Leadership in River Stewards by Lyuba Benin, 2023 Cohort

The leadership aspect of River Stewards has become more apparent to me this semester as my cohort and I have been planning our senior project with the Dakota Center. Brainstorming and organizing the project have put things in perspective and validated that mine and my cohort’s time in River Stewards will foster a meaningful relationship with the community of Dayton. How do we work with real community leaders? How can we honestly address the needs of the Dayton community? Ultimately, after some reflection, my working definition of leadership is being able to share your gifts and talents for the good of others, and River Stewards provides the mindset and resources for us to be leaders. I am excited to continue collaborating and working on the project with my cohort and catalyze real change in Dayton. 

A couple of months ago, I also joined the Sustainability Leadership Council, which brings together a variety of clubs on campus advocating for sustainability, such as the Hanley Sustainability Institute, Flyer Enterprises, River Stewards, etc. Although some stews and I physically represent River Stewards in the council, this position has felt like a leadership position to me especially from the behind-the-scenes work. For example, we recently were trying to gain a faculty advisor for the council, and the emails and meetings that were made to achieve that, cultivated a real sense of the effort it takes to be a leader. 

Ultimately, I think what is powerful about River Stewards is that any stew can find their niche related to the river and be an effective leader in a unique way. River Stewards also teaches an important lesson that there is no one way to be a leader, and that the real results of leadership arise from us learning and being inspired from one another, as we do in our cohorts.

How do you see yourself as a leader in the River Stewards program? by Natalie Yersavich, 2023 Cohort

 Leadership and service have always been a big part of my life and even since I was a kid, I have tried to seek out as many opportunities to lead and serve as I can. When I first started at UD, these two ideals were the driving forces that inspired me to get involved on campus and in various groups. I found some opportunities to lead and serve in campus ministry and in my faith, but I wanted more. I wanted to reach a larger population, not just those in my residence hall or those who shared my faith. 

When I first applied for River Stewards, I was drawn to the focus of the group: leadership through service and community engagement. The program is centered around building and developing leadership through serving the Dayton community. I could not have asked for a better opportunity to grow and learn about these skills that I value so highly. 

Now, after being in the program for two years, I have learned more than I thought I ever could about leadership and service. From a young age, I have always understood that leadership comes from service and that a good leader is one who serves, but after going through this program, I understand this to be true on a deeper level. River Stewards has taught me that in order to lead, you have to first listen and serve the people that you are leading. How can you lead people in the right direction if you do not know the obstacles and challenges that they are facing? If you do not take the time to listen and understand the problems, you cannot come up with successful solutions. Leadership ultimately is not about the individual. It is about collaboration in order to achieve a common goal and lift up the group as a whole.

Service Opportunity Reflection by Alison Hardie, 2024 Cohort

    A service opportunity that really stuck with me was collecting prairie seeds with Five Rivers Metroparks. In the fall my mom, sister, and I signed up to collect prairie seeds at Huffman Prairie. Huffman Prairie is a historic landmark where the Wright Brothers flew their planes but also a remnant prairie that serves as a home for many different species. My family and I had been to Huffman Prairie on multiple occasions because it is one of our favorite birding spots. Unfortunately, prairies are becoming increasingly rarer so Huffman attracts many types of breeding songbirds. One of our favorites is the bobolink, a striking black and white bird with a metallic song. We also make sure to visit every summer while the wildflowers are in full bloom. 

    We had gone seed collecting in the past a few years back at another park so we were excited to see that this time it was at Huffman. When we arrived at the park we were greeted by the leader of the activity who gave us a seed bag to tie around our waist, gardening gloves, and a pair of shears. As we walked down the path to the collection spot the leader pointed out and gave some information on all of the different plants in the prairie. Once we arrived at a spot he assigned each person to collect seeds from a different type of flower. I was assigned to the purple coneflower, which happens to be one of my favorites. Then we had to march into the tall brush to find the flowers that were ready. It takes a moment of braveness at first to step into the tall grass, not being able to see what’s under your feet. But you forget about that after the first step. For the coneflowers I was looking for heads that were dried but had not been completely eaten by the birds, they are a favorite snack of the goldfinches. We collected seeds for a few hours before the hot sun started to get to everyone and it was time to head back. On the way back some of the other volunteers spotted a green snake which I unfortunately did not catch a glimpse of. 

    They informed us that the seeds would be sent back to one of the other metroparks where other volunteers would remove the seeds from the flower heads and then they would be planted across the Metroparks in different prairies. This experience really stood out to be as it showed how much work has to be done in many conservation projects. It was especially cool to involved in helping one of my favorite places and getting to know the prairie that much better. I had always known they planted the prairies but I had never thought about how they got the seeds. There are also so many parts to this process that are all done by volunteers so it helped me to see how invested the community is as well and some of the direct impact of my hours.

Describe a service opportunity that stuck with you… by Allison George, 2024 Cohort

As a second year civil and environmental engineering major, I see so much value and importance in introducing young girls to STEM programs. I have spent a few Saturday mornings working with one of my other organizations, the Society of Women Engineers or SWE to bring STEM knowledge and innovation skills to local Girl Scout troops. The programs have varied in content but one thing has remained constant, the girls are absolutely captivated by STEM and you can see the gears turning as they think about what science and engineering really are. 

