The Westerly Land Trust

Spring Equinox Yoga Hike
2026-03-20 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Grills Preserve, 198 Bowling Lane, Westerly, RI, 02808, United States
Celebrate the arrival of Spring and embark on a mindful adventure through the forest where we will practice yoga and welcome new beginnings.

The Spring Equinox is a perfect time to get outside and take notice of nature during a period of rapid change and vibrant growth. Join hike leader and local yoga teacher, Janice Fifer, for a grounding experience through the forest of Grills Preserve.
This experience will begin at the trailhead with centering and a short breathing practice, followed by a mindful walk to the Polly Coon Bridge where we will meditate with the sounds of the river rushing over the rocks. On your way to Big Hill, we invite you to draw inspiration from plants and animals that reawaken this time of year. A series of standing yoga poses will be strategically sprinkled into this experience throughout the hike where we will pause to stretch, breathe, and balance amongst the trees.
We will cover ~ 3 miles total. No need for a yoga mat. Consider bringing an old towel or garden kneeling cushion to make sitting on the ground more comfortable.

All levels welcome, no yoga experience necessary.

Registration required; spots are limited.

This event is at NO COST to WLT members, and $10 per person for non-members, which Janice has generously pledged to donate to WLT.

Not a member and would like to be? CLICK HERE.

Wednesday Wonder Walk - Habitat Hunters
2026-04-22 10:00 - 11:15 | Champlin Farm Preserve, 64 boombridge Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
April’s theme is Habitat Hunters. Come walk, wonder, and grow with us for this years Earth Day celebration!

We are teaming up with our friends from WildRoots once a month for Wednesday Wonder Walks, a guided family hiking series curated to spark curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of nature. Our partnership blends playful discovery with embedded teaching, helping children build knowledge naturally as they explore. By connecting families to the land and encouraging stewardship, we hope to inspire the next generation to care for—and protect—the wild places around them.
Each session invites children and their families to slow down, look closely, and discover the magic of the natural world together. Every month features a new theme and a new Westerly Land Trust property, giving young explorers the chance to get to know their local environment in a meaningful and memorable way.
April’s theme is Habitat Hunters and will be held at Champlin Farm Preserve. For Earth Day, Habitat Hunters will set out on an outdoor adventure to search for the hidden homes of the creatures that share our landscape. With curious eyes and gentle footsteps, students will look for nests tucked in branches, burrows beneath roots, tracks crossing muddy paths, and cozy shelters made from leaves, bark, and stone. Along the way, they’ll uncover the clues animals leave behind and learn how each habitat provides food, safety, and space to grow. By exploring these sercret worlds, we will discover how every creature big or small, fits into the beautiful web of life we celebrate on Earth Day.

Programs are NO COST thanks to generous community support
Registration is required for all participants
An adult must accompany their child/children during program. This is a great way to adventure together!
Parking is available on sight.

About the Hosts
WildRoots Play is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a community where children and families can nurture connection, holistic development, and Earth stewardship through immersive experiences in nature and play.
The Westerly Land Trust (WLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to conserving open space, revitalizing neighborhoods, and building community in Westerly, Rhode Island. By preserving and managing lands like Barlow Nature Preserve, WLT provides opportunities for education, recreation, and engagement with the natural world.
WLT & WildRoots Wednesday Wonder Walks Schedule
– Wednesday, Dec 10- Terrific Trees (Wahaneeta Preserve)
– Wednesday, Jan 14- Feather Friends (Grills Preserve)
– Wednesday, Feb 18- Rhody Rocks (Glacier)
– Wednesday, March 11- Sprout Scouts (Barlow)
– Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!)- Habitat Hunters (Champlin)
– Wednesday, May 13- Eco Engineers (Mastuxet Brook South)
– Wednesday, June 17- Buds & Bugs (Avondale)

For the Love of Trees: An Arbor Day Celebration with Westerly Library and Wilcox Park
2026-04-24 10:00 - 12:30 | Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, Auditorium, 44 Broad Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Westerly Library and Wilcox Park joined by The Westerly Friends Meeting and The Westerly Land Trust that present an Arbor Day celebration featuring music and entertainment with Frank Pendola and John Roarke. Deirdre O’Connor of the Westerly Land Trust will describe the programs and events families can participate in. She will also speak about how the Westerly Land Trust is helping the tree canopy of Westerly. Poetry reading by Mark Diekmann. Arborist, Ashley Ravo, will share how to care for our trees.
Cookies provided by the Westerly Friends Meeting. Entertainment in the Auditorium from 10 am-12 pm followed by a ceremonial tree planting in Wilcox Park from 12 pm-12:30 pm.
Children ages 6-10 are encouraged to join in the fun.
Take a tree home and do your part to increase our tree canopy! Free tree saplings will be given away in the park.
Click Here to Sign Up

Please note:

Westerly Library & Wilcox Park staff often take photos and recordings during programs and events, which may be used in publicity and marketing. If you do not wish to have your photo used, please contact a Westerly Library & Wilcox Park staff member to let us know and we will make every effort to honor that request.

Wednesday Wonder Walk - Eco Engineers
2026-05-13 10:00 - 11:15 | Rotary Park Parking Lot, 91 Airport Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
May’s theme is Eco Engineers. Come walk, wonder, and grow with us.

