The Barrington Land Conservation Trust hosted a group of young people at one of their premiere properties, the Pic-Wil Nature Preserve on Washington Road, as part of the land trust’s Tuesday Trails program.  

Led by Audubon Society of Rhode Island Conservation Assistant Kyle Hess, and Youth Conservation League Assistant Crew Leader Brittany Amaral, the teenagers spent the day engaged in a lively atmosphere of cleaning up, working hard, and camaraderie. 

The Rhode Island Youth Conservation League, or YCL, is a collaboration between the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, and the Rhode Island chapter of the Nature Conservancy. The premise is to give teens an opportunity to become engaged in the environment while also providing summer employment. Combining the work ethic of the YCL with the maintenance needs of the land trust was an excellent opportunity for kids to learn more about the benefits of land conservation. 

The Barrington Land Conservation Trust has been hosting Tuesday Trails Team for more than a year as part of their ongoing maintenance projects. Run by board member and volunteers director (and local pediatrician) Dr. Victor Lerish, land trust volunteers meet on the second Tuesday every month for a variety of activities.   Removal of invasive plants, trail maintenance, and trash removal are just a few of the many services the Land Trust provides as part of their environmental stewardship program.

“Tuesday Trails is a great opportunity for local Barrington residents to learn about the many properties the trust owns or manages,” Dr. Lerish said. “It gives people a sense of pride to participate in taking care of our town.  And they are often surprised by how many properties the trust has.”

Meanwhile, Kyle Hess enjoys leading the YCL teens on various environmental duties around the state.  Although his position at ASRI is providing studies on baseline documentation, cataloging and mapping, he appreciates the opportunity to work in the field with kids.

“Introducing kids to land conservation and stewardship is an important role in maintaining the health of the environment,” Kyle said. “We want them to be interested in the work but also to have fun.”  

“One of the many reasons the YCL is so rewarding,” Kyle continued, “is due to the work ethic of the participants. We could not have had such a successful season without Brittany’s hard work.” Ms. Amaral is a Wildlife Biology student at URI and was a crew-member last year.

The YCL members spread out on the fields at Pic-Wil armed with gloves, trash removal bags and a variety of tools. They spent the day removing invasive species, as well as general clean up.

Want to get involved?

Tuesday Trails isn’t just for enterprising teens; it’s for everybody who loves being outdoors and seeing the hidden gems around town. The Barrington Land Trust is always accepting volunteers to help with stewardship and maintenance. Volunteering for the trust is a wonderful way to meet new people and learn about our natural surroundings.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Victor Lerish at volunteers@blct.org

If you or somebody you know is interested in the Youth Conservation League, you can find them at the Rhode Island Natural History Survey website at RINHS.org