The NRPA Board of Directors meets each month to review NRPA programs, plan educational and fund-raising events and discuss issues affecting the watershed. Our October meeting is also our Annual Meeting.
The meetings are usually on the first Tuesday of the month (check the Event Calendar for any changes in the date and location).
We hope to offer a virtual option for meetings. Please email NRPA’s Administrative Coordinator, Shirley Freitag, at nrpa@narrowriver.org to request online access to the meeting.
The meetings are open to the public and you are welcome to attend. If you have a topic you would like to put on the agenda, please contact Veronica Berounsky, NRPA President or Shirley Freitag, NRPA’s Administrative Coordinator at nrpa@narrowriver.org.
Kate Venturini Hardesty, Educator and Program Administrator at the URI Cooperative Extension will present ‘Landscape Care with Climate Change Resilience in Mind‘ on Sunday, January 26 at 1pm at the Maury Loontjens Library in Narragansett, RI.
Join us for the January 2025 On Pettaquamscutt Presentation:
Sunday, January 26 1:00pm Landscape Care with Climate Change Resilience in Mind Kate Venturini Hardesty
Kate Venturini Hardesty, Educator and Program Administrator at the URI Cooperative Extension, is sponsored by the Friends of Canonchet Farm.
On Pettaquamscutt talks are presented at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett, 25 Pier Marketplace, Narragansett, starting at 1:00 p.m.
Participants can register here or at the calendar page of the library website to reserve a seat. Registration will open at the beginning of the month for each presentation.
Rebecca Kelly, Deputy Director and Curator at the South County Museum will present ‘Mending Matters, Historical Perspectives on Textiles and the Environment‘ on Sunday, February 23 at 1pm at the Maury Loontjens Library in Narragansett, RI.
February 23 Mending Matters, Historical Perspectives on Textiles and the Environment Rebecca Kelly
Rebecca Kelly is the Deputy Director and Curator at the South County Museum, which sponsors this talk.
On Pettaquamscutt talks are presented at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett, 25 Pier Marketplace, Narragansett, starting at 1:00 p.m.
Participants can register here or at the calendar page of the library website to reserve a seat. Registration will open at the beginning of the month for each presentation.
Dr. Blaine Hymel, Veterinarian at the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island will present ‘Environmental Toxin Exposure in Rhode Island Wildlife, A Veterinary View‘ on Sunday, March 30 at 1pm at Maury Loontjens Library in Narragansett, RI.
March 30 Environmental Toxin Exposure in Rhode Island Wildlife, A Veterinary View Dr. Blaine Hymel
Blaine Hymel, Veterinarian at the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island, is a graduate of the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine. She is sponsored by NRPA.
On Pettaquamscutt talks are presented at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett, 25 Pier Marketplace, Narragansett, starting at 1:00 p.m.
Participants can register here or at the calendar page of the library website to reserve a seat. Registration will open at the beginning of the month for each presentation.
Come explore what lives in Narrow River!
Photos by John McNamara
Join us Saturday, June 7, 2025
9-11am at Middlebridge Preserve, 95 Middlebridge Road, Narragansett, RI
This popular family science and exploration event is held annually on a Saturday morning in June and a Saturday morning in September at 95 Middlebridge Road, Narragansett.
Online registration will be available a few weeks prior to the event.
About What Lives in the River:
All ages are invited to join Narrow River Preservation Association for this hands-on exploration of fish, shellfish, crabs and other inhabitants of Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River. We will use nets large and small to catch river creatures and examine them in touch tanks and under microscopes. Experts and guide books will be on hand.
FREE and open to the public – FUN for all ages! Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All young children and youth should be supervised closely at all times.
Participants are welcome to get into the water, please dress appropriately. Because this is a natural environment, there are sharp objects in the water. Boots, sandals or shoes that can get wet are recommended. The gathering area is a field with grass and dirt surfaces. Wheelchairs are welcome.
Clinging jellies have been found in Narrow River. Click here to learn more about clinging jellyfish.
We will also host What Lives in the River on a Saturday in September 2025 from 9-11 at the same location (check back for details).
