• The Slater Mill (yellow) and Wilkinson Mill (stone), along the Blacktone River in Pawtucket RI

    Blackstone River Valley

    National Heritage Corridor MA,RI

Blackstone Valley 101 For Youth

junior metacomet vip at river bend
Using Blackstone Valley 101 In Conjunction With Youth Programs

Blackstone Valley 101 was originally conceived as program for adults. However, there are a number of ways in which it may be used with youths as well.

Scout Ranger Programs
The National Park Service has worked in conjunction with Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA to create a Scout Ranger badge for each of these groups. We have tailored the badge to the Blackstone Valley 101 curriculum. To download a pdf file with more information, click on one of the links below:

Boy Scout Ranger Program Description

Girl Scout Ranger Program Description

Home School Families
One of the groups helping us with our initial test of the Blackstone Valley 101 program was a home school family. Mom and the children all took the program and completed it successfully. The children were 13 and 11.  

If you think this may be a useful addition to your home school programming, please feel free to use it. We request that an adult in the family take the program first to determine if it is appropriate for your child's age group and abilities.   If you choose to use it, each adult or child completing the program will be eligible for the certification pin.

Classroom Programming
The program is designed to be self directed with one person at a time taking it. If you would like to use the program as an assignment, a library activity, or any other type of individual work, you are welcome to do so. However, if you are going to assign it to a group larger than 5, we ask that you e-mail us ahead of time.

Please note: We offer the program as an option to you, if you would like to use it. The program is not being offered as part of a standards-based curriculum.

Other Youth Programs
Do you have another idea about how to use Blackstone Valley 101 with a group? We'd love to hear from you. E-mail us with your ideas.

Did You Know?

Child mill workers

Children as young as age six were hired to work in the textile mills of the Blackstone River Valley.  These adolescent workers were employed by the Lonsdale Company, c. 1912.  Photos such as this helped lead to the passage of child labor laws.