As the year comes to a close I am asking you to think about what inspired you most by the work of the NSRWA?
Was it the over 5,000 youth that received environmental education, either in their classrooms or outside engaging with nature?
Was it the more than 600 volunteers that helped educate those kids in the classrooms, counted herring, documented water quality, monitored horseshoe crabs, eelgrass and mussels, led nature walks, served on boards and committees, supported the Great River Race and Striper Tournament, planted dune grass to protect our beaches, made presentations about the watershed, documented conservation areas for our Explore South Shore program, or painted our new mural at the Hanover Crossings celebrating our rivers?
Was getting the North River Protective order funding reinstated in the state budget?
Or was it the first dam removal that just started in November at Veterans Memorial Park to reconnect the South River to the ocean and allow river herring, shad, eels and brook trout access to more habitat?
If you find these accomplishments inspiring please help us to continue this important work to educate and engage our community to protect our waters by making a donation before the end of the year!
Thank YOU!
Samantha Woods
Executive Director
What Inspired Us!
Every year I am continually inspired by our staff, partners, members, donors and volunteers. When I feel like the effort is all too much I take comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this endeavor. I am inspired every day by the fantastic team of professionals I work with, including our many partners. But even more inspirational are the people who give their time and treasure with no other reward but to help to make our water healthier for people and wildlife now and into the future.
Samantha Woods, Executive Director
This year, what inspired me the most about the work we do is the reception our Explore South Shore program has received on social media. Each day on Facebook and Instagram, we post a photo and some basic information about places on the South Shore where the public can go to enjoy nature. So many people are following our suggestions, visiting these spots, asking questions, sharing their experiences, and also providing their own tips for other visitors. I love that NSRWA is providing this connection point for the South Shore’s large, diverse, and enthusiastic community of nature lovers!
Kezia Bacon – Community Engagement Manager
Since joining NSRWA, I’ve been struck by the staff’s depth of knowledge, their experience and dedication to the mission. The history of the rivers, the science behind our work, the management of impactful projects, the collaboration and partnerships and so much more. It all contributes to a great model for education, engagement, advocacy and action. As a donor recently told me, this organization definitely punches above its weight. And as I tell myself, it is truly an inspiration.
Joe Regan – Development Manager
I was most inspired this year by our interns and volunteers. Seeing people be so enthusiastic about the work that we do energizes me to do more myself!
Alex Mansfield, MassBays South Shore Regional Coordinator and Ecologist
I’ve been working with the NSRWA since 2021 and one of the main reasons I was interested in the organization was their mission. Every year we receive contract funds which allow us to hire summer interns. It is so inspiring to watch these young men and women be mentored by our scientists while they pursue their careers in environmental science. It gives me hope that the next generation will continue to preserve and protect our local watersheds.
Claudia Bernardi – Finance and Operations
I created the third curriculum module of the Youth Climate Action Toolkit content for educators to be able to download and use from our website. This year I took Dori Read’s Water Wise curriculum and created the classroom presentation, the toolkit, and the MA Standards document. I’m excited to promote it in 2025!
Lori Wolfe – Marketing and Communications Director
The Let Our Rivers Flow mural was unveiled on the “green” at Hanover Commons in June. This was such an incredible project that has made a lasting impact on everyone involved. The colors of the mural bring our riverine habitats to life, and the signage and benches made from salvaged millstones provide a tangible, historical context for our river restoration work. The size of the mural and its location in such a public space will raise awareness of the issues that impact the health of our rivers for years to come. We have been so inspired by this project and plan to use this as a model for the future.
Becky Malamut – River Restoration Coordinator
This year I took students from the American Field Service Program out kayaking as part of our Estuary Explorers program. The American Field Service Program hosts high school students from all over the world to celebrate differences and seek the common ground that connects people.. We had 8 students from Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and Central America joins us to explore our beautiful rivers. This was the second year partnering with them and one of the students shared that he had never been given the opportunity to kayak before and how excited he was to learn a new skill and share this with his family back home.
Brian Taylor, Environmental Educator