Jenny's Creek out on Prudence Island is my favorite Salt Marsh that I've been to in the state of Rhode Island, and I've been to a lot of them. There is not much development out around the creek, so when walking through it, you can feel a sense of what much of coastal Rhode Island looked like when it was still teeming with salt marshes. About 90% of downtown Providence used to be salt marsh before development took over, so to see a pristine salt marsh still in its near natural state is refreshing.
It is also refreshing to have a camp full of middle school girls who enjoy being outside in different marine habitats every day and aren't afraid of getting muddy and salty while learning! There is a path along the outside edge through the Spartina of Jenny's Creek salt marsh, that houses many fiddler crabs, snails, oysters, and pickleweed that we had our campers actually taste. It leads you down to a small floating bridge, where, just past high tide, there is enough water to scoot your way into the tidal creek, and take advantage of an outgoing tide. The creek winds around and eventually opens up on the west side of the island on a rocky/partially sandy shore. The ride is much like a lazy river at a water park, but in an all natural setting. Below your feet you can feel the decomposing peat and every now and then get a good whiff of the sulfur contained in it, both signs of the health of the area. Salt marshes are the most productive habitat on earth, even moreso than a rainforest. There is diversity of life everywhere, as many animals use salt marshes as a breeding and nursery ground for their young.
Because of this productivity and the absorbancy of the peat, the soil also has an incredible amount of nutrients contained in it. Humans often use this to fertilize their gardens, but the finest spas around the world also use this for mud baths! Much of the sediment was suspended in the water with each time someone touched the bottom, so we were submersed our natural mud baths for about 30 minutes. The next day, all of the girls told me how smooth and soft their skin felt. Most were very excited to get the most expensive spa treatments in such a beautiful setting, with many new friends, and for free!
For more information on Jenny's Creek, read the article http://www.prudenceconservancy.org/Images/PressReleases/News.20070406.BlountOpenSpaceGrant.pdf
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