Farewell, Shannah!

By Shannah Cumberbatch

Hello Friends,

All good things must come to an end…

I began my journey with the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (FoKAG) in January 2021. These years certainly flew by! Here we are with over 1,200 days to look back on. It took me weeks to draft this because I had no idea where to begin. Should I start from trying to navigate in-person events amidst the height of social distancing and COVID-19 or with the inception of WELLderness in 2021.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane as I highlight some of my favorite moments:

During my first volunteer event, two volunteers got wet in the ponds and they were the only ones who followed my instructions and brought a change of clothes. My chest waders had a hole in them that left me with wet socks and pants; fortunately, I also followed my own advice and packed a change of clothes. What a way to start my role as the new Volunteer Coordinator! (I had holes in my waders for the first 3 volunteer events haha)

 

Working alongside the educators at Urban Adventure Squad during our week-long summer and spring break camps for the kids in the neighborhood. I became the person who led pond-dipping exercises to identify macroinvertebrates and amphibians in the ponds.

 

I was fortunate enough to be around and interact with the “Passage: Reflections of Time and Space” mirror art installation by DC native Omar Hakeem. This is the FIRST and ONLY art installation to be featured at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

 

Words cannot express how excited I was to see FoKAG featured in the “Our Places: Connecting People & Nature“ exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – my favorite of the Smithsonian museums due to the science content and how interactive it is!

 

 

 

 

The countless park neighbors I have met over the years at volunteer events, WELLderness, community engagement outings, and/or just chatting while observing the wildlife in the park.

 

Being featured as a panelist at the 2023 Women’s Environmental Leadership Summit. To be honest, I’m still riding high from meeting some of the most influential women who continue to be trailblazers in environmental justice across the country. Please check out the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum and their Environmental Justice Academy.

 

Piloting the Park Greeter Program in 2022 and seeing it grow with continued interest and support.

I could go on and on, but I really want to THANK YOU for trusting me to help bring the FoKAG mission and vision to life. Nothing would be possible without the National Park Service. I’d be remiss not to mention the Park Rangers and the National Park Service without whom our organization would not exist today. I also want to thank our Board of Directors who work day and night to ensure that FoKAG continues to grow and uphold the values set forth by previous board and staff.

So, what’s next!?

Don’t worry, I’m not too far away. I have traded in my FoKAG shocking pink for something a bit more…GREEN!

My passion for environmental education has led me to pursue an opportunity at the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).

I’m on another small but mighty team helping to reduce the amount of stormwater entering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from residential properties in the nation’s capital.

If you live in DC and you are looking for ways to reduce stormwater runoff on your property, then look no further than the DOEE RiverSmart Homes program. Be sure to check it out and sign up here!

Though my journey with the Friends organization has come to an end, I will always be a Friend. Thank you for everything. 😊

Take care,

Shannah Cumberbatch