Introducing Difference Maker Mentor: Molly Daigle | Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA)

Molly volunteering at the Imagine Nation Museum's Wildlife Studio -- featuring Maestro the ball python.

Hello everyone!

My name is Molly Daigle and I am a Difference Maker Mentor for the 2024-2025 NRCA Conservation Ambassador Program (CAP). I am a sophomore at the University of Connecticut majoring in Natural Resources with a concentration in fisheries and wildlife conservation.

Molly as a CAP student during water quality day at the 2022 field experience.

I was incredibly fortunate enough to have received the opportunity to be a CAP participant during my senior year of high school, and the experience was truly empowering. Being immersed in a variety of environmental fields and having hands-on opportunities truly sparked my environmental passions. One of my favorite activities was having the chance to put on waders and get in the river during fisheries day to use seines for catching fish. Now, being able to return as a Difference Maker Mentor has been nothing short of an amazing experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with high school students throughout the action-packed field experience, developing meaningful community environmental action projects, and being part of empowering a new generation of CAP students.

CAP students splashing their DMMs during our exciting fisheries day fun.

Outside of working with the NRCA, I write and copy edit for The Daily Campus – UConn’s newspaper, I volunteer with the Husky Ambassador Program – assisting in prospective student programs such as Husky for a Day and UConn Bound days, and am a part of Survivor: UConn – a club dedicated to all things Survivor (one of my favorite TV shows) – as a member of the film crew.

Molly skydiving during the spring of 2024.

When I’m not working or in class, you will likely find me enjoying a hike in the UConn Forest, cheering on our UConn ice hockey teams, sketching, playing badminton with friends, or finding new adventures to go on. Last semester, I took my adventuring to new heights (quite literally) and went skydiving for the first time!

Team Red Pandas during water quality activities -- featuring Gerald the Crayfish.

My time with the NRCA has been truly fun! I’m beyond excited to continue working with my students (shoutout team Red Pandas!) in this near-peer mentorship position as they develop their projects – especially since this program holds a special place in my heart. It has allowed me not only an opportunity for growth, but an opportunity to foster and share my environmental passions and desire to empower students, especially other young women like myself, to pursue careers in STEM.