Author: nrpa@narrowriver.org

What Lives in the River video

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Because COVID-19 is preventing us from coming together in person to learn What Lives in the River, join us virtually! Join NRPA board members Veronica Berounsky, Erin Chille, and Sally Sutherland, along with Jake Pietrzak explore What Lives in the River!

Our September 2020 What Lives in the River event has been cancelled. The Salt Marsh Walk hosted by Narrow River Land Trust is limited to 10 participants and is now full.

Many thanks to Erin Chille for creating and producing the video!

Filmed at Middlebridge Marina, Narragansett, RI

You can learn more about What Lives in the River here: https://narrowriver.org/whatlivesinriver/

NRPA & Tomaquag Museum Collaboration

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In 2019, NRPA and Tomaquag Museum began a collaboration to connect Indigenous people with the work of preserving the Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River.

The Mission of the Tomaquag Museum is to Educate the Public and Promote Thoughtful Dialogue Regarding Indigenous History, Culture, Arts, Mother Earth and Connections to Native Issues of Today.  Deeply connected to the environment, Indigenous people have a long history and enduring connection to the environment. NRPA seeks to include this rich history in our accounts and to include the voices of Indigenous people in our work today and in the future.

In 2019, the New England Grassroots Fund provided a grant for Lorén Spears, Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum to lead a kayak tour on Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River. A transcript of her remarks during that tour can be read here. The grant also financed Lorén Spears leading an Indigenous art activity at Art on the River. Young and old alike enjoyed making corn husk dolls and learning about this traditional craft.

Recently, the New England Grassroots Fund included NRPA and Tomaquag Museum in their Community Stories series. Enjoy!

Click the image to hear the community story.

In 2020, The Rhode Island Foundation has provided a grant to again host an Indigenous Art activity at Art on the River. All are welcome to join us! Click here for more information about Art on the River.

The collaboration between NRPA and Tomaquag Museum has been made possible, in part, by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

This project has been made possible in part by a Rhode Island Foundation Community Grant.

NRPA’s 51 for 51 virtual event

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NRPA’s 50th Anniversary T shirt. We are currently working on a fresh design for 2021- check back soon!

Our 51 for 51 Challenge:
Do 51 minutes of activity in honor of NRPA’s 51st Anniversary!

Why: We can’t gather together yet, but you can still celebrate Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River in your own way!

Registration will open on Wednesday June 30th, 2021

When: Any time

Where: Any place worldwide

What: Any activity you like (get creative!)

Registration Fee: $45 through August 31

T shirt: All registrants receive a limited edition NRPA 51 for 51 T-shirt. Ladies’ fit T-shirt will also be available.

Margaret swam to honor NRPA’s 50th Anniversary!

HOW IT WORKS: 

Step 1: Beginning June 30th, register online or by email to nrpa@narrowriver.org

Step 2: Do 51 minutes of human-powered activity at any one time and location that is convenient and safe for you. 

Step 3 (optional): Post a photo on social media with hashtag #NRPA51for51 or email a photo to us at nrpa@narrowriver.org. We plan to have T-shirts ready for shipment by mid-July, so those of you who register early can wear your NRPA 51 for 51 T-shirt in the photo if you’d like 😉

Step 4: Feel great about supporting NRPA’s many educational and preservation programs!

Narrow River Preservation Association has been protecting, preserving and restoring Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River and its Watershed since 1970.

Your registration enables us to continue our preservation efforts as we persevere through the pandemic.

2020 Pettaquamscutt Paddle

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Thanks to all who joined us on on Friday, July 17, 2020 for the 13th Annual Pettaquamscutt Paddle.

Hosted by Narrow River Kayaks for the benefit of Narrow River Preservation Association

Please join us for the modified version of this awesome paddle event fundraiser for Narrow River Preservation Association.  Help us support this wonderful non-profit organization celebrating its 50th Anniversary while raising awareness and fostering stewardship of one of our most precious local natural resources!

Special thanks to Narrow River Kayaks for sponsoring this wonderful fundraiser for NRPA. 

Osprey Education Program

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Osprey Education Program

One of NRPA’s best-loved programs is our osprey education program for local fourth graders. We visit local schools and provide a presentation (including video and live cams) about osprey in late March or early April as the osprey are returning from their annual migration. Teachers often build upon our presentation with activities and exercises that reinforce the concepts we bring to the classroom.

2020 has been a unique year as schools were closed due to COVID 19. We made several online presentations and hope that the resources below will enable teachers, parents and others to bring lessons to students everywhere.