The programs have been structured age appropriately, as the girls are usually in elementary school, and there have been different difficulties to truly challenge the girls at different school years. Some of my favorite station topics have been building aluminum foil boats for pennies, teaching the basic logic needed for coding, learning about what each kind of engineer actually does, and learning how to build a simple structure.

This opportunity in particular has really stuck with me because on top of getting to see them start brainstorming and working together to problem solve, they begin to see the program leaders– who are all women in STEM– as role models and open up with their questions about why we went into engineering or what we want to do after college. Having young girls leave a program saying to their friends how they thought engineering was so cool or that they think one type of engineering was what they wanted to do when they grow up is so meaningful to me because as a young girl I didn’t even know what engineering was. Giving young girls even just the basic information about engineering is an incredible step in the right direction, and I hope to support more events introducing girls to engineering in the future in hopes that eventually there will be just as many women in engineering as men!

What is Your Favorite Thing About Water? By Elisabeth Arnold, 2024 Cohort

     Water is powerful. Without it, the landscapes we see today would not exist. For billions of years the same water on earth there is now has been forming the world we know. Whether it be a massive glacier or a small stream cutting through a valley, water has the power to leave a lasting impression wherever it passes through. From the largest mountains, to intricate valleys, vast canyons, and quiet streams, water is the main source of much of the natural beauty seen on the planet

    Water can also be destructive. Too much in one place at one time may lead to devastating floods. Too little may lead to just as devastating droughts. Floods are the most common and devastating natural disasters in the U.S. and around the world. They lead to billions of dollars in damages each year along with loss of life. Droughts lead to shortages of clean water, increased fire risk, and collapse of ecosystems. Even a small amount of water in a cracked sidewalk can lead to a major change over time. Life relies on water, and is yet sometimes restrained by it. 

    Water also has the power to bring people together. Of course we all need water to survive, but it also is involved in many people’s fondest memories. This is because water is the focal point of a variety of recreational activities. Kayaking, fishing, swimming, boating, and surfing are just a few examples. Even popular tourist destinations usually involve a beach, body of water, or impressive landform created by water. Everyone uses water everyday, probably without thinking twice about it. Many cultures and religions even see water as significant and use it as a leading role in rituals and practices.

    My favorite thing about water is the power it holds. It is essential for life and can be destructive at the same time. This is why water deserves to be protected and appreciated. Water is in so many aspects of our lives that we undoubtedly rely on it. While we rely on water, water also relies on us to not misuse it and ensure future generations will be able to enjoy the same activities and form their own memories around water. 

Water in my Life by Kerry Howard, 2023 Cohort

    Other than the obvious reason of needing it to live, water has made an influential impact on my

life and the way I view the Earth. One of my favorite memories regarding water was when I went

to camp in 2014 and 2015, where myself, along with 30 other campers stayed at a campground

called, Deer Valley in Pennsylvania. Our main hang-out spot was on a small peninsula, where we

would have fires, late night talks, sit out during the day, and so much more. Although, my

favorite thing about being surrounded by the water was taking baths in the lake. I felt connected

with the water because I had never cleaned myself in lake water before and it was such a

meaningful experience due to how genuine the world felt in those moments. During my time

there, the water connected everyone, and helped people bond over a similar interest.

    Moreover, the different forms that water can shape into is so interesting to me. It can transfer

into a gas, solid, and liquid, but does so for the well-being of the Earth. The Earth has water to

thank for its beauty – not only the beauty of lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans, but also the

mountains, canyons, and erosion in everyday life. After traveling to various national parks in the

U.S., I have learned to appreciate how water has shaped almost everything we do and see. From

the Grand Canyon to the Yosemite, to my hometown, Pittsburgh where the Point is located, there

is almost always serenity in these places. Hearing waterfalls, smelling sea salt, seeing wildlife in

crystal clear water are just a few things that I think helps everyone relax. We are all more similar

than we think in the sense of enjoying water, and just as I found at camp, brings people together.

Water will always be a meaningful way to get closer to the Earth, closer with people, and closer

to your true self.

What I see for my future in the program by Drew Kimes, 2024 Cohort

    Hey everyone, I am Drew Kimes and the only male member of the 2024 River Stewards cohort! I take pride in that and we all consider myself “a part of the girls.” I truly have become so close with these girls and If it was not for this program I would not have met my best friend, Cassie Rafter. So I thank this program and cannot wait to create more bonds, friendships and memories with this group. 

    Anyways the theme for this week's blog post is the future. The future is a very daunting thing to think about because it is something we do not know for certain. However, we all have certain hopes and aspirations for the future and for me and this program I see growth. Speaking from my own observation and experience, my cohort is the smallest this program has had in years, with only 10 members. So we are bound to grow. And sure enough we are already seeing growth with over 30 applications for the 2025 cohort. This is amazing news as I mean we have the opportunity to grow and continue to do great things in our community and the communities around us. I cannot wait to welcome the new River Stewards into the family! 

    Though I see physical growth in the future, I also see growth in the sustainable projects we will do for the community for years and years to come. By sustainable, I mean they will be continued and executed by future cohorts and by the community members themselves. That way our impacts are lasting and not simply putting a Band-Aid on a situation. Creating sustainable projects and impacts is something our program strives for and I am excited to continue to see this growth in the coming years! 

River Love!