The Cumberland County Penn State Extension is launching its Master Watershed Steward Program and will hold information sessions on January 14 and 28 for volunteers interested in joining the program.

This program, already active and making a difference in 17 other counties in Pennsylvania, recruits community volunteers with an interest in water quality and natural resource conservation.

Volunteers are formally trained in classroom and hands-on settings in environmental resources, stewardship, and education. Stewards are then engaged in watershed education, research, and restoration projects throughout Cumberland County.

To become a certified MWS, a 40-hour training program and 50 hours of volunteer service is required the first year. Certification is maintained in subsequent years by contributing a minimum of 20 volunteer hours and 10 hours of continuing education annually.

Examples of Steward projects include installing rain and pollinator gardens, participating in streamside or community habitat enhancement projects/plantings, conducting stream clean-ups, organizing educational workshops that address such topics as backyard habitat or homeowner stormwater management, writing newsletter articles, developing educational materials, and working with schools to provide meaningful watershed educational in-class and field experiences.

The new 12-session training program will begin in spring 2020. Classes will be held at the Penn State Extension Cumberland County office and at partner organizations throughout Cumberland County.

The curriculum also features three hands-on Saturday field trips.

Info Sessions

The information sessions will be held January 14 and 28 at the Cumberland County Services Center, 310 Allen Road in Carlisle starting at 7:00 p.m.

Please RSVP to Holly Smith by sending email to: hps5293@psu.edu or calling 717-240-6505.

More Information

For more information about the Program, costs and volunteer commitment, or to request an application for the 2020 training program, contact coordinator Holly Smith at 717-240-6505 or send email to: hps5293@psu.edu.  Applications are due by January 31, 2020.

Visit the Cumberland County Master Watershed Steward webpage to learn more.

Learn more about Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Stewards Program across the state by visiting the Master Watershed Steward webpage.

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11/18/2019