WEST GREENWICH, R.I. – August 27, 2012 – The University of Rhode Island’s W. Alton Jones Campus will offer a free mushroom walk on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.
“This is the second nature walk we’ve offered this year as an opportunity for Rhode Islanders to visit the campus during our anniversary year and see wildlife in our pristine environment,” said Thomas Mitchell, director of the campus. A bird walk was held in May.
The mushroom walk is timed to coincide with the peak of the emergence of wild mushrooms throughout Rhode Island.
The event will take place in the campus’s Nettie Marie Jones Nature Preserve. The leader will be Robert Kenney, a naturalist and URI marine scientist. A popular speaker and nature walk leader throughout the region, Kenney is the former president of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey.
Participants are encouraged to wear tick repellent and wear sturdy walking shoes. The walk will last about 90 minutes. Children as young as 8 are encouraged to register with their parents.
“Kids usually do great on mushroom walks because their eyes are closer to the ground, so they’re usually the ones that spot things first,” Kenney said.
Space is limited to 15 participants. To register, call Cheryl Conti at 401-397-3302, extension 6043 or cconti@uri.edu.