Despite our best intentions, sometimes things don’t go as planned. As part of its commitment to reducing stormwater impacts to our local streams, UConn installed a rain garden at Mansfield Apartments in 2010. Unfortunately, it was not maintained and the garden failed.

On Thursday, June 9, 2016, representatives from The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Aris Land Studio, The National Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA) at the University of Connecticut (UConn), Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG) and The United Illuminating Company (UI), all contributing partners in the Soak up the Rain initiative, gathered at the Discovery Museum and Planetarium in Bridgeport to honor Harding High School student Amanda Hernandez with a scholarship to attend the 2016-2017 NRCA program.

A scholarship awarded by the Salisbury Association Land Trust, partnering with UCONN and Trout Unlimited, enabled HVRHS students Noah Watson and Grace Herde to participate in the University of Connecticut’s Natural Resources Conservation Academy, followed by community service on the Salmon Kill stream in Salisbury.

The Salem Land Trust (SLT) is partnering with The Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA) at UCONN, supporting a Salem sophomore at East Lyme High School on a conservation research project. The research is taking place at SLT’s Zemko Sawmill Preserve on Rattlesnake Ledge Road.

Nonnewaug High School juniors Joshua Goldwag and Maureen McCarthy graduated from the Natural Resource Conservation Academy and are among 22 students statewide who recently graduated from the Natural Resource Conservation Academy at University of Connecticut who were recognized as Connecticut Conservation Ambassadors.