Outdoors in RI: Fests and Festivals, Fishing, Deer & Bow Hunting, Boating, Geo Field Trips, Big E, Pest Info

DEM Receives Over $1.2M Grant to Support Recreational Fishing and Boating

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has received a $1.2M grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) 2026 National Outreach and Communication Program (NOCP) to increase recreational fishing and boating participation statewide through outreach, education, and partnerships. DEM was one of 16 awardees selected from 127 applications nationwide. The NOCP aims to reverse declining participation in fishing and boating, which supports Rhode Island’s economy and funds aquatic resource conservation.

DEM will focus its efforts on Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3), a national initiative to reverse declining participation numbers in outdoor recreation and license sales. With over 400 miles of coastline and hundreds of freshwater lakes and ponds covering over 20,000 acres, RI has abundant fishing and boating opportunities. Despite this, participation has plateaued and the initiative will seek to reduce barriers to access, promote safe and responsible angling and boating practices, and support the stewardship of RI’s aquatic resources.

The initiative will include the development of a statewide R3 strategic plan, launching a centralized fishing and boating website, targeted multimedia campaigns, and the creation of mentorship and municipal grant opportunities to build long-term engagement. A newly formed RI Sport Fishing and Boating R3 Council will guide stakeholder-driven efforts.

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The Summertime Blues Affect Stinging Insects, Too

Experts reveal why these pests become more aggressive this time of year and what to look out for

Summer is almost at a close, but that doesn’t mean stinging insects are done just yet. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) shares why yellowjackets, hornets and wasps can be even more dangerous during late summer and early fall and how to stay protected.

Stinging insects emerge in spring and begin to build their nests. Once autumn rolls around, their colonies are often at their largest. This means they’re all stingers on deck to forage food to sustain their queens during cooler months, making them more aggressive if threatened or bothered.

Every year, about half a million people go to the emergency room for insect stings. Detecting nests early and having them professionally removed is a key part of seasonal maintenance, helping homeowners protect their homes and health.

NPMA shares a few tips to avoid unwanted encounters with stinging insects while soaking up the last few weeks of nice weather:

• Seal cracks and crevices to keep these pests from making their way indoors.
• Inspect around the yard and along the perimeter of the property. Stinging insects often nest under eaves or decks, inside wall voids, attics and chimneys or any other sheltered areas.
• When throwing an outdoor gathering, cover food and garbage with tight-fitting lids. They are attracted to the smell and may just show up uninvited.
• Avoid using strong fragrances. Sweet smells are a green light for stinging insects.
• Don’t swat at them. Instead, slowly walk away from the area.

If an infestation is suspected, contact a licensed pest control professional to identify the threat and provide a recommended plan of action.

About the National Pest Management Association 

The NPMA, a nonprofit organization with more than 4,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property from the diseases and dangers of pests. For more information, visit PestWorld.org or follow @PestWorld on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube and @PestWorldOfficial on Instagram.

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Great Pumpkin Festival

Saturday, September 19, 11 am to 5 pm – The Great Pumpkin Festival features 190 local vendors, live entertainment, food trucks and raffles! There is a $2.00 entrance fee at the door. Event is rain or shine. Enjoy a fun-filled day while supporting youth programs in the community!

Grounds between North Smithfield Middle School and High School Providence Pike/ Farnum Pike, North Smithfield

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Geology underfoot: Public invited to join field trips focused on Rhode Island landscape

URI hosting 117th annual New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, Oct 2-4, offering attendees the chance to get outside and experience geology in the field

University of Rhode Island geosciences students get to welcome an event that hasn’t happened at URI since before they were born—and the larger public is also welcome to join and be a student of geology for a day (or two).

Hosted by URI this year, the annual New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference attracts students and faculty from the geologic disciplines across New England, but anyone is welcome to attend. Conference “field trips” are all free and open to the public.

This year’s conference will kick off with emeritus faculty Dan Murray co-hosting a virtual field trip on Thursday, Oct. 1 at noon to share updates on the ancient bedrock geology of Rhode Island. (Murray was also the organizer for URI’s last conference in 1998.)

According to URI geoscientist Dawn Cardace, one of this year’s organizers, “This is a community-led initiative, loosely managed, but much loved: Every year, the host organization shapes the event to fit the host college, the site, and the local flavors.”

A century of science

URI’s hosting this year helps continue a significant tradition in New England geological history.

The New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference began in 1901 with a field trip led by geologist William Morris Davis, considered the “father of American geography.” An instructor at Harvard, Davis led a trip to the Westfield River and reported it in the “American Journal of Science,” the longest-running scientific journal in the U.S. The conference has met annually since that time, with brief exceptions.

This year’s Ocean State slate includes trips to examine barrier sands at Napatree Point in Westerly, a tour through the glacial geology of Watch Hill and Slocum, the granite of Narragansett Pier, metamorphic processes at work in Jamestown and Newport, and a Rhode Island beach and bay tour. Attendees are also invited to meet Erik Rock and Greta Granite, Rhode Island’s Dambo trolls in Charlestown, on a self-guided tour.

URI geosciences faculty members will lead trips, sharing unique aspects of Rhode Island geology and global discoveries by URI geoscientists. J.P. Walsh, Nicole Raineault and Katie Kelley from URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography will offer two half-day trips featuring a look at the local Rhode Island coast and GSO resources and facilities, while Ambarish Karmalkar will run a computer-based program on the Kingston Campus for the unofficial weather forecasters among us.

URI coastal hydrogeologist Christopher Russoniello, who focuses on water impact in his work and is a co-organizer for the conference, will be at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown the morning of Oct. 3, rain or shine, offering a look at the coastal hydrogeology of southern Rhode Island.

URI’s newly-created Department of Earth Sciences, Planning, and Design is hosting this year’s 117th annual NEIGC, Oct. 2-4, inviting the public to join them in experiencing geology in the field. (URI Photo / ESPD Dept.)

Registration is open now.

See the website for trip descriptions, times, meeting places, and camping information. Russoniello, who attended last year’s conference in Connecticut, says that the neighbors and residents who joined their expedition, bringing their own insights and information, shared stories that were equally valuable.

The conference includes a community BBQ at Yawgoo Bakes in Exeter on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 3, which will offer a meet-and-greet and training and employment updates for area undergrads and the public.

“We wanted to put together a well-rounded program,” Russoniello said, “and are drawing on all our resources to show what we have to offer for training and inspiration for the next generation of earth scientists.”

Sponsors and partners include the newly-created URI Department of Earth Sciences, Planning, and Design (formerly Geosciences and the Department of Landscape Architecture and Planning), NASA Rhode Island Space Grant and the Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals. Department chair Thomas Boving says the conference puts a spotlight on the newly formed department which brings together the geosciences and landscape architecture into a new cross-disciplinary department. “ESPD is a unique program; we want to let more people know we’re here and what we can do,” he said.

To learn more or to register, visit the conference’s website (www.neigc.info) or email [email protected] / [email protected].

Photo, top of page:  The sole purpose of the yearly New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference is to present field trips in interesting geologic areas; this year it’s Rhode Island’s turn—the public is invited to join in. Shown: Beavertail State Park. (URI Photo / Brian Savage)

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PVDFest 2026 this weekend

The Big E – Rhode Island Day