Explore the Great Outdoors for a Good Cause

If you're looking for fun, interactive ways to get involved in your community this summer, then Rhode Island's Land Trust Days are perfect for you. Throughout August and September, many of our state's land trusts will be hosting a range of events, from nature walks to scavenger hunts, farm tours and more. The Land Trust Days are being hosted by the Rhode Island Land Trust Council, an organization which works to preserve and protect some of Rhode Island's greatest natural beauties, including farmland, shore lines, historic sites, forests and more.

The Rhode Island Land Trust Council was established in 1999, and includes 47 land trusts throughout the state, preserving all types of community-loved space – everywhere from the heart of Providence to the scenic landscapes of southern Rhode Island. On August 1, Governor Chafee and Mayor Taveras will be kicking off the Land Trust Days at Southside Community Land Trust. SCLT is a farm and community garden in Providence that provides the residents of the city with beautiful green-space in an otherwise urban area, and grows fresh fruits and vegetables, giving the nearby citizens and easy opportunity to make healthy choices.

This first event will include a guided walking tour of Providence's urban agriculture, as well as a kickoff celebration. The tour of Southside Community Land Trust will be followed up on August 3 by a morning bird walk at Goosewing Beach in Little Compton. If there were ever a good reason to be awake and outdoors at 8:30am on a Saturday, this beautiful walking tour of one of Rhode Island's most beautiful landscapes accompanied by an array of wildlife is it.

Of course, if you can't make it to either of these events, they will be followed by over 30 more events in the month of August, and over 20 events in September. If you attend four or more, you can be entered in a drawing for prizes and the person who attends the most events will receive a grand prize.

One can't-miss event is on September 21 when the Land Trust Council will be celebrating the coming of fall with its biggest, most eventful Land Trust Day. Festivities will start at 7am and continue throughout the day with the last beginning at 9pm.
What better – and more Rhode Island – way is there to welcome fall than with a Johnny Cake Treasure Hunt taking place at Crawley Preserve, or bird watching at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol? But of course, this is about more than just celebrating the seasons or winning prizes. It's about getting out and supporting the work that the Rhode Island Land Trust Council is doing to preserve our state's natural beauty. Show them that they truly are doing good for the community by celebrating Land Trust Days and making good use of Rhode Island's natural beauty.