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What’s The Future Master Watershed Program By Penn State Extension, DCNR? How Can I Start A Group?

The Future Master Watershed Steward Program is a collaborative effort between Penn State Extension and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Bureau of State Parks.

Any group of youth, typically ages 11 to 18, led by an adult and interested in the local community, environment, and/or water resources can be an FMWS group!

Future Master Watershed Stewards can be existing groups of youth such as scout troops, school classrooms, 4-H clubs, church youth groups, environmental clubs, and others.

An FMWS group could also be a newly formed group of youth just for this program, such as a small group from your neighborhood, church, community center, or other gathering place.

Future Master Watershed Stewards learn about water, get familiar with their local water community, and take action to help improve local water!

They learn about water using existing project and curriculum materials provided by Penn State Extension and DCNR along with activities from other science-based resources, youth members of the FMWS program learn about water properties, water use and conservation, and water quality.

A big part of the FMWS program is having youth make a connection with the water in their own backyard. We want youth to feel connected to the water that they impact the most.

Too often, learning about water involves lessons on familiar yet remote bodies of water, like the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean, or isolated field trips to closer locations that are still outside of our home communities, like nature centers and state parks.

It is common for these lessons to leave youth with the impression that water conservation is something that only takes place at those sites, not in their own neighborhoods.

As part of the FMWS experience, youth are encouraged to find out which bodies of water they impact through the actions they take at home, school, or other places they frequent around the community.

Where Do I Start?

Looking to launch a Future Master Watershed Steward Program in your community?

-- Connect with a local Master Watershed Steward Coordinator

-- Join the Future Master Watershed Steward Contact List

-- Partner with DCNR State Park Educator to offer the Program on site and at area schools

Click Here to learn more about starting a group.

Visit the Future Master Watershed Steward Program webpage to learn more. Questions should be directed to: AskaMWS@psu.edu or your local Master Watershed Steward Coordinator.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams. Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

Resource Link:

-- Penn State Extension Future Master Watershed Steward Program Scaling Up [PaEN]

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- PA Assn. Of Conservation Districts Recognizes Conservation Award Winners [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture, Keystone Ten Million Trees Partnership Giving Away 100,000 Trees [PaEN]

-- PennVEST Makes $257 Million Investment In 18 Water Infrastructure Projects In 13 Counties [PaEN]

-- USDA Awards 2 Conservation Innovation Grants For Projects Benefiting Pennsylvania Totaling $7.1 Million [PaEN]

-- Penn State Ag Progress Days To Feature 400+ Commercial & Educational Exhibits; Field Demos; Forest Management; Stream Buffers Tour In Centre County Aug. 13-15 [PaEN]

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Celebrate Successes Spotlight: Neshaminy Watershed Assn. Is Back And Better Than Ever In Bucks, Montgomery Counties [PaEN]

-- Registration Open! For Acid Mine Drainage Passive Treatment Course Set For Sept. 17-19 In State College [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Stewards Of Cumberland, Franklin Counties Host Aug. 26 Watershed Walk - Plant Identification In Letort Spring Garden Preserve, Carlisle, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.