Journal

After searching for a volunteer project and exploring various different options, I am excited to be finalizing my hands-on project. I've sent and received several emails from Carol DeLancey, the director of special events at Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, and have agreed to volunteer for the WVWA Maple Sugaring Event, which will be held this Saturday. I'm not sure exactly what to expect, but I'm eager to meet the different people I will be working with on Saturday, and probably throughout the rest of my project. Carol said I will be working at the registration table, where I will give people samples of different types of sweeteners as they wait to take a tour. The event is geared towards educating younger kids -- hopefully I will help these kids become interested in the environment and watershed. Here is WVWA's website: [|http://www.wvwa.org] Also, here is the association's calendar. It includes a description of the event: []
 * //2/24/11 -- Starting my Hands-on Project//**

//**2/26/11 -- Maple Sugaring Event**// Today was my first day of volunteer work with WVWA. When I arrived at the Maple Sugaring Event this morning, I was a little unsure of myself, especially because the only person I knew was Carol. However, as the day progressed, I became much more comfortable. The Maple Sugaring Event was designed to educate kids and parents about the process of creating maple syrup. However, its purpose was twofold -- it was also geared towards increasing awareness of the WVWA and teaching children about the creek and the watershed. Carol and I set me up at a table next to registration desk with various types of sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey, imitation syrup, and stevia. I welcomed visitors and ran the table, speaking about the various sweeteners and where they are found in the environment. I also helped to set up and clean up after the event ended. Most of the kids were very curious, and I was happy to be part of the event. I remember coming to similar events at WVWA as a child, and I reflected today that such events spurred my interest in protecting the environment. I hope the kids at the event today had similar experiences. I also talked to Carol about finding a mentor today. She referred me to Suzanne Smith, another member of WVWA, and also agreed to help oversee my volunteer hours. //9:20 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. ~ 6 hours//

I just received an email from Anne, the Director of Development at WVWA, with a link to this article in the Reporter about the Maple Sugaring Event on Saturday: [] I am in the video embedded in the page.
 * //2/28/11//**

You are famous! Thanks for sharing. I loved watching you in the video!

//**3/20/11**// As I've continued to gather and annotate sources for my research project, I am also pinning down some more projects for my hands-on work. On April 16th, WVWA is running a program similar to the Maple Sugaring Event, but this time it is about water insects and is geared toward slightly older kids. I emailed with Lisa, the WVWA Membership Coordinator, who asked if I would be willing to volunteer at the event. I have put the date on my schedule. Last Wednesday, I also received an email from Suzanne, who works with the Education Department of WVWA. She asked me if I could work on a new project -- she needs a paper mache watershed model made by Tuesday, March 29th at 9 a.m. She will use it as an education tool to show kids how everything drains into the creek from the surrounding watershed. This is very appropriate, seeing as my research project focuses quite a bit on mine refuse draining into creeks from the surrounding area. Though I was out of town this weekend, Carol dropped off the materials and gave a brief explanation of the project to my mom, so I think I am ready to go. Lisa told me that the project will need a lot of time to dry as I put on more layers, so I need to start tonight. I'm guessing I will also have to work on it throughout the coming week and weekend. I have worked with paper mache before, but never on this big of a project. I guess it will be an adventure.

//**3/24/11 – Continuing my Watershed Project**// I am still working on finishing the watershed model, and it is a little harder than I thought. So far, I have created the mountains using rocks and plastic cover, then added three layers of paper mache on top of the plastic. It’s been difficult getting the layers of paper to dry overnight so that I can add more layers the next day, but I’ve put a fan on it, so hopefully it will start drying more quickly. It doesn’t really look like a watershed yet, but hopefully, as I add more layers, it will start to take form. //Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday – 1 hour, 50 minutes//

