Passing Along a Love of Place

How one Thousand Islands educator is helping the next generation discover why this place is worth protecting

As my third summer working with the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) ends, and I prepare to begin my 20th school year at Thousand Islands Central School, I find myself reflecting on the experiences that made this summer so memorable.

There were countless moments that were meaningful, inspiring, and heartfelt, but a few stand out as experiences that will stay with me for years to come. Perhaps what made this summer so meaningful was the opportunity to see the Thousand Islands through so many different lenses: as an educator, a conservationist, a lifelong resident, and someone who has gotten to watch many different generations of children grow up loving this special place.

These experiences have renewed my passion for education, conservation, and community, while also reminding me of something I sometimes take for granted: there is something incredibly special about learning to love a place and then having the opportunity to help someone else love it, too.

That thought has stayed with me throughout the summer. In a time when our world can be quite chaotic and messy, I have been inspired by watching children connect with the world around them and begin to understand the importance of protecting and conserving this beautiful landscape that we call the Thousand Islands. Watching that connection happen gives me hope. It reminds me that the future of this place is not only in the hands of those of us working to protect it today, but also in the hands of the children who will one day inherit it.

Collaborating for a Cause

I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I grew up in the Thousand Islands and now have the privilege of raising my own family here. Like so many who call this place home, I have countless memories tied to the River – swimming, fishing, exploring islands, and simply enjoying the remarkable place we are fortunate to live. I have so much to be thankful for.

For years, I have admired organizations like TILT and Save The River (STR), whose commitment to keeping our region safe, clean, healthy, and thriving is truly inspiring. This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with TILT while also participating in events and supporting STR initiatives. Two incredibly rewarding educational experiences in particular reminded me just how powerful it can be when organizations come together to connect children with the River and the land around it.

The first was TILT’s annual Ichthyologist for a Day KidsTrek, a partnership between TILT and the Thousand Islands Biological Station (TIBS), part of SUNY ESF. Each summer, Dr. John Farrell and the TIBS crew welcomes about 50 children to Governors Island in Clayton for a hands-on introduction to the work of an Ichthyologist, or fish scientist, and the important role the science plays in understanding and protecting the St. Lawrence River ecosystem. This was my third summer helping with this trek, and each time I learn something new. But this year was more meaningful than ever because I was able to bring my niece and nephew along with me.

Julia, 9, and Joey, 7, are River kids through and through. Like my own children, they were swimming in the River before they turned one, fishing before they turned two, and have spent more time enjoying and exploring this wondrous body of water than most. They love the River, thanks in no small part to the wonderful upbringing their parents have given them.

Spending the day with them was something I will always remember and cherish. It was our special time on the water. We had a ball, learning new things, sharing why conservation and protection of this place are so important, and swapping stories about our memories on the River. And as often the case with learning, it went both ways.

I helped Julia and Joey learn to cast their fishing lines using a type of line they had never used before. Julia taught me how she takes a fish off the hook, something Aunt Kelly cringes at the thought of. Joey educated me on how to tell a rock bass from a pumpkinseed. And all three of us learned from SUNY ESF students how to identify map turtles, how incredibly cool these creatures are, and why they play an important role in our River ecosystem.

That same spirit of hands-on learning was at the heart of Floating Classroom, an STR program on which TILT had the opportunity to collaborate twice this summer. As a teacher, the program immediately spoke to my passion for education. What made it truly extraordinary was that learning extended far beyond the traditional classroom. Students traveled by boat, explored an island, hiked through nature, and discovered the environment firsthand.

Every teacher dreams of moving beyond the four walls of a classroom to create richer, more meaningful learning experiences. During Floating Classroom, the children were engaged, curious, active, and genuinely excited to learn. The experience naturally reached every type of learner: the shy, artistic child; the energetic and curious explorer; the inquisitive student eager to ask questions; the hands-on, kinesthetic learner; and the thoughtful observer who learns best by watching. Every child found a way to connect with the experience and the material being presented to them.

