autumn, with a profusion of fall colors and the glistening waters of Echo Lake. The Barrington Land Conservation Trust, which owns and manages the property, invites all ages to join this free public walk through 12 acres of forested trails.
Advance registration is required due to limited parking at the site.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The walk is part of Land Trust Days, a two-month series of programs offered by land trusts across the state who are members of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council.
The terrain is gentle. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear.
The Sowams Woods walks will begin at the juncture of North Lake Drive and old South Lake Drive, which is now a walking trail that meanders along the shore of Echo Lake to Sowams Woods. The entire walk covers a distance of 1.5 miles round trip. The guided walk will last a little over an hour.
Sowams Woods was acquired by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust in 2006 after a four-year, two-million dollar campaign that involved widespread support from Barrington residents, the Rhode Island Country Club (which borders the property), the Town of Barrington, the State of Rhode Island, and the federal government.
Located on the ancestral homelands of the Pokanokets, Sowams Woods is rich with history and significance. During the years-long effort to protect the property from development, leaders of the Pokanoket advised and educated the Land Trust on the property’s importance to Indigenous Peoples.
The Barrington Land Conservation Trust has preserved nearly 300 acres of open space in perpetuity for the benefit of the public. For more information, email cindyelder@blct.org.

Land Trust Days - PIC-WIL Nature Preserve Walk - Sunday, Sept. 10, 9 am
2023-09-10 09:00 - 22:30 | Pic-Wil Nature Preserve, Washington Rd., Barrington, RI, United States
Join us for a walk to PIC-WIL Nature Preserve. This 17-acre preserve of forest, field, salt marsh and coastal dunes on the east shore of the Providence River in Barrington.
The terrain is gentle but may be wet in places. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. You may wish to bring a walking stick or poles to assist you when crossing wet areas.
The walk will last about an hour and a half. All ages are welcome. Advance registration is required.
REGISTER FOR THE WALK
The walk is part of Land Trust Days, a two-month series of programs offered by land trusts across the state who are members of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council.
Once home to a bottling facility owned by Deep Water Rock Company, the property was donated to the Nature Conservancy by Catherine Picerelli in December of 1986 and deeded to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust in 1987, to be preserved in perpetuity as a nature preserve.
The donation was made in memory of the families of Peter J. Picerelli and Clifford M. Wilson: thus the name “PIC-WIL.” Although the property is generally closed to the public due to its status as a nature preserve, the Land Trust opens PIC-WIL periodically for guided walks.
The forest includes a wide variety of deciduous trees. The property is home to deer, coyote, fox, weasels, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits.
Purple Martins nest here in late spring and summer. Common birds of the marsh and tidal creeks include Mallards, American Black Ducks, Snowy and Great Egrets, Green-backed Herons, Great Blue Herons, and Osprey. Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Belted Kingfishers and various shorebirds are other likely visitors of the wetland.

Nesting birds of the forest and its shrub border include Song Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Flicker, Cardinal, Goldfinch, Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, Mockingbird, Catbird, Brown Thrasher and others.
Three plants at PIC-WIL have “special interest” status in the state of Rhode Island: Creeping Spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata), Maritime Seablite (Suaeda maritima) and Robust Bulrush (Scirpus robustus).
For more information on the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, email Executive Director Cindy Elder.

Pollinator Palooza!
2023-09-17 16:00 - 18:00 | Barrington Farm School, 100 Federal Road, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Join members of the Barrington Pollinator Pathway, stewards of the Barrington Farm School pollinator garden, and other passionate gardeners for some pollinator talk on Sunday, Sept. 17, anytime between 4 pm and 6 pm.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
• Bring your questions about native plant gardening and your ideas about how to grow the pollinator pathway here in Barrington and beyond.
• Tour the pollinator garden at the Farm School.
• Light refreshments and free plants!
Parking is limited at the Farm School. Please park in the lot at St. Andrews Farm, which is across the street at 101 Middle Highway, or along Federal Rd. or Middle Highway. Use caution when crossing this busy street! Handicap parking is available directly in front of the Farm School.
This event is a joint effort of the Barrington Farm School, Barrington Pollinator Pathways and the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.

