TTF Watershed Youth Champions
Casey Harkins, Julisa Pantojas, Cashmere Williams, Jason Herndon
Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory
Julisa, Casey, Jason, and Cashmere, Frankford High School students, showed fantastic dedication to engaging the public with watershed issues this year. These students did an amazing job educating Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory (WBF) visitors, volunteers, and staff alike on the environmental issues that affect our waters. Their presentation covered plastic pollution, runoff, and stormwater management. Julisa, Casey, Jason, and Cashmere outlined how these issues affect the Delaware River watershed and discussed ways the average citizen can reduce the harmful effects of pollution. They’ve learned what kinds of litter are most commonly found in our waterways through their participation in the WBF shoreline cleanups.
Julisa also participated in doing some research with the WBF RiverGuides. The RiverGuides are apprentices of the Wooden Boat Factory who are training to become environmental advocates and watershed educators. Julisa supported their research on local plastic pollution and contributed several specimens to the Wooden Boat Factory’s freshwater mussel surveys of the Delaware River. Her efforts supported the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s freshwater mussel reintroduction project, which aims to purify our water by restoring healthy native freshwater mussels.
Additionally, the four represented Frankford High in the Aspen Challenge, a program in which local high school students study real-world issues and work together to form creative solutions. They tackled the issue of food waste by building a compost bin at Frankford High School and worked with the school to create a plan to minimize the amount of food in their waste stream. These young folks have truly gone above and beyond for our watershed this year!
TTF Watershed Municipal Leader
Abington Township
Abington Township has shown great leadership in advancing the protection and restoration of the TTF Watershed. The township has been actively involved in the TTF Municipal Task Force, and has been an amazing asset for the watershed by willingly committing staff time and municipal cash resources to support Jenkintown Creek as well as other creekside restoration and flood reduction projects. Its administrative, engineering, public works, and parks and recreation staff, and supportive elected officials exemplify the effectiveness of working collaboratively to help improve the quality of life for the entire community.
We hope you’ll join with us to celebrate these watershed heroes at our Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception on May 24th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at our home at the Globe Dye Works in Frankford.
