The partnership for providence parks and the department of providence parks has been working closely with staff in your rhode island national wildlife refuge and southern new england coastal program…

The partnership for providence parks and the department of providence parks has been working closely with staff in your rhode island national wildlife refuge and southern new england coastal program offices to bring a conservation message, as well as an awareness of the service, to the urban neighborhoods of providence where families live and work and play. Providence is one of the most diverse cities in the united states. The need for a direct conservation message in this urban environment is especially significant since the population of providence has a 28 poverty rate, with 23 of the population under the age of 18 (U.S. Census bureau). IT is critical to reach these schoolchildren and families where they live and work, since most do not have the resources to travel to rural national wildlife refuges and zoos - and expose them to the services conservation and wildlife message. The focus of this partnership has been to provide the expertise to tie in the park system and their friends groups, along with non- government organizations, with a broader scientific knowledge and assist them in engaging neighborhoods, volunteers, schools and families in lasting wildlife conservation ethics. As such, we have been working collaboratively with the service and numerous other partners to collectively support an urban coordinator position, which allows US to provide wildlife-related public programs, wildlife habitat enhancement, outdoor engagement programs with schools, after-school programs and training to teachers to offer environmental education in their own classrooms.