Be part of the first graduating class of the Kelly & Ashton Mill Junior Ranger Program! From 3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. on Friday, April 14, 2023, the National Park Service, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Historical Society, will host an afternoon of free activities at Blackstone River State Park, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI 02865. Enjoy mini-world creations, learn local history, and meet local artist MJ Robinson, the creative talent behind the new Junior Ranger program. Get your signed copy of the new booklet and get sworn in as a Junior Ranger.
The Kelly and Ashton Mill Junior Ranger Booklet is a self-guided adventure around Blackstone River State Park and its vicinity. Aspiring Junior Rangers of all ages will “Explore, Learn, and Protect” their way through the history of this area and maybe even meet some strange creatures along the way. During the April 14 event, visitors will be able to complete the activity book with rangers, historians, and the artist. This remarkable project was managed by the Rhode Island Historical Society in collaboration with the National Park Service. Local teachers first made a suite of lesson plans about the site as part of this initiative. Last year, MJ Robinson spent months processing the history and aesthetic of the site, creating drafts and sketches, and final works of art that express the complexity of the Blackstone Valley. With activities that inspire creativity, reflection, imagination, and stewardship, this new Junior Ranger Program will help shape how visitors to Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park view their world for many years to come.
Join us for this free event, make and take some amazing art, and tell your friends. This activity book is free to the public and will be available at select locations throughout the Blackstone Valley. For more information, please visit our website: www.nps.gov/BLRV or contact Ranger Andrew Schnetzer at Andrew_Schnetzer@NPS.gov.