Join us in welcoming Ny, the new Thrive Outside Greater Philadelphia Fellow! Ny has graciously agreed to share insights about her work in a blog, and we encourage you to take the opportunity to learn more about her.
Growing up in Camden, New Jersey, I was fascinated by nature and the diverse wildlife depicted on TV. Despite living in the lower Delaware River watershed, I had little knowledge regarding its environmental importance, and education on the subject was limited. My family kept me close due to the fear of crime and violence, misconceptions about the waters of the Delaware River, and the lack of access to safe, clean, green spaces.
Despite these barriers, my desire to get outside grew, and I focused my attention on education. In 2018, I began my career at Stockton University, where I majored in Environmental Science and Wildlife Management. It was during my final years at college that I discovered the Alliance for Watershed Education and the opportunities it offered. As a Delaware River Watershed Fellow at the Center for Aquatic Sciences, I both learned and educated others in my city about our shared watershed. With the help of the center, I was able to experience outdoor recreation in my city, like I always wanted to as a child. Fishing, hiking, and kayaking were accessible to citizens, and sharing that with other people made me happy. I wanted to spread that freedom and joy to as many people as possible.
That passion led me to help with a great initiative called Thrive Outside, where I’m working to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience for all. Greater Philadelphia was named a Thrive Outside Community by the Outdoor Foundation due to the strong networks in the Delaware, including the Circuit Trails, Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, and Delaware River Watershed Initiative.
Although greater Philadelphia boasts many opportunities to get outdoors from parks to waterfronts, these spaces do not always provide a welcoming environment for all people. Physical barriers, including an industrialized waterfront, combined sewer overflows, and restricted private access, exacerbate a deeply embedded distrust of the Delaware River’s water quality and work to disconnect communities, especially communities of color, from their waterfront and its abundance of recreation opportunities. Environmental, social, and economic inequities have deepened the distrust and distance between these communities and outdoor spaces.
That’s why we’re bringing together leading recreation groups, education and nature centers, and community members to identify and address barriers that prevent equitable access to outdoor recreational opportunities. We’re focusing on Southwest Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, Trenton, NJ, and Reading, PA to create an impact on a local scale.
Equitable access is something I've become very passionate about in my lifetime, especially growing up in a marginalized and underrepresented community. With NWF and the Outdoor Foundation, I know we can create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience for all.