Our River, Our Responsibility: Students Join Source to Sea Cleaning Efforts

By Luisa Ortiz '26
NMH Student Ecoleader

At NMH we cherish our community, meaning we take care of one another and of our communal space. We tend for our environment through sustainable practices – composting, green energy, recycling, etc. – and getting our hands dirty to serve our Earth. Our beautiful rural school is surrounded by greenery and bodies of water that we make sure to keep healthy through old and new initiatives alike.

In a longstanding partnership with the Connecticut River Conservancy, NMH participates in the Source to Sea Cleanup initiative. Our institutions share core values of resilience, stewardship, inclusion, and collaboration in our efforts to be a part of a better tomorrow. Every year we work as one toward a consistent and sustainable impact by fostering a strong, welcoming, and altruistic community. This particular service initiative was first organized in the 1990s by a group of students aiming to clear the dumping grounds in their local rivers. It has since grown into an annual event for thousands of volunteers across the four states of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

In honor of these original students, NMH annually supports clean water and healthy habitats as we send back data to the Conservancy, which is used to advocate for pollution reduction. In late September, our Hoggers drifted from the dock as they boated through the Connecticut River picking up trash at campsites along its coast. Ending their long weekend strong, NMH students were rewarded with a beautiful day as they spent their afternoon restoring a small island back to its glory. 

Thankfully, this story shows the progress these clean-ups have had, as Elena Han ’28 shared, “I was really surprised by how little trash we found, but it is most definitely a good sign.” Only having collected two trash bags was truly impressive and a small victory that put a smile on these young volunteers. Keeping the vision of the project at heart, Han said, “It felt good to contribute to keeping the river and the surrounding area clean. I would do it again if I'm ever able to.” 

At NMH, stewardship and initiative is a guiding principle for our community as we strive to create just a little bit of good each day. Our ongoing participation with Source to Sea reflects our commitment and understanding of meaningful service that is rooted in everyday responsibility, care, and action. Our students pledge to a shared obligation to shape the future by dedicating their time and putting in effort into protecting our environment. At NMH, service is not a mere act; it is a step into becoming who we want to be and the legacy we want to leave behind.

Photos by Skylar McAlpin (top) and David Reeder (bottom)