Housatonic Valley Association invites the public to student presentations on August 11.
This summer marks the 10th anniversary of the Housatonic Valley Association’s (HVA) Still River Watershed Connections program, a hands-on environmental stewardship and workforce development initiative that has introduced more than 50 local high school students to careers in conservation while restoring the health of the Still River watershed in Danbury, Connecticut.
To celebrate this milestone, HVA invites the public to attend the Still River Connections Student Presentations on Tuesday, August 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hatters Park Pavilion in Danbury. Students will share posters about their experiences this summer planting riparian buffer vegetation, removing invasive species, improving recreational river access and tackling other environmental projects around the city.
Launched in 2016 in partnership with Danbury Youth Services, Danbury High School and the City of Danbury’s Still River Alliance Commission, the Still River Watershed Connections program was created to connect teens with meaningful environmental work in their own backyard while providing valuable job training, professional experience and career mentorship. What began with four students removing invasive plants, cleaning up popular recreation sites and surveying streams has grown into a decade-long program that has engaged dozens of young people in protecting and restoring the Still River watershed and beyond. This year’s program is supported by The Neag Foundation.
Summer after summer, students have consistently cared for the same bodies of water, neighborhoods and greenways, creating a legacy of stewardship with lasting impact on their community. Program highlights have included creating new public river access sites at Erickson Road and Harrybrooke Park in New Milford, restoring wildlife habitat through invasive species removals and installing rain gardens and planting riparian buffers to reduce polluted runoff. This summer, the program’s four interns helped plant 149 native trees and shrubs along Candlewood Lake—a vegetative buffer that will reduce erosion and benefit local pollinators—in partnership with Danbury Parks & Recreation.
Former student participant Digby Barrios says, “The program sparked my lifelong passion for environmental stewardship. I quickly fell in love with working outdoors, and the experience inspired me so deeply that I returned as a Crew Leader, hoping to give back to the program that had shaped me and inspire a new generation of students. The Still River Connection program launched my journey into environmental science and set me on a path toward dedicating my life to protecting and restoring the natural world.”
The program isn’t solely about improving rivers and parks. Students leave with practical skills and a better understanding of environmental jobs. Working alongside HVA staff and partners including the City of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University, the U.S. Geological Survey, local land trusts and other partner organizations, students gain valuable experience that directly supports their career aspirations. Each summer, they share what they’ve learned by presenting their projects to family members, partners and the community.
“Still River Connections has always been about more than restoring habitat,” says Julia Rogers, HVA’s Conservation Programs Director. “It’s about taking the ideas in our Still River watershed stewardship plan and acting on them, while giving young people the chance to improve their own hometown. Over the last 10 years, we’ve watched students develop new skills, build confidence and leave a lasting impact on their communities.”
This year’s crew continues that decade-long tradition of stewardship. Their presentations on August 11 will showcase both this summer’s accomplishments and the lasting impact of ten years of Still River Connections. Community members are encouraged to attend and may RSVP for the event at hvatoday.org or RSVP: 2026 Still River Watershed Connections Program Presentations – Fill out form.
