Helping the Newfound Watershed by Getting Kids Outside

The Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA) has been protecting the lands and waters of the Newfound Watershed for more than 50 years,—almost as long as the Mayhew Program has been inspiring and mentoring boys. For the missions of both organizations, Newfound Lake and the surrounding area are crucial, making collaboration a natural fit.

Conservation takes a community. Connecting young people with the environment fosters curiosity and respect for the natural world, which are qualities that lead to long-term care and stewardship. When young people develop personal connections to Newfound Lake and its surrounding watershed, they are more likely to grow into adults who value and protect it. Just as importantly for Mayhew boys, time outside lowers stress, improves critical thinking, and encourages healthy, active lifestyles. Partnering with the Mayhew Program creates opportunities for both organizations, benefiting the boys and the watershed.

To expand opportunities for Program participants to get outside throughout the year and build lasting connections to the Newfound Watershed, NLRA has joined Mayhew staff and boys in a variety of hands-on activities:

●     Visiting Mayhew Island while camp is in session, we’ve gone with campers to the mouth of the Fowler River to catch aquatic macroinvertebrates. It’s an up-close look at small creatures that depend on clean water and an opportunity to assess the health of the ecosystem.

●     Mayhew staff and participants assisted with an Eagle Scout project at Grey Rocks Conservation Area in Hebron, installing signposts during a site visit that also explored water quality and salt pollution. Mika Austin’s Eagle Scout project focused on how climate change is challenging plants and the sign display helps educate visitors about what is predicted and what can be done to respond.

●     We’ve explored the Hebron Town Forest in different seasons. Each visit takes in local plants, the tracks and sign that wildlife leave behind, resident birds, and the movement of water through the landscape.

●     Hebron resident Paul Hazelton took us on a snowshoe around his family’s conservation property, highlighting that there are discoveries to be made outside even in cold, windy weather.

These moments bring learning to life. Whether on a trail, at the water’s edge, or through service projects, Mayhew boys become collaborators, leaders, and sometimes even teachers themselves as they share their own knowledge of the outdoors. Each activity helps them practice communication, responsibility, and leadership in a real-world context. Just as importantly, the learning that takes place outside, without walls or desks, can feel personal and memorable, sparking curiosity and a sense of belonging in the natural world. These kinds of experiences leave a lasting imprint bigger than the memories. They shape an understanding of our role in the environment.

NLRA sees these programs as a chance to strengthen the community and its connection to the lake and watershed so that conservation efforts continue into the future. When people of any age get a closer look and a meaningful moment with the watershed, that experience can spark action to protect it, perhaps next week, perhaps next year, and perhaps decades from now. Partnering with the Mayhew Program is an opportunity for us to help the boys develop a lasting commitment to the Newfound Watershed and a way to broaden how the local community views and interacts with this place. Both of these outcomes support our mission to protect Newfound Lake and its watershed for generations to come.