The Delaware River Fellows Program gives young adults the opportunity to get valuable first-hand experience in habitat conservation and environmental education in the Delaware Watershed.

This summer, 30 Fellows are working on individual projects focused on environmental issues and engaging local communities.

They gain knowledge of conservation and share their passion with others, encouraging the enjoyment, use, and care of the natural areas in the watershed.

Fellowships culminate in a Capstone Summit where each Fellow presents his or her research, findings, and experiences.

The Summit streamed live from the Discovery Center in Philadelphia from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89725487168?pwd=OCtaT1pJWWR5N3BvTENsSTVkaUtmZz09#success.

Fellows are paid to work on their projects at the 23 environmental education centers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware that comprise the Alliance for Watershed Education.

AWE seeks to intentionally engage diverse communities, especially those who have been historically left out of conversations about protecting our shared environment.

It promotes equitable access to its Centers and fostering socially responsible practices that will result in a healthier natural environment.

Jahya Gale-Cottries, a Fellow at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, understands the importance of building community in the neighborhood around the Refuge.

“Forming a connection over a common interest like nature can really strengthen and bond a community,” Jahya said.

By encouraging local residents to help clean litter from the waterways, Jahya will teach them about the environmental harm caused by illegal dumping.

Robin Irizarry, Fellowship Coordinator for the Alliance for Watershed Education, is excited to work with a full cohort of Fellows this year.

“Last year the Fellowship program was limited due to the pandemic. While we can’t say things are back to normal, we are incredibly grateful for a cohort of 30 Fellows working at all of the AWE environmental education centers this summer,” Irizarry said. “These young people are eager to learn all about restoring and protecting their local waterways and to share that knowledge with their communities.”

The Fellowship Program, now in its fifth year, builds on a growing national momentum for more diversity and equity in environmental leadership and enjoyment of the outdoors.

Most of the AWE centers are in urban areas and many of the Fellows come from nearby BIPOC communities that have been historically underrepresented at the centers and in the broader environmental movement.

The Fellows gain invaluable conservation and environmental experience that may not otherwise have been available to them.

Local Fellows include:

• Janniry Cabrera Belen and Alexis Matos are creating new educational outreach tools centered around the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s native plant gardens.

With bilingual (English/Spanish) signage, Belen will tell the story of LGNC’s Superfund restoration work.

She is also creating bilingual videos focused on watershed stewardship and is hosting Nature in Art classes.

Matos is developing a field guide to the 150-plus species of native plants surrounding LGNC’s visitor center, with information highlighting the sensory appeal of each plant, hosting virtual native plant lectures, creating plant spotlight YouTube videos, and designing signs for the gardens and trails.

• Through plant potting classes, Kamar Bennett, Fellow at the Berks Nature Center, is teaching the local Reading community about how vegetation benefits a watershed.

Bennett is also introducing the community to local trails and parks in and around the Center that they may not have been aware of.

His goal is to show that nature is always close by – in a park around the corner or in a pot on your front porch.

The Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River is a regional initiative of 23 partnering environmental education centers located along waterways in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The Delaware River watershed is a 13,500-square mile system which provides clean drinking water for 13 million people.

Through aligned communications, joint programming and shared best practices among the centers, the Alliance works toward inspiring a healthy Delaware River watershed with diverse communities and people empowered to sustain it.

For updates about AWE activities, sign up for a newsletter and learn more about the Fellows and their projects on AWE’s Facebook page and on Instagram.