Detail from Lincoln River Tour

Blackstone River Project Recognized For Excellence at Eastern Rivers Summit
Staff and partners of the Corridor were recognized for excellence at the Eastern Rivers Summit in Shepardstown, West Virginia earlier this month where they received an Education and Communications Award for Outstanding Achievement that reads: “In recognition of interpretive and trip planning materials to make the Blackstone River more accessible.” The award winning guide maps are collectively titled: Blackstone River Tours.

“Our project partners made significant contributions,” Project Coordinator Diane Wendland, Landscape Architect and Riverway Coordinator at the Corridor, explained. “The Blackstone River Watershed Association in Massachusetts, the Blackstone River Watershed Council in Rhode Island, business partners Great Canadian Canoe, Inc. and Wild Bird Gardens, were invaluable to the success of this project. We are very pleased with this end product and we urge anyone who enjoys being on or near the river to use them.”

“ The Corridor is very proud of this accomplishment,” says Thomas E. Ross, Acting Executive Director. “There were over 110 staff represented at this annual summit from 34 parks, 4 regions and our Washington, D.C. offices. It’s an honor for our staff – Diane Wendland, Chuck Arning and Kevin Klyberg -- and our partners to be so honored.”

The Blackstone River Tours are seven one-page river “tours” that were developed for use while canoeing or kayaking on the Blackstone River in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Each tour is divided into skill levels and are specific to sections of the Blackstone River. Tours can be used individually or in combination. They are presented in a tear-off format for ease of production, distribution and use and all have been made available throughout the valley’s business and visitor centers and on-line.

Ranger Sparkle Bryant from the Roger Williams National Memorial displays the new America the Beautiful passes

America the Beautiful Passes Now Available at Roger Williams National Memorial
The Roger Williams National Memorial is now carrying the America the Beautiful: National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes. The Interagency passes are for sale at the Visitors Center located at 282 North Main Street in Providence.

"There are four different types of Interagency passes available: the Annual Pass; the Senior Pass; the Access Pass and the Volunteer Pass," Park Ranger Sparkle Bryant explained.

The Interagency Annual Pass is for the general public and costs $80. It is valid for one full year from the month of purchase. The Interagency Senior Pass is for citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are 62 years of age or older and it costs $10 and it is valid for the lifetime of the pass holder. The Interagency Access Pass is for U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States, regardless of age, who have been medically determined to have a permanent disability. The Access Pass is free and is also valid for the lifetime of the pass holder. Lastly, the Interagency Volunteer Pass is available free of charge to volunteers who exceed contributing 500 service hours.

"This updated park pass system was created by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and authorized by Congress in December 2004," Halford Welch, Site Manager of the Memorial explained "We are really pleased to offer this new service to the people of Rhode Island and we hope that they take advantage of this opportunity to obtain passes locally and to explore our country’s great national treasures."

For more information about these passes, please click here.

Tis the Season – to Volunteer!
As partner sites and parks throughout the Blackstone River Valley re-open and as good weather brings more outdoor events, the need for volunteers grows. If you have an interest in helping to interpret a site, assist at an event or clean-up, or helping at Roger Williams National Memorial please contact Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program coordinator Ranger Suzanne Buchanan at 401-762-0440 or e-mail us to get all of the details on the program!

Volunteer Center Recognizes History Alive Interpreters
The “History Alive” volunteer interpretive performers from the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket, RI will be recognized this month by the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island with its 2007 Outstanding Volunteer Program Award.

Each year, The Volunteer Center of Rhode Island presents "The Outstanding Volunteer Awards." According to Lynne M. Harper, Communications Coordinator for VCRI, these awards are given to individuals and groups who exhibit an outstanding commitment to volunteer service. Nominated by the agencies where the volunteers serve, the intent of this award is to publicly recognize and honor individuals and groups for their commitment to volunteerism and to recognize the importance of their community involvement.

The volunteer performers from “History Alive” at the Museum of Work & Culture will be honored at a reception during National Volunteer Week on April 19th. The group was nominated by Volunteers in Parks Coordinator Ranger Suzanne Buchanan of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. “The educational impact from the History Alive volunteer performers is far reaching to a variety of audiences -- from school children to museum visitors. During special events they keep history alive in the Blackstone Valley for future generations.” Buchanan said.

The Volunteer Center of RI (VCRI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people to opportunities for effective volunteer community service. Supporting over 500 area nonprofits, government agencies, proprietary health care facilities, school based programs and social service organizations, VCRI is the Rhode Island and South Eastern Massachusetts resource for all things volunteer. For more, visit www.vcri.org.