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By Brad Kinsman, Water Resource Educator
The Future Master Watershed Steward (FMWS) program has been successfully piloted across the Lehigh Valley for several years giving teenage youth an opportunity to wade into water education by recognizing local watersheds and land use, conducting stream studies, and completing service projects while building community leadership skills to make a difference.
Pilot projects have been conducted with Extension staff and Master Watershed Steward volunteers at Saucon Valley High School in Hellertown, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center in Nazareth, and 4-H Camp at Seven Mountains with youth from the Lehigh Valley.
These initial programs were made possible with funding from the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant program, and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Education grants.
The FMWS program provides a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) through the utilization of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Watershed Education curriculum and culminates with a service project identified and designed by youth as they learn about their local watershed.
FMWS programs are delivered by Master Watershed Steward volunteers and staff through various delivery formats from classroom instruction with a participating teacher, to day and week-long youth camping programs.
Over the coming year, Master Watershed Steward volunteers and environmental educators will gain increased capacity to provide environmental literacy-based education through training and the distribution of hands-on teaching tools across Pennsylvania.
Training will be provided for Rain to Drain: Slow the Flow a stormwater curriculum, Watershed Decisions a water quality curriculum, and the launch of the Future Master Watershed Stewards Program statewide.
Financial and other support for the Increasing Capacity to Create Future Master Watershed Stewards has been provided by the Department of Environmental Protection’s 2023 Environmental Education Grants Program.
(Reprinted from the latest Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy- bottom of page.)
Upcoming Penn State Extension Educational Opportunities:
-- September 28: Dive Deeper Water Education Summit - Harrisburg
-- September 30: Riparian Buffer Maintenance - Dauphin County
-- October 4: Webinar - On-Lot Septic Systems and Groundwater Quality
-- October 28: Water Ways On Wheels - A Bike Tour In Lancaster County
-- October 30: Safe Drinking Water Clinic - Private Water Wells - Forest County
-- November 8: Webinar - Nitrogen In Groundwater, Where It Comes From, Health Risks
-- Penn State Extension Online Water Courses
Related Articles - Penn State Extension:
-- Celebrate Riparian Buffers Month In October! With Penn State Extension, Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council, Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center [PaEN]
-- Master Watershed Stewards Celebrate 10 Years Of Making A Difference [PaEN]
-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Coordinator Erin Frederick Honored By Lehigh Valley Business Council [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Future Master Watershed Steward Program Scaling Up [PaEN]
-- Introduce Students Ages 8-10 On How They Can Be Stream Doctors In The New Book -- Brooke Meets A Stream Doctor [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Williamsport Sun: Locals Help Give Hellbenders A Voice
-- PA Council Of Trout Unlimited: 2022-23 Annual Report: Trout In The Classroom; STREAM Girls/Keepers; Inclusion; Coldwater Heritage Partnership; Much More!
-- Tribune-Democrat: DEP Awards Funds For Mine Reclamation Projects In Cambria, Somerset Counties
-- Shenandoah Sentinel: DEP Awards $38 Million For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, $0 Awarded In Schuylkill County
-- Republican Herald: DEP To Conduct Air Monitoring In Greater Tremont Area Over Flyash Concerns
-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: Study Finding Rampant PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Leads To Increased Water Monitoring Across PA
-- Altoona Mirror: Martinsburg Files Federal Lawsuit Against Chemical Companies For PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Contamination Of Borough’s Water Supply
-- Inquirer: Why Worries About PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ And Injuries Might Push NFL To Ditch Artificial Turf
-- WITF/AP: Firefighters Fear PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Their Gear Could Be Contributing To Rising Cancer Cases
-- EPA Awards Carnegie Mellon $1.8 Million Grant To Study Protecting Water Quality During Enhanced Aquifer Recharge
-- Rodale Institute: Apply Now For Training On How To Be A Regenerative Organic Farmer
-- Brodhead Watershed Assn. Annual Members & Friends Celebration Oct. 19, Monroe County
-- EPA Kicks Off 11th Annual SepticSmart Week On How To Maintain Septic Systems
Related Articles:
-- Register Now! PA Statewide Watershed Conference Oct. 29-30 In Altoona [PaEN]
-- DEP: York County Moved To Drought Warning; 19 Counties Still In Drought Watch [PaEN]
-- DEP Announced $38.76 Million In Funding For 6 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Projects In 5 Counties; Next Round Of Applications Due Dec. 2 [PaEN]
-- DEP Blog: Abandoned Coal Mine Reforestation Initiatives Healing The Land [PaEN]
-- DEP Starts Air Monitoring Study Near Rausch Creek Coal Waste-fired Electric Generation Facility, Schuylkill County In Response To Citizen Concerns In An EJ Area [PaEN]
-- DEP Hears Concerns, Some Support From Water Resources Committee On Draft Reg. On Reporting Unauthorized Spills, Releases [PaEN]
-- ClearWater Conservancy’s Deb Nardone Resigns As Executive Director To Step Into The Role Of Executive Director For Foundation For PA Watersheds [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments At Oct. 25 Hearings On NPDES Stormwater Permits For Two Warehouse Projects In Lowhill Twp., Lehigh County [PaEN]
-- 17 PA Farmers, Organizations, Businesses Call On Congress To Expand Support For Agroforestry [PaEN]
-- Penn State Research: 87% Of Rivers, Streams Rapidly Warming, 70% Losing Oxygen; Aquatic Life May Be At Risk, Study Finds [PaEN]
-- DEP To Increase Monitoring, Develop Surface Water Standard For PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' After Study Shows 76% Of Streams, Rivers Contained At Least One Of These Chemicals [PaEN]
-- DEP: Widespread Presence Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Fresh Water Leading Shale Gas Operators To Use Contaminated Water In Fracking Operations; DEP Doesn’t Require Routine PFAS Testing [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 8 Shale Gas Drilling Water Withdrawals - 1 In Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek, Home To The Hellbender [PaEN]
-- Game Commission Board OKs More Shale Gas Drilling In Lycoming County, Home To The Hellbender, And Sullivan County [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 34 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga Counties [PaEN]
-- Forbes Trail Chapter Trout Unlimited Host Military Veterans And First Responders At Trout Fishing Event In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- In Memoriam: Thomas Hoffmaster - A Friend To Fly Anglers And Fish [PaEN]
[Posted: September 21, 2023]
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