Let’s Cheer for our 2021 Volunteers of the Year!
Dec. 9, 2021Although our volunteer programs have not been quite the same since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have so many outstanding volunteers who have helped us rise to the challenge and continue our fight for clean water and healthy waterways. While we look forward to continuing to find creative ways to engage volunteers from a distance next year, we want to thank two exceptional volunteers who have shown dedication and heart during these last two years- Harper Philips and Atticus Kern. For their hard work and resilience, we recognize them as our Volunteers of the Year!
Meet Volunteer of the Year, Atticus!
When did you start volunteering with LA Waterkeeper?
I began volunteering with LA Waterkeeper about 4- 5 years ago
What attracted you to volunteer and how did you first get involved with LA Waterkeeper?
It started during a point where I was very aimless in my life. I had dropped out of school and my previous job had suffered an electrical fire, leaving me unemployed with nothing to do and nowhere to go. A family friend of ours, who was an old friend of LA Waterkeeper’s Marine Program’s Director, Michael Quill, told me about the organization and gave me Michael’s contact. I sent him an email sharing my interest in helping out in any way I could and he welcomed me with open arms. The rest is history. Shout out to Mark Troedson for getting me in touch with this organization!
What's your first memory of Los Angeles Waterkeeper?
Going out on the water with Michael on his boat for an MPA watch for the first time. I had absolutely no idea what to expect, but Michael's little boat was certainly not what I had in mind. But man can that thing move! It was shocking how fast we went from the Marina to Palos Verdes! I was clinging onto the boat for dear life, but poking my head out like a dog pokes its head out the car window with the biggest smile on my face. Once we got down to the actual MPA, it got much calmer and far more tranquil being near the Malaga Canyon. And despite the disappointing amount of activity we saw in an MPA, with plenty of boats fishing where they weren't supposed to, it was a great experience to get out there and do some good work collecting data and water info.
What has surprised you most about volunteering with LA Waterkeeper?
The water is f@#$ing filthy! It's easy to think of that to yourself in abstract terms since this is LA and the second-largest city in the US. Of course, there's gonna be some pollution, right? But when you get right down to the nitty-gritty, when you can see the tiny pieces of trash and paper and glitter and muck, you reach your hand in and feel it slip away through your fingers, knowing you can't just grab it and take it all out just like that? Lemme tell ya, it twists your stomach bad when you see that for the first time.
What’s a fond memory of volunteering with LA Waterkeeper?
Gosh, there are too many to count! Getting on the boat for the first time, meeting the crew, seeing all the work we did on our most recent trash cleanups. But I guess I'm a sucker for animals because seeing the wildlife is always such a magical experience. Dolphins, sea lions, hell we've even seen a few whales breach before! I think one time when we were heading back to the Marina from Malibu late in the afternoon about two dozen dolphins followed us there almost the whole time! I saw them just zooming with us under the water, jumping up next to us! Seriously, you could almost reach your hand out from the boat to touch them, that's how close they were!
Atticus helping during our Plastic Free July Cleanup Challenge.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering?
Do it! I mean sure, that goes without saying, but seriously do it. It's easy to let apathy set in and say to yourself that you're powerless to bring any meaningful change to the world. But every little bit helps and you come home knowing you did something good for a change. Oh, and wash your hands. Making sure the water is clean doesn't mean *you're* gonna be clean!
What motivates you to stay involved with LA Waterkeeper?
The cause, plain and simple. Clean water, rivers, oceans, etc. is a must and it's sad to see how little people care about the ecosystem, nor see the impact the damage has to all of us and everything in the long run.
What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
My other passions include listening to and playing music (I'm not very good, but I don't care!), the occasional model making and photographing, and modding video games to my own personal tastes and control.
“Atticus Kern is a prime time, first string volunteer. A go to when I need a reliable crewmate. He clocked numerous boat-based surveys over several years prior to COVID and has jumped in recently to help out at events - and do some heavy lifting when needed. I look forward to getting back on the water with you, Atticus!”
Meet Volunteer of the Year, Harper*!
When did you start volunteering with LA Waterkeeper?
I began volunteering in 2016!
What attracted you to volunteer and how did you first get involved with LA Waterkeeper?
I had moved to LA recently and was looking to get involved in ocean conservation when a friend recommended it. I had done citizen science boat projects previously and love being out on the water. Getting to contribute directly in person in such a tangible way was very appealing.
What has surprised you most about volunteering with LA Waterkeeper?
I think the thing that’s surprised me the most has been how difficult it is to effect real policy change. Working with Waterkeeper has encouraged me to start attending city council meetings and get more involved civically. The amount of work that goes into making small changes on a local level is a lot more than I ever imagined, and I feel incredibly thankful there are organizations like Waterkeeper who have the legal resources and experience to hold our local governments accountable for environmental action.
What’s a fond memory of volunteering with LA Waterkeeper?
There was one particular day when we went out to the MPA in Malibu. It was exceptionally glassy, and we saw several species of dolphins, seals, sea lions, and a grey whale on the way out and on the way back came across a what must have been a very large bait ball with a ton of dolphins and even a Sei whale. Being able to see that many animals in such a short period of time was incredible.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering?
Whenever I talk to people about Waterkeeper the thing that always strikes me is that I would literally pay to be doing this kind of work. It’s such a pleasure. I also tell people that it’s really incredible to get a perspective of LA from the water. As a transplant, I feel so much more connected to this area after getting to know the bay and the kelp forests.
What motivates you to stay involved with LA Waterkeeper?
I just love it! The idea of staying motivated to be involved almost feels a little silly because it genuinely feels like I’m being given a gift every day I get to participate in the MPA Watch program. The kelp forests are so beautiful and do so much to preserve all California ocean wildlife while combating the climate crisis & ocean acidification.
Harper during MPA Watch.
What/ who inspires you to volunteer (in general)?
I started volunteering at animal shelters and with arts organizations when I was little and really had it shape the direction of my life. In general, I appreciate being able to tap into a community, have new experiences and learn new things that I wouldn’t be exposed to otherwise.
What motivates you to stay involved with LA Waterkeeper?
Unsurprising, it’s definitely Dr. Michael! Getting to listen to his stories and absorb the wealth of information he knows about the local community is such a gift. I really appreciate that he goes beyond the science, and is such an advocate for the idea that healing wild places like the MPA also helps heal us as individuals.
What do you do when you aren’t (working, volunteering)?
I love reading, playing the ukulele, and taking my dog to Rosie’s dog beach.
Tell us a little more about yourself!
I live with my partner Johnathon (who also volunteers with Waterkeeper) and our adopted spaniel Bonnie.
“Harper has stepped up as a first-team boat-based survey volunteer for several years and has been a frequent participant in various community town halls, KCRW call-ins echoing LA Waterkeeper’s mission all along the way. Harper is always willing to step in when needed, along with her partner Johnathan. I am so grateful to have Harper onboard as a vital member of our LA Waterkeeper volunteer corps!”
Volunteers have always been essential to LA Waterkeeper’s work; from going out during a rainstorm to sample runoff from industrial facilities to monitoring the ecological health of our Los Angeles River or the Marine Protected Areas in the Santa Monica Bay. Thanks to our volunteers, LA Waterkeeper can continue to fight for the health of the region’s waterways, and for sustainable, equitable, and climate-friendly water supplies.
Interested in joining our volunteer team? Check out our volunteer page and learn more on how you can volunteer and help LA Waterkeeper fight for clean water and sustainable water supplies!
*Harper was our volunteer of the year in 2019 but was unable to accept the award.