The Westerly Land Trust

Summer Solstice Yoga on the Farm- BarreCoast
2023-06-21 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 117 Shore Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States, 117 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join us for a Summer Solstice Yoga class, led by Krystal Rose, to celebrate and connect with the energy of the summer solstice.
Bring your yoga mat, another mat or sheet/blanket to place underneath and a bottle of water.
HOW TO REGISTER
Enroll Online at barrecoast.com or contact the studio.
WLT MEMBER DISCOUNTS
WLT members please contact Erika Lebling at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10!
Not-yet a WLT member but would like to be?
To become a member today please CLICK HERE.

Voices of the Land: Protecting our Freshwater Turtles
2023-06-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join in on the discussion with Dr. Kevin Aviles who will share his research that aids in developing new methods to conserve turtle species.

Turtle species are declining across the globe due to humans and urbanization. More than 50% of turtles are considered at risk for extinction. By far the largest impacts are the illegal harvesting of turtles by humans, habitat loss, and climate change. Dr. Kevin Aviles and his teams project will monitor freshwater turtle communities in New England across urban wetlands and protected wetlands within conservation lands. Through this extensive monitoring, they hope to answer the following questions: (1) Are turtle communities in New England experiencing declines in population size and diversity? and (2) How do urbanization and human activity affect turtle species?
At this discussion Dr. Kevin will share the preliminary findings of their pilot project which was conducted last summer across 25 wetlands in Rhode Island and Connecticut. They have reported finding some patterns that suggest a shift in the sex ratio of turtles within urban wetlands. However, turtle body size and body condition appear to be similar across the wetlands sampled. By continuing this work, Dr. Kevin hopes to provide early detection of turtle decline in New England. Learn more by registering to attend today!

This event is located at Barlow Nature Preserve.
Parking is available in the main parking lot, with overflow parking in the field behind the outbuildings to the east (up the farm road).
Registration is required.

Discussion is open to WLT members. Our members donate annually. Not a member and would like to be? Become a member today and click HERE.
T﻿o learn more about Dr. Kevin Aviles click here.

Voices of the Land: Echo Rock Flower Farming
2023-07-13 17:00 - 18:30 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join Stephanie Bennett, owner/operator of Echo Rock Flowers, for a walking tour of her operation at the Barlow Preserve.

Walk amongst the blooms as Stephanie shares some of the methods used in growing for cut-flower production. Get an up close look at techniques used for weed suppression, crop support, irrigation, pest management, and building soil health. See where your local flowers come from!
*Please note, this is a working farm so guests are required to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and be prepared to walk on uneven ground.

This event is located at Barlow Nature Preserve.
Parking is available in the main parking lot, with overflow parking in the field behind the outbuildings to the east (up the farm road).
Registration is required.

Discussion is open to WLT members. Our members donate annually. Not a member and would like to be? Become a member today and click HERE.
To learn more about Stephanie and her Echo Rock Flower Farm click here.

Outdoor Boot Camp- BarreCoast
2023-07-15 08:00 - 09:00 | RI
Join us for an outdoor bootcamp, led by Sarah Rocketto, at Winnapaug Farm Preserve.
HOW TO REGISTER
Enroll Online at barrecoast.com or contact the studio.
WLT MEMBER DISCOUNTS
WLT members please contact Erika Lebling at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10!
Not-yet a WLT member but would like to be?
To become a member today please CLICK HERE.

Outdoor Boot Camp- BarreCoast
2023-07-15 08:00 - 09:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 117 Shore Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States, 117 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States

Outdoor Boot Camp- BarreCoast
2023-07-15 08:00 - 09:00 | Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 117 Shore Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States, 117 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join us for an outdoor bootcamp, led by Sarah Rocketto, at Winnapaug Farm Preserve.
HOW TO REGISTER
Enroll Online at barrecoast.com or contact the studio.
WLT MEMBER DISCOUNTS
WLT members please contact Jennifer Fusco at jfusco@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10!
Not-yet a WLT member but would like to be?
To become a member today please CLICK HERE.

Kayak, Yoga, Float & Flow
2023-07-19 17:00 - 19:30 | 197 Potter Hill Rd, 197 Potter Hill Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Start your adventure with a guided yoga session at WLT’s Flora Whiteley Preserve to warm up for a beautiful paddle on the Pawcatuck River.

Certified yoga teacher, Janice Fifer, will guide us through Sun Salutations with a focus in hip and shoulder openers to prepare for a paddle up the Pawcatuck River. We will stop along the way for more yoga, a short meditation and ride the rivers gentle current back to the put in point. The evening will end with relaxation and a closing circle. This is a moderate paddle for experienced kayakers, with the emphasis on relaxing and enjoying nature.
What to bring: BYO Kayak, Paddle, Life Jacket, Yoga Mat, Large Towel (to put under your yoga mat), Water, Bug Repellent. Be aware that your shoes will get wet and muddy.
Please note: Rhode Island State Regulations require that everyone, regardless of age, MUST wear a US Coast Guard approved life jacket, fastened in the manner the manufacturer intended.
This event is FREE for members, and $10 per person for not-yet members. Not a member and would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration required, spots are limited.

