Time sure does fly! It feels like just yesterday I had those new job jitters about getting my feet wet (literally!) here at Waterfront Alliance. Those jitters are familiar to anyone who has ever started something new and exciting, but Waterfront Alliance wasn’t just another exciting opportunity; it was also a chance to reconnect with my roots and reflect on my decade-long journey as an environmental educator.
Everyone should understand our connection to the waterways that built New York City
My first interactions with the waterfront community and environmental science began when I entered high school. As a Harbor School student, I had the privilege of early exposure, hands-on experience, and immersive opportunities in and around our waterfronts. As I grew in my career, those early experiences gave me a unique perspective in this field. That’s why I feel so strongly about our mission. These are the types of opportunities Waterfront Alliance is bringing to students from all over the city because everyone should understand our connection to the waterways that built New York City. I can attest to the importance of this work not only through my own experiences, but also through seeing how much the students I now teach benefit from it.
My goal when joining Waterfront Alliance was not only to bring more students to their waterfronts, but to get them into the water itself, touching and interacting with the organisms that call it home. And we are doing just that. This past spring, we took more students into the water than ever before! There’s nothing quite like getting 20 high school seniors suited up in waders and having them drag a net through water that, just weeks earlier, they couldn’t imagine containing any life. The shrieks of joy, fear, excitement, and curiosity when they see what we’ve caught remind me that I’m exactly where I need to be, providing the same kinds of experiences that led me to where I am today.
The months since I joined the team have been exciting, to say the least! There is never a dull moment for the education team, that’s for sure. Whether I’m at a career expo or festival engaging hundreds of participants, sitting in a classroom of 15 fourth graders sharing the history of our waterfronts, or debating the pros and cons of climate solutions with high school students, the learning never stops, even for me. I have learned so much during my time here and continue to do so every day. From the technical aspects of waterfront edge design to the policies that shape our waterways and our city’s resilience, there is always something new to learn or get involved in.
Joining Waterfront Alliance has truly been a full-circle moment for me. Not only because I now work closely with students from the very school where I got my start, but because I see a little of myself in every student we reach. I strive to spark the same passions in the next generation of environmental stewards that were sparked in me years ago. From being a student to becoming an educator, the goal has always been the same: connect to our water.
After a summer filled with adventurous camp days, countless City of Water Day events, cardboard kayak races, coastal cleanups, and water quality testing, I am excited to continue into this new school year. I look forward to seeing what’s ahead and to helping foster even more meaningful and engaging connections between students and their waterfronts.
Cardboard kayak race photo credit: Whitney Browne
