Lauren grew up on the Ogeechee, and finds that its rhythms are still part of her heartbeat. “Caring for it has remained a lifelong passion of mine,” she says. As the education and outreach coordinator for ORK, she is contributing to its health by inspiring others to love it as much as she does. “Nothing could have prepared me for all the faces I would meet along the way or the places it would take me within the watershed.”
Her role helps connect people of all ages with knowledge about the watershed. She organizes booths at farmers markets and festivals, coordinates volunteers and cleanups, and keeps an eye on the Adopt-A-Landing program. These varied events offer a chance for new people to learn about the work ORK does as well as share their concerns, priorities, and stories with the organization.
The public also acts as ORK’s eyes and ears in the watershed. With 5,500 square miles to protect, it’s essential people are engaged. “This river basin is made up of everyday people who genuinely care for that old black water,” Lauren notes. “That shared interest goes a long way with the support that we receive from the community.”
Whether it’s helping to organize the Master Naturalist program for adults or visiting grade school classrooms, her role involves providing educational opportunities and showing people how their lives are connected to the river. “I teach an environmentally-based curriculum related to water quality, pollution, fresh water ecology, and other related topics,” she shares. “I’m not a teacher in the traditional sense, but I do hold certificates in certain courses, workshops, and trainings related to my field.” (She could also give a presentation, with no preparation, on 20 ways to keep your sanity while caring for a fussy newborn, she says.)
Seeing her daughter smile is when she is happiest, but a close second is enjoying the outdoors. It’s a tradition that means a great deal in her family. “Growing up, our parents took my brother and me on trips to the Ogeechee. We’d splash around a sandbar, eat sandwiches, and cruise the river channels. It didn’t cost a lot of money. But the older I get, the more I realize that those moments spent together were priceless.”
There are always things to discover, and cherish, in the Ogeechee Basin. Her favorite bird is the Prothonotary Warbler, with a yellow body, gray wings, and a black beak, it thrives near swamps and wetlands. “I’ve only ever seen them on the Ogeechee River, which makes for an extra special sighting when they fly by.” And it is constantly surprising her. “We saw snow fall on the Ogeechee River last year! Such a rare aesthetic in South Georgia.”
It hasn’t been a straight line to her position at ORK, but she has pointers for others looking to work in a conservation field–and the first step is to always show up. “Start by networking and making connections through volunteering. This is the type of work that you do when you want to leave the world a little better than you found it, not because you’re interested in a paycheck.” That, and always keep a pair of waders in the car. You never know when they might come in handy.