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Newsflash

Take to the

Trails!

Discover the Nature

of Rhode Island

April 17-22, 2011

Celebrate planet Earth and explore those special places around the state that are only accessible by foot. Take a nighttime stroll, search for salamanders, explore a salt marsh, discover the rocky shore of Narragansett Bay, or bring the kids on a family nature hike.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island is offering a weeklong schedule of FREE guided walks at wildlife refuges across the state and nearby Massachusetts. There are programs to suit all ages, interests, and capabilities - from mild birding walks on easy trails to vernal pool explorations that might get a bit wet and muddy! It's a fun, free celebration of planet Earth.

And once Earth Day is over? Keep the kids asking for more outdoor exploration with Audubon's Passport to the Trails program - new for 2011. Get exercise, have fun, and win prizes! Pick up your free passports (one for each member of the family) at any Earth Day program, or at the Nature Shops at the Audubon Environmental Education Center in Bristol, or Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Throughout the spring and summer, hike at least six of the ten trails at participating Audubon Wildlife Refuges listed in the passport. Along the way, you will be directed to a "hidden" symbol on each trail. Record your visit in your passport by making a pencil or crayon rubbing of the symbol at each destination. Each wildlife refuge offers a different symbol to record. When your passport is complete, just return it to Audubon for prizes! It's a fun, free challenge for kids and adults to enjoy while getting exercise and exploring nature. For program details, click here.

Please see below for a complete schedule and descriptions of the Earth Day guided walks.

FREE GUIDED NATURE WALKS

Please register to recevie up-to-date changes to these programs

Seaside Adventure - PROGRAM FULL
Sunday, April 17, 2011; 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

Comb the shore in search of crabs, snails, sea stars, fish and even worms. Bring along some water shoes and clothes that can get wet. Ages: 3+ PROGRAM FULL

Outdoor Explorations: Fields
Monday, April 18, 2011; 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

Gain a better understanding of what lives in your own backyard! Use bug nets, magnifying glasses and other field equipment to discover what lives in a field habitat. Ages: All REGISTER HERE

Salamander Search
Monday, April 18, 2011; 10:00-11:30 am and 1:00-2:30 pm
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge
99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI

Search for salamanders and frogs with an Audubon naturalist and learn all about these amazing creatures. Every child will have the opportunity to examine the amphibians. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet in the barn. Ages: 5+ REGISTER HERE

Salt Marsh of Tiverton
Monday, April 18, 2011; 1:30-4:00 pm
Audubon Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge
Seapowet Avenue, Tiverton, RI

The salt marsh at Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge is a fragile coastal habitat full of unique species. The plants will be just starting to awaken and wading birds and diving ducks may be hunting in the inlets. Wear waterproof shoes or old sneakers for occasionally mucky walking. Ages: 5+ REGISTER HERE

Jamestown Salt Marsh Explorations
Tuesday, April 19, 2011; 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Departs from the Park-and-Ride in North Kingstown on Rte. 1A at the intersection of Rte. 138

Salt marshes are fragile coastal habitats full of unique species. Come and explore several of Audubon’s protected salt marshes. The plants will be just starting to awaken and wading birds and diving ducks may be hunting in the inlets. Wear waterproof shoes or old sneakers for occasionally mucky walking.
Ages: 5+ REGISTER HERE

Searching for Signs of Life at Touisset
Tuesday, April 19, 2011; 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Audubon Touissett Marsh Wildlife Refuge
Touissett Road, Warren, RI

Join Audubon at Touisset Wildlife Refuge in Warren for a walk through this beautiful coastal location. Search for wildflowers, birds and other wonders of the natural world. Ages: 5+. REGISTER HERE

Ants-on-Your-Plants
Tuesday, April 19, 2011; 10:00 a.m.-noon
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

Sometimes having ants on your plants is a good thing. In fact, many of Rhode Island’s spring wildflowers depend on ants for their survival. Join Audubon for a springtime walk and discover the amazing things that woodland ants do. Ages: All. REGISTER HERE

Outdoor Explorations: Forest and Treetops
Wednesday, April 20, 2011; 10:00 a.m.-noon
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

