Be A Changemaker

Help us protect the waters that connect us all.

The Great Bay Changemaker Program needs your voice to help protect the waters that connect us all.

Do you want to create positive change for your community and the environment? Whether you live in Wakefield or Portsmouth—or anywhere in between—the Great Bay Changemaker program can help you use your voice to tackle the environmental challenges that impact all of us.

Sign-up for our mailing list here!

The 2026 Changemaker Bootcamp

The fall Bootcamp will offer six sessions focusing on communities connected to the Salmon Falls River, Piscataqua River and Great Bay. As participants, you will learn about the threats facing the watershed and other rivers flowing into Great Bay as well as how you can help influence community decisions to address these challenges. What you learn and the skills you gain will likely benefit your life in other ways as well!

These sessions will be held in the evening and include a mix of activities. We’ll hear from guest speakers representing local governments and environmental organizations, practice advocacy skills through fun skill-building exercises, and enjoy optional walks. Each session will be hosted in a town within the watershed and will begin with a complimentary dinner!

The program will begin mid-September and continue every other Thursday through November 2026. To get a better sense of the program, check out the 2025 Program Overview.

Apply for the 2026 Changemaker Bootcamp here!

Year-Round Opportunities

The Changemaker Program also offers a variety of public programs in different places around the watershed, typically on weekdays in the late afternoon or early evening in the winter, spring and summer. Check out our upcoming Changemaker Chats. Stay tuned for our summer Watershed Walks and the fall Bootcamp!

Changemaker Book Club

5:00 - 6:30 pm, Thursday, August 27 at Carey Cottage, Portsmouth

We will read Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Sign-up here!

A growing community of champions for our waterways.

Founded with support from Great Bay 2030, the Changemaker program aims to educate residents about the health of our shared waterways, empower them with the skills and confidence to become clean water advocates in their communities, and create a community of clean water champions who feel empowered to take action.

The program was first piloted in the fall of 2023, with a Bootcamp focusing on the Cocheco River Watershed. Following that success, the Changemaker Program began offering summer watershed walks and additional Bootcamps in the fall, each focused on a different watershed. Participants valued the experiences, saying…

“I learned about some of the specific issues facing Great Bay, which inspired my art in a major way. I also was inspired to join the sustainability committee in Exeter and to actually testify at hearings.”

“I made some great connections with passionate folks in the community who I have already continued staying in touch with to coordinate our efforts together and continue inspiring and supporting one another.”

“I found it super valuable to learn the roles and responsibilities of town council and how they differ from commission positions. I also really loved Sue’s talk on advocacy (See: Sue Inches) and how to lead with stories of what we love! ”This program was awesome! I learned a lot of skills and ways I can share my voice.”

“As an experienced advocate, I still learned valuable skills and steps on how to effectively advocate from the speakers and also from other participants in my conversations with them. I wish I had this information 10 years ago when I started.”

Interested in learning more about our Bootcamp programming? Take a look at prior programs:

Stay up to date by signing up for news about upcoming Changemaker opportunities or events!

There are many tools to help you take action.

To learn more about Great Bay and its seven rivers as well as local water issues:

State of Our Estuaries - This report, prepared every five years by the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, offers extensive data and information on the status and trends of environmental indicators from the Piscataqua Region Watershed and estuaries.
Local River Management Advisory Committees - This state website provides links to each of the advisory committees that oversee permitting and develop management plans for many of the rivers in the Great Bay watershed.

To learn more about advocacy:

Sue Inches is a professional advocate, teacher and consultant who helps teach sections of the Changemaker Bootcamp. Sign up for her newsletter for inspirational stories for advocates.
Using your voice: tips for connecting with local elected representatives offers suggestions from a Dover City Councilor who also works in coastal policy and engagement.
Tips on writing letters to legislators are provided by the NH Association of Conservation Commissions.
This action toolkit was developed as part of the Great Bay Book Club and includes a range of ideas for getting involved in local environmental issues.
Tips for writing letters to the editor in NH is a great resource developed by the NH National Education Association.
Guidance for making public comment is a reference sheet developed for the Changemaker Bootcamp program.

To improve your listening skills:

Only Bridging Can Heal a World of Breaking is a great article from Yes! Solutions Journalism.
What is Deep Listening and How Can It Help You Build Better Relationships? This article from First Post provides practical tips for improving your listening skills.

To learn more about local governments in NH:

NH Towns and Cities provides background information on all the municipalities in NH.
Town Meeting Vs. SB2 is a great piece by NH Public Radio that helps explain the different ways towns in NH make big decisions.
Now What NH can help you get more involved in local government. This program works to make New Hampshire more sustainable, more livable, and accessible to residents of all ages by encouraging those with diverse viewpoints, backgrounds, and life experiences to take part in municipal zoning and land use boards
603 Forward provides tips on running for office as well as training and support for anyone considering a run for local or state office.

