Join CLT in our mission to preserve Charlestown’s open space and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community. The land trust preserves and protects the distinctive character of our local area through acquisition and management of open space.
Each winter, as the landscape settles into a quieter season, the Charlestown Land Trust turns its focus to learning, connection, and the exchange of ideas. We’re pleased to welcome back our Winter Speaker Series, a seasonal tradition that brings our community together to explore the landscapes, ecosystems, and conservation challenges shaping South County.
While winter weather may keep many of us off the trails, this series offers an opportunity to gather, learn, and stay connected. This year’s programs will explore topics ranging from forest health and invasive species to wildlife movement and changing environmental conditions, led by knowledgeable local experts and researchers.
All talks are free and open to the public and take place at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center in Charlestown. We hope you’ll join us for an engaging season of learning and conversation.
Warm up with hot cocoa and join arborist Dan Weise for the first event in our 2026 Winter Speaker Series! Dan will lead a guided afternoon winter forest walk through the trails at Kettle Pond Visitor Center, featuring tree and shrub identification, fascinating forest factoids, and signs to watch for within the landscape. Along the way, participants will learn how to “read” the forest canopy to better understand past events, current conditions, and what the future may hold.
📅 Date: Thursday, February 26th
🕒 Time: 3:30pm
📍 Location: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI
🎟️ Free and open to all. No RSVP required.
Please note that this event is weather permitting. Any cancellations due to weather will be posted on our website.
About Dan Weise: Dan is an arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts who has worked in the tree care industry since 1998. His background includes experience across a range of tree care roles, as well as impressive qualifications, including ISA Certified Arborist, Rhode Island and Connecticut Licensed Arborist, and a three-time International Tree Climbing Competitor!
Following the forest walk,* stay for a 5pm presentation with landscape architect Michael Cavanagh on invasive plant management. Design, permitting, and implementation practices will be shared and discussed, with a focus on the native plant communities used to support local ecosystems and minimize invasive plant pressures.
*This is a standalone program—you do not need to attend the walk to enjoy the presentation.
📅 Date: Thursday, February 26th
🕒 Time: 5pm
📍 Location: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI
🎟️ Free and open to all. No RSVP required.
About Michael Cavanagh: Michael is an arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts, a licensed landscape architect, and a Certified Invasive Plant Manager. He holds a master’s degree from the Conway School of Sustainable Landscape Design and Planning and has worked across diverse landscape contexts throughout New England and beyond.
Join RI Department of Environmental Management Forest Health Program Coordinator Alana Russell for a presentation exploring how warming temperatures are influencing beetle populations and what this means for Rhode Island’s pitch pine forests. Participants will learn how forest stress, climate, and insect dynamics are connected, and what these changes may mean for the future of our forests.
📅 Date: Monday, March 30th
🕒 Time: 6pm
📍 Location: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI
🎟️ Free and open to all. No RSVP required.
About Alana Russell: Alana serves as Forest Health Program Coordinator with the RI Department of Environmental Management, where she focuses on monitoring, researching, and protecting the health of Rhode Island’s forests. She has dedicated her career to understanding forest ecosystems and addressing emerging threats, including invasive pests and the impacts of a changing climate. In addition to her professional work, Alana serves as Vice Chair of the Hopkinton Land Trust, where she supports local land conservation.
Join URI PhD student Christopher Hickling for an engaging look at bobcats and human land use in Rhode Island. Christopher’s research focuses on understanding how human disturbance influences the movement and behavior of terrestrial mammalian carnivores, with a particular focus on bobcats. Participants will learn how landscape change, development, and human activity shape wildlife behavior and what this reveals about the health and connectivity of our region’s natural systems.
📅 Date: Wednesday, April 29th
🕒 Time: 6pm
📍 Location: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI
🎟️ Free and open to all. No RSVP required.
About Christopher Hickling: Chris is a PhD student in the Quest Lab at the University of Rhode Island. His research focuses on understanding how human disturbance influences the movement and behavior of terrestrial mammalian carnivores.