More importantly, programs like these help children comprehend that we can never take this paradise for granted. We are lucky to call the Thousand Islands home, but this incredible landscape and River do not simply stay this way on their own. It is here because we’ve cared for it, conserved it and advocated for it. Organizations like TILT have worked and continue to work, to protect the habitats, water quality, and landscapes that make this region so special.

When children understand that connection between the places they love and the work it takes to care for them, they gain something that reaches far beyond a single day of learning. They begin to see themselves as part of the story of this place—and as its future stewards.

Those little moments—teaching, learning, laughing and sharing our love for the River—are the ones I’ll carry with me. They reminded me that conservation isn’t just about protecting a place. It’s about passing along a connection to that place, one generation to the next. That, to me, is the real power of collaboration. When organizations like TILT, STR, and TIBS bring their knowledge, passion, and resources together, they create experiences that do more than teach children about the River. They help the next generation understand why it is worth saving.

A Photo That Captured A Thousand Emotions

Another unforgettable moment came from an unexpected—but incredibly kind and heartfelt—email from a complete stranger.

In early August, I opened my TILT work email to find a message from a gentleman named Brian Lawson. The subject line immediately caught my attention:

"Why what you do is important." His message read:
Grandkids of Brian and Joan Lawson, Bayside Island.
To me, this photo captures the glory and wonder of the River, but also of the next generation as they learn to love it and care for it.
—Brian

Attached was this photograph of his grandchildren enjoying the River.

The message and photo had an immediate and profound effect on me. I felt that familiar lump in my throat that signals emotion is on its way. Tears welled in the corners of my eyes as I stared at my computer, reading his words over and over while studying the photograph. My heart swelled with gratitude—not only for Mr. Lawson's kindness, but because I felt such a deep connection to what he was expressing. I couldn't have agreed with him more.

I know exactly what Mr. Lawson meant when he wrote about the glory and wonder of the River. I know what it feels like to sit in a boat at sunset as the wind settles and the waves grow calm, sharing that perfect moment with family while silently wishing time would stand still. The photograph brought me back to memories with my now teenage daughters and our River days when they were that age. The nostalgia and sweetness of this photo was overwhelming. All I could think was “bring me back to those years.”

That is the magic of the Thousand Islands. It is what draws people here and what keeps them coming back, generation after generation. My family has been here connected to this place for several generations now, and I hope there will be many more. I hope my children, nieces, and nephews, and countless other children will grow up knowing the feeling of a quiet sunset on the River, a day spent fishing with family, or the excitement of discovering something new along the shoreline.
That is what we at TILT are working to protect.

Mr. Lawson's subject line, "Why what you do is important," stayed with me long after I finally closed that email. Those simple words affirmed something I have always believed: the legacy of TILT—and of other environmental organizations throughout our region—is essential.

Protecting the Thousand Islands means preserving not only extraordinary landscapes, but also the experiences that happen within them. It means protecting the places where children explore, families gather, traditions are passed down, and memories are made.

Reflecting on the summer of 2026, I realize I have thought more about what it means to leave something behind; not necessarily something big or profound, but something that makes another person’s life a little better. As people grow older, many begin to wonder about the legacy they will leave behind. What mark did they make on the world? I believe that it doesn’t have to be something grand. What matters is whether they made the world a little better and whether they helped others along the way.

I have come to see TILT as a community of people who care deeply about this place and who show up every day to do the work of protecting it. There is something special about being surrounded by people who believe that what we do today matters to the people who will come after us. Because of this work, the Thousand Islands will continue to be a place where families gather, children explore, traditions take root, and memories are made. Our world will be more beautiful, healthier, and happier, and I am proud and grateful to play a small part in that legacy.

By Kelly Picunas

Kelly first joined TILT in July 2024 as the Community Outreach Assistant for the summer months. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Print Journalism and Women’s Studies from the State University of New York College at Oswego. She also holds a Master of Science for Teachers (M.S.T.) degree in childhood education from the State University of New York at Potsdam. She will be entering her 20th year of teaching in the upcoming 2026-27 school year. Originally from Clayton, NY, Kelly has known and loved this area all her life. She and her two daughters enjoy boating, swimming, and giving back to the community.