Reflections from Soul Trak 2025 Environmental Leaders Fellows – August 2025

We’re excited to spotlight the contributions of our 2025 Environmental Leadership Fellows—Dede, Ayanna, and Jahmal—each of whom has brought care, creativity, and commitment to our work this season. From event support to community engagement, their leadership has helped bring our mission to life in meaningful ways.

Read below on their reflections from this month’s programming:

The Last White Water Kayaking Session

Captured by Dede Lawal, Soul Trak Fellow and White Water Kayaking Cohort Volunteer

It’s been 7 months since I started as an environmental fellow with Soul Trak and I continue to experience new things at every turn! The whitewater kayaking cohort ended the first Saturday in August and I cannot be more thankful that I took the opportunity to participate! I went in not knowing much about whitewater kayaking, and I left with new respect for the sport and great community. Here are a few of my takeaways.

1. There’s more than one type of kayak!

I know…it seems obvious, but I had only ever been in one type of kayak (a recreational sit-on-top), so I went in thinking all are the same. Nope. A whitewater kayak is shorter, shaped in a way to increase maneuverability, and most are sit-inside. I had to squeeze myself into the kayak because when the seat and foot rests are adjusted to the correct settings it feels like you’re wearing it. That way you can move the kayak with your upper and lower body. I learned all of this before even getting into the water!

2. I faced a fear I didn’t know I had.

I love anything that has to do with water, but whitewater kayaking was so out of my element that I found myself uncomfortable in a space where I usually go to find peace. It turns out, I don’t like being upside down in water and one of the first lessons was how to exit a flipped over kayak. Learning skills that were challenging physically and mentally was nervewrecking, but the instructors were patient, positive, and motivating. They helped me quiet down some of those fears and attempt the maneuvers. By the end of the session I was okay with flipping over in my kayak, which terrified me in the beginning making the experience all the more rewarding.

3. Join to learn a new skill, stay for the community.

I would look forward to every kayaking session because I had such a great time getting to know everyone and bonding over new experiences. It was motivating being surrounded by those eager to learn new skills while in the outdoors. I felt welcomed into a community that I would have been hesitant to join without the introduction from Soul Trak. Now, I can’t wait to get back out on the water!

Soul Trak at Fight For Children Youth Sports Day!

By Jahmal Clemons, Soul Trak Fellow

We had a great time participating in the @fightforchildren Youth Sports Day! This event brought together over 2,000 community members with Soul Trak and various partner organizations in the sports and wellness sectors. Families who visited our booth played Environmental Safety Trivia and shared their favorite local green spaces. We look forward to seeing some of our new friends at the Family Paddling Event on September 14!

#youthsportsday #fightforchildren

Introduction to Surfing, Beach Clean-Up and Yoga

Reflection by Ayanna Lynch

A couple weeks ago, when I thought of surfing, I thought of surfers with blonde hair, “beach waves,” suntanned skin. Even though it has been a sport on my bucket list for awhile, I never actually pictured myself on a surfboard. The SoulTrak annual surfing lesson/beach trip completely changed that perspective for me. The day opened with surf lessons at Ocean City, led by Wave Riding School. The enthusiasm and encouragement from the instructors and everyone in the SoulTrak group helped persuade me to get on a board even though I was nervous. That first time standing up on the board was unforgettable, but gave me a sense of freedom, being able to navigate the water in a new way. 

After the lesson, we drove to Assateague Island, where we got to admire the horses and how shockingly close this bit of serenity was to Washington, DC. We enjoyed the rest of the day with a beach clean-up, picking up bits of plastic and stopping to admire the shells, birds, and aquatic life like horseshoe crabs.The official beach day ended with yoga,reconnecting with our bodies with the soundtrack of ocean waves in the background.  A quote from one of the participants really captured the spirit of the day:

“Now I know what all is needed to surf, and it feels empowering to know that I can come back and do it on my own.” 

This trip redefined what surfing looks like for me, and I saw surfing in a new light- a fun sport for everyone, if you just take the first step of getting on the board.