It’s true what they say, time really does fly when you’re having fun. It’s been about 3 months since I first started my AmeriCorps term with the Squam Lakes Association and I can honestly say that it has gone by in the blink of an eye. I’ve been having so much fun! Every single day is different and I’ve learned so many new things. Between leading groups of volunteers to complete trail work, preparing for winter water quality sampling, or designing education and outreach programming, I get to practice a myriad of things every single week.
Not only do I get to try new and exciting things all of the time, but I get to do it with really amazing people by my side. We’ve had two new members added to our team and they are a perfect fit! Sometimes the work we do can present challenges, either physical or mental, and it really makes all the difference when you have a teammate with a good attitude to cheer you on and encourage you along the way.
Although the things I’ve learned and the people I get to work with are pretty fantastic, I would say that my favorite thing about serving with the SLA thus far has been getting to interact with and work with volunteers, and witness how many people in this region care deeply about Squam and the health of the watershed and its residents. Whether it's folks getting enthusiastic about water quality monitoring, trail work, or just coming out to enjoy a guided hike, there seems to be no shortage of people willing to spend their time taking care of and learning more about the region.
We had the opportunity to witness how folks are caring for the region and its residents in more ways when we had the opportunity to volunteer with an organization on MLK Day of Service. We spent the day with an organization called the Bearcamp Center, which primarily focuses on food insecurity, out of school educational programming, and elder initiatives. We spent the day taking care of things around the campus, learning about the organization’s mission, and chopping vegetables that had been donated to the center! This was a really special opportunity to see the kinds of work that other organizations are doing in the lakes region and I left feeling inspired and excited. Plus, we had so much fun! Lianne and Heidi were so much fun to work with and it was so inspiring to see the work that they do and the ways in which they care for the center. I’m looking forward to learning about even more organizations in the region and making further connections with people doing really amazing work.
I will say that although my experience here in New Hampshire has been amazing so far, I’m ready to experience my first ever winter in the northeast! Groundhog day is only a few weeks away and fingers crossed Punxsutawney Phil decides that there’s 6 more weeks of winter, because winter has hardly even started. The lake isn’t frozen and the snow is barely sticking, so I’m hoping that we get lots of snow and lots of cold in the upcoming months.
Alexa is the Water Quality Lead at the Squam Lakes Association. She has been hard at work prepping for our winter water quality season, and we are anxious for the lake to freeze so we can begin sampling. Learn more about Alexa here!