Grace’s Second Summer on the River

Returning Kerry Mackin intern Grace Evans was well prepared to deal with the uncertainties of a summer during COVID-19. Read all about her summer on the river!

Hello again! While it seems I started helping out this summer so recently, my last day is quickly approaching. While my plans for the year were drastically altered due to COVID-19, I am so grateful that I have been welcomed back to the Ipswich River community. With so much uncertainty and change in the world, it has been inspiring to see this organization adapt to presented challenges while providing safe outdoor activities for its members. In July, I was mainly focused on Pepperweed (see video below). 

Pulling Pepperweed, researching Pepperweed, writing blogs and creating videos on Pepperweed. It has been a very informative and frustrating experience. Frustrating because the issue of invasive species is complicated and requires lots of dedicated volunteers and scientists, but also informative and a huge learning experience. It has been awesome to meet and work with the people (like fellow pepperweed-puller Adam Clark) and organizations that are tackling this issue. 

While I wish we were able to plan and host our usual educational groups this summer, camps have stepped up to the challenge to keep kids safe while still offering educational and outdoor activities. When I wasn’t working on ongoing Pepperweed projects, office tasks, and maintenance of our boats and property, I was working on creating online educational tools focused on watersheds and water conservation. This came in the form of online videos, scavenger hunts, worksheets, and at-home activities. 

For my last week, we hosted small groups of isolation pods from local Girl Scout groups on guided Riverbend paddles (pictured above). It was a welcome relief, after a summer of online learning and isolation, to safely help kids experience the river once again.  

Further highlights of the summer have been the monthly gardening days led by landscape designer and treasured Ipswich River volunteer Cathy Carney-Feldman along with Trish Aldrich’s help and direction. It was great to get outside and chat with dedicated volunteers who consistently show up for the organization. Another brightness to my day was the daily boat checks that I performed with a local community member and volunteer Brandon Boyd. Each day he came and chatted with me as we laboriously returned all the boats to the racks that were left out (please put your boat back on the rack after use!). 

Ipswich River has allowed me to connect with my community and learn more about the workings of the town I’ve lived in my whole life. I am thrilled I was able to return for an additional summer and will come back to visit frequently!