In Collaboration with the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation, UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge Announces the first official "Children's Challenge"

July 2009 – The Unibank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge is an excellent opportunity for participants to improve as individuals and to work as teams, an incentive to get in shape and stay that way, and a vehicle that provides the perfect backdrop for photographs capturing the moments that remain as fond memories for the years to follow.  The course will surely take runners, bikers, paddlers and an army of volunteers to new places, exploring the wonderful towns and villages of the Blackstone River Valley as they make their way to the finish line.  It is the stuff the Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge is made of, and this year the end of course promises to be sweeter than ever. 

On Saturday, September 26th, from 1:00pm – 3:30pm, in the Grove at beautiful Lincoln Woods State Park in Rhode Island children ages 6-12 are invited to participate in the first official “Children’s Challenge.”  In collaboration with the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation, the Greenway Challenge announced the newest component of its event.  For nine years the adventure race has promoted recreational opportunities to participants and volunteers and this year has expanded its finish line celebration to include family recreation.

Jeannie Hebert, President and CEO of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce said, “I see this event as the beginning of a tradition for family events that are possible because there are no state boundaries in the Blackstone Valley.  This event is happening because of the collaborative efforts across the borders.”   

Eastern Mountain Sports Kayak School will be conducting “Stay Put, Stay Dry” classes focusing on how to survive if lost in the woods, as well as canoe and kayak demonstrations.  Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge 2009 charitable recipient, Boy Scouts of America Mohegan Council of Massachusetts will be demonstrating various scouting skills as they celebrate their 100th year anniversary.  The Rhode Island Army National Guard will be attending the Finish Line Celebration with the "Rock Climbing Wall" and military vehicles.  

As the participants arrive at the finish line this year, the Greenway Challenge will be starting a new leg of the course, breaking down the boundaries that once limited the event to those directly involved, and will now include families and friends.  Volunteers and businesses from both Massachusetts and Rhode Island will facilitate activities including sack races, face painting, relay races, a Hula-Hoop contest and more as the Rhode Island State Parks celebrate their 100th anniversary of the state’s purchase of its first state park, Lincoln Woods.

The mission of the Greenway Challenge as defined on its website is “to promote the recreational quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley. Working with partner organizations, the Greenway Challenge supports clean water campaigns, hiking and biking trails, wildlife projects, environmental education and development of waterway access.”  The addition of new recreational opportunities for families seems to be a perfect ingredient for the Greenway Challenge vision and recipe for success. In a partnership collaboration, Greenway Challenge and its partners are creating more opportunity to experience the stuff fond memories are made of.

UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge Selects Mohegan Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America as the 2009 Charitable Recipient  

June 2009 – The UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge Steering Committee is pleased to announce that it has chosen the Mohegan Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America as the 2009 Charitable Recipient.  “The Steering Committee was impressed by the Scouts’ enthusiasm in assisting at various transition sites in past years.  We noted the environmental work they do year-round in maintaining the beauty of the natural setting, increasing wildlife habitat and improving recreational sites found in the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor” stated Steering Committee Chair Charles Thompson.

The mission of the selected organization must be compatible to that of the UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge, which is to promote the recreational opportunities in the Blackstone River Valley. Working with partner organizations, the Greenway Challenge supports clean water campaigns, hiking and biking trails, wildlife projects, environmental education and development of waterway access. The Boy Scouts of America’s mission matches the Greenway Challenge’s mission well. The selection committee also felt that youths  should be encouraged and given further opportunities to learn about and enjoy the Blackstone River.

The Boy Scouts of America’s conservation focus has been part of its core program and emphasis since its inception in 1910.  According to Jay Garee, Scout Executive, “Through Scouting, young people are exposed to the recreational benefits found within the Blackstone Valley Region. Scouts age 6 and up have explored the Blackstone River by canoe, hiked and cycled the Valley’s trails, and camped along the Blackstone Canal. Learning by doing is a hallmark of outdoor education and Scouts have learned to appreciate both the remarkable industrial heritage of the river as well as its eco-revitalization.”   “We are very pleased and honored to be awarded this grant and look forward to a continued partnership with those involved in preserving the natural setting of the Blackstone River Valley.”  

For the past century, the Mohegan Council has been a vital part of the central Massachusetts community.  The Council currently serves over 4,700 youth in 32 cities and towns by providing Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing and Learning for Life opportunities to children and young adults.  Scouting has helped countless boys and (yes...) girls from our region develop into confident adults, engaged in community service and willing to serve others. In 2010 the BSA is celebrating its centennial ~ 100 years of fun and learning. Visit www.MoheganCouncilBSA.org for more information.  

For more information, visit www.greenwaychallenge.org or contact Barbara Dixon, UniBank Greenway Challenge Request, One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895. Barbara may be reached at 401-762-0250 ext. 30.#