By TTF Summer Intern Maiya Mangum
Hi! My name is Maiya Mangum and I am TTF’s summer environmental intern. I’ve also been a proud member of the Women In Natural Sciences (WINS) program since 2018 and am currently in WINS 3. During the week of July 21, I had the opportunity to chaperone the annual PEEC trip with WINS. WINS, founded in 1982, is a free science enrichment initiative at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. It supports young women from Philadelphia public and charter schools who are interested in science and are about to enter their first year of high school. The WINS program is an eight-year initiative that supports young women from their first year of high school through their senior year of college and beyond, extending to the Alumnae Association. The first year WINS students, who are transitioning from middle school to high school, are entering a pivotal phase in both their academic and personal lives. PEEC week serves as a meaningful and memorable week that helps build connections and a sense of community among the new WINS cohort before they begin high school.
PEEC, The Poconos Environmental Education Center, is a non-profit organization located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Its location provides abundant opportunities to learn in nature, from its color-coded trail system to serene ponds perfect for canoeing and kayaking. On Monday, WINS traveled to PEEC’s campgrounds, where we settled into our yurts, enjoyed lunch, and quickly began our first activity: the human knot. In this game, each person held hands with two different people, forming a tangled web that the group had to untangle without letting go. It was a fun and effective icebreaker, laying the groundwork to build strong communication skills. Next, we played another team-building challenge where our group was separated into two teams. Each team chose a blindfolded player, and the teams guided the players to their designated pool noodle to tag their opponent. The friendly competition brought out everyone’s energy while sharpening their teamwork and communication skills. We ended the day gathered around the campfire, making s’mores, and enjoyed an impromptu concert led by two of the WINS girls.
On Tuesday, we dove into pond ecology, exploring macroinvertebrates, microinvertebrates, and indicator species that help us reveal the health of a habitat. We also learned about Pennsylvania’s geology, uncovering how our region was shaped millions of years ago. This lesson came to life during a hike along Scenic Gorge, where we observed rock formations created by tectonic activity and even spotted fossil-bearing areas. This sparked a conversation about what fossils are and how they form.
In the afternoon, creativity took center stage as the WINS girls designed tote bags using paints, puff paints, stencils, pencils, and markers to bring their ideas to life. Each person had a unique vision and theme for their tote bags, and we created more opportunities for them to work on their bags to let their creativity flow. After dinner, we went back to the main lodge, where a large, igloo-like dome structure awaited, minus the cold. When you crawl into this structure, an image of the night sky is mirrored, showing the stars clearly as if we were looking at the night sky. In this astrolab session with astrologer Bob, we explored iconic constellations like the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, as well as the rich cultural meanings constellations have held for different societies throughout history. We ended the night on a sweet note with warm cookies and milk.
Wednesday morning, we continued our team-building courses with a series of ropes challenges. Before starting, we learned how to properly position ourselves to catch someone in case they fell, a reminder that trust and safety goes hand in hand. The first challenge involved a rope tied between two trees, with several other ropes hanging from above. The goal was to cross to get to the opposite tree by using each hanging rope for support. It was a daunting task, requiring balance, stability, and trust, not just in yourself, but in the group around you. Nearly everyone attempted it, stepping out of their comfort zone, and I was happy to cheer them on.
The second course featured wooden swings suspended between two trees, creating a wobbly path to the other side. During this activity, I wanted to model the importance of trying every activity available so I participated, with special encouragement from my WINS peers. Hopping from plank to plank, nearly doing the splits more than once, I managed to reach the end feeling both more confident in myself and cared for by the support of my group. After wrapping up the rope activities, we took a short break before tackling what would become the most challenging part of the week: The tumbling waters hike.
Tumbling Waters was the most challenging hike of our week. Spanning a few hours, the trail took us over stretches of rocky terrain, both uphill and downhill. Since we all had varying levels of hiking experience, we had to rely on one another for support throughout the journey. The most anticipated part of this hike was our lunch stop at a large waterfall. As soon as we began to hear the gushing water, we knew we were close to our destination, and, driven by excitement, we made our way to the waterfall quickly. While at the waterfall, we took many pictures together with our Polaroid cameras to capture the beauty of the moment. As we made our way back to the campgrounds, we endured uphill rocky terrain at the beginning of our journey back. I positioned myself in the middle of the group so I could lend a hand to the girls in areas where we had to take big leaps. As we neared the halfway point, we all supported one another as some people were running low on water, so we shared what we had until we arrived back. When we arrived back, we took a well-deserved break period, did a small night hike after dinner, and rewarded ourselves with ice cream.
On Thursday morning, we started our day with an orienteering activity. Orienteering involves using a compass as your primary tool to navigate through unfamiliar terrain. During our lesson, we paired a map with a compass to locate specific checkpoints marked with signs created for the activity. I found this challenge particularly difficult because I wasn’t confident in my compass skills, and we often had to adjust our course to navigate around natural obstacles in the woods. After orienteering, we shifted our focus to a plant identification activity. We discussed leaf arrangements, like the differences between alternate, opposite, and whorled leaves. Understanding these patterns can help to identify tree species more accurately. Both activities reminded me how important observation, adaptability, and patience are when learning to understand the natural world.
In the afternoon, we started the activity I was most excited for, which was canoeing and kayaking. We gathered at a shack near the main lodge, where we received life vests and paddles. The instructors guided us on how to position our paddles in the water, how to make left and right turns, and how to turn around. As a group, we took our boats off their holdings and sent each group of three into the water one by one. We were in the water for half an hour, taking pictures, listening to music, and spotting little animals along the way, like frogs.
To end the day and reflect on our week of adventures, we split the girls into groups of three and did individual journals where the girls were able to share their feelings about the trip. We encouraged them to write about their highlights, lowlights, and reflect on a new experience they had never had before. At the end of the journaling session, the group decided to share what they wrote about. During this time, I had an opportunity to share why it meant to me to come back as a chaperone. Coming back was a full circle moment as I was in their shoes with my cohort, which felt not long ago, but some time had passed. Being in WINS for seven years now, I could never have predicted where it would have taken me, but being at PEEC reminded me of who I was when I first was in WINS to how much I have grown since then.
Connecting with the new generation of WINS girls was very special to me, as I was able to connect with them and learn from them. In essence, PEEC week is about learning and connecting with nature while building bonds within the cohort. Through PEEC week and various opportunities through continuing in WINS, we cultivate a sisterhood, one rooted in shared experiences, mutual support, and collective passion for science and personal growth.
Editor’s Note (by TTF comms manager Wendi Wu):
Maiya’s story reminds us that experiences like PEEC are about more than outdoor adventures — they are about building trust, friendship, and a lasting connection to nature. These moments are precious, especially for young people discovering both who they are and how they belong in the natural world.
The future of our watershed depends on this sense of connection: when we feel part of nature, we are inspired to care for it. We thank Maiya for sharing her reflections, and for reminding us that protecting the environment is as much about relationships as it is about ecosystems.
