Student Stewardship

We’re big fans of the students at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical school, especially the Natural Resource Management program. These students, along with their teacher Paul Crofts, have been involved with a number of Ipswich River efforts, including our recent Legislative Breakfast and the most fun event on the river Paddle-a-thon & Riverfest!

Please join us in sending enthusiastic congratulations and thanks to the students for their recent Essex National Heritage grant. Read more about the grant below.

“On March 16th Grade 11 students from the Natural Resource Management program at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical school presented their concerns and questions to politicians at the Ipswich Watershed Association Legislative Breakfast. Students have been researching if towns within the watershed are increasing water sustainability and planning for climate change and sea level rise.  They have also been busy improving their own stewardship of Nicholls Brook which runs through their campus. On April 4th they received a generous grant from Essex Heritage to realize their goals to reduce nonpoint source pollution. The students’ plan is to reduce agricultural pollution by deterring cows from drinking from Nicolls Brook directly. By using windmills they will pump fresh drinking water to cattle troughs. They will also renovate the banks by planting wetland plant species and use solar power electric fencing to stop cows eroding banks.”

-Nicholas Dunn, Natural Resource Management student