A 10 minute walk from Mainfare leads to the dense, 307 acre North Woods, property of the University of Rhode Island, that holds a collection of forests, wetlands and streams.
While many students are informed of this acreage, first years in classes that don’t visit the available wild space are often unaware of its existence.
URI’s campus adjacent wilderness isn’t fully untamed. Since the 1950s the woods have been used as a teaching forest. The land has been used for environmental and animal research, giving insight to natural patterns in Rhode Island and beyond. This research has focused on soil, tick populations, animal sighting surveys and more.
Professor Stephanie West-Puckett refers to the teaching forest directly. They note the ability for academic lectures and social gatherings through the outdoor classroom and its available seating. West-Puckett also emphasized the necessity of the space.
“It’s really important that people know the North Woods serves many purposes, research, recreation and community building,” West-Puckett said.
From 1940 to 1980 the back of the North Woods had been used as a dump site according to “An Analysis of the North Woods Superfund Site,” written by Mallory Lentz and Ashley Katusa. In 1992, this sector of woods had been placed on a national priority list due to the toxicity of the site.
Now, the woods are closely cared for by faculty and students alike. URI’s Professor Madison Jones says the university provides necessary security to the woods.
“There’s no plans whatsoever to alter the woods, which I think is really wonderful and shows amazing foresight,”Jones said.
The North Woods project helps to oversee the woods’s relevance and reminds others of its necessity to campus life. Jones describes the North Woods Project as an evolving series of projects, comparing them to artists’ exhibits.
“I want us to have a constant engagement…trying to draw on different media, different approaches, different methods, to…connect people to the woods in an evolving series,” says Jones.
Instead of following the traditional linear pattern of research projects, the North Woods Projects promotes increasing involvement according to Jones.
The North Woods Field Guide falls under the ever-evolving engagement of the North Woods Project. RISD student Ellie Lin interned with West-Puckett, creating the hand drawn “zine” of the North Woods.
These zines will be given out during URI’s 3rd annual “Write-Out” held in the North Woods. The national writing project has partnered with the National Park Service in order to connect people with nature and community through writing. Taking inspiration from this, URI brought over 700 students to the first North Woods write-out two years ago.
The North Woods holds a multitude of academic and self benefits. Students are greatly encouraged to explore the trails this wonderful natural resource offers.
This Oct. 7 and 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the North Woods will again host a variety of activities for the write-out. All are welcome to visit this event.