Annually in late June, Narrow River Preservation Association hosts a one mile open water swim in one of Rhode Island’s most scenic waterways.
2025 DETAILS:
When: Saturday, June 21, 2025, 9:00am (rain or shine)
Where: URI Boathouse – Flagg Rowing Center, 166 Walmsley Lane, North Kingstown, R.I.
Registration: Online or by mail. Online registration closes at 6pm the day before the swim. In person the morning of the swim will be available if space allows.
Entry Fee: Includes 2025 Turnaround Swim T-shirt. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Swim Sponsor: Includes swim registration, one year NRPA membership and name listed on the 2025 Turnaround Swim T-shirt.
Distance: One Mile (1/2 mile out and 1/2 mile back). Common start for wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions.
Check In: 7:45 to 8:40 a.m. No one will be admitted to the Turnaround Swim unless he or she has checked in and received a numbered swim cap by 8:40 a.m.
Maximum Time: Swimmers are given one hour to complete the swim.
Mandatory Safety Briefing: 8:55 a.m.
Safety: Because of the uncertainty of weather conditions such as fog or lightning, the lifeguards and event committee reserve the right to cancel the event to ensure the safety of the participants.
A WORD OF CAUTION! The Narrow River is home to Rhode island’s only substantial population of native oysters, but the edges of these wonderful oysters can be SHARP! We recommend protective footwear for the Turnaround Swim. Participation is at your own risk.
Curious about swimming in Narrow River? Check out this essay by swimmer and Narrow River enthusiast Veronica Berounsky!
Many people are inspired by the osprey featured on our osprey webcam.
Local artist Betsey MacDonald has generously shared some of her artwork with us!
If you have osprey artwork you would like to share, please email us at osprey@narrowriver.org.
Osprey by Betsey MacDonald
Osprey sketch in graphite by Betsey MacDonald
Betsey MacDonald Artist Bio and Statement
Local artist Betsey MacDonald
BIO: Betsey MacDonald lives in Clayville, RI with her husband, 3 rescue dogs, 3 horses and 2 barn cats. She has a BFA in Fine Arts and an MA in Studio Art. She also completed a pre-med program. Betsey taught high school chemistry and biology for 25 years and art for 10 years. She introduced and taught both AP Chemistry and AP Art at her high school. As an art teacher, Betsey was always inspired by the creativity of her students and strove to use and understand a variety of mediums to improve her teaching skills.
Betsey works in oil, watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, collage, and printmaking. She has illustrated 3 children’s books, including “Fishhawk”, a story about the Osprey. Betsey has designed posters for the United Nations, the Westport Harvest Festival and the Ocean State Marathon. She has had more than 25 solo exhibitions and has sold more than 500 paintings. . All of her paintings are inspired by nature and animals. She is a juried member of the American Academy of Equine Art and the Wickford Art Association, where she teaches drawing and painting. Her classes in Wickford and the Rhode Island Water Color Society always focus on the observation and depiction of nature. Her work has been included in many juried exhibits in which her paintings have won numerous awards. Recently a large osprey piece was chosen for a public exhibit in Wilson Park to illustrate conservation. Betsey is currently in the thinking stage about a book project illustrating the activity in the Narrow River Osprey nest for a chronological year.
STATEMENT: Being with animals makes me happy. I love spending time with my own dogs and horses and I love being in nature, hopefully seeing wild animals in their own habitats. One of my greatest teachers told me to paint what I love. So, that’s what I do. I paint animals and nature to better see and understand their complexities. Most recently, I’ve been painting animals in water to see how the motion of water changes the image into an abstract form and I’ve been painting portraits of people with the animals they love. These two new challenges have opened up a whole new world of painting and seeing. I’m excited to say that theThe Narrow River Osprey Cam has inspired my latest idea of a watercolor illustrated picture book depicting the Osprey activity for a whole year.
Come explore what lives in Narrow River!
Photos by John McNamara
Thank you to all who joined us on Saturday, June 1 to discover What lives in the River!