//**3/28/11 -- Finishing my Watershed Project**// Today I am putting the finishing touches on my watershed model. It has definitely come a very long way from when I started -- for a while, I wasn't exactly sure it was going to work out, but I am happy with the results. On Thursday and Saturday, I put several more layers of newspaper on top of the model to make it as thick as possible. Then, on Sunday, I added a few layers of computer paper on top of all the newspaper and painted the model with three layers of white paint. The top layer of paint made the entire watershed look very shiny, and I am actually really excited about how it has turned out. All I have left to do now is add the sealant. When Suzanne uses this model, she will pour water into it to demonstrate how everything washes into the creek. Therefore, it needs to be watertight. I also am planning on adding a layer of tape around the top of the model to prevent water from seeping through into the base. Suzanne needs the model by tomorrow at 9 a.m., and I can't drop it off because I have class, so I am hoping that my mom will be able to take it back to the barn (WVWA offices). //Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday -- 4 hours, 25 minutes//

//**4/11/11**// Well, I finally finished my watershed project! After I applied the sealant and tape, my mom dropped it off at WVWA for me. Lisa said that it looked great, so I am very happy that the project worked out! In the past few weeks, I have been in contact with Suzanne and Lisa. In the beginning of April, I also emailed Lisa again to discuss the insect program on April 16th. Unfortunately, it turns out that the admitted students day for William and Mary is the same day as the aquatic insect program. After much consideration, I decided to email Lisa to apologize and ask her if it was okay if I attended the W&M day. As it turned out, Lisa informed me that the interest for the program hadn't been very high. Later, she emailed me to tell me that it had been cancelled, so it turns out that I won't be missing the event anyway!

Suzanne wanted to meet with me, so I emailed her on Saturday, April 9th to set up a date. We decided that it would be best to meet on a day over spring break. I'm not exactly sure what is ahead in terms of new projects. Suzanne mentioned that she had a few ideas, and I will also be participating in the WVWA Stream Clean-Up on April 30th. I'm excited for our meeting and for the new projects!

//**5/1/11**// Yesterday was the WVWA Annual Stream Clean-up. With my family, I collected garbage from a section of the Wissahickon just off of Pennsylvania Avenue. We got really lucky with the weather -- it was beautiful and sunny, and not too cold. This year seemed to be quite a bit dirtier than last year -- we found a huge amount of really strange stuff. For instance, we pulled 2 lawn chairs, a toothbrush, a few umbrellas, 2 tires, a piece of an artificial Christmas tree, and a basketball rim out of the creek, along with the normal plastic bottles and bags that we usually find. There was also much more garbage in the floodplain this year. After doing this Stream Clean-Up for 10 (maybe even 11? I don't remember for sure) years, I feel like we definitely improve the creek's cleanliness and health for a few months, but coming back and seeing so much garbage is very discouraging. What is also very discouraging is that a lot of the garbage that we pull out can technically be recycled as well. I wish that people would be more conscious of where their trash actually goes when they throw it onto the side of the road. //4 hours//

Well, I have almost reached the end -- my presentation is finally over, and this coming Saturday (June 4th), I will wrap up my Senior Thesis service project! I never did get in touch with Suzanne -- she seems to have a very busy schedule, and she was also travelling quite a bit this spring. However, when I visited WVWA a week ago, Carol suggested that I wrap up my service with WVWA's first annual Miller's Day at the Evans-Mumbower Mill. This is similar to some of the other Serve-the-Preserve days hosted by WVWA. As a volunteer, I will help to restore the mill by preparing the wheel for water and repairing the lawn, among other things. My dad will also come with me to help out. I am really hoping it is not too hot, but the event begins at 9, so hopefully we will miss the worst parts of the afternoon.
 * //5/30/11//**

Overall, I am really satisfied with my work for WVWA. I was initially a little concerned about volunteering, especially because I didn't know anyone within the organization and I wasn't sure if my schedule would conflict with too many of the volunteering opportunities. However, I've found everyone to be friendly and extremely welcoming, and there have definitely been things here and there for me to do. I especially liked the Maple Sugaring Festival -- I loved interacting with younger kids as they learned about the watershed and maple syrup! I hope I can continue to be involved in the organization, or at the very least join a similar association while I am in college. //likely 3 hours//