As the mornings turn chillier and the sun sets earlier, I can tell that fall is here. The leaves are already starting to change colors and to say I’m looking forward to the fall foliage in New England would be an understatement. I’ve been told by practically everyone I’ve met here that fall in New Hampshire is a beautiful sight to behold, and even though it means I have to start layering up (I’m not nearly as prepared for the colder weather as I likely should be), I’m excited to see how it differs from my hometown of Memphis. Although the summer season is practically over and much of our work is transitioning into online assignments, I relish the days I get to be outdoors the most. There’s less activity both on Newfound Lake and at Grey Rocks nowadays, and it’s altogether a different side of the Newfound Lake area that I hadn’t seen before. I’m starting to feel the clock ticking down the days before my departure, as sad as that may sound, but I’m hoping to make the best of my last month here and not take any day for granted.
For a while, it seemed we had seen the last of our water quality sampling days out on the lake now that NLRA’s pontoon boat has been stored inside for the colder weather. However, thanks to the help of volunteers, we’ve been able to continue water sampling on the lake through September. (If you have a boat and can help us take samples in October, please get in touch! Email info@newfoundlake.org.) Over the course of my service term, I’ve had the chance to work with three volunteers on water quality days, people who have gone out of their way and offered their time and help to get data and water samples. It’s a refreshing experience being able to go out with volunteers and hear their history with Newfound Lake, whether they’ve been here for years or have only recently moved to New Hampshire. Interacting with volunteers, both during water quality days and Volunteer Days, is always a rewarding experience; we get to meet individuals who genuinely care about Newfound and set aside time to help our conservation efforts. I believe that it’s people like them who truly make a difference in the realm of conservation.
A new month also meant a new Guided Exploration program; after having to cancel it in August due to weather, we were able to hold my Butterfly Watercolor Painting program in September. I was thrilled to be able to reschedule as I was really looking forward to this program, and my excitement only grew as I met with all the lovely ladies who signed up! While most of us had little to no experience with watercolor painting, it was fun being able to try something new and explore a hobby I hadn’t delved into before. The weather still wasn’t entirely in our favor and we were only able to catch a glimpse of one Monarch butterfly during our time at Grey Rocks, but it was a fun experience overall and I was glad to hear the others enjoyed it as well. When I first heard we would be designing and executing our own programs throughout the service term in late May I was both excited and a little nerve-wracked at the idea, but now I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling ecstatic when a program I’ve planned entirely by myself has been successful. My next program is a guided hike, you can register here.
Between the hustle and bustle of service, I’ve also found myself trying to squeeze in plenty of New England exploration on my days off while I’m here. I’ve taken day trips to Boston, Portland, and even spent a weekend in New York City on my time off. Even though I’m trying to cram a lot into a small amount of remaining time, I’m also already looking forward to the next time I can come back to New Hampshire. I think it’ll be a little odd to return in the shoes of a tourist rather than someone who’s living in the area, but it’ll undoubtedly bring back all the fond memories I’ve made here (and have yet to make). I can’t quite decide if these months have gone by in a blur or not; I can still vividly remember my first few days here when I had to use my phone’s GPS to get to the NLRA office or the nearest grocery store. And yet, when I look back, I am amazed at all the things we’ve accomplished during our service term and all the experiences I’ve had in these last few months. All this being said, there’s still a month left of the Americorps program and I’m not having to say farewell to Newfound just yet. There are still programs to run and water samples to get, and I don’t plan on saying goodbye (and potentially shedding a few tears) until I’m physically driving away from the place I’ve called home for the last five months.
