 Summer interns for 2025 with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership include, from left, Ibrahim Alqassass, Maggie Yonkin, Abbie Mack and Caley Treat. “Helping a group of preschoolers and kindergarteners during a recent Habitat Helpers day camp at the Montour Preserve, Abbie Mack got a little wet. “I was trying to help kids explore the observation pond, experience it in new ways, and before I knew it, I kind of fell in,” she said, adding later during her interview for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast series, that really isn’t a bad thing. “I want them to know that if you are truly interested in something, it is not weird. I am big fan of bugs, and growing up, I would get made fun of for being the ‘weird bug girl.’ I still get some joking – now I’m the weird bug lady – but at some point, it clicked that this isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Bugs are vital for our ecosystem,” said the Susquehanna University student from western Pennsylvania. “I really want kids to be curious, to know that they can pursue their passions by asking questions, getting a little muddy and not worrying about others making fun of you for exploring what you love.” Mack is one of four interns serving the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership this summer, a group that shares Mack’s excitement to inspire curiosity and exploration of nature for people of all ages. “Kids should be encouraged to explore, to pursue things that may not seem ‘girlie’ or cool,” said Caley Treat, a rising senior from Susquehanna University who lives in Bloomsburg. “If you are seeing something that seems different or odd, then it is a great time to dive a little deeper, figure out what is causing that and ask others around you. It is important for kids today to stay curious and be engaged with our natural resources. Too many people are disconnected with nature, replacing it with screen time and other things.” For all four of them, the inspiration to pursue degrees in the environmental and biology realms started at a young age. “I grew up in a family that was always outdoors. We went out on hikes all the time, especially when the weather was nice. My dad taught us how to take care of nature, to respect it,” said Maggie Yonkin, a rising senior at West Virginia University who lives in Montoursville. “I grew up hunting and fishing, so that got me outdoors a lot. It’s just always been something I’ve loved.” She’s learned from that the importance of nature not only as a place to explore and protect, but also as a therapeutic resource. “Anytime I have a hard time in my life – something that’s big – I always go out to nature and go for a little walk or just sit and see what shows up,” she said. “It is definitely my Zen place, it is where I go to find myself and calm myself down whenever life gets difficult.” When she was younger, Treat enjoyed fishing with her father. “I’ve gotten some great experiences with fish while being with my dad outdoors,” she said. “And now, when I am out and see something floating down the river, like Doritos bags and plastic bottles, it means a lot more to me to get involved and try to collect litter, recycle what I can and try to help others understand the importance of cleaning up after themselves.” The process has been similar for Mack, who also spent ample time exploring the woods and waterways near her home growing up. “I didn’t watch too much TV … sitting down in front of a screen for an hour just was boring to me. Instead, I would go out and explore, dig holes and look for animals,” she said, suggesting those experiences provided an important catalyst for pursuing conservation and environmental education opportunities, but also a baseline that helps her look for potential issues today. “Like when I drive down the road, I haven’t noticed as many bugs on the windshield, and things like that worry me,” she said. “So when we work with these kids and they get so excited and asking questions about the bugs around us, that is a big deal to me.” Environmental appreciation is especially noteworthy to Ibrahim Alqassass, who lives in the Gaza Strip along the Mediterranean Sea and just started attending Susquehanna University this past year. “Lengthwise, many people don’t realize that you can go from one end of Gaza to the other in like an hour and 20 minutes – if roads are clear, sometimes faster. In that small area, we have 2.1 million people – that density means that pollution levels can be ridiculous,” he said. “We are surrounded by tanks and walls we can’t cross, so the only thing that is free there where you can have a nice time is along the sea. Everyone enjoys it, however, the government there is piping polluted materials into it and some of the lakes there. In fact, there are some spots of the sea where people are not allowed because it is not safe there.” He added that certain infrastructure has been destroyed, which leads to even more pollution getting into streets and other common areas. “The bugs, the smell, it can be overwhelming at times,” he said. “The environmental concern is very high there.” So, living now on campus and pursuing a degree in computer science, Alqassass has a unique perspective on our region. “I am amazed by the amount of green around here. I have never been to a place like this,” he said. “Even the air quality improvement is noticeable – there is a different smell, a cleaner, fresher experience. The river reminds me some of the sea back home. I’ll sit and watch it and enjoy the waves and life around it.” Threats to that resource can be complex, according to Mack. “Things like invasive species can be challenging. We have these plants that can look beautiful, and yet they are invasive and causing quite a bit of negative impact to the environment,” she said. “You have people who suggest you can’t kill that bug or plant because it is pretty, but then you realize it is killing all the native species, so it is important to bring awareness about that so people realize the bigger impacts and why we need to take action.” Yonkin agreed. “Invasive species can take many different forms. Like people releasing things like domestic cats. You see them everywhere, they take over and cause a lot of issues, like the Emerald Ash Borer and its impacts on our forests,” she said. “We have people who don’t realize their impacts, which is why education is so important.” For Alqassass, who sees the importance of technology such as AI in helping amplify environmental education, research and other ways to improve awareness, it comes back to appreciating the resources we already have. “Compared to what I am used to back home, things around here are much cleaner, but that can change quickly. It is important to stay on top of issues so things don’t get worse and we can still make improvements,” he said. “That is why it is so vital to educate kids on what they can do to be a part of the solution. It is important to invest in our youth, because they are our future and they need to care about these things.” That investment doesn’t just help the environment and inspire new stewards, Yonkin suggested, but also shows young people they have options. “It allows you to have the ability to make decisions and choices that come along later in life,” she said. “So by giving these kids knowledge now, they know more about opportunities to get involved or even consider a profession in this field while empowering them to start taking care of nature now and gaining a necessary respect for it.” All four of them will be involved with educational programs such as the association's HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing day camps, Floating Classrooms aboard the Hiawatha, a wide variety of programming through the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership (such as Habitat Helpers and Camp Chillisquaque) as well as learning all aspects of nonprofit environmental work, including fundraising, research, legal aspects and more. "With this internship, I am excited to explore opportunities for the next phase of things after graduation," said Treat. "The ability to do hands-on work, being on the river and not always in the same place at all times and getting to work with kids, teaching them, that is something I am very passionate about." Get to know our interns more by checking out their full interviews for our Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast series (in reverse alphabetical order):
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AuthorsRiverkeeper John Zaktansky is an award-winning journalist and avid promoter of the outdoors who loves camping, kayaking, fishing and hunting with the family. Archives
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