Earth Day Week 2021
Sunday April 18th @ 3:30 pm - Saturday April 24th @ 5:00 pm
On April 22, 2021, more than 1 billion people worldwide will celebrate Earth Day which was created in 1970 to inspire individuals of all ages to recognize, appreciate and take action to protect the natural environment. To mark this day, the Westerly Land Trust has scheduled a full week of environmentally focused events. We firmly believe that connecting our community with Westerly’s beautiful natural resources will cement a sense of place and encourage individuals to do more to protect the environment on a global scale.
Each of the events below has it’s own event page that may contain more information. Click the name of the event to be redirected to that specific page.
Sunday, April 18th at 4pm: Hike Crandall Family Preserve
Join the Westerly Land Trust to hike Crandall Family Preserve, a 423.7acre piece of land at the center of Rhode Island’s largest Atlantic white cedar swamp. Reservations are required; please contact Joseph Barnes at jbarnes@westerlylandtrust.org to reserve your spot. This hike is free for members and $10 for non-members. The Westerly Land Trust adheres to state health guidelines; please bring a face mask and follow social distancing requirements.
Monday, April 19th: Earth Day Story Slam
To celebrate Earth Day, the Westerly Land Trust is compiling prose and poetry from our community. Send us your short stories, poems, even song lyrics inspired by nature and the great outdoors. These writings will be shared on our website on Monday, April 19th. We hope this project fosters a sense of community, shares stories, and introduces new perspectives on land use and conservation.
Send your writing piece to Joe Barnes at jbarnes@westerlylandtrust.org by Wednesday, April 14. This project is open to all ages; therefore, content must be appropriate for all ages. Please let us know if you’d prefer to publish anonymously.
Monday, April 19th at 5:30pm: Clean-Up Crews and Brews
The Westerly Land Trust is partnering with like-minded conservation organizations including the South Kingstown Land Trust, Charlestown Land Trust, Narrow River Land Trust, Hopkinton Land Trust, Weekapaug Foundation for Conservation, East Beach Association, and The Watch Hill Conservancy to bring attention to South County’s litter problem with each organization planning its own local Earth Day-inspired trash-pick up. The Westerly Land Trust’s event, Clean-Up Crews and Brews, will start at the Community Garden on Main Street, and teams will be assigned to different WLT properties. Grey Sail Brewing Company has graciously offered to host all WLT Clean-Up Crews for a post-clean up brew. Registration is required for this event. For more information or to sign up, please contact Joseph Barnes at jbarnes@westerlylandtrust.org. All organizations will be encouraging participants to post on social media with #SouthCountyCleanUp.
Tuesday, April 20th at 12pm-1pm: Barlow Nature Preserve Farm Tours
For the first time in the Westerly Land Trust’s history and thanks to the hard work and dedication of farmers, our land is producing food. For many reasons small scale farmers are some of the best environmentalists. Visit the Barlow Nature Preserve at 449 Westerly-Bradford Road to tour the three individual and unique agricultural operations: Frontier Farm (produce), Echo Rock Flowers (cut flowers) and Vita Nova Compost (vermicomposting). Here, you will learn about the vital intersection of land conservation and local agriculture. Registration is required for this event. For questions, please contact Joseph Barnes at jbarnes@westerlylandtrust.org or 401.315.2610. To reserve your spot, please click here.
Wednesday, April 21 from 1pm-5pm: Living Laboratories: Stations
Inspired by the Rhode Island Fish and Wildlife Critter Kits, the Living Laboratories: Stations allow students and their families to act as scientific field researchers, gathering data on Rhode Island’s local animal populations. This week we are focusing on reptiles and amphibians at Grills Preserve. Please contact Joseph Barnes at jbarnes@westerlylandtrust.org for more information. To book your visit, please click here. Registration is required to ensure safe group sizes.
Thursday, April 22 at 10am: Hike Wahaneeta Preserve
Wahaneeta Preserve is the former Girl Scouts of Rhode Island Camp Wahaneeta. It is primarily wooded wetlands and includes a stream, pond and the former Girl Scout Lodge. This hike is part of the WLT Thursday Hike Series. It is open to everyone but gauged towards agile seniors. Please click here for information on how to register for this event. The Westerly Land Trust adheres to state health guidelines; please bring a face mask and follow social distancing requirements.
Thursday, April 22 at 6pm: Voices of the Land: Virtual Earth Day Panel Discussion
In partnership with Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, please join us for a virtual panel discussion to celebrate Earth Day! Inspired by the Westerly Land Trust’s podcast of the same name, the Voices of the Land webinar will feature local land conservation and environmental heroes. Listen as this panel discusses the ways in which they work with, utilize and protect the land, embracing Earth Day’s mission every day of the year. And learn about how you can get involved in the many local movements and opportunities for beneficial land use from farming to outreach and education. Audience Q&A participation in encouraged. Registration is required for this event. Please click here to register by Wednesday, April 21st. Please direct questions to Joseph Barnes at jbarnes@westerlylandtrust.org or 401.315.2610.
Friday, April 23 and always: Explore Westerly Land Trust Properties
The Westerly Land Trust Trails App makes hiking WLT properties easy. Download it from your app store and access trail maps and our Passport Program, where you can scan all the QR codes on our properties and win a special WLT “Take a Hike” t-shirt. Get outside, take in nature, enjoy it, admire it, preserve it, not only during Earth Day Week, but always.
