Pilot Mode: Why Develop Nature Newsie?

As a person who loves being outside so much I decided to go to school for it, you might be surprised to learn that I got into web development. It sure surprised me! But after two years spent in the Environmental Technician Program at St. Lawrence College and regular volunteer work with local environmental organizations, I believe a website like Nature Newsie might be exactly what my hometown needs.

There are so many wonderful environmental organizations doing meaningful work in the Cornwall area, but not nearly enough people are aware of them. The way many social media platforms are built means that local events get lost in endless news feed scrolls, and good news stories get buried and forgotten under so many other posts. Environmental organizations work hard to connect with the community, but the design of social media platforms can make that difficult. Luckily, I love to uplift others, and I like to think I'm pretty good at it.

So, why not create a dedicated space to showcase all of this meaningful work, feature local events that are related to nature or sustainability, and invite the Cornwall community to have a say in how such a platform develops? I sent a few emails describing my platform plan to the network I gained during college and was told it was a good idea. I wondered why somebody hadn't done it before. It's a common thought.

"Somebody should do something."

Could I be somebody? Could I do something?

I've always loved nature and writing, but I knew next to nothing about web development. I didn't have the skills to build a website. I was busy finishing college and was aiming to graduate with distinction. I was already volunteering in my spare time, so did I really have time to take on another project? All these thoughts spiraled around my mind as I considered creating this platform, and the logical part of my brain suggested I focus on my other priorities. But I think logic and wisdom are different, and I knew if I didn't try, I would wonder what might have happened for the rest of my life.

I didn't want to spend the rest of my life wondering what Nature Newsie could have been. I wanted to find out.

I realized then that I could choose to keep thinking "somebody should do something", or I could choose to try to become that somebody. I could choose to try to do something. Sometimes trying is all it takes, and I don't like to brag, but trying has been going pretty well for me so far.

With nothing but a vague idea and a can-do attitude, I applied to a program hosted by Waterlution where 100 young people from across Canada are selected to receive unique training to develop a community service project. I was accepted with Nature Newsie and became a participant of Cohort 3 of the Y4RC Program, March 2026 - August 2026. I couldn't believe my luck!

I still knew very little about building websites, but I got trained on how to develop and deliver a community service project along with 100 other young people from across the country who were all just as dedicated to community-building and the natural world as me. We got to fly to Squamish, BC and learned how to turn our passionate ideas into something real. We found a supportive network of peers that very quickly became some of the best friends I'll ever know. We got to travel to Charlottetown, PEI where we learned we were right to feel hopeful. We learned how to see problems as opportunities, and barriers as a teacher.

We learned that we all have something of value to offer to the shared story of this world.

That's the kind of energy I want Nature Newsie to bring to my hometown. Nature Newsie will be a platform that invites you to participate in our community's shared story, while acknowledging that nature is part of our community, too.

Right now, Nature Newsie is in Pilot Mode, meaning not all of its features are live yet. There are two reasons for this! Firstly, I wanted to develop the platform in phases so my community could offer input during development. If I'm building a website for you to use, it makes sense to invite you to share your thoughts about how you'd like it to function. Phase one will last until September 13, 2026, and the course of development will adjust based on how our community wants to use it! Of course feedback will always be welcome after Phase One, but I'm very happy to announce that Phase Two is the point at which Nature Newsie will begin to receive funding to develop even further!

The website will still run on a volunteer basis, but I've been accepted into the Eco-Action Accelerator Program offered by Ocean Wise, which runs from September 14, 2026 to February 15, 2027. This means I'll get funding to continue expanding Nature Newsie to suit community needs! I'll also get more training and learn how to create a long-term sustainable business plan for Nature Newsie. I want it to be a reliable place where people go when they want to connect with nature, and that means I plan on running it permanently.

I'm grateful that organizations like Waterlution and Ocean Wise support projects focused on empowering communities, and that they believe in what I'm trying to build. I'm glad I decided to try.

With the funding, I plan to do a series of podcast-style interviews with local naturalists, community members, and scientists, as well as publish a nature-focused magazine featuring the works of local artists, poets, and photographers. There's a lot to do during Pilot Mode, but it doesn't feel like work to me. There's nothing I love more than talking about how awesome other peoples' passions are, and I'm excited to create a platform where I get to uplift the work being done by local environmental organizations and listen to how my hometown community feels connected to nature.