By Environmental Education Associate, Chloe Brush

NSEA educates, inspires, and engages the community to take action to keep wild salmon here for future generations. At NSEA we work every day to expand the consciousness of our local community to include our streams and the salmon that do and could inhabit them. We provide Whatcom County residents with hands-on experience in restoration and the tools to act as stewards to salmon habitat. We believe that when we begin to understand ourselves as citizens of our watersheds, the vision of sustainable wild salmon runs can become a reality.

Each year, NSEA offers internships in stream restoration, environmental education, and community outreach. As part of the Future Leaders of Whatcom Waters (FLOW) Program, the Community Program Internship provides real-world experiences and professional development opportunities for the future leaders of the environmental and educational fields while allowing NSEA to increase our capacity to accomplish more on-the-ground work and continue to improve our programs. The interns work in step with our program team to lead our growing community of volunteers, students, and donors to provide momentum to ensure that Whatcom County will be home to wild salmon for generations to come.

Avery Garritano is a recent graduate from Western Washington University with a Bachelor's in Environmental Policy. They are “excited for the opportunity to work alongside their community hands-on to restore and recover critical salmon habitats and to learn more about the Pacific Northwest land and wildlife.”

Abby Orgish is from Northern California and is a recent graduate from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Biology. After her role as an educator this summer for NSEA’s first-ever Camp Keystone, she is “ecstatic to be back this fall facilitating more place-based environmental education for kiddos in Whatcom County and playing in the dirt at work parties with this incredible crew and community!”

Ethan Miedema is a third-year student at the University of Washington studying Environmental Science and Resource Management and American Indian Studies. He enjoys fly fishing and backpacking in his free time. Ethan has lived his whole life in the Salish Sea watershed and loves the opportunity that NSEA provides to give back to the land which has given him so much. 

Marysia Smith is from the Seattle area and is a student at Western Washington University in the Huxley College of the Environment studying Environmental Science with a focus in Marine Ecology, and a minor in GIS. She is also a captain on the Western Washington University Swim Team, as well as an avid volunteer with Washington Trails Association. When she isn't studying or working, Marysia enjoys hiking and camping, fishing, swimming, or playing Catan with friends.