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News Advisory
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
FOR AP AND METRO NEWS DAYBOOKS:
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009

Time:

 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Burlingame Campground
Event: Overnight Camping for Pursuit Teams

For Release:

 July 31, 2009
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

DEM TO HOST 4th GREAT OUTDOORS PURSUIT EVENT SATURDAY AT BURLINGAME STATE CAMPGROUND

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management continues to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Rhode Island State Parks this Saturday with the 4th Great Outdoors Pursuit event on Saturday, August 1 at Burlingame State Campground in Charlestown. The event features camping and nature activities that will take place during the day and into the night.

This Pursuit event required pre-registration and will allow team participants to visit the Burlingame State Campground during the day. Participants were also given the option to camp overnight for free with pre-registration. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and Pursuit teams must attend between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to receive credit for attendance. Burlingame State Campground is a secure family camping area, and therefore parking passes will be required to enter the facility. Although only registered teams can camp overnight for free, everyone within the campground is invited to participate in the events.

With "camping" as the theme for this event, DEM. hopes to make families feel more comfortable and enthusiastic with the outdoors by teaching camping and nature skills through the activities offered. Activities will take place during the day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will continue again into the night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. These activities will include:
  • Free Canoe Rides on Watchoag Pond - S & H Inc.
  • Tree Identification - DEM Forestry Self-Guided Activity
  • Kid's Great Outdoors Pursuit Lawn Games with Ranger Rosa
  • Environmental Education - RI Environmental Education Association
  • RI 4-H Club- URI Environmental Education Activities
  • AMC Hike in Burlingame State Campground
  • REI -PEAK program and games.
  • Letterbox hunt through campground with Naturalist Neil
  • Nature Walk with US Fish and Wildlife
  • Appearances by Smoky Bear of DEM Forestry
  • Hayrides with History of Park- Burlingame Corporation
  • Reptile Show with Animal Experience
  • Storytelling by RI Pirate Players
  • Campfire, s'mores and songs w/ NPS/JHC Corridor
This is the fourth of five events planned for the 12-week contest. Teams receive points for participating in each event and will be eligible for prizes donated by local retailers at the finale on August 23. Prizes include a complete camping gear and vacation package, a kayak, a mountain bike and others yet to be determined. The activity list for Burlingame event and a list of camping essentials can be found on DEM's parks website at www.riparks.com/RIOutdoorsPursuit/Home.htm.

Support for the project comes from numerous game partners including the Rhode Island Department of Health, UnitedHealthCare, Macy's, Hasbro, Inc., Kids First, REI, Reserve America, Burlingame Corporation, and Whole Foods Markets.

For more information, contact Steven Wright at (401) 222-2632 or e-mail at RIparks@dem.ri.gov or Terri Bisson at (401) 222-2776, ext. 4402 or e-mail at terri.bisson@dem.ri.gov. Information is also available at www.riparks.com.

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