Rhode Island

Nature-Based Printables Help Rhode Island Families Turn Beach Days into Learning Adventures

Published

9 months ago

June 23, 2025

Nature-Based Printables Help Rhode Island Families Turn Beach Days into Learning Adventures

Explore Rhode Island

Mindful Printables US launches comprehensive Ocean State nature guides featuring local hot spots and expert identification tips
Providence, Rhode Island – June 21, 2025 – As summer vacation begins, Rhode Island families are discovering a new way to transform ordinary beach walks and nature hikes into interactive learning experiences. Mindful Printables US has launched a comprehensive collection of downloadable nature guides specifically designed for the Ocean State, featuring everything from seashells found at Napatree Point to wildflowers blooming in local parks.
“Rhode Island’s diverse ecosystems-from our 400 miles of coastline to our inland forests-offer incredible learning opportunities right in our backyard,” says Rey Doon, founder of Mindful Printables US. “Our guides help families identify what they’re seeing while exploring the specific places where these discoveries are most likely to happen. When a child finds a moon snail shell at East Beach, they can learn not just what it is, but why it’s there.”
Comprehensive Rhode Island Nature Collection
The Rhode Island series includes five specialized guides covering the state’s most popular outdoor activities:
Seashells Guide: Features shells commonly found along RI’s shoreline with a curated list of the top 10 shelling locations, from East Beach in Charlestown to Mohegan Bluffs on Block Island, complete with parking information, peak seasons, and insider tips.
Wildflowers Guide: Identifies native and naturalized flowers throughout Rhode Island’s parks, trails, and coastal areas with seasonal blooming information.
Birds Guide: Showcases species found across the state’s varied habitats, from coastal birds at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge to woodland species in local parks.
Leaves & Trees Guide: Helps families identify Rhode Island’s diverse tree species, perfect for walks through places like Lincoln Woods or Arcadia Management Area.
Butterflies Guide: Features the colorful butterflies and moths found in Rhode Island gardens, fields, and conservation areas.
Each guide goes beyond simple identification, including tracking logs for recording discoveries, fun facts about local ecosystems, engaging games like crosswords and word searches, and detailed hot spot recommendations with practical visiting information.
More Than Just Identification
“What sets our guides apart is the local expertise,” notes Doon. “We don’t just show you what a surf clam looks like-we tell you that East Matunuck State Beach is one of the best places to find them, especially after a storm, and that you should arrive early on weekends for the best shelling experience.”
The printables are designed for various learning styles and age groups, featuring clear photographs, easy-to-read descriptions, interactive activities, and space for children to sketch their own discoveries. Teachers and homeschooling families have particularly embraced the guides for incorporating hands-on science into their curricula.
Local families report that the guides have transformed their outdoor experiences. “My kids used to get bored on beach walks,” says one Providence parent. “Now they’re actively hunting for specific shells and asking questions about what they find. It’s turned every beach day into a treasure hunt.”
Supporting Rhode Island’s Outdoor Education
The guides reflect Rhode Island’s commitment to environmental education and outdoor recreation. By highlighting specific locations and providing practical visiting information, Mindful Printables US supports local beaches, parks, and conservation areas while encouraging responsible exploration.
Each location featured in the guides includes website links, parking information, and seasonal tips to help families plan successful outings while respecting these natural spaces.
About Mindful Printables US
Founded by Rey Doon, Mindful Printables US creates state-specific educational resources that connect children and families with their local natural environments. The company’s mission is to make outdoor education accessible while fostering environmental stewardship and curiosity about the natural world.
Purchase Rhode Island nature guides: https://sites.google.com/view/mindfulprintablesus/by-region/rhode-island
Media Contact:
Rey Doon
reydoonvalley@gmail.com
High-resolution images, sample guide pages, and founder interviews available upon request.

Lalley Blvd,
Fairfield CT 06824
Rey Doon
Email: reydoonvalley@gmail.com

MindfulPrintablesUS creates nature-inspired printables to help families connect, slow down, and explore

We believe that spending time outdoors and observing the natural world brings a sense of mindfulness, wonder, and calm. Our products are designed to encourage families, educators, and kids to slow down, look closely, and engage with the world around them-whether it’s on a beach, in a backyard, or during a walk in the woods.

From nature trackers and birdwatching journals to printable scavenger hunts and creative prompts, our resources are crafted with intention and a love for learning. Every product is designed to make outdoor exploration and nature education accessible and fun. Thank you for visiting-we hope our creations help you pause, explore, and enjoy the moment.

This release was published on openPR.

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Rhode Island

Truckers ordered to pay own legal bills from failed RI toll lawsuit

Published

11 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Truckers ordered to pay own legal bills from failed RI toll lawsuit

The trucking industry will have to pay its own legal bills for the unsuccessful eight-year-old lawsuit it brought to stop Rhode Island’s truck toll system, a federal judge ruled Friday, March 27.

The American Trucking Associations was seeking $21 million in attorneys fees and other costs from the state, but a decision from U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. says the truckers lost the case and will have to pick up the tab.

The state had previously filed a counterclaim for reimbursement of $9 million in legal bills, but an earlier recommendation from U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan had already thrown cold water on that possibility.

McConnell ordered American Trucking Associations to pay Rhode Island $199,281, a tiny fraction of the amount the state spent defending the network of tolls on tractor trailers.

