November 9, 2007

Dear Lighthouse Friends,

The Rose Island Lighthouse may be painted white, but it’s been GREEN for over 20 years! Situated a mile offshore, away from municipal utilities and services, the Lighthouse was restored from the very beginning with the environment in mind, which led to our first Historic Preservation Award in 1993. Our combination of historic lighthouse and environmental education center is unique in the state! To date over 26,000 school children in grades K-5 have benefited from a Rose Island field trip! Using the keeper’s sustainable, resourceful “way of life” as a model, we teach children how to think globally while empowering them to act locally, starting in their homes and their schools.

Children have the power to change the world! The Union of Concerned Scientists credits “seemingly powerless children and teenagers” with the success of the recycling revolution of the 1980s by changing the attitudes and individual behavior of their families, schools and colleges* That is why we focus on children in the elementary grades and gear our programs to inspire children to develop resourcefulness and self-sufficiency so they will be able to come up with innovative solutions to their home, community and world problems. We use the Lighthouse and island setting to teach about global issues on a scale that kids can easily grasp — issues such as climate change, renewable energy, clean water protection and water conservation, recycling and landfill usage, and open space preservation. All while having a great time!

The far reaching benefits of an environmental education are undeniable. We, along with many other environmental organizations nationwide, support Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed’s No Child Left Inside bill to make environmental education a priority in our schools. Acting locally, RILF’s immediate goal is to reach more low-income children in local schools that have an increasingly difficult time affording dynamic outdoor environmental programs such as ours.

We need to raise $20,000 this year. Your support of this annual appeal is critical to ensure the future of our programs, so we ask you to please help us continue to make a difference!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Carol Lynn Trocki               Charlotte E. Johnson         Reada Evans
Education Committee Chair       Executive Director           Education Director