30th Anniversary Season of Explorer River Tours launches

Making its debut in the summer of 1993 as part of the bicentennial celebration of the American industrial revolution, the Explorer is the only vessel designed to travel along segments of the Blackstone river system, and has become a prominent icon throughout the Blackstone river Valley. Blackstone Valley Tourism Council President, Bob Billington, recalls the initial goal of the Explorer was “to bring attention and access to the amazing resources found in our own backyard. We wanted to help people become advocates for the protection of our region’s riverways, and with numerous examples we can say that goal has been achieved.” Over the years, the boat has carried hundreds of thousands of guests to showcase the natural wonder of the Blackstone river and other nearby waterways.

To celebrate 30 years of youth environmental education and river tours aboard the Explorer, an exciting season of trips are in store at Central Falls Landing. Beyond the acclaimed guided tours on Sunday afternoons, a special guest speaker series with environmental experts from around the state has been curated to highlight various facets of the history and ecology of rhode island’s Blackstone Valley. “Planning this 30th anniversary speaker series was amazing,” stated Sam Jackson, Director of river Education for Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. The schedule is as follows:

JUnE 11TH - Donna Kaehler, Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful: recycling Made Easy

JUnE 18TH - Julia Kaplin, Blackstone

Seniors gain transport vehicle

The Uxbridge Senior Center is proud to announce a new addition to theirfleet! A new minivan from the Cape Cod regional Transit Authority will be leased through the end of this year for a cost of $1.00 to the Town of Uxbridge. This minivan is handicapped accessible and will be utilized for our medical transportation services.

The Uxbridge Senior Center was awarded a Type A (minivan) vehicle from the Community Transit grant Program in FY2021. Unfortunately, this grant has been delayed due to the pandemic and other matters out of our control. no local match is due for the FY21 vehicle as the Federal Transit Administration funded FY21 projects at 100%.

Based on the delivery schedules received from vendors, they anticipate delivery of a new vehicle in December 2023 or January 2024.

For more information on our Medical Transportation Services, please contact Donna at 508-278-8622.

Valley Tourism Council: Medicinal Properties and Ethnobotanical Uses of invasive and native Plants

JUnE 25TH- greg gerritt, environmental activist and naturalist: Wildlife Along the river

JULY 9TH- Dan Bisaccio, Brown University (retired): natural History of the Blackstone river Watershed

JULY 16TH- Julia Kaplin, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council: Medicinal Properties and Ethnobotanical Uses of invasive and native Plants

JULY 23rD- Amanda Peavey, Woonasquatucket river Watershed Council: The ins and Outs of a Brook Trout

AUgUST 6TH- Julia Kaplin, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council: Medicinal Properties and Ethnobotanical Uses of invasive and native Plants

AUgUST 13TH - Sarah Davis, PhD student at Uri: Microplastics in the Blackstone and narragansett Bay

AUgUST 27TH - Jacob gorke, Woonasquatucket river greenway: An introduction to Fish of Providence

Watersheds

AUgUST 20TH - Lauren Parmelee, Audubon Society of ri: Birds of the Blackstone

SEPTEMBEr 10TH- Alyssa richard, Mystic Aquarium: Watersheds, From river to Sea

OCTOBEr 22nD - Katherine Burns, rhode island Department of Environmental Management: Pollinators nOW - OCTOBEr 29TH - Sunday’s nature & Heritage Tours depart at 1, 2,

3, and 4 PM nOW - AUgUST 26 - The popular Saturday Evening Cruises aboard the Explorer returns this year as well. in partnership with neighboring Shark’s Peruvian Cuisine, these are the perfect opportunity to grab a drink and take a calm and scenic unguided ride up the river to enjoy a nice Summer evening on the water. Saturday’s Evening Cruises depart at 4, 5, 6, and 7 PM.

SPECiAL CELEBrATiOn - One exception to this Saturday schedule will occur as Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is hosting a national rivers Day Celebration on June 17th from 37 PM at Central Falls Landing. This special day will include informational booths from 15 Minute Field Trips, ri resource recovery, Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful, ri DEM, Blackstone river Valley national Historical Park, and Woonasquatucket river Watershed Council; plus free 20-minute trips on the Explorer and Blackstone river glass will be hosting an open house at their center just across the river.

Trips depart from Central Falls Landing, 15 Madeira Avenue, Central Falls, ri. As trips do fill up, purchase tickets online at rivertourblackstone.com. Kayak and canoe rentals available as a way to get out and paddle the riverway. For more information, contact BVTC's Director of river Education, Sam Jackson at 401-724-2200 or sjackson@tourblackstone.com.