Settling the lawyer tab may finally bring an end to a court fight that bounced back and forth through the federal judiciary since the toll system launched and the truckers brought suit in 2018.

As it stands, the state’s truck toll network has been mothballed since 2022 when a since-overturned judge’s ruling temporarily ruled it unconstitutional.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said it hopes to relaunch the tolls around March 2027.

The court costs fight hinged on which side could claim legal “prevailing party” status as the winner of the lawsuit.

The trucking industry claimed that it had won because the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled an in-state trucker discount mechanism, known as caps, in the original truck toll system was unconstitutional.

But Rhode Island argued that it is the winner because the appeals court had ruled that the larger system and broad concept of truck tolls is constitutional and can relaunch with the discounts stripped out.

“The Court determines that ATA has vastly overstated the benefit, if any, that they have received from the ultimate resolution of their challenge to the RhodeWorks program,” McConnell wrote.

The truckers “failed to obtain any practical benefit from the First Circuit’s severance of the [in-state toll] caps,” he went on. “Specifically, the evidence from this dispute confirmed that the lack of daily caps will result in ATA paying a higher amount in daily tolls and that it does not receive any tangible financial benefit from their elimination.”

In her December analysis of the legal fees question, Sullivan had concluded that the Trucking Associations’ outside counsel had overbilled and overstaffed the case.

But she had recommended that the industry be reimbursed $2.7 million for its bills, while McConnell’s ruling gives it nothing.

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Rhode Island

Think you’re middle class in Rhode Island? Here’s the income range

Published

23 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Think you’re middle class in Rhode Island? Here’s the income range

Your household can earn more than $160,000 a year and still be considered part of the “middle class” in Rhode Island, according to a recent study by SmartAsset.

Rhode Island is the state with the 17th-highest income range for households to be considered middle class, based on SmartAsset’s analysis using 2024 income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households earning roughly two-thirds to twice the national median household income.

According to a 2022 Gallup survey, about half of U.S. adults consider themselves middle class, with 38% identifying as “middle class” and 14% as “upper-middle class.” Higher-income Americans and college graduates were most likely to identify with the “middle class” or “upper-middle class,” while lower-income Americans and those without a college education generally identified as “working class” or “lower class.”

Here’s how much money your household would need to bring in annually to be considered middle class in Rhode Island.

How much money would you need to make to be considered middle class in RI?

In Rhode Island, households would need to earn between $55,669 and $167,008 annually to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. The Ocean State has the 17th-highest income range in the country for middle-class households.

The state’s median household income is $83,504.

How do other New England states compare?

Rhode Island has the fourth-highest income range for middle-class households in New England. Here’s what households would have to earn in neighboring states:

Massachusetts (#1 nationally) – $69,885 to $209,656 annually; median household income of $104,828
New Hampshire (#6 nationally) – $66,521 to $199,564 annually; median household income of $99,782
Connecticut (#10 nationally) – $64,033 to $192,098 annually; median household income of $96,049
Rhode Island (#17 nationally) – $55,669 to $167,008 annually; median household income of $83,504
Vermont (#19 nationally) – $55,153 to $165,460 annually; median household income of $82,730
Maine (#30 nationally) – $50,961 to $152,884 annually; median household income of $76,442

Which state has the highest middle-class income range?

Massachusetts ranks as the state with the highest income range to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. Households there would need to earn between $69,900 and $209,656 annually. The state’s median household income is $104,828.

Which state has the lowest middle-class income range?

Mississippi ranks last for the income range needed to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. Households there would need to earn between $39,418 and $118,254 annually. The state’s median household income is $59,127.

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Rhode Island

AARP report highlights scale and value of unpaid caregiving in Rhode Island

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

AARP report highlights scale and value of unpaid caregiving in Rhode Island

“Nationally there are 59 million Americans who are providing care for a loved one and that is 49.5 billion hours of care annually. It’s valued at a trillion dollars,” said Catherine Taylor, the director of AARP Rhode Island; AARP, the nation’s largest non- profit, dedicated to empowering people 50 and older.

In Rhode Island, the report shows 155,000 people serve as caregivers, providing 111 million hours of care.

Barbara Morse reports on unpaid caregivers. (WJAR)

“The total impact is $2.8 billion a year,” said Taylor.

It’s not just babysitting a loved one.

Catherine Taylor, the director of AARP Rhode Island, spoke with NBC 10’s Barbara Morse about the value of caregiving. (WJAR)

“People are doing a lot more nursing tasks, you know–wound care, injections and things like that and they’re doing a lot more intensive daily care, like bathing, and dressing and feeding than we used to,” she said.

Its latest report–“Valuing the Invaluable.”

“The whole point of this report is to draw attention to how many family care givers there are and what the magnitude of what the need is for their support,” said Taylor.

That includes financial support and respite care.

AARP wants you to know this:

An older man using equipment in a gym. (FILE)

In Rhode Island, temporary caregiver insurance or TCI is available to folks who qualify, for up to eight weeks.

There are federal tax credits you may qualify for. There is help.

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“All you have to do is call 211 and say you’re a family caregiver and they will connect you to all of AARP’S trusted information, including a Rhode Island specific guide on resources for caregivers,” she said.

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