I've always had a strong connection and interest in being on the water. Being a recent graduate and majoring in Environmental Sciences, I came to appreciate all the aspects of the degree. One aspect that caught my eye during my time in college was water quality. This subject really caught my attention in school and I believe it was because of the amount of time I spent kayaking, swimming in lakes, and floating down rivers growing up. I guess I have my family to thank for that. They always made an effort to get us outdoors at a young age and even if we didn't want to, they made us. I come to realize how thankful I am for them that they pushed me to be more connected with nature.

This is why when Confluence gave us the opportunity to use our individual development hours to do something that interested us, I took advantage. I decided it would be a good idea to not only spend some time on the rivers here in Oregon, but also make a difference along the way. So I came up with the idea with my fellow AmeriCorps Member, Kristina Peterson, to do river clean up. We thought we would start by doing it on the Willamette river, near West Linn.

We paddled along the Willamette picking up any trash we could see floating alongside the water and planned to stop at an island called Hog Island. It is also known as Oak Island, monitored by the Willamette Riverkeepers, and is home to native plants such as the Oregon White Oak, Douglas Fir, and many more. At first glance we were not sure if we would find a lot of trash, but we did. Interesting items like pencil sharpeners, Lego toys, gold balls, and even a few tires! We spent a few hours cleaning and exploring the island. It can be sad to know how some people treat our Earth, but we have to remember that there are also people here that will protect it. It’s a nice feeling when your service gives you the developmental freedom to pursue your own interests and do something that makes you happy. The experience was both rewarding and relaxing, something that we plan to do more in the warmer months!

-Chris Abosamra

Confluence AmeriCorps Member serving with Washington County, Solid Waste & Recycling