Suggested Lesson Plan – Teacher Notes

Background

The following exercise is based loosely on the Rhode Island Osprey Monitoring Program which began in 1977 with the goal of observing the recovery of the state Osprey population. The widespread use of the pesticide DDT, which was banned in the early 1970s, took a major toll on osprey populations by causing very weak eggshells which easily broke during incubation. Since that time, the osprey population has staged a dramatic comeback.   Today, the RI Osprey Monitoring Program is coordinated by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island with nearly 100 volunteer observers which are assigned a nest to monitor in the field and report findings back to Audubon. More information on this program can be found at http://riosprey.info/.  

Aims & Objectives

  1. Students will use a real life example to practice several fundamental science skills.
    • a. Gathering data
    • b. Recording data in a systematic manner
    • c. Summarize findings in a brief report
    • d. In a classroom setting students can compare and contrast their observations with others.  
  2. Observe osprey behavior over multiple viewing sessions (for a minimum of 15 minimum per session) using the NRPA Osprey webcam found here.  
  3. Student scientists complete a separate observation form (which can be filled out on a computer) found here.  
  4. The number of sessions can vary but a minimum of four separate viewing sessions spaced over a four week period is recommended. The greater number of viewing sessions and spacing between them will increase the number of different behaviors observed.  
  5. (Optional) Students prepare a brief report following scientific principles including an introduction, methods, results and conclusion.  
  6. (Optional) Teachers may wish to have students also submit a screenshot of the nest with each observation form as the date and time stamp in the upper left of the image will support their observations.  
  7. Any student that completes at least four forms (a minimum of 15 minutes of observation per form) and submits them to the Narrow River Preservation Association at osprey@narrowriver.org will receive a printable certificate (example found here) to recognize your participation as a student scientist in our osprey education and monitoring program.  

Additional Enrichment Activities

  • write a piece of fiction about osprey
  • write a non-fiction compare and contrast essay comparing osprey to another bird
  • create an art project featuring the osprey, the nest or any other feature in the webcam scene
  • make a poster for younger students all about osprey
  • make your own activity sheet about osprey including fun games for other students like this one

Resources for information about osprey and all kinds of birds:

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Narrow River Preservation Association’s Osprey Education Program

In 2017, we enhanced our program by acquiring an osprey mount of our own – a young female. We affectionately named our mount “Pette”, short for the Indigenous name of Narrow River: Pettaquamscutt. We find that people are fascinated by her and it really sparks interest in osprey. You can see Pette at many of our public events.

When teaching about osprey, we incorporate concepts of ecology, preservation, stewardship and conservation. Osprey are an environmental cautionary tale and success story. After the widespread use of DDT in the 1950s and 1960s, the osprey population declined to near extinction. Since DDT was banned in 1972, osprey have recovered. In 2015, the Rhode Island Audubon Society monitored 156 active nests in Rhode Island.

Sharing this story with students educates them about human impact on the environment and encourages them to be responsible stewards of the environment. This year we expanded our program and have reached more than 300 local fourth graders. Importantly, our presentation is free of charge. 

In March 2019, in partnership with Narrow River Land Trust, NRPA installed an osprey nest platform on a protected preserve along Narrow River. The nest attracted a young pair of osprey who are likely to return to the nest for many years to come. 

To engage the public, especially local youth, we installed a web cam on the platform to provide a 24 hour live video stream of the osprey nest on NRPA’s website. You can see it here.

The live video stream offers a tremendous resource for both teachers and students to follow the osprey’s summer life cycle and daily interactions with the environment. Throughout the year, the web cam will capture a compelling and ever changing view of the Narrow River landscape. The live video is free of charge to anyone who wishes to watch the birds and views of the river.

Art on the River 2020

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**Out of an abundance of caution. we have cancelled this year’s Art on the River event. We invite you to create art near or about the river and send us your photos! Photos can be emailed to nrpa@narrowriver.org. Stay well!**

One Saturday morning each August, Narrow River Preservation Association welcomes artists of all ages and skill levels welcome to create art along Narrow River.

Local artists will give instruction in drawing and painting scenes of the Middlebridge area. Bring your easel or sketch pad. Sketch your version of an expansive landscape view or crouch down and capture a still life view of oysters on the fringe of the salt marsh. “Plein air” (open air) painters will demonstrate their techniques.

Photographers are welcome to capture the sights with camera, iphone or ipad.

Children are welcome! We will provide guided activities including seaweed art and fish prints. Bring a T shirt if you would like to make a fish print onto it!

At Middlebridge Marina, 95 Middlebridge Road, Narragansett, RI.

FREE and open to the public. All are welcome!

Thanks also to the GFWC Women’s Club of South County for supporting our partnership with the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale.

