The first group of Beaver County Senior Environment Corps (SEC) volunteers completed their training at the Beaver County Conservation District July 21.

Volunteers, aged 55 years or older, learned why water quality monitoring is needed and how to use water quality monitoring equipment.

(Photo: new Beaver County Senior Environment Corps - Ed Adams, Tom Mohr, and Linda Szatkiewicz learn about water quality monitoring equipment.)

“I feel the Beaver County SEC helps the District achieve its mission of preserving natural resources, conserving soil, and improving resource management for all of Beaver County,” said Jeff Leindecker, Beaver County’s Agricultural Conservation Technician and Nutrient Management Specialist.  “The goal is to use the data gathered by the SEC to focus where we need to focus our efforts.  I commend the eleven volunteers who attended the training and look forward to working with them!”

The Beaver County Conservation District, the local host for the new group, is working together with Nature Abounds, a national environmental non-profit and organizer of the SEC.

Volunteers with the SEC can participate in a variety of tasks from monitoring water quality, observing and reporting on wildlife, reaching out to others about how they can help the environment, and even aiding with office tasks.

Because of the incredible interest in the SEC program, a second training for interested senior residents of Beaver County will be held in August, and a training will also be held in Allegheny County in September.

For more information on the Beaver County program, contact Melinda Hughes of Nature Abounds at either 814-765-1453 x203 or send email to: SEC@Natureabounds.org.

More information on the SEC generally, is available at the Nature Abounds Senior Environment Corps webpage.

8/1/2016