Over a decade ago, I was an elementary schooler taking her first canoe trip down the Ipswich River at summer camp. Wearing a massive smile and unbelievable amounts of sunscreen, I sat in the center of the canoe, listening to the birds and feeling the water splash up onto me.
Over a decade later, I have found myself in similar circumstances- no longer a camper, but this year’s Kerry Mackin Intern! Environmental education, especially the environmental education I received on the Ipswich River, was a fundamental part of building the love I have for nature and the outdoors that I have today. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to share that love with so many young people.
This summer, I met over 600 youth who participated in IRWA’s Floating Classroom Program, and spent 23 days running programming both on and off the river! From water quality testing to murder mysteries, I planned fun and educational activities for each visiting group that taught them about the watershed.
Reflecting on the environmental education I have received in the past has been beneficial in developing educational material. Remembering what resonated with me in early childhood versus teenage years (or is universally exciting, such as seeing turtles basking in the sun) has been immensely helpful in developing lesson plans for the many different age groups that visit. My favorite activities we did this summer were macroinvertebrate sampling and an ecological “murder mystery” game!
Above all else, what has really struck me throughout my time at IRWA has been the incredible curiosity and kindness students have demonstrated. I got to witness students cheering on their peers who were nervous about the water, teamwork in the activities I had planned, and countless questions about the wildlife on the river.
This fall, I will be heading back to UMass Amherst for my senior year, where I am majoring in Environmental Science. I will also be finishing up my Honors Thesis on climate refugia for coldwater fishes. I feel so lucky to have worked at such a great organization with such wonderful people.