Fostering the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards

This summer we debuted our first-ever Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Bootcamp internship.  For two weeks (July 7th – July 18th), we led a cohort of ten interns through an experiential learning process delivered through a Waterkeeper lens.

Our bootcamp equipped them with the skills to become the next generation of environmental stewards. They tested water, learned from community members, reported pollution, explored policy issues, and began to see how environmental work can be personal, powerful, and deeply connected to the places they call home.

This internship was made possible by funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) through their 2025 “Healthy Environment, Healthy Communities” grant program. The grant program was established as a result of the legally binding Consent Decree agreement to resolve litigation brought by MDE and Blue Water Baltimore for violations at the Patapsco and Back River Wastewater Treatment Plants. By keeping a significant portion of the penalty money from the Wastewater Treatment Plant case local through the establishment of this grant fund, Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Maryland Department of the Environment are helping us take an equitable approach to legal enforcement of clean water in Baltimore.

Our goal with this program: to invest in a group of people who are passionate about clean water and who will strengthen and lead the movement for clean water and strong communities in Baltimore and beyond; the next generation of Waterkeepers. The inaugural cohort was composed of young professionals with ties to the watershed; people from various backgrounds on different career paths, with the ability and desire to share the knowledge and tools gained from this experience with their communities. We are proud of our interns and look forward to seeing the great things they accomplish next in our region.

2025 Bootcamp Interns

• Mikayla Bryant
• Sabine Feldman
• Lloyce Frimpong
• Jenny Ha
• Raisa Haq
• Thomas Kodua
• Haley Nickel
• Meredith Nishiura
• Jen Plaskowitz
• Tiwalade Taylor

2025 Bootcamp Training Experiences

Day 1 – Back to Basics: Our ten interns learned the fundamentals of our underground pipe system and how pollution makes its way into our waterways.

Day 2 – From Crabs to Cranes: Our friends at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation took us out into the Harbor and beyond on the Snow Goose. We stopped by Fort Carroll to check on our baby oyster friends, went on a pollution “scavenger hunt,” saw all sorts of industrial facilities lining the shores of the Patapsco, and learned a new way to hold onto everyone’s favorite sea snack. 

Day 3 – Data is King: We introduced our interns to our rigorous water quality monitoring program and trained them how to use scientific instruments to test how healthy or sick our local streams, rivers, and Harbor really are.

Day 4 – Toxic Legacy, Living Impact – East Baltimore: Glenn Ross took us on a “Toxic Tour” of East Baltimore where we learned about the intersection of pollution, power, and place. Next, we walked along the Herring Run to see where the rubber hits the road (or in this case, where the pipes meet the stream!).

Day 5 – Clean Water, Dirty Secrets: Our partners Evan Isaacson with Chesapeake Legal Alliance (CLA) and Angela Haren, former CLA attorney and Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, talked about the power and the promise of the federal Clean Water Act and how it is more important today than ever before. Interns learned about a Waterkeeper’s watchdog role, speaking up on behalf of waterways and amplifying the voices of community members.

Day 6 – Upstream Solutions, Downstream Impacts: Thanks to our friends at Baltimore City Rec & Parks, we explored the Middle Branch of the Patapsco by kayak and found more than we bargained for! From rafts of bottle trash to sediment-laden discharges, we learned all about how upstream policies and regulation can impact people and waterways downstream.

Day 7 – Underground Waters, Overflowing Truths: Our interns learned about the Sumwalt Run, a buried stream featured in Baltimore’s “Ghost Rivers” walking tour. We followed the winding blue path down to the Jones Falls Trail, where we saw evidence of recent sewage overflows.

Day 8 – Toxic Legacy, Living Impact – South Baltimore: Our friends at South Baltimore Community Land Trust showed us the many industrial facilities that impact both water quality and quality of life including medical waste incinerators, coal terminals, wastewater treatment plants, and more. We learned about whole neighborhoods in South Baltimore that have been displaced over time, such as Fairfield. Next, we visited our friends at Gwynns Falls Community Association to see how they transformed a vacant lot into a thriving community space with an awesome playground.

Day 9 – Inside the Halls of Power: Our interns spoke with elected officials and visited Baltimore City Hall to learn all about civic engagement and how to speak up for clean water. Thank you to Delegate Dana Stein, Senator Mary Washington, Mayor Brandon Scott, Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, Councilman Paris Gray, Councilman Mark Conway, and Councilwoman Odette Ramos for meeting with us.

Day 10 – Resilience, Reflection, and Farewell: On the last day of the bootcamp, we met with our friends at Stillmeadow Community Fellowship to learn about their work as a local resiliency hub, including their new bioswale that should help reduce flooding along Frederick Avenue. After lunch and graduation, we bid a fond farewell to our first-ever cohort of bootcamp interns. We miss you!