LOCATED AT: 143 COUNTY ROAD, IPSWICH MA MAIL: P.O. BOX 576, IPSWICH, MA 01938 PHONE: 978-412-8200 FAX: 978-412-9100

Student Conferences

The annual Ipswich River High School Conference started in the early 1990s as a collaborative effort between teachers and IRWA. Conferences were held each year at Reading Memorial High School, with notable assistance from Leo Kenney of Reading Memorial High School, Walt Tompkins of Hamilton/Wenham Regional High School, and Peg Lawrence of the IRWA. After a few very successful years (with nearly 200 students and teachers in attendance each year), funding limitations led to discontinuation of the conferences in favor of teacher trainings based on the curriculum described above.

In 1998, IRWA received funding to revive the conference. Held at the Topsfield fairground in the spring, the conferences focused on providing middle and high school students with field experience (wetlands, macroinvertebrates, vernal pools) with knowledgeable trip leaders. As field experiences require smaller groups of students, these conferences were smaller overall (around 40 students) and continued for two years. Staffing and funding limitations prevent IRWA from being able to offer these programs currently.