Narrow River Turnaround Swim

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Unfortunately, we have decided to cancel the 2020 Narrow River Turnaround Swim.

We considered ways to adapt the swim to comply with social distancing guidelines, but ultimately we could not find a way to hold the swim in a way that would be completely safe for our swimmers and volunteers.

Please stay tuned – we are considering sponsoring a virtual event that would encourage enjoyment of the outdoors while socially distancing and would raise funds for Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA). We hope to have plans finalized by early June and will email you with details.

For folks who are registered for the swim, we’ll offer three options:

1) a full refund of your registration fee,

2) the opportunity to donate your registration fee to (NRPA), or

3) if we schedule a virtual event, you may transfer your registration to that event (and receive a Tshirt!)

If you would like a refund of your swim registration fee now, please email nrpa@narrowriver.org and we will be glad to process that as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support of Narrow River Preservation Association! Stay well, NRPA

Annually in late June, Narrow River Preservation Association hosts a one mile open water swim in one of Rhode Island’s most scenic waterways.

Please join us in June 2021 for the Narrow River Turnaround Swim.

DETAILS:

Where: URI Boathouse – Campanella Rowing Center, 166 Walmsley Lane, North Kingstown, R.I.

Distance: One Mile (1/2 mile out and 1/2 mile back). Common start for wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions.

Limit: 150 participants.

Entry Fee: $35 preregistration; $40 the day of the swim. The first 125 entrants receive a Narrow River Turnaround Swim T-shirt.

Timing: Ankle chip timing by Timing Plus New England.

Awards: Four awards: best times for male and female swimmers in 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.

Swim Sponsors: For an additional $20, become a member of NRPA and have your name printed on the Swim T-shirt to show your support for Narrow River.

Please note that the swim area is a natural environment, so be aware of the presence of objects that may be sharp.
Protective footwear is strongly encouraged.

The Pettaquamscutt Estuary: The Narrow River Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Barry Devine

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We offer two editions of this phenomenal book about all things Narrow River:

$40 ($30 for NRPA Members) STANDARD EDITION – Full color book containing 155 photos, 15 full color maps and tons of wonderful information. ($4.65 shipping charge for each book.)

$100 SPECIAL EDITION – Signed by the author and with an embossed seal, this Special Edition comes with a full color 11″ x 17″ map of the Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River. Full color book containing 155 photos, 15 full color maps and tons of wonderful information. Purchasing this Special Edition supports Narrow River Preservation Association’s many initiatives and activities.

Please order now! Use the order form below to order online with paypal or credit card.

Click here for a printable order form to send in with a check.

“The Pettaquamscutt Estuary is a unique place in the world and one of the last great places in Rhode Island. A diverse landscape and rich productive seascape physically linked to Narragansett Bay, it is an ecological gem, a living necklace stretching ten miles from headwaters to inlet. With six distinct and connected environments and a rich natural and cultural history, the watershed and estuary are a special place. This book tries to capture that place; yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

Barry Devine is a biologist and cartographer who has worked in the Caribbean, Florida and the Northeast. He is the author of the field guide “Island Peak to Coral Reef”, about the Virgin Islands and two fictional novels. He was an early member of the Board of Narrow River Preservation Association and organized the first Narrow River Run in 1988.

The Pettaquamscutt Estuary: The Narrow River Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Barry Devine is a book primarily about the river environment through time. Historical documents, articles, eighteen informative maps, accounts and 155 full color photographs portray the river and watershed through time. 

The work of many people and organizations over more than fifty years, is meant to educate people, act as a reference and highlight this rare and matchless natural area. The book is intended to teach about the critical link between landscapes and seascapes, emphasizing the importance of the ecosystem, the impact of human beings and our responsibility as global stewards of the Earth. 

Read about the geologic origins of the watershed, the history of Casey Farm and Gilbert Stuart Birthplace, conservation efforts by US Fish and Wildlife and Narrow River Land Trust, and learn about bobcats, oysters, osprey and more in the ‘Wildlife in the Watershed’ features. 

Fifteen full color, detailed maps of the watershed each spotlight different facets of the area. From River Zones and Ecological communities to Wetlands and conservation open space, these fascinating maps provide an overview of many of the incredible aspects of the river and its watershed. 

All profits from the purchase of the book benefit Narrow River Preservation Association. 

MANY THANKS to the more than 200 people who became Legacy Sponsors of NRPA by purchasing the Legacy Edition of The Pettaquamscutt Estuary: The Narrow River Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Barry Devine. We truly appreciate your support of NRPA. This first printed edition of the book is now sold out.

Your support is especially needed at this time as the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted many of NRPA’s fundraising efforts. Please support us as you are able.

