Outdoors in RI: Spring Forward, finally…W. Alton Jones campus, Pests, URI DEM Fellows, Newport Secret Gardens,

Time Change This Weekend:

Set clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday as Daylight Saving Time begins. Longer daylight returns — but we lose an hour of sleep.

The time change also means sunrise and sunset will occur about an hour later beginning Sunday evening.

It’s also a good time to check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

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DEM and URI to Reopen and Revitalize W. Alton Jones Campus

Expanding Public Access, Recreation, and Environmental Education – photo, top: URI campus

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the University of Rhode Island (URI) today announced a transformative initiative to revitalize URI’s W. Alton Jones (WAJ) Campus. This collaborative effort will reestablish the campus as a premier Natural Resource Center and Environmental Education Hub while significantly expanding public access and recreational opportunities for Rhode Islanders.

“Alton Jones is a property with important environmental and historical value, and I know that people are eager for access to be restored to this incredible space,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I’m proud that DEM and URI are working closely together to reopen and revitalize this asset for all Rhode Islanders to enjoy.”

“DEM is proud to partner with URI on this significant initiative. Through this investment, we reaffirm our shared commitment to conservation, education, research, and meaningful community engagement,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “With decades of expertise in land stewardship, capital development, and long-term planning, our team is uniquely positioned to help shape the future of the W. Alton Jones Campus. This project reflects the core of DEM’s mission — to protect, restore, and promote Rhode Island’s natural resources while ensuring lasting public access to them.”

“The W. Alton Jones Campus is an extraordinary asset for the University of Rhode Island and for communities across Rhode Island,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “This partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management reflects our shared commitment to protecting the natural character of the campus while strengthening its role as a center for learning, discovery, and public connection. We’re grateful to DEM for its partnership and investment in ensuring the campus continues to serve as a vibrant resource for education, research, and meaningful community engagement.”

DEM will invest more than $2 million in phased capital improvements. Work is slated to begin this spring and continue through the year, with the goal of restoring public access by the end of 2026. Key projects include preparing and staffing the Main Office Building, renovating the Environmental Education Center and surrounding cabins, restoring Woodvale Farm buildings through sustainable subleases, and improving campus-wide wayfinding and public access. In addition, DEM will implement a comprehensive Forest Management Plan to safeguard the property’s long-term ecological health and resilience.

URI researchers will continue to utilize the campus for ongoing and future research, reinforcing WAJ’s legacy as a living laboratory. DEM and URI will collaborate to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students in environmental science, forestry, agriculture, conservation, and related fields, strengthening the connection between academic research and on-the-ground stewardship.

The revitalized WAJ Campus will serve as a statewide convening center for environmental education organizations, offering expanded programming and deeper partnerships with URI faculty and students. Key priorities include establishing WAJ as a leading destination for environmental education and increasing volunteer engagement.

Protecting public access to natural places for outdoor recreation remains central to DEM’s mission. The revitalization supports opportunities for Rhode Islanders to enjoy the campus through fishing and non-motorized boating on Eisenhower Lake, enhanced trail connections to Arcadia and Tillinghast Management Areas, guided nature programs, and event space for community groups.

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From Coast to Coast, Pests Are Coming Early: Experts Forecast Heightened Activity This Spring and Summer

The National Pest Management Association™s Bug Barometer ® warns unpredictable winter weather could drive early pest emergency. 

After a winter marked by plunging temperatures and unusual precipitation patterns, experts at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) are warning Americans to brace for an active pest season. NPMA’s latest Bug Barometer® forecast predicts pests could emerge sooner and in greater numbers across the country “driven by erratic weather that allowed more pests to survive while creating ideal breeding conditions ahead. 

The Bug Barometer® analyzes weather patterns, long-term forecasts and pest biology to deliver regional predictions for pest activity nationwide. The experts say that while this winter’s polar vortex and heavy snowfall felt brutal to humans, that snow insulates the ground, creating a protective blanket that helped pests survive beneath the surface.

“This winter was about as extreme as it gets, and those conditions can create a domino effect that impacts pest activity well into spring and summer,” said Dr. Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs at NPMA. “This is our way of visualizing the science and giving homeowners a head start on preparing. Stay vigilant about prevention, as we’re expecting heightened activity from a number of pests that can threaten both property and health.” 

NPMA’ s Spring & Summer 2026 Bug Barometer® predictions include: 

Mid-Atlantic & New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia):

A mild start to the winter and drier spring will jumpstart pest season, with termites, brown marmorated stink bugs, and Asian lady beetles emerging ahead of schedule. As temperatures rise, expect more ticks and stinging insects. 

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a non-profit 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,¯Pinterest,¯TikTok and ¯YouTube and @PestWorldOfficial on¯Instagram”.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) just released its Spring & Summer 2026 Bug Barometer®, and the verdict is worth your audience’s attention.

Here’s what that means for New England:

A mild start to the winter and drier spring will jumpstart pest season, with termites, brown marmorated stink bugs, and Asian lady beetles emerging ahead of schedule. As temperatures rise, expect more ticks and stinging insects. 

As Dr. Jim Fredericks, NPMA’s senior vice president of public affairs, put it: “This winter was about as extreme as it gets, and those conditions can create a domino effect that impacts pest activity well into spring and summer. We’re expecting heightened activity from a number of pests that can threaten both property and health.”

I‘d love to coordinate an interview with one of NPMA’s board-certified entomologists who can speak directly to what New England residents should expect this season, which pests to watch for first, and the proactive steps they can take right now. These are the experts behind the forecast, and they make for compelling, quotable sources. 

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