Preparing the next wave of Casco Bay advocates

With our Past, Present, and Future of Casco Bay event on the horizon, I’ve been thinking about the long arc of our work. As Casco Baykeeper, I want to help prepare the next generation to care for water. I do this through an “extern” program with the University of Maine School of Law. The program matches Friends of Casco Bay with students pursuing careers in environmental and oceans law. We provide advocacy training and real-world experience, and in return, the students help expand the breadth and depth of issues we can take on. 

Our first extern in 2018, Will Sedlack, now serves as Executive Director of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust. During his externship, Will researched potential issues such as plastic pollution from the growing aquaculture industry––and identified solutions, too. “It was gratifying, “Will recalls, “to be in an environment where I was expected to work creatively and be the best version of myself every day on behalf of Casco Bay.” Today, I value working with Will as we collaborate to protect the Presumpscot River, Casco Bay’s largest freshwater source.

Two years later, we welcomed Heather Kenyon as an extern. Heather was drawn to the intersection of science and law. She quickly became an integral part of our team, doing everything from independent water quality monitoring to researching ways to advance Maine’s stormwater permits. “In law school, I realized that judges and lawmakers often struggle with the science behind policy decisions,” she says. “They rely on experts like Friends of Casco Bay to provide sound data and help them understand it. I wanted to be part of that work.” Now Heather works for us as our Science and Policy Associate. Mike and I truly value Heather as a nimble team member, with her excellent science and advocacy skills. 

Soon afterward, in 2021, Sara Freshley joined us. She brought a passion for building community support for environmental protection. “The law is a tool for progress,’ she says, “but the power comes from the people.” Sara does that so well in her current role as our Community Organizer now. 

 As members of our program team—along with Staff Scientist Mike Doan and me—Heather and Sara have doubled our capacity to collect data and translate it into action. Heather now leads our collaborative PFAS study of Casco Bay and has increased our ability to testify at the legislature on bills that matter to the Bay. On a recent day, we both found ourselves at the State House, working in different public hearings! 

Sara has brought new energy and direction to our Water Reporter program and community outreach efforts. Under her leadership, our enthusiastic Water Reporters have drawn the attention of seagrass across the region through initiatives like the Seagrass Snapshot. Sara has also helped us engage communities in local and state efforts to improve water quality. 

This past spring, for the first time, we hosted two externs at the same time: Natalie Jump and Anthony Erwin. Together, they expanded our legislative tracking, advanced conservation efforts on the Presumpscot River, and helped shape policies to safeguard eelgrass and nearshore habitats as sources of blue carbon. Through science and fieldwork, they developed a deeper connection to Casco Bay—one that now fuels their advocacy with knowledge, passion, and purpose. We look forward to seeing where their careers take them. 

This summer, Keiran Lorenzten joins us for a special summer internship funded by an anonymous donor to the law school who values our externship program. We are so grateful. Heather and I look forward to working with Keiran as we translate science into many actions to address stormwater pollution, climate resilience, watershed protection, and more. Keiran joins an inspiring and growing group of Friends of Casco Bay externs—15 and counting—who have impacted our work.

Our externs give me hope. They remind me that the future will be filled with skilled, passionate advocates speaking up for these waters. As a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law myself, it’s a joy to support these students and be energized by their optimism, insight, and talent. They remind me why this work matters—and why it must continue.

If you’re inspired too, I hope you’ll join us at our upcoming conversation about the Past, Present, and Future of Casco Bay.