Learn more about the organizations supporting the Changemakers:

Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve provides place-based science, data, education programs, workshops, and technical assistance to help understand and protect the lands and waters in New Hampshire’s Great Bay watershed. They are a resource for anyone who wants to connect with others to protect the Great Bay.

Great Bay Stewards

The mission of the Great Bay Stewards is the long-term protection and conservation of the Great Bay estuarine ecosystem by supporting education, land protection, research and stewardship of Great Bay, in partnership with the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and other organizations.

Conservation Law Foundation Great Bay Piscataqua Waterkeeper Program

As advocate, convener, and watchdog, the Great Bay–Piscataqua Waterkeeper plays a unique role in protecting and restoring the estuary.

Come explore with us!

Join the Great Bay Changemaker Program, the Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper, and conservation partners for a series of Watershed Walks during the 2026 summer. Explore local lands and learn how each property helps protect the health of our waterways. Children are welcome!

2026 Watershed Walk Calendar:

June 17, 5 - 6:30 pm at Gonic Dam, Rochester

Join Kevin Lucey, Habitat Coordinator at NHDES Coastal Program, to learn about the removal of the Gonic and Gonic Sawmill Dams. After years of deliberation, Rochester is removing two aging dams which is an exciting milestone for the community, fish and Cocheco River. Hear about the challenges that the team overcame to advance the dam removal, including resolving land and dam ownership, protecting buried municipal sewer infrastructure, managing contaminated river sediments, and raising necessary funding. The site walk will include access to the active construction site.

Co-host: NHDES

Accessibility: This walk will be 1-mile round trip over mixed terrain, including along sidewalks, construction access roads, and dirt paths. Closed-toed shoes are required to access the construction site. Please bring a hi-viz vest, if possible.

Register here.

July 8, 5 - 6:30 pm at Union Meadows, Wakefield

Learn about and explore the beauty and ecology of the watershed at Union Meadows, nestled in the headwaters of the Salmon Falls River. This walk will highlight how water moves through the landscape, connects wetlands, streams, and forests, and ultimately impacts the health of downstream ecosystems. Learn how everyday choices affect water quality and what you can do to help protect it.

Co-host: Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance

Accessibility: This two-mile unpaved trail includes some ruts and uneven terrain.

Register here.

July 30, 6:15 - 7:30 pm at SELT Scoutland Conservation Easement, Rollinsford

Explore nearly 100 acres of SELT-protected forest, wetlands, and riverfront at Scoutland in Rollinsford. With over 3,000 feet along the Salmon Falls River, this special place offers a firsthand look at how healthy forests and wetlands help protect water quality, support wildlife, and sustain the Great Bay ecosystem. Once home to generations of Boy Scouts, Scoutland is now a community treasure.

Co-host: SELT

Accessibility: The 1.5-mile trail is mostly flat with some uneven terrain.

Register here.

August 5, 5 - 6:30 pm at Doe Farm, Durham

Join us at Doe Farm, an 87-acre property bequeathed in 1909, marking the beginning of Durham's prolific history of land conservation. The property's 3,000 feet of shoreline helps protect the water quality of the Wild & Scenic Lamprey River. We will talk about the history while observing the old cellar hole and family cemetery, the active forest management plan as well as mapping and management strategy being actively pursued.

Co-host: Land Stewardship Coordinator, Town of Durham

Accessibility: This walk will be on grassy or uneven terrain trails for 1.5-2 miles.

Register here.

August 12, 5 - 6:30 pm at Nooney Farm, Kittery

Explore Nooney Farm and learn about an exciting community conservation property that is the headquarters of the Kittery Land Trust. The Farm sits on a 30-acre parcel in the middle of town from which water flows into the Piscataqua River. Nooney Farm grows thousands of pounds of fresh organic veggies each year for area food banks, provides an outdoor learning center for Kittery students, has a "you-pick" flower operation, and hosts many community events throughout the year. We will explore how land conservation can meet many community needs by keeping water clean, addressing regional food insecurity, and providing places for outdoor education and recreation.

Co-host: Kittery Land Trust

Accessibility: This will be a 1-mile walk through farm fields, across a wetland boardwalk, and into an upland woodland.

Register here.

Please note: All walks are weather dependent so be sure to register in advance. You’ll be contacted by 10 am the morning of the event if there’s a weather cancellation.

Contact: Katrie Hillman, Manager of the Great Bay Changemaker Program, email here.