On August 18th, I hosted a Golden Hour Photo Walk at Lynn Woods. It was an opportunity for attendees to learn about the sources of their drinking water while strolling through Lynn Woods, discovering its history and wildlife.
Within the first few minutes of the walk, we noticed a deer crossing the trail. Lynn Woods contrasts greatly from its urban surroundings– it hosts a variety of wildlife and provides a wooded barrier surrounding three of Lynn’s four reservoirs, protecting them from stormwater pollution. In our observation of the trails, we also saw various fungi, native calico aster flowers, tree frogs, and more.
I started the walk by educating attendees on Lynn’s water sources, those being the Saugus and Ipswich Rivers. I discussed the importance of these rivers, the challenges they face, and the organizations that are working to protect them.
I was also able to touch on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, which provides water and sewer services to 61 communities in east and central Massachusetts. In addition, I discussed the water sources of Manchester-by-the-Sea; Gravelly Pond and a well on Lincoln Street. By touching on these sources of water, all attendees of the photo walk got a chance to learn about their community’s drinking water.
Taking a break from the water discussions, I told the group about the folklore behind Dungeon Rock. Dungeon Rock is a man-made tunnel in Lynn Woods dug by a man in search of a pirate’s treasure. He conducted seances to contact the ghost of this pirate, Thomas Veale, who was trapped in the cave alongside his treasure after an earthquake in 1658.
Throughout the walk, the attendees had many interesting questions for me. It was refreshing to see their curiosity ignited by my walk, and I encouraged them to feed this curiosity and research any additional questions that came to mind. My goal was to spark discussions about drinking water, and I feel this goal was achieved. I’m so grateful I had such an attentive group with me that day, and I’m very glad this project encouraged me to research the drinking water of my hometown.
I’m thankful this project was made possible through my internship— I am one of two high school interns at IRWA this summer. This internship has been a wonderful, insightful experience for me. Not only have I learned so much about the multidisciplinary field of environmental science, I’ve faced a ton of activities and challenges that have really helped me grow. It has also been a blast to spend time with all the wonderful people at the Ipswich River Watershed Association. I can’t wait to put my new knowledge and skills to use!
