Dr. Loren Mathews conducts regular water sampling as part of the statewide Adopt-A-Stream program. Her water quality testing helps ORK track potential issues and her training adds more AAS volunteers to our ranks.
“Mother, Mother Ocean, I have heard your call” are the lyrics I remember hearing play in the background on family sailing trips around South Florida and the Keys growing up. On one particular trip, my fascination with marine life inspired me to take a cushion sea star off the sandy bottom and stow it in the anchor well so that I could dry it out and later take it home as a souvenir. It didn’t take long before a mysterious pungent smell coming out of the boat revealed my secret treasure and future career goals of becoming a marine biologist to my parents.
Loren with a sea star
When it came time for me to graduate from high school, I could think of no better place to answer my call than the University of Miami. The next time I came across a cushion sea star, I was on a research vessel with a tape measurer in hand and a notebook nearby to record my data.
Fast forward over two decades, and I now have the chance to cultivate that same passion for exploration and observation in my own two boys, the hundreds of Georgia Southern college students I teach every semester, and the people I get to work with through the Ogeechee Riverkeeper and Georgia Adopt-A-Stream programs.
Loren taking samples
The creeks in Statesboro and our watershed may not be salty and turquoise blue, but they keep my toes in the sand and the sound of water flowing in my ears. My hope is that everyone, no matter where they live and work, finds a way to connect to the natural world around them and is inspired to get involved with one of the many opportunities there are to care for it.
-Written by Dr. Loren Mathews
You can help Ogeechee Riverkeeper in a number of ways, regardless of your expertise. Learn how you can volunteer with ORK.
Ogeechee Riverkeeper is offering a special members-only pottery workshop inspired by the natural beauty and life of the river. In this hands-on session, participants will craft their own unique ceramic pieces—think fish, boats, and other water-themed designs.
Along the way, participants will learn about pottery uncovered in the region, discuss the Indigenous peoples who lived along the Ogeechee, and discover how different types of pottery were used and what they were made from.
This relaxed, guided workshop is perfect for all skill levels. In addition to practical tips, the skilled instructor will help participants learn about the materials and their connection to nature, chemistry, and clean water.
All materials and instruction will be provided, so members can focus on shaping, designing, and enjoying the experience. The cost is $25 per person, to cover the cost of supplies and instructor time at the ceramics studio.
** Date change ** This event has been rescheduled to May 9 (from May 2)
This is a community cleanup in partnership with Keep Statesboro Bulloch Beautiful (KSBB), as part of the Greatest American Cleanup. The community is invited to come out and make a visible difference for America’s 250th birthday celebration.The nationwide goal is to remove 25 billion pieces of litter from parks, waterways and public spaces by July 4, 2026.
Volunteers must pre-register and meet at the designated supply pickup/drop-off spot. Cleanup locations will be assigned upon check in.
Keep America Beautiful is a national nonprofit organization working with local affiliates, volunteers, public agencies, and corporate partners to reduce litter, increase recycling, and improve communities across the nation.
“Mother, Mother Ocean, I have heard your call” are the lyrics I remember hearing play in the background on family sailing trips around South Florida and the Keys growing up. On one particular trip, my fascination with marine life inspired me to take a cushion sea star off the sandy bottom and stow it in the anchor well so that I could dry it out and later take it home as a souvenir. It didn’t take long before a mysterious pungent smell coming out of the boat revealed my secret treasure and future career goals of becoming a marine biologist to my parents.