ORDER ONLINE BY COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING THIS FORM:


Osprey webcam campaign

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Great news! After three years of planning, the hard work of many volunteers, and generous financial support from our many donors and sponsors, the Narrow River Preservation Association and Narrow River Land Trust are delighted to provide our live webcam on the osprey nest along the Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River.

You can see the webcam here: narrowriver.org/ospreycam

We still welcome donations to support the webcam going forward. Click here to donate to NRPA so we can keep this and our many other programs going.

In March 2019, Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) and Narrow River Land Trust (NRLT) put up a platform along the Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River for osprey to make a home. A pair of osprey came and started building a nest on the platform. 

We are seeking donations so that we can maintain this wonderful resource and continue to offer it free of charge to everyone.

Importantly, the webcam will NOT disturb the birds. The webcam will be a big part of our Osprey Education Program, and can be viewed for free by anyone with a cell phone or computer.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND:

In 2014, we started teaching local fourth graders about osprey and their fascinating migration to the Amazon Rain Forest from New England each year.

In 2017, we got our own osprey mount (a dead, stuffed osprey) for people to see an osprey up close. In 2019, we presented to more than 325 fourth grade students at local schools. When teaching about osprey, we incorporate concepts of ecology, preservation, stewardship and conservation.

In March 2019, NRPA and Narrow River Land Trust installed an osprey nest platform on the bank of Narrow River. The platform was quickly adopted by a young pair of osprey.

To engage the public, especially local youth, decided to install a webcam on the platform to provide a live video stream of the osprey nest on NRPA’s website.

The live video stream will offer a tremendous resource for both teachers and students to follow the osprey’s summer life cycle and daily interactions with the environment.

Throughout the year, the webcam will capture a compelling and ever changing view of the Narrow River landscape.

To get started, we needed about $6,000 to purchase the hardware needed to set up the webcam (camera, cords, solar panels, batteries, etc.), one year of internet service and one year of the webcam hosting service. Thanks to the generosity of more than sixty-five individuals and families, we achieved this goal.

Thank you for considering a donation to our effort. We believe that environmental education is critical to public engagement in and protection of the environment.


ABOUT US: 

Narrow River Preservation Association and Narrow River Land Trust are 501 (c) 3 certified non-profit organizations based in Saunderstown, RI. NRPA was founded in 1970 and NRLT was created in 1983. 


LEARN MORE:

Check out our osprey web page here, including photos, facts about osprey and our free printable osprey activity sheet: narrowriver.org/osprey

More about Narrow River Preservation Association here: narrowriver.org

More about Narrow River Land Trust here: narrowriverlandtrust.org

Want to support our efforts? Feel free to send a check to ‘NRPA’ at PO Box 8, Saunderstown, RI 02874. Or donate here with your credit card.

On Pettaquamscutt 2020

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Annually, the Friends of Canonchet Farm, Narrow River Preservation Association, and the South County Museum, with generous support from Trio Restaurant, sponsor the winter speaker series On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed.

The presentations take place on selected Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 35 Kingstown Road, Narragansett. All are free and open to the public.

After each event, participants are encouraged to continue the conversation at Trio Restaurant, 15 Kingstown Road, Narragansett.

More information available at onpettaquamscutt.org, by calling (401) 783-5344 or by emailing info@onpettaquamscutt.org.

CLICK HERE to see a PDF version of the January 26, 2020 Narrow River Preservation Association presentation:
“50 Years of Protecting and Preserving the Narrow River and its Watershed.” Leaders of NRPA share the organization’s most significant challenges and accomplishments over the past 50 years with a look toward the next 50 years of caring for the watershed loved by so many. 

CLICK HERE to see a PDF version of the February 23, 2020 Friends of Canonchet Farm presentation: ‘The Rhode Island Bear Story‘ by Mary Gannon, RIDEM

March 29 Event Cancellation

We regret to inform you that we must cancel the March 29 On Pettaquamscutt Winter Speaker Series presentation at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett out of concern for public health and to blunt the spread of the COVID 19 virus.

The Center for Disease Control, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States (March 15, 2020 interim guidance).

Our plan is to postpone the topic, Camp Varnum and Rhode Island Coastal Defenses, to our 2021 season.  In the meantime, stay healthy and thank you for your support of our Winter Speaker Series.

David and Rosemary Smith

Learn about On Pettaquamscutt presentations from previous years here:

On Pettaquamscutt 2019

On Pettaquamscutt 2018

On Pettaquamscutt 2017

On Pettaquamscutt 2016

On Pettaquamscutt 2015

On Pettaquamscutt 2014

On Pettaquamscutt 2013

On Pettaquamscutt 2012