Take a nature stroll and discover the fascinating world of trees. Explore the edges of the forest habitat and discover the animals and plants that live there. Ages: All. REGISTER HERE

Night Hike at Powder Mill Ledges
Wednesday, April 20, 2011; 7:00-9:00 pm
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI

Enjoy an exploration of Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in the evening. Listen to the night choruses of frogs or perhaps an owl. Discover the cool things that happen in nature once we all go to bed. Bundle up, bring a flashlight, and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Ages: 7+. PROGRAM FULL

Salamander Meander
Wednesday, April 20, 2011; 10:00-11:30 am
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA

Bring the kids and learn all about amphibians as we explore vernal pools and the forest floor. Join the fun and search for salamanders and other critters of the woods! Ages: 4+. REGISTER HERE

Outdoor Explorations: Salt Marsh
Thursday, April 21, 2011; 10:30-11:30 am
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

Investigate the importance and health of the salt marsh. Examine the flora and fauna of the marsh and what factors could be affecting this important habitat. Wear shoes that can get dirty and wet. Ages: All. REGISTER HERE

Vernal Pool Exploration
Thursday, April 21, 2011; 10:00 a.m.-noon
Audubon Fort Wildlife Refuge
1445 Providence Pike, North Smithfield, RI

Learn about the amazing giant puddles in the woods called vernal pools. Many creatures cannot survive without them. Dip with nets to find some of the creatures that live and breed in these short-lived, but vital habitats. Dress to get dirty and wet. Wear sturdy, closed toe shoes. Ages: 7+. PROGRAM FULL

Caratunk Night Hike
Thursday, April 21, 2011; 7:30-9:00 pm
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA

Hiking the Caratunk woods at night is a special way to spend the evening. Maybe we’ll get an owl to fly in or hear a coyote in the distance. It’s a hike you don’t want to miss! Ages: 5+. REGISTER HERE

Outdoor Explorations: Shore and Bay
Friday, April 22, 2011; 10:30-11:30 am
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

Discover the rocky shoreline of Narragansett Bay. Heighten your awareness of marine habitats and life as you venture to the shore for scientific exploration. Please wear shoes that can get dirty and wet. Ages: All. REGISTER HERE

Earth Day 2011 is sponsored by:

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Donate Your Car

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Have a vehicle you are looking to sell? Please consider donating it to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and receive a tax deduction.

Audubon is looking for safe and reliable vehicles for our educators to use in travel to schools around Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts, enabling them to provide hands-on environmental-based education programs. In one year our educator's travel more than 20,000 miles. Consequently, we are always looking for reliable vehicles that will help us connect students with science and nature.

It's quick and easy to donate your vehicle. Plus, your donation is eligible for tax deduction purposes. If you'd like to donate your car or would like more information please email me at jhall@asri.org or call 401-949-5454 x3017.

Doing the math

So if you've got a car with a market value of $1,000 that you're looking to unload, you have four options.

1. Donate it to a standard charity that has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS. The letter you receive will state the amount it was sold for - far less than the market value. Say it's sold at auction for $200. If you're in a 33-percent tax bracket, you can deduct $66 from your taxes. Your $1,000 car has now become worth $66 to you.

2. Trade it in on a new car. Dealers are never excited to get people's old beater cars as trade-ins, although a late-model luxury or Japanese car might fetch a reasonable price. But dealers often use your trade-in to jiggle the terms of your new car purchase or lease. If you traded in that $1,000 car, you might get $700.

3. Donate it to Audubon, and if it is in a condition that we can use as part of educational mission, this allows you to deduct the car using the True Market Value (see sites such as Edmunds.com) Using the 33-percent tax bracket again, that means $1,000 x 33% = $330 in your pocket.

4. Sell it privately for around its full market value of $1,000. If you can find a willing buyer.

A word of caution: When it comes to tax deductions, there's more to it than your tax bracket. For example, you can't take advantage of a car donation at all unless you itemize your taxes. Other factors include your income, need for deductions, and the car's value. A certified financial planner can help you decide if donating is in your best interest, or you can find more information at IRS or call (800) 829-1040.