River RAT Adventures: A Splash of Fun and Learning on the SuAsCo Rivers

June 18, 2025

OARS River Log | By Isabel Ryen, OARS’ Community Engagement Coordinator—TerraCorps Fellow | Published June 18, 2025

Our River RATs paddles are in full swing! We have now hosted three paddles in Maynard, Billerica, and Framingham. Each paddle brought educational discussions, wildlife sightings, and exciting games. Our unofficial office mascot, Ashley Nolde, even graced us with her presence during our Maynard paddle. She showed off her impressive swimming skills, as she glided in front of Adam’s canoe.

Ashley taking a swim during our Maynard paddle. If you look closely, you can see her head popping up in front of Adam’s canoe.

Our rubber rat game has become a fan favorite, especially among our younger participants. It always proves to be an entertaining icebreaker. The aim of the game is to avoid getting a (slightly realistic-looking) rubber rat in your canoe or kayak. If you are met with this unfortunate fate, you must paddle backward three times. Whoever ends up with a rat in their boat loses the game. We tested this game out in Maynard and Billerica, and the rats spent a little more time in the water than they did in anyone’s boat…

All smiles during our paddle on the Concord River!

Shelley Zuckerman, our very own Youth Education Coordinator, also found some Water Chestnut during our Billerica paddle—and she gave us a short educational lesson on the invasive plant. We learned about their ecological impact, how they first invaded our waterways, and various control methods.

Participants enjoying our kayaking trip in Maynard.

Our paddle attendees have varying levels of experience with river recreation, ranging from new to canoeing and kayaking to those more familiar with the sport. It is so rewarding to see community members gathering together for an enjoyable, fun evening on the water!

Last but certainly not least, these paddles would not be possible without our stellar volunteers: Glenn Reed, Travis Perullo, Valerie Bain, Susan Rask, and Jody Harris. They have all been an enormous help in making this program come to life.

River Log

~30%

of the SuAsCo rivers watershed is wetlands, crucial for wildlife habitat and water quality

~30%

of water samples in the SuAsCo rivers watershed contain PFAS, leading to increased monitoring and remediation by local authorities and environmental groups

~70%

of dams in the SuAsCo watershed are over a century old, requiring extensive upkeep and presenting obstacles to river restoration and fish passage

>40%

of the land within the watershed is publicly accessible, offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, and birdwatching to the community

~15%

of the land in the SuAsCo rivers watershed is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. This contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution issues

>40%

of the land within the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watershed is publicly accessible, providing endless opportunities for paddling, hiking, and wildlife exploration.

River RAT Adventures: A Splash of Fun and Learning on the SuAsCo Rivers

OARS River Log | By Isabel Ryen, OARS’ Community Engagement Coordinator—TerraCorps Fellow | Published June 18, 2025

A Splash of Fun and Learning on the SuAsCo Rivers