LITTLE COMPTON — A 24-hour BioBlitz, and conclave of over a dozen conservation and gardening organizations being called Nature Day, will descend upon Veterans Field on the weekend of June 13.

The double-header event, expected by its sponsors to draw an estimated 500-600 people from around the area and New England, signals "a powerful next step in the evolution of conservation strategy," said Hans Hawryz, one of the event's local organizers.

"The focus is shifting from the conservation of land to the conservation of habitats and species," he said, "and Little Compton will be at the cutting edge of this movement."

Several months ago, the weekend was conceived of as featuring just the BioBlitz, to identify and count "what lives" in Little Compton and to determine the town's iconic species.

But interest grew, and what is now being called "Nature Day" emerged.

"The occasion has evolved significantly, and is now becoming a larger, more creative, and increasingly unique event," Mr. Hawrysz said.

Numerous local, state, and regional organizations with an interest in habitat preservation have signed on (see list below).

"We believe that the participation of such a wide range of conservation and nature-related organizations in one event is a first in the area and in the State of Rhode Island," Mr. Hawrysz said.

Two large event tents — one for BioBlitz, the other for Nature Day — will be pitched on Veterans Field, located on The Commons at the center of Little Compton. A number of smaller tents will be set up nearby that will house activity centers and will have space for "booths, exhibits, and family fun."

Because Bioblitz is a 24-hour event, starting at 3 p.m. Friday, June 12, some campers will likely spend that night on Veterans Field.

Both BioBlitz and Little Compton Nature Day have received the support of the town council, and of local conservation and nature-related organizations, as well as what the sponsors refer to as "a committed group of resident sponsors."

Wilbur & McMahon School will still be in session (the last day of school is June 25), so a tie-in will be made between the weekend events and school programs, to involve as many students as possible, Mr. Hawrysz said.

The weekend's twin marquee events will be accompanied by concurrent activities in and around town:

• Roger Williams Zoo will host a Zoomobile, featuring interactive educational presentations and "live animal interviews." The Zoomobiles' topics typically include "who is living in your back yard," "what makes a mammal a mammal and a bird a bird," "creatures of the night," and "what's for lunch."

• The Audubon Society will conduct a raptor show, an excerpt from its lengthier annual raptor weekend program.

• "Wilbur & McMahon School and local artists will create nature-related art work and posters that will be displayed around the town," Mr. Hawrysz said.

• An exhibit and presentation by the Rhode Island Beekepers will be on hand.

• A “Little Compton Habitat Map” will be on display, which will provide a detailed illustration of Little Compton’s unique habitats, and species' locations.

Nature Day — mostly local

The Nature Day tent will host tables and exhibits set up by over a dozen area conservation and gardening groups with members from Little Compton, Westport, Tiverton, and around the state and Sakonnnet area, Mr. Hawrysz said. Each group will sponsor a booth.

"Our primary objective for the Nature Day event is to raise awareness, appreciation and interest in Little Compton's and the surrounding area's unique and diverse habitats, its wonderful range of species, and the work of its many nature and conservation-related organizations and community groups." he said.

"We also wanted to create an educational and fun-filled event for children and families."

"We expect to have various exhibits of birds and animals, native plants for sale, and contests and events that will be educational and fun for all," Mr. Hawrysz said.

Nature Day events will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and end at 4 p.m. the same day.

BioBlitz 2015

The 24 hour, non-stop Bioblitz will start at 3 p.m. Friday, June 12, and end at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 13. People from all over New England are expected to assemble on Veterans Field for that one purpose.

"Everybody loves these events — they attract nature enthusiasts from everywhere," Mr. Hawrysz said. "The main question they present is, where do all the various species live. The next question after that is, how do we preserve their habitat."

A training session for BioBlitz scientists and team leaders will take place at Roger Williams Park Zoo on April 30, Mr. Hawrysz said.

During the BioBlitz event itself, participants, organized into teams, will set out to determine what lives in Little Compton, and to catalog the town's biodiversity. Teams will focus, for example, on spiders, vascular plants, amphibians and reptiles.

"The teams will go out in the field around the clock, using or creating checklists to record their findings, and then report back to Science Central, where the findings will be counted, compiled, and displayed," Mr. Hawrysz said.

 The BioBlitz tent on the Commons will serve as Science Central, and will be the location where the teams gather and tabulate their results, he said. Visitors to the tent will be able to examine the displays. Already 23 people have signed up, and will be trained, to serve as docents, he said.

The two habitats in the Little Compton area, to which the teams of species-counters will deploy, he said, will be the Dundery Brook Trail and Goosewing Beach.

"A corollary effort will be to create a list of Little Compton’s iconic species. We are going to poll local residents, ask them what they think Little Compton's unique species are and what they have a 'wow' relationship with. We're going to see how many of these iconic species we can find," Mr. Hawrysz said.

BioBlitz (similar events have been hosted in past years on Block Island and Narragansett) is sponsored by the Kingston-based Rhode Island Natural History Survey (RINHS). This is the only Bioblitz in New England this year.

Typically, BioBlitzes identify more than 1,000 species of animals and plants in the 24-hour period, RINHS organizers say. Participants will be "scientists, avocational naturalists, students, and local volunteers."

The agreement between the town and the organizers at RINHS provides that Veterans Field and the Commons area will serve as "Science Central," and "will provide the space required for the Science Central tent, power for lighting and equipment, parking, camping and sanitary facilities."

Participants must register in advance, and must expect to pay approximately $25-$40 as a registration fee.

Local hosts will provide dinner on Friday night for participants and invited guests, as well as breakfast and coffee on Saturday.

BioBlitzes, said the RINHS, "have been conducted around the world and across the country since 1998. The longest running annual BioBlitz in the US has been conducted by RINHS — 15 BioBlitzes in 15 RI communities since 2000 — each operating in conjunction with sponsorship by local community hosts."

For more information, contact Hans Hawrysz in Little Compton (617-470-5855) or the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, by phone (401-874-5800)  or visit its website at http://rinhs.org.

Supporting/participating organizations:

• Rhode Island Natural History Survey

• Bioblitz 2015 - Little Compton

• Sakonnet Preservation Association

• Rhode Island Nature Conservancy

• Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust

• Rhode Island Audubon Society

• Rhody Native

• Little Compton Garden Club

• Sogkonate Garden Club

• Little Compton Tree Committee

• Roger Williams Zoo

• Wilbur & McMahon School

• Little Peeps Montessori School

• Rhode Island Beekeepers Association