Adults throughout Pennsylvania have the opportunity to become volunteers for the 4-H Stream Teams Program. A free, online training will be held by Penn State Extension to teach interested adults how to form and guide youth in the 4-H Stream Teams Program.

The training will be hosted live, in a four part series, starting November 5, and will be offered in the afternoon and evening (complete dates and times can be found on the registration webpage).

The mission of the 4-H Stream Teams Program is to guide youth in learning about the water resources in their local community and encourage them to become water stewards and concerned citizens now and in the future.

This is the second offering of the online training series for 4-H Stream Teams Volunteers. Early in 2013, this new training was launched, and 77 adults from across PA completed the training.

As a result of participating, 80 percent of the new 4-H Stream Teams volunteers stated they were moderately or very likely to increase the amount of time they spend teaching youth about water in the next year.

Several new 4-H Stream Teams formed across the state, and many of the new volunteers incorporated 4-H Stream Teams materials into their existing youth education activities. We are looking forward to continuing to grow the number of youth learning the value and importance of water stewardship in their communities through the 4-H Stream Teams Program.

This training is open to anyone who already works with youth, such as 4-H volunteers, scout leaders, camp directors, or classroom teachers and to any adult that is looking for an opportunity to share their interest in the environment with youth. In addition to teaching youth about our valuable water resources, 4-H Programs also provide important leadership, citizenship, and life skills that will benefit youth throughout their lives.

This course has been approved to provide 4 Act 48 credit hours to all Pennsylvania teachers.

Registration is free, but required. For additional information, contact Jennifer Fetter by sending email to: 4HWater@psu.edu or  calling 717-921-8803.

(Written By: Jennifer R. Fetter, Extension Educator – Watershed/Youth Development, Renewable Natural Resources Team, Penn State Extension, Dauphin County Office and reprinted from Penn State Extension's Watershed Winds newsletter.)

10/21/2013