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Introducing the Watershed Institute...P2 the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association Has a New Name

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Introducing the Watershed Institute...P2 the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association Has a New Name VOL. 65, NO. 2 Summer 2018 A publication of The Watershed Institute. Keeping central New Jersey’s water clean, safe, & healthy since 1949. Your Water. Your Environment. Your Voice. Introducing The Watershed Institute...p2 The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association has a new name. Our mission stays the same. Honoring our Seven Weeks of Donor Class p3... Nature Camp Magic Camp Director Tammy Love gears up of 2017...p10 for our largest summer ever! conservation | advocacy | science | education FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Watershed Institute by Jim Waltman Although we’ve changed our name, our mission remains un- We’re excited to introduce changed and as critical as before. Our work will continue to The Watershed Institute! focus on keeping central New Jersey’s water clean, safe and healthy. We will also continue to honor the rich history and After a great deal of thought, the Stony Brook-Millstone traditions of this august institution, which we trace back to Watershed Association has changed its name to The Wa- our founding by David Hunter McAlpin, Kathleen Peyton, tershed Institute. The change was approved by our Board of and other leaders in 1949. Trustees in March as part of a new strategic plan and was announced at our Annual Meeting on April 23. There are several reasons for the name change. For starters, our old name was so long that many people found it dif- ficult to remember. The thirteen syllable title was prone to frequent misstatement and inconsistent nicknames. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if there is an “e” in Stony… And where does the hyphen go? In addition to advancing the name change, our new Strategic Plan establishes four long-term goals relating to managing We were concerned that the long name may have been polluted stormwater runoff, addressing bacteria and other undermining our efforts to communicate a clear identity concerns in lakes to make them safe for swimming, restoring and mission. migratory fish to the Millstone River and its tributaries, and implementing a management plan for our 950-acre reserve. In addition, our scientists, educators, advocates and land stewards are frequently engaged in geographic areas be- A fifth goal, however, is perhaps most important. In order to yond our immediate watershed region. For example, we are really advance our mission, the organization must commit working with NJDEP under a new grant to develop and co- itself to substantially increasing public awareness and under- ordinate a statewide volunteer water monitoring network standing of water issues, the challenges facing our water re- (see cover story in our winter issue). That program fits bet- sources, and the actions necessary to achieve clean water and ter under our new name. healthy ecosystems in our region. We chose The Watershed Institute after a thorough review Put simply, our challenge is to raise the region’s “Water IQ”. of potential new names and discussions with a broad range But we don’t want to just impart greater knowledge about of Watershed constituents. As you may know, we’ve been water, we need to empower and engage more people in ac- using the name for almost two decades for a program with- tions necessary to secure clean water. in the organization that promotes the health and vitality of other watershed associations and a strong watershed move- This overarching goal will infuse all of our programming ment in New Jersey. That program, which provides techni- and our communications and will inspire new exhibits and cal assistance, grants and convenes workshops, will be more new interpretive signage at our center, on our reserve, and closely integrated into policy work of the organization. throughout our region. We expect that the shorthand nickname “the Watershed” We hope you like our new name as much as we do and take will continue to be widely used. But for those who may be time to explore our Water IQ initiative as it unfolds in the hearing about us for the first time, we hope the new name coming months. will project the image of a science-based organization of substance and integrity in a way that will be more easily understood than our old name. 2 Summer 2018 | www.thewatershed.org FROM COVER Seven Weeks of Nature Camp Magic t the Watershed Nature Camp, kids are free to splash in a stream, get muddy, catch worms and make a mess. As more Aparents want their children to explore the natural world, unplug from technology and enjoy the outdoors, the demand has increased, more than doubling the numbers of campers and staff over the past decade. Camp Director Tammy Love, who has steered our camp for the past 10 years, has increased the variety of summer offerings so kids remain engaged as they return for