The Westerly Land Trust

Is a River Alive Book Club
2026-04-22 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Riverwood Preserve, 5 Boy Scout Drive, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
In partnership with Westerly Library & Wilcox Park and in celebration of Earth Day, please join us to discuss the book “Is a River Alive?”.

In partnership with Westerly Library & Wilcox Park, and in celebration of Earth Day, join us for a discussion of Robert Macfarlane’s book Is A River Alive?
The Library has generously donated copies of the book for the first 10 participants. If you’re interested in a copy, please email Erika at elebling@westerlylandtrust.org. You can also check out a copy through the consortium with your library card.
For the day of the event, come prepared to discuss the book, then we’ll all go for a hike through the woods of Riverwood Preserve.
Things to Know

This event is NO COST
Not a WLT member yet, but would like to be? CLICK HERE.
Outhouses are located at the trailhead

Contact Erika with any questions — elebling@westerlylandtrust.org

Thursday Hike - Champlin Farm Preserve
2026-04-23 10:00 - 11:30 | Champlin Farm Preserve, 64 boombridge Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join us for part of our Earth Week celebration! All week (April 18 – 26), WLT will be offering events to celebrate, take care of, and connect with our Earth. Check out our Calendar of Events to see what else is happening during Earth Week.
This walk is at Champlin Preserve at 64 Boombridge Road in Westerly. The entrance is just north of a swamp area on the west side of Boombridge Road. Take the dirt road up the hill to the parking at the top of the hill. The walk is through the woods, past a granite outcropping, along the Pawcatuck River, and past the gravel pit. It is moderate walking on new trails.
Leader: David Prigmore Phone: 401 348-2855 Email: d.bprigmore@gmail.com
Click here to view the full Thursday Hike schedule!

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.

Clean-Up Crews & Brews 2026
2026-04-26 11:30 - 14:00 | 14 Canal St, 14 Canal Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Help us clean-up our community and then celebrate with a tasty pint at Grey Sail Brewing Company of RI.

Join us for this Earth Day-inspired trash pick-up in and around WLT properties, then head to Grey Sail Brewing Company of Rhode Island for a post-clean-up brew. Everyone who participates in the clean-up will receive a token to be used at Grey Sail for 1 FREE alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage as a thank you for volunteering to help keep our environment clean and safe.
Many thanks to Grey Sail Brewing Company of Rhode Island for hosting our clean-up crews! Vetrano’s Wood Fired Pizza will be open for purchase.
Things to Know

Registration is required to help us determine how many preserves we will be able to tackle with our crews!
We will all meet in the parking lot at 14 Canal Street, then disperse into our cleanup crews from there.
We recommend comfy shoes, and you may consider wearing long sleeves.
Please bring gloves, buckets, and trash pickers if you have them– we’ll share what we have.
Wear solid daylight fluorescent orange above the waist and visible in all directions – we will bring some extra vests if needed

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)

42nd Annual Garden Market Fair
2026-05-17 09:00 - 14:00 | westerly library and wilcox park, 44 Broad Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Please join Westerly Library and Wilcox Park for their 42nd Annual Garden Market Fair! Make sure to stop by Westerly Land Trust’s table to say hi and learn more about us!
Wander through Wilcox Park to find everything from annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, organic vegetables, herbs, and accessories for purchase as well as tables with community nonprofit organizations, food, and music with The Westerly Band. Don’t forget to visit with the alpacas!
For inquiries or vendor opportunities, please contact Park Superintendent Alan Peck at x334 or apeck@westerlylibrary.org.
Please see below for an up-to-date list of participating vendors and community organizations!
Plant and Nature:

Berry Island Dahlias
Berry Island Soap Company
Earth Essence Herbals
Growing Hope Farm
Hallene Farm

Nonprofits:

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
Literacy Volunteers of Washington County
RI Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) – Composting & vermicomposting
The Westerly Band
Westerly Land Trust
Westerly Village-The Village Common RI

Food:

Westerly High School Culinary Team

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 staff member to let us know and we will make every effort to honor that request.

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.

WTAC Grills Trail Race 10K and 10M
2026-10-24 08:00 - 17:00 | Grills Preserve, 198 Bowling Lane, Westerly, RI, 02808, United States
Presented by Westerly Track & Athletic Club, with a special thank-you to the Westerly and Hopkinton Land Trust for allowing us to host on their properties.
Location: Grills Preserve, 198 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI
Start times:
9:00am: Check-in and bib pick-up opens
10:00am: 10M and 10K races start
Race cut-off time: Out of respect for volunteers’ time, our cutoff for the 10-mile course is 2 hours 30 minutes (15 minute/mile pace). Beyond this time, we do not have a guarantee of support, recording a finishing time, food, etc. If you have not reached the half-way water stop by 11:30am, we ask that you turn around and follow the dirt road road back one mile to the start.
Walkers are welcome at all of our events; HOWEVER, in consideration of our volunteers’ time, we respectfully ask walkers to choose the shorter 10K course.
Race format: Mass simultaneous start for both 10-Mile and 10K start. Course split at 1-mile. Not providing race shirts will keep our costs (and yours) lower. We will use our own timing instead of professional chip timing. This will keep the race logistics easier and less expensive, and accordingly, your entry fees will also be LOW!
Location: Both courses start and finish at Grills Preserve, Westerly.
Course Description: Both courses showcase Grills Preserve in Westerly, and the 10-Mile course also features beautiful trails, bridges, and riverfront in the Grills Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton. The course is a mix of about 80% single-track and 20% double-track.
Requirement: Each participant and volunteer must wear at least 200 square inches of orange. Anyone not wearing orange will not be allowed to race per State of RI DEM mandate.
Entry fees:
– Early registration (up to Oct 4): $23 adults, $18 age 18 and under
– Regular registration (Oct 5 – 23): $30 adults, $25 age 18 and under
– Race day registration (Oct 24): $35 adults, $30 age 18 and under
$5 discount to all WTAC members; $2 to all Mohegan Striders
Awards:
Awards to overall M/F finishers, plus top 1 in each M/F age group:
19 and under, 20-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
Note awards will be low cost and more of a fun nature.
Food (including pizza truck) and refreshments are served post-race for participants. Strollers and dogs prohibited on the course.
For more info, contact info@westerlytrackclub.org or (401) 447-1879 .
