Between presentations to the NLRA Board of Trustees and leading young campers from the Tapply-Thompson Community Center around Grey Rocks, I have no doubt that the month of August for the NLRA can never be considered boring or uneventful. This month has quickly joined the running for “busiest month of the summer”, and it’s kept me on my toes and very engaged as we reach the halfway point of the service term. Now that we’re at the end of this hectic August, I’ve found it’s nice to take a step back and try to piece together all I’ve done this month as I write this journal, as well as prepare for the next chapter of our term as we enter fall.
In the midst of the August heat, we got the chance to help out with the last Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) project of the summer. The YCC takes on several landscaping projects throughout the summer that help contribute to the preservation of our watershed, and since it only consisted of one crew member this year we often found ourselves helping out with these projects. Serving with the YCC has perhaps been one of the most physically demanding tasks I’ve participated in during this program; whether it was trudging up a hillside to try and plant a garden that’ll help decrease erosion or simply learning how to properly maneuver a wheelbarrow, I can definitely say it was a new and challenging experience. I don’t think I had ever realized the important role landscape and garden design plays in keeping our waters clean by managing stormwater and runoff, but I witnessed it firsthand while working with the YCC, and I feel I’ve gained a better understanding of one of the many ways humans can help preserve their surrounding watersheds. Although I’ll admit I wasn’t especially enamored with the landscaping aspect, I have a little more knowledge up my sleeve that I can use in the future.
This past month also saw the farewell of two of our full-time staff members, Andrew Veilleux and Karen Bemis. It was sad to see them go when they’ve done so much for us, but we’ve been figuring out what works best for us to help NLRA function just as smoothly as before. So far, this has meant that we’re taking on more responsibilities than we’ve had in the past; I’ve now been placed in charge of managing the water quality volunteers that take samples from Newfound Lake’s tributaries, emailing back and forth with the volunteers and making sure they have all the supplies they need for a day of sampling. As the program has progressed, it’s nice being able to see how we’re tasked with more independent work and are allowed more freedom when it comes to our own programs. Although it’s technically more weight on our shoulders, it allows us to engage more directly with volunteers and see how much effort is required to plan events, and there’s a certain pride that comes with knowing we’re being relied upon more than before.
I do find the need to admit that I’ve discovered I’m not immune to homesickness. Maybe it’s because we’re halfway through the program and I’m limited in my ability to visit home during a free weekend due to the distance, but it’s nothing a quick (or not-so-quick) phone call to mom can’t cure. Regardless, I’m hoping to continue to relish my time here, especially now that the realization is hitting that there are only two months left of this program. Even though it may seem like that’s plenty of time to get through my New Hampshire “bucket list” of sorts, I’m aware that these next few weeks will likely fly by. I’m looking forward to seeing the transition from summer to fall in New Hampshire and how it’ll change up what we do for the NLRA in the upcoming months.