Hi, I’m Abby Torres, a recently graduated high school student from Marblehead MA! For the past four years, I attended the Pingree School in South Hamilton, and over the course of this May and June I was fortunate enough to work with IRWA to complete a final project. During our last spring at Pingree, all seniors are required to plan, execute, and present a two-week-long project that is meaningful or significant to us in some way. Although I have always loved spending time out in nature (the White Mountains are my favorite place in the world), over the past few years my love for the outdoors further developed into a love for environmental science, sustainability, and activism.
Earlier this spring I had worked with IRWA to run a climate cafe with some of my classmates, and working with IRWA again seemed like the perfect opportunity to learn more about the world of environmental activism, while still working with a local organization. Fortunately, they said yes, and I was able to work with them to complete my project, specifically under the mentorship of Sarah Dawson, IRWA’s Restoration Program Manager!
For my project specifically, I primarily worked in the Black Brook Tributary with Sarah and IRWA’s Programs Manager Ryan O’Donnell in the Black Brook Tributary, an offshoot of the Ipswich River that runs through my high school’s campus. Through analyzing water samples, collecting macroinvertebrates, surveying water crossings, and more, we were able to generally assess the health of the tributary. Besides field work and data analysis, I was also given the opportunity to work with Emma Hughen, IRWA’s environmental educator, and help run a few educational outreach events. Being able to work with Sarah and the rest of the amazing team at IRWA not only allowed me to gain field work experience and learn more about the behind the scenes work that happens at grassroots organizations, but also affirmed for me that this is the type of work that I am passionate about. I’m very excited to be heading to the University of Vermont next fall as an environmental science major, and I hope to continue working with amazing organizations like IRWA in the future!