Learning Series: A Conversation with Environment Reporter Alex Kuffner
2023-09-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
2023 Land Trust Learning Series
Register to Attend the Presentation IN PERSON
Register to LIVESTREAM the Presentation
Join us for a conversation with Alex Kuffner, Environment Reporter for The Providence Journal.
From offshore wind and forever chemicals to bird flu and pine beetles, Alex Kuffner covers the full range of environmental issues facing Rhode Islanders. Join Alex for a conversation about headline-making environmental concerns. Bring your questions! This is your chance to get inside the story and hear, first-hand, from an award-winning journalist reporting on stories that affect your life and the health of our planet.
Among his many accolades, Alex won the Silver Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his story, “Coastal Erosion: The Smallest State and Why It’s Getting Smaller.”
Alex won a first-place award from the Society of Environmental Journalists for articles he wrote detailing the arrival of an invasive species of fierce-stinging jellyfish in Rhode Island waters, a scourge of tree-killing insects and drought that have defoliated portions of Rhode Island’s forests, and the expansive growth of solar farms in the state. The judges described Kuffner’s reporting as “a model for small-market journalists covering an environmental beat: clear, thorough, objective coverage on a range of important local issues” (as reported in The Providence Journal).

About Alex Kuffner
Alex Kuffner is the Environment Reporter for The Providence Journal. He has won numerous awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and other organizations. Alex earned a bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies and a master’s degree in journalism, both from Columbia University. Alex lives in Barrington, RI.
This event would not be possible without our sponsors. For information on how you can sponsor the 2023 Land Trust Learning Series, email Cindy Elder or call 508-733-2443. Thank you!
2023 Learning Series Presenting Sponsor

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

International Coastal Clean Up at Barrington Beach with Save the Bay
2023-09-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Barrington Town Beach, 88 Bay Road, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
On Saturday, Sept. 30, from 1-3 pm, you can become part of the world’s largest volunteer effort for our ocean by participating in a clean up at Barrington Town Beach coordinated by Save the Bay and the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.
Advance registration is required. You will need to create a volunteer account with Save the Bay (if you don’t already have one) to complete the registration process.
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
The International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort for our ocean. People all over the world remove trash from the shores and document what they find. The data is published in an annual report on marine debris by the Ocean Conservancy. See the full Rhode Island 2022 report, and a complete schedule of ICC cleanups in Rhode Island.

Learning Series: Film Festival and Artist Talk with Daniel Byers - Day One
2023-10-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
2023 Land Trust Learning Series
REGISTER HERE
This event will be held live at the Barrington Public Library.
Join us for Day One of our Film Festival featuring the works of award-winning environmental documentary filmmaker Daniel Byers of Skyship Films.
Daniel Byers has travelled to some of the most remote places on earth to film stories of Indigenous Peoples and their struggles to preserve their native lands, way of life, and the species with whom they share these natural places.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m. Daniel will present three of his short environmental documentaries and share his experience as a filmmaker seeking to capture important stories in extreme conditions.
Aguilocho: Dance of the Harpy Eagle (30 minutes)
In the remote Darién Gap, the Emberá tribe of Playa Muerto find an unlikely ally in protecting their rainforest when a rare Harpy Eagle nest is discovered near their community. “Aguilucho” Premiered at the 2021 DC Environmental Film Festival and is playing in festivals worldwide.
Then, Now and Forever: Zuni in the Grand Canyon (28 Minutes)

Throughout their history, the A:shiwi people have made a pilgrimage through the Grand Canyon to leave offerings at traditional sites, gather materials for their cultural practices, and visit the place where their ancestors first emerged from the four Underworlds and into the light of day. Follow the A:shiwi rain priests and medicine men as this sacred migration down the Colorado river is documented on film for the first time – from the pueblo at Halona Idiwana’a to shrines and ancient settlements, through canyon walls carved by the petroglyphs of the ancestors. Zuni in the Grand Canyon Premiered at the DC Environmental Film Festival in 2018. It received the Best Language Preservation Film Award from the Gallup Film Festival.

