A Day on the Bay! Checking in with the Downeast Project over Beers and Oysters

October 4, 2020

Part II: On board with the Great Maine Excursion

It is with great joy and an explorer's spirit that we present to you the second in a three-part adventure series focused on surfing, sailing, and sustainable seafood in New England. Over the course of the month, we will be following along as adventure filmmakers Ben Hayden, Willis Brown and Spike Smigelski set sail from the North Shore of Massachusetts, making their way up the Maine coastline in search of prime surf spots, learning about sustainable food, and connecting with kindred spirits that call Downeast home. During this episode, Jenna catches up with the trio, now at their mid-way point in Harpswell, Maine as they learn from the team at Quahog Bay Conservancy about sustainable oyster farming, invasive green crabs, water quality, and how to connect a community to their environment.



Show Transcription
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Jenna Valente

A passion for conservation and appreciation for the natural world was engrained in Jenna at a young age. Her father was in the Coast Guard. This meant she always had the fortune of living near the ocean, including Hawaii, Washington State, and Maine. Both of her parents encouraged her to spend the majority of her time outside. As a result, she finds that she is most comfortable barefoot and exploring the coast, countryside, or mountains. Her favorite thing about the ocean is the sheer power of it all. Jenna joined the American Littoral Society as the Healthy Oceans Coalition Coordinator from the Chesapeake Research Consortium where she was a member of the communications staff and focused on building the brand of the program and ensure the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Jenna completed her Executive Master of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech in 2015 and also has her Bachelors in Communication and Journalism from the University of Maine.