AHS Student Expands Environmental Education as AVIS Intern
Original Artwork by Izzy Senior
By Grace, AHS Senior and WECAN intern
Nature is a healthy way to cope with the stress of life. In a society where the majority of the population work indoors, exposure to the benefits of nature are limited. Getting outdoors can contribute to physical wellness, mental wellness, and wellness in communities. In a The wellness benefits of the great outdoors, Michelle Kondo, a research social scientist with the USDA Forest Service's Northern Research Station, shares, “Wellness is wholistic in that it is comprised of physical and mental health as well as the health of our communities… All of these benefits add up and reduce adverse impacts on our bodies, and have restorative characteristics. So get outdoors and enjoy nature’s gift of wellness.”
Andover is fortunate to have an amazing network of conservation space where folks can hike and paddle and enjoy nature. Much of that is managed by the Andover Village Improvement Society’s (AVIS). This year Izzy Senior, Andover High School intern for AVIS, has been working with her mentors Jim Sutton and Susan Stott on educating the Andover community on trail use, etiquette, and conservation.
In addition, Izzy has been educating her peers on the environment through leading nature walks during study periods. She created a project with her painting teacher, Andrew Comeau, to observe the intricate relationship between art and the natural world. They took a walk out to the Indian Ridge and West Parish Meadow reservations and created a watercolor of a boardwalk through a yellow forest. To learn more about AVIS and Izzy’s upcoming projects, please visit avisandover.org or email isenior2023@student.andoverma.us
Founded in 1894 as The Andover Village Improvement Society, AVIS is one of the oldest land conservation organizations in the country. AVIS manages more than 30 reservations comprising more than 1,200 acres in the Town of Andover. The organization relies on a corps of volunteers to lead the organization and to provide maintenance of its recreational trails and stewardship for the land and its wildlife habitat. Donations from community members and grant sources provide the funds to acquire, protect, and manage its reservations.