Paradise in Peril: An Expedition to the Río Platáno Biosphere (30 minutes)
The Río Platáno Biosphere Reserve, Honduras – home to the highest level of tropical biodiversity in Central America, homeland of the Pech and Miskito Indians, and keeper of hundreds of unexplored archeological sites – is in danger. Non-indians are invading the Reserve from all sides, poaching endangered wildlife and fish, slashing and burning ancient forests to sow pastures, and forcing indigenous inhabitants off their ancestral lands. Paradise in Peril follows an expedition organized to document the destruction of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and collect testimony from the native peoples who rely on the Río Platáno for survival.
About Daniel Byers
Daniel Byers is an award-winning environmental filmmaker. From tracking snow leopards in war-torn Afghanistan to bike-trekking a thousand miles in the tracks of a wolf, he’s an expert hand at expedition logistics and inspired storytelling on land, sea, and air. His company, SkyShip Films, specializes in telling stories within extreme environments: “Inspired by the world, we in turn seek to inspire – pushing ourselves and our craft to be worthy of it. To explore the cutting edge but protect the ancient earth. To fight for that most fragile, honor diverse voices, and make every project something we’re proud to call our own.”
REGISTER HERE
This event would not be possible without our sponsors. For information on how you can sponsor the 2023 Land Trust Learning Series, email Cindy Elder or call 508-733-2443. Thank you!
2023 Learning Series Presenting Sponsor

Leadership Sponsors

The Cicione Family and Brickyard Wine

Partner Sponsor

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

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

Learning Series: Film Festival and Artist Talk with Daniel Byers - Day Two
2023-10-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
2023 Land Trust Learning Series
REGISTER HERE
This event will be held live at the Barrington Public Library.
Join us for Day Two of our Film Festival featuring the works of award-winning environmental documentary filmmaker Daniel Byers of Skyship Films.
Daniel Byers has travelled to some of the most remote places on earth to film stories of Indigenous Peoples and their struggles to preserve their native lands, way of life, and the species with whom they share these natural places.
On Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. Daniel will present a feature-length environmental documentary and one short film. He will share his experience as a filmmaker seeking to capture important stories in extreme conditions.
The Wolf OR-7 Expedition (90 minutes)
The Wolf OR-7 Expedition team retraced by bicycle and on foot the approximate route taken by a GPS – collared wolf called Wolf OR-7. The wolf was born in NE Oregon and in 2011 left his pack and dispersed South to find new territory. He became the first known wolf in California in nearly 90 years, and he is still out there… Follow six adventurers as they retrace the route taken by a GPS-collared Oregon wolf. Their mission is to explore human-wolf coexistence and meet the people along Wolf OR-7’s route who now find themselves in wolf country.
Fish Eagles of Madagascar (10 Minutes)

Visit a remote region in Madagascar, where three ecosystems — forests, lakes and mangroves — are home to an abundance of rare and threatened species, including the Madagascar Fish Eagle.
About Daniel Byers
Daniel Byers is an award-winning environmental filmmaker. From tracking snow leopards in war-torn Afghanistan to bike-trekking a thousand miles in the tracks of a wolf, he’s an expert hand at expedition logistics and inspired storytelling on land, sea, and air. His company, SkyShip Films, specializes in telling stories within extreme environments: “Inspired by the world, we in turn seek to inspire – pushing ourselves and our craft to be worthy of it. To explore the cutting edge but protect the ancient earth. To fight for that most fragile, honor diverse voices, and make every project something we’re proud to call our own.”
REGISTER HERE
This event would not be possible without our sponsors. For information on how you can sponsor the 2023 Land Trust Learning Series, email Cindy Elder or call 508-733-2443. Thank you!
2023 Learning Series Presenting Sponsor

