Making Waves: Sylvie Casella on Youth, Water, and Empowering Change
Today, we're diving deep with Sylvie Casella, the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation. Sylvie's journey is a powerful testament to how passion, education, and local action can create a ripple effect for environmental protection, especially for our most precious resource: water.
A Deep-Rooted Love for Water
Sylvie's connection to water began early, growing up on the southern edge of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca. She describes being "completely surrounded by water, creeks, waterfalls, and dams" and feeling "at home in the water for as long as I can remember." Her mother even commonly referred to her as a fish. As she grew older, this innate love evolved through the Expeditionary Studies program at SUNY Plattsburgh. Sylvie went on long trips, sailing in the British Virgin Islands and whitewater kayaking in Maine. Living off the water's means, diving for food, and navigating by tides and winds during her sailing trip taught her about the water's "energy flow" and the challenges of limited fresh water. Her rigorous sea kayaking expeditions in Maine included paddling up to 20 miles a day along the coast and learning invaluable lessons about living with the elements. Despite these demanding experiences, Sylvie sees nature as forgiving and tends to look at the softer side of things. She also learned valuable survival skills like ensuring you have enough water for the day and tying your kayak properly at night. “A few times we woke up to find our kayaks had drifted out to sea,” Sylvie explained nonchalantly. With clear learned wisdom and experience, Sylvie explained how they’d retrieve the boats, being sure not to make that mistake again. Sylvie has also always loved long-distance swimming, finding living in the Adirondacks an ideal location to support this passion.
The Power of Local Action
Sylvie acknowledges feeling the "weight of the world falling apart." She’s taken this feeling and used her deep passion for environmental justice to elevate above the doldrums, creating impactful wakes in her path. "I really believe that change starts on a small scale," she explains. Her 90-year-old grandfather, an anti-war activist with Veterans for Peace, has been one of the most dedicated, passionate, and persistent people in her life when it comes to fighting for change. She has seen his hard work for justice pay off and draws on his dedication and strength through her own activist efforts. She also firmly believes everyone is capable of change in their corners of the world, saying, if we all make local change, it adds up. “The ripple effect is real,” she exclaims. One key aspect of her activism is reminding people in her community that their actions truly matter and can make a real, tangible impact. This kind of grassroots momentum is what fuels her hope.
Protecting Our Waters, One Loon at a Time
In her current role with the Loon Center, Sylvie uses various platforms, including presentations, social media, blogs, and events, to reach a wider audience and advocate for water protection. Loons, she explains, are not only gorgeous and wonderful symbols of the Adirondacks, but they are also indicator species. They reveal the presence of harmful elements like mercury and lead, and overall pollution in our waters. This allows the center to blend the beauty of these creatures with the serious realities of environmental challenges, motivating collective efforts for change and preservation. She emphasizes that her work isn't "just about the loons; it’s about the entire ecosystem they depend on, which we’re a part of too." A key part of her mission is educating people about critical issues like pollution (specifically lead tackle and mercury), wake disturbance near loons, and the impacts of climate change. She highlights simple yet effective actions everyone can take, such as the thumb rule. If a loon appears larger than your thumb when held at arm's length with one eye closed, you are too close and need to back away.
Sylvie also gets to be a part of field work at the Loon Center, doing banding, research, and taking part in the protection of loons. One conservation effort is to install nest rafts in water bodies, providing a protected space from animals, humans, and alternating water levels, so loons can lay their eggs in peace.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Sylvie hopes to continue to tie environmental conservation with education, making a positive impact wherever she lands. She envisions herself leading environmental education programs or engaging in hands-on, community-based conservation, hopefully abroad. Recently having spent time in Columbia, she sees herself revisiting and integrating into a position where she can help support the health of humans and the environment. She sees herself doing this by inspiring young people through education and outreach. She loves living in the Adirondacks but knows some places have far greater needs. And hearing her grandfather’s voice in her head is motivation enough to think big to make a positive change.
A Favorite Place to Paddle
When asked about her favorite place to paddle in the Adirondacks, Sylvie shares a special spot: Little Clear Pond. This pond holds significance as it's home to "her loons," each Loon Center employee has a pair they check on throughout the season. These loons successfully re-nested late in the season after an initial nest failure, producing a "super teeny" chick. Sylvie also spends her free time paddling the pond, on a contemplative solo paddle or with friends, and camping at state sites located directly on the pond. She finds it’s not just a beautiful place to be but provides a peaceful place of belonging.
Sylvie's story reminds us that every action, big or small, contributes to the health of our planet. What small step can you take today to protect our waters?