Outreach & Education
Aquidneck Island Land Trust engages with the Island community in a variety of ways, seeking to educate people of all ages about the work that we do to conserve open space, protect our watershed areas, and steward wildlife habitat. Examples of this include community presentations, outreach to schools, and Walk and Talks on conserved lands. Check out our upcoming events and news feed for more!
The Merritt Neighborhood Fund
The 2026 Merritt Fund cycle is now accepting applications! Please see the full application here. Please note the application deadline is March 13, 2026.
The Merritt Neighborhood Fund was established in 1999 and named after the late Peter Merritt, President Emeritus of the Aquidneck Island Land Trust. The Fund supports neighborhood-based efforts that protect and enhance green spaces through land conservation, beautification projects, and stewardship.
Over the years, the Fund has funded community gardens and the transformation of neglected properties to enhance environmental and recreational benefits in neighborhoods throughout the Island.
Congratulations to the 2025 grantees:
- Aquidneck Elementary School: expanding their Learning Garden and making it ADA-accessible
- Hawk & Handsaw Farm: Community picnic table materials
- Newport Tree Conservancy: 100 Trees in Miantonomi Memorial Park
- Norman Bird Sanctuary: Improved Hügelkultur garden deer fencing
- Portsmouth Dog Park: Dog-friendly and native plants for the expansion trail
- Town of Portsmouth: ADA-accessible picnic table and a park bench for the Glen Park Playground
Help us grow the Fund! Donate to the endowed Merritt Neighborhood Fund so more community projects can benefit from these small but impactful grants. With your support, a little goes a long way! Find out more in the brochure here.
Art & Writing Contest
The Aquidneck Island Land Trust is pleased to host an annual Art & Writing Contest, sponsored by Sixteen On Center, a competition in which local students reflect on their favorite Aquidneck Island vistas and the changing environment. Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s contest!
Winners were awarded generous cash prizes and family memberships to the Land Trust and recognized at our Annual Meeting on January 27, 2026 at The Pennfield School.
2025 Art winners
Kindergarten–Grade 4
Ethan Earl, first place (Gaudet Learning Academy)
Kolbe Walkusky, second place (Melville Elementary School)
Tessa Schoonmaker, third place (Melville Elementary School)
Lydia Larson, honorable mention (Melville Elementary School)
Haley Chappelle, honorable mention (Melville Elementary School)
Christopher Fillorama-Smith, honorable mention (Melville Elementary School)
Grades 5-8
Isla Ackman, first place (The Pennfield School)
Sidonie Burton, second place (The Pennfield School)
Harper Scholhamer, third place (The Pennfield School)
Aria Gallant, honorable mention (The Pennfield School)
Carol Biszko, honorable mention (All Saint’s STEAM Academy)
Aden Argante, honorable mention (All Saint’s STEAM Academy)
Grades 9-12
Kiyomi Francis, first place (St. George’s School)
Jayda Barsdale, second place (Rogers High School)
Luis Lopez, third place (Rogers High School)
Kyleigh Landers, honorable mention (Rogers High School)
Mari Field, honorable mention (Rogers High School)
Jackson Hernandez, honorable mention (Rogers High School)
2025 Writing Winners
Kindergarten-Grade 4
Eloise Pietz, first place (Hathaway Elementary School)
Hutcheon Devaud, second place (All Saint’s STEAM Academy)
Aaron Arruda, third place (All Saint’s STEAM Academy)
Annette Biszko, honorable mention (All Saint’s STEAM Academy)
Sophye Hansel, honorable mention (All Saint’s STEAM Academy)
Grades 5-8
Theo Rosenthal, first place (St. Michael’s Country Day School)
Morgan Rossell, second place (St. Michael’s Country Day School)
Graham Laundon, third place (The Pennfield School)
James Hanigan, honorable mention (St. Michael’s Country Day School)
Hadley Botelho, honorable mention (The Pennfield School)
Finley Moulton, honorable mention (The Pennfield School)
The Land Trust thanks Sixteen on Center for underwriting the contest, which encourages local students to recognize and treasure the beauty of Aquidneck Island.