Leadership Sponsors

The Cicione Family and Brickyard Wine

Partner Sponsor

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

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

Learning Series: Walking Rhode Island with John Kostrzewa
2023-10-10 18:30 - 20:00 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
2023 Land Trust Learning Series
This event is FULLY SUBSCRIBED. You may register below to livestream the event or email Cindy Elder to be placed on the waiting list for the live presentation.
Register to LIVESTREAM the Presentation
Join us for a special evening with John Kostrzewa, author of the new book, Walking Rhode Island: 40 Hikes for Nature and History Lovers with GPS Coordinates, Photos and Trail Maps.
John Kostrzewa writes the “Walking Rhode Island” column for The Providence Journal and has been hiking across the state for decades.
His talk and slide show will include how he started, where he has hiked and what he has learned. He’ll share his observations about the history, geological features, vegetation and wildlife he has found along the trails.
John will also explain what makes Rhode Island’s trails unique and outline some of the challenges Rhode Islanders face to maintain the state’s public preserves.
The book has drawn praise from environmental and historical leaders in Rhode Island. Terry Gray, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, writes “Along with being gracefully written and packed with precise details, John Kostrzewa’s hiking columns are an antidote to our high-speed, screen-centered lives. They not only guide you on some of the most beautiful trails in Rhode Island, but also give you a sense of history and what you are seeing along the way.”
Casual walkers, families and experienced hikers can pick from easy, moderate and challenging hikes. Each trail has a description of the geological features, wildlife, vegetation, historical landmarks, directions to the trail head and tips for navigating the trail.
“John Kostrzewa’s stories show us that walks are not merely a chance to enjoy the natural world, but to see that during every walk, in every wood, along every stream, we are awash in the history of this land and it’s people since time immemorial,” said C. Morgan Grefe, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Historical Society. “These walks are more than a meditation or recreation, they are Rhode Island history in a deep and meaningful way. They should not just be read, they should be experienced.”
About John Kostrzewa
Kostrzewa worked for 42 years in the newspaper industry, including the last 29 at The Providence Journal as a business reporter, columnist, business editor, and assistant managing editor. He retired from the Journal in 2017 and spent the three years as an adjunct professor at Bryant University.A College of the Holy Cross graduate, Kostrzewa resides in Cranston with his wife Carol.
Since launching “Walking Rhode Island” in 2021, he has written more than 100 columns. He has compiled 40 of the hikes into a book that is set for release in September, 2023. Copies of the book will be available for sale before and after the presentation.
This event would not be possible without our sponsors. For information on how you can sponsor the 2023 Land Trust Learning Series, email Cindy Elder or call 508-733-2443. Thank you!

2023 Learning Series
Presenting Sponsor

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

Land Trust Days - PIC-WIL Nature Preserve Walk - Saturday, Oct. 14, 9 am
2023-10-14 09:00 - 10:30 | Pic-Wil Nature Preserve, Washington Rd., Barrington, RI, United States

Land Trust Days - Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve Walk - Sunday, Oct. 15, 9 am
2023-10-15 09:00 - 10:30 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve

Young Adult Wilderness Walk
2023-10-17 16:00 - 17:30 | Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve
Young adults in 6th to 12th grade can discover the wilderness that exists just outside their doorstep — and play a part in helping to preserve it for the birds and other creatures who call it home.
REGISTER FOR THE WILDERNESS WALK
Inspired by the book, Where Have All the Birds Gone? by Rebecca Hirsch, this hike will take participants into the 33-acre Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, a property only accessible by guided tour.
The event is part of a year-long partnership between the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, the Barrington Public Library, and the Barrington Middle School.
Over the course of the year, young adults will have the opportunity to participate in bird counts, arts and literary projects, environmental advocacy, book conversations and a culminating Bird Ball in May 2024.
Check out the Library’s new solar-powered smart bird feeder that allows you to see the birds who arrive at the feeder.
Two hundred copies of Where Have All the Birds Gone? are available for loan through the Barrington Public Library and the Barrington Middle School. Book conversations will take place based on the book.
“It may sound unlikely, even impossible, but our birds are in trouble,” writes Hirsch. “Scientists have gathered clear and alarming evidence that many species of birds are disappearing in North America and around the world.”
Young adults will be empowered to take action to preserve our environment and improve the odds for the birds, as well as the other plants and animals that share the ecosystem. By advocating and using their natural talents, young adults can engage in challenges facing our planet.

Land Trust Days - Sowams Woods Walk - Wed., Oct. 18, 4 pm
2023-10-18 16:00 - 17:30 | Sowams Woods, South Lake Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island, 02806

Guided Walk at Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge - Saturday Nov. 4, 9 am
2023-11-04 09:00 - 10:30 | Doug Rayner Wildlife Refuge, 111 George St., Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
Experience autumn 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 more than 70 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 and a board member of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. The walk is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4, at 9 am (rain date, Sunday, Nov. 5, 9 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 nearly 300 acres of open space in perpetuity for the benefit of the public.

Learning Series: Elizabeth Rush Book Tour: "The Quickening"
2023-11-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Barrington Public Library, 281 County Rd,, Barrington, RI, 02806, United States
2023 Land Trust Learning Series
Register to Attend the Presentation IN PERSON
Register to LIVESTREAM the Presentation
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
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Community Sponsors
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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.