Mini BioBlitz
2023-08-05 16:00 - 20:00 | 13-29 Christian Hill Rd, 13-29 Christian Hill Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Calling all curious humans! Let’s get out there and find all the life that surrounds us, both small and large.

A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many living species as possible. From fungi to trees, mammals to insects and everything in between, we will try to catch ‘em all, this time at WLT’s newest property, the Cottrell Family Preserve. This is a great opportunity to explore a new property and help WLT build our baseline data for these 21 acres along the Pawcatuck River filled with mountain laurel, a small meadow, wetlands, exposed ledge and riparian habitat.
This is a FREE, all-ages, all-abilities and family-friendly event – it doesn’t matter if you are an expert naturalist or have never stepped into the woods before. The event will be from 4pm to 8pm, but participants can arrive or leave any time they would like to.
There will be snacks and refreshments and a whole bunch of adventure! And thanks to our friends at the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, we will have canoes and kayaks to explore the river on!
There are some great tools out there besides field guides and experts that can help you identify all kinds of different species of plants and animals out there. Be sure to download apps like iNaturalist or Seek from the App Store. Play around with them and be sure to show up with a full battery! Click here to join the Cottrell Mini Bioblitz iNaturalist Project.
Any questions? Email Marc Doherty at mdoherty@westerlylandtrust.org

Ceremonial Stonework: The Enduring Native American Presence on the Land
2023-08-08 17:30 - 19:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This discussion is part of the WLT Voices of the Land series featuring Markham Starr. You won’t want miss it!

This slideshow takes the audience on an extended walk through the woods to see the ceremonial stonework left behind by the indigenous population that occupied New England for over 12,000 years. Native Americans built nearly two dozen distinct types of structures in our area, ranging from cairns to stone serpent effigies, and these spiritual offerings remain standing in our long abandoned woods. While Native American stonework is widely recognized in other parts of the country, New England’s stonework remains obscure, having blended back into the woods. This slideshow, from the book by the same name, comes from photographs of over 8000 objects and ceremonial sites in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Slideshow by Markham Starr, a documentary photographer living in Connecticut.

This event is located at Barlow Nature Preserve.
Parking is available in the main parking lot, with overflow parking in the field behind the outbuildings to the east (up the farm road).
Registration is required.

Discussion is open to WLT members. Our members donate annually. Not a member and would like to be? Become a member today and click HERE.

Living Laboratories: Wild Westerly- Flying Squirrels (Grade K-2)
2023-08-10 09:30 - 11:30 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This program is open to students in grades K – 2 that attend a Westerly Public Elementary School.

Join Westerly Land Trust outdoor educators for an 8-week hands on adventure to explore the great outdoors. Step into the boots of a new scientist or steward each Thursday to discover the weird and wild plants, animals and phenomena that make Westerly our beautiful home.
Thursdays: June 22 – August 10 (8 total programs)
9:30- 11:30 at Barlow Nature Preserve
Upcoming Programs
August 10: Scales, Shells, & Slime
– All participants must attend one of the following schools (Dunn’s Corners, Springbrook, or State Street).
– Program is FREE thanks to a partnership with Westerly Public Schools.
– Transportation to and from program is required.
– Please use the student name when registering.
– Spots are limited.
Any questions, please email Lauren Barber, lbarber@westerylandtrust.org or call 401-315-2610 x1.

Living Laboratories: Wild Westerly- Soaring Hawks (Grade 3-4)
2023-08-10 12:00 - 14:00 | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This program is open to students in grades 3-4 that attend a Westerly Public Elementary School.

Join Westerly Land Trust outdoor educators for an 8-week hands on adventure to explore the great outdoors. Step into the boots of a new scientist or steward each Thursday to discover the weird and wild plants, animals and phenomena that make Westerly our beautiful home. Grades 3 – 4 will use more advanced technology and techniques to make their discoveries.
Thursdays: June 22 – August 10 (8 total programs)
9:30- 11:30 at Barlow Nature Preserve
Upcoming Programs
August 3: Wacky Weather
August 10: Scales, Shells, & Slime
– All participants must attend one of the following schools (Dunn’s Corners, Springbrook, or State Street).
– Program is FREE thanks to a partnership with Westerly Public Schools.
– Transportation to and from program is required.
– Please use the student name when registering.
– Spots are limited.
Any questions, please email Lauren Barber, lbarber@westerylandtrust.org or call 401-315-2610 x1.