multiple sessions and summers. With the help of others, she’s created camp traditions, songs and activities. Finan- cial aid now is offered for campers of all ages to help increase diversity. Tammy said camp allows kids to try new things, take calculated risks, and gain some independence. With about 95 children each week, camp offers an experience for kids who feel more comfortable outside. “At camp, they can excel at things outside the academic world. They can have achievements and successes in a whole other way that makes them feel happy with themselves,” Tammy said. There is a “whole lot of learn- Direct access to the Stony Brook offers shade ing” that happens at camp, ranging from identifying birds, water critters and refreshment on hot summer days with and animal tracks to navigating social dynamics, learning collaboration plenty of critters to discover. and accepting different points of view. What is it about camp that is such a magical thing? “Campers are put into a situation where they are more in charge of them- selves and have to speak up for themselves.” Tammy said. “Camp is a safe place where campers can get dirty and run around. The campers are with counselors and professionals, but they are unleashed and really get to feel at home outdoors”. Tammy said her summer staff offer fresh ideas, such as examining seeds, plants and animal hides under a microscope, offering daily clues about each week’s “mystery animal”, and tie-dying camp t-shirts. “It is really satisfying to have creative control and make refinements each year on how camp unfolds. [Education Director] Jeff [Hoagland] has been very supportive and has given me the freedom to shape camp.” A Titusville resident, Tammy’s face lights up when she recognizes former campers in the community and she easily recalls the names of most returning campers. She began at the Watershed in 2006 as a teacher-naturalist and be- came camp director in 2008. “It is amazing that the kids who were in their first year of camp when I was a group leader are now in college,” she said. “Some of the kids in my first year’s group have returned to work with me as counselors. In that way, this experience has come full circle for me.” Just as amazing is the number of past campers who have committed them- selves to degree programs and careers in conservation, science, and education - a true testament to the work of Tammy and her predecessors, and a hopeful glimpse of what's to come. Campers enjoying an afternoon hike. Summer 2018 | www.thewatershed.org 3 ANNUAL MEETING Incoming Commissioner Talks Water tressing the importance of clean water, incoming SCommissioner of the New Jersey Department of Envi- ronmental Protection, Catherine McCabe touched on the issues of stormwater, dam removal, stream protections and pipelines at our April 23 annual meeting. “We were thrilled to have the Commissioner speak at our meeting,” said Jim Waltman, Executive Director of The Wa- tershed Institute. “We look forward to continuing our part- C-Change members, Kim Haren, Kathy Herring, nership with the state to protect and restore clean water and Margaret Sieck, Pam Mount, Carrie Dyckman, Kathleen a healthy environment.” Biggins, Katy Kinsolving, Harriet Brainard & Catherine Sidamon-Eristoff. Not shown, member Sophie Glovier. Waltman presented the Edmund W. Stiles Award for Envi- ronmental Leadership to Kathleen Biggins and C-Change Conversation, a volunteer-led association committed to pro- moting non-partisan dialogue and education about climate change. Education Director Jeff Hoagland presented the Richard Rotter Award for Excellence in Environmental Education to two elementary school teachers, Jeanne Muzi of Lawrence Township’s Public Schools and Colleen Schantzer of Law- Incoming NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe rence’s Ben Franklin Elementary School. addresses The Watershed Institute's annual meeting. Muzi and Schantzer have run the Streamkeepers program Waltman announced the organization, formerly known since 2006 at the elementary school, allowing students to as the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, was gather information, make observations and report details changing its name. He also shared the new logo to a crowd about the Little Shabakunk Creek behind their school. Two of about 155 attendees including board members, students, students also gave prepared remarks. teachers, nonprofit leaders, staff, and Watershed members. “Science education is best when you get your feet wet and McCabe has had a distinguished career in environmental your hands muddy,” said Muzi. law and science, serving 12 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 22 years at the U.S. Department of Justice. As Gov. Phil Murphy’s nominee for commissioner, McCabe will play a central role in the state’s efforts to protect clean water and combat climate change. The commissioner reaffirmed two pending grants that had been announced late last year. One grant will allow the Wa- tershed to create and administer a statewide volunteer water- monitoring network.
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