We are teaming up with our friends from WildRoots once a month for Wednesday Wonder Walks, a guided family hiking series curated to spark curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of nature. Our partnership blends playful discovery with embedded teaching, helping children build knowledge naturally as they explore. By connecting families to the land and encouraging stewardship, we hope to inspire the next generation to care for—and protect—the wild places around them.
Each session invites children and their families to slow down, look closely, and discover the magic of the natural world together. Every month features a new theme and a new Westerly Land Trust property, giving young explorers the chance to get to know their local environment in a meaningful and memorable way.
May’s theme is Eco Engineers and will be held at Mastuxet Brook Greenway South (we will meet at Rotary Park, trail is behind the playground). Our adventure will begin with a hike to observe how water flows, ripples, and gathers to identify the best spots a beaver might choose for building a dam. Students will then have the opportunity to step into waders and climb into the water to construct their own mini dams using sticks, stones, mud, and other natural materials. Through hands-on problem-solving and playful experimentation, we will discover how animals use design to shape their habitats and why beavers are such incredible ecosystem engineers.

Programs are NO COST thanks to generous community support
Registration is required for all participants
An adult must accompany their child/children during program. This is a great way to adventure together!
Parking is available on sight.

About the Hosts
WildRoots Play is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a community where children and families can nurture connection, holistic development, and Earth stewardship through immersive experiences in nature and play.
The Westerly Land Trust (WLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to conserving open space, revitalizing neighborhoods, and building community in Westerly, Rhode Island. By preserving and managing lands like Barlow Nature Preserve, WLT provides opportunities for education, recreation, and engagement with the natural world.
WLT & WildRoots Wednesday Wonder Walks Schedule
– Wednesday, Dec 10- Terrific Trees (Wahaneeta Preserve)
– Wednesday, Jan 14- Feather Friends (Grills Preserve)
– Wednesday, Feb 18- Rhody Rocks (Glacier)
– Wednesday, March 11- Sprout Scouts (Barlow)
– Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!)- Habitat Hunters (Champlin)
– Wednesday, May 13- Eco Engineers (Mastuxet Brook South)
– Wednesday, June 17- Buds & Bugs (Avondale)

Wednesday Wonder Walk - Buds & Bugs
2026-06-17 10:00 - 11:15 | Avondale Farm Preserve, Quail Run, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
June’s theme is Buds & Bugs. Come walk, wonder, and grow with us.

We are teaming up with our friends from WildRoots once a month for Wednesday Wonder Walks, a guided family hiking series curated to spark curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of nature. Our partnership blends playful discovery with embedded teaching, helping children build knowledge naturally as they explore. By connecting families to the land and encouraging stewardship, we hope to inspire the next generation to care for—and protect—the wild places around them.
Each session invites children and their families to slow down, look closely, and discover the magic of the natural world together. Every month features a new theme and a new Westerly Land Trust property, giving young explorers the chance to get to know their local environment in a meaningful and memorable way.
May’s theme is Buds & Bugs and will be held at Avondale Farm Preserve. Come explore blooming meadows in search of the tiny creatures that keep our world buzzing. Equipped with bug vacuums, we will carefully catch, observe, and identify pollinators before gently releasing them back to their homes. Along the way, students discover how flowers and bugs work together, learn why pollinators are so important, and practice careful observation skills. This hands-on adventure turns every meadow walk into a chance to discover the hidden helpers that keep plants, and our planet, thriving.

Programs are NO COST thanks to generous community support
Registration is required for all participants
An adult must accompany their child/children during program. This is a great way to adventure together!
Parking is available on sight. We will meet at Quail Run parking lot.

About the Hosts
WildRoots Play is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a community where children and families can nurture connection, holistic development, and Earth stewardship through immersive experiences in nature and play.
The Westerly Land Trust (WLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to conserving open space, revitalizing neighborhoods, and building community in Westerly, Rhode Island. By preserving and managing lands like Barlow Nature Preserve, WLT provides opportunities for education, recreation, and engagement with the natural world.
WLT & WildRoots Wednesday Wonder Walks Schedule
– Wednesday, Dec 10- Terrific Trees (Wahaneeta Preserve)
– Wednesday, Jan 14- Feather Friends (Grills Preserve)
– Wednesday, Feb 18- Rhody Rocks (Glacier)
– Wednesday, March 11- Sprout Scouts (Barlow)
– Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!)- Habitat Hunters (Champlin)
– Wednesday, May 13- Eco Engineers (Mastuxet Brook South)
– Wednesday, June 17- Buds & Bugs (Avondale)

First Day of Farm Squad!
2026-06-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
When you sign up for Westerly Land Trust’s summer youth education program, Farm Squad, you are enrolling your student in a total of 10 programs!
Each Tuesday and Thursday for 5 weeks, we will gather at Barlow Nature Preserve (home to Frontier Farm, Echo Rock Flowers, and WLT’s pollinator and children’s garden), to explore the fascinating world of farming and the environment. Together, we’ll dive into hands-on topics like planting, pollinators, soil health, farm biodiversity, harvesting, composting, microgreens, and hydroponics.
But the adventure doesn’t stop there! We’ll get creative with nature-inspired art, stretch our legs on guided hikes, discover nature-themed stories and literature, and even taste our way through the farm for a full sensory experience.
Throughout the summer, we’ll also welcome local scientists, farmers, and environmental stewards who will share their inspiring work in our community, showcasing real-world environmental careers and sparking curiosity and inspiration in the next generation of changemakers.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: June 30 – July 30 (10 total programs) 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
NO COST

Thanks to generous community support, there’s no cost to participate. If you’d like to help keep WLT youth education programs free for all, please consider making a donation!

WHO CAN JOIN?

Farm Squad is open to ALL students ages 5-10, regardless of what school they attend, including homeschool students
Transportation to and from the program is required

REGISTRATION

Registration is required. Spots are limited.
By registering for this “event,” you are registering for all 10 programs.
Registration is live for WLT members on February 2.

WLT members get first dibs! Not a WLT member but would like to become one? CLICK HERE

Registration is live for EVERYONE on March 2
Up to 2 planned absentees, spots are limited.

CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up for Farm Squad!
Questions- please email Lauren Barber, lbarber@westerylandtrust.org or call 401-315-2610 x1.
