Naja Jackson’s 2024 AWE Fellowship Experience
Written by Naja Jackson, TTF Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE) Fellow
When I started my fellowship, I had no idea what to expect. Joining TTF provided me with many opportunities to try new things. I went canoeing for the first time, I went rock climbing, creek snorkeling, night hiking, and so much more. The TTF team welcomed me to be as involved as I wanted to be and gave me the space and opportunity to help and even lead some environmental education programming with different summer camps and people in the community.
Canoeing in the Poconos
Rock climbing at Discovery Center
Being a fellow also meant that I had to come up with a capstone project that addressed any issue(s) in the community that TTF wanted to improve. TTF wishing to develop a deeper connection with the community, specifically children and families, gave me the idea to develop the TTF toolkit for my capstone project. The kit was designed to provide children and families with fun and engaging tools to interact with the TTF parks and creek. It had information about TTF and the species that inhabit the park; it has an interactive card game that I created with prompts and activities for a fun and engaging experience at the park as well. The kit also has a foraging guide created by previous TTF fellow, Mykyah Vessels, which includes information about various edible plants that grow along the TTF park trails. I also included three seed options for planting at home.
TTF Toolkit
Group Photo With Ferko Summer Camp
Watch the video below to see how Naja’s toolkit can inspire deeper connections with nature and foster a love for the environment:
Throughout my fellowship, I worked with summer camps and community members, mainly with the Vaird Boys and Girls Club and the Ferko summer camp. Much of my inspiration for the kit came from interacting with the campers and getting an idea of what they would find fun. We did a pot decorating/ planting activity and a nature walk using the materials provided in the kit. The programming outcomes went well and the kids enjoyed the activities. They had opportunities at the end of each program to share what they learned and enjoyed about the activities, providing valuable feedback for TTF to keep in mind for programming in the future.
Night Hike With Fellows Creek
Snorkeling With Fellows
As my fellowship reaches its end, I’m left with memories that I will cherish for life and connections with some of the kindest people I’ve ever met! I hope to continue the relationships I’ve developed with the other fellows and I will continue to support what TTF is doing for the community and the environment.
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