9-11am at Middlebridge Preserve, 95 Middlebridge Road, Narragansett, RI
This popular family science and exploration event is held annually on a Saturday morning in June and a Saturday morning in September at 95 Middlebridge Road, Narragansett.
About What Lives in the River:
All ages are invited to join Narrow River Preservation Association for this hands-on exploration of fish, shellfish, crabs and other inhabitants of Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River. We will use nets large and small to catch river creatures and examine them in touch tanks and under microscopes. Experts and guide books will be on hand.
FREE and open to the public- FUN for all ages! Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All young children and youth should be supervised closely at all times.
Participants are welcome to get into the water, please dress appropriately. Because this is a natural environment, there are sharp objects in the water. Boots, sandals or shoes that can get wet are recommended. The gathering area is a field with grass and dirt surfaces. Wheelchairs are welcome.
Clinging jellies have been found in Narrow River. Click here to learn more about clinging jellyfish.
We will also host What Lives in the River on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 9-11 at the same location (rain date September 22). Read more about that event here.
Thanks to all who joined up in June 2023 for What Lives in the River.
Here is a list of what was discovered living in the Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River at our event!
Annually in late June, Narrow River Preservation Association hosts a one mile open water swim in one of Rhode Island’s most scenic waterways.
2024 DETAILS:
When: Saturday, June 22, 2024, 9:00am (rain or shine)
Where: URI Boathouse – Flagg Rowing Center, 166 Walmsley Lane, North Kingstown, R.I.
Registration: Online or by mail. Online registration closes at 6pm the day before the swim. In person the morning of the swim will be available if space allows.
Entry Fee: $40 through June 14; $45 on or after June 14 and the day of the swim. Includes 2024 Turnaround Swim T-shirt (size guaranteed for registrations by 5/26). Entry fees are non-refundable.
Swim Sponsor: $70 (includes swim registration, one year NRPA membership and name listed on the 2024 Turnaround Swim T-shirt), $75 after June 14 and on day of swim.T-shirt size and printing of Sponsor’s name on t-shirt not guaranteed after May 26.
Distance: One Mile (1/2 mile out and 1/2 mile back). Common start for wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions.
Check In: 7:45 to 8:40 a.m. No one will be admitted to the Turnaround Swim unless he or she has checked in and received a numbered swim cap by 8:40 a.m.
Maximum Time: Swimmers are given one hour to complete the swim.
Mandatory Safety Briefing: 8:55 a.m.
Safety: Because of the uncertainty of weather conditions such as fog or lightning, the lifeguards and event committee reserve the right to cancel the event to ensure the safety of the participants.
A WORD OF CAUTION! The Narrow River is home to Rhode island’s only substantial population of native oysters, but the edges of these wonderful oysters can be SHARP! We recommend protective footwear for the Turnaround Swim. Participation is at your own risk.
Curious about swimming in Narrow River? Check out this essay by swimmer and Narrow River enthusiast Veronica Berounsky!
Participants of the 2023 Narrow River Turnaround Swim begin the one-mile race organized by the Narrow River Preservation Association. Photo by Michael Derr.Eric Nilsson was the first finisher of the 2023 Narrow River Turnaround Swim, which was organized by the Narrow River Preservation Association. Photo by Michael Derr.Abby Bauman was the first female finisher of the 2023 Narrow River Turnaround Swim, which was organized by the Narrow River Preservation Association. Photo by Michael Derr.
Thanks to all who participated in the 2024 Pier Plunge on New Years Day at Noon at the North Pavilion of Narragansett Town Beach.
We are proud to announce that the Narragansett Lions Club has chose to donate all 2024 Pier Plunge proceeds to NRPA. The Pier Plunge is an annual event hosted by the Narragansett Lions Club since 2007. Some years have seen over 2000 participants!
A guiding global cause of the Lions Club International is “to sustainably protect and restore our environment to improve the well-being of all communities”. By choosing NRPA as the recipient of the proceeds from the 2024 Pier Plunge, they are recognizing NRPA for our 53 years of dedication to our mission” “to preserve, protect and restore the environment and the quality of life for all communities within the Narrow River (Pettaquamscutt Estuary) and Watershed“.
