The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is hosting a series of events throughout February school vacation week to encourage families to get outdoors and explore Rhode Island. The forecast looks terrific with plenty of sunshine and temperatures reaching into the 60s.
Scheduled events include:
Thursday, February 23:
John H. Chafee Nature Preserve at Rome Point, North Kingstown at 1:00 p.m.: DEM’s Division of Parks and Recreation will host a walk at the 230-acre nature preserve which is home to a variety of wildlife, beachfront, and hiking trails. Participants will learn about the different plant and tree species within the preserve and view the seals hauled out on the rocks just offshore. Warm clothing, sturdy shoes, and binoculars/cameras are recommended. The guided walk will depart from the parking area on Boston Neck Road. Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early. Rain date is Friday, February 24.
Saturday, February 25:
Beavertail State Park, Jamestown from 9-11 a.m.: DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will host a birding workshop on sea duck identification. Participants will learn to identify the various species of sea ducks that call Narragansett Bay home during the winter. Binoculars and field guides are suggested; participants may also download the Merlin app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology prior to the workshop. Registration is recommended. Participants should assemble in the parking area to the right of the main drive just before the lighthouse.
Rhode Island is well known for its outstanding network of historic parks, beaches, bikeways, and other recreational areas, including more than 400 miles of hiking trails. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation in Rhode Island generates $2.4 billion in consumer spending and supports 24,000 local jobs. Last year, Governor Gina Raimondo tasked the Rhode Island Outdoor Recreation Council with advancing an actionable vision for growing and managing the state’s recreational system and promoting public health. In its Final Report, the Council cited the wealth of recreational opportunities available and the need to better support and promote them. For more information on outdoor recreation in Rhode Island visit www.riparks.com.
Rhode Island’s small game hunting season is now open. All users of state management areas, and all hunters statewide, are reminded to wear at least 200 square inches of solid daylight-fluorescent orange material through the end of the season, February 28. The fluorescent orange has to be worn above the waist and must be visible from all directions.
For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here