Volunteers at the Montgomery County Senior Environment Corps recently received a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Education Grants Program to reduce nonpoint source pollution in the North Penn area watersheds through education programs for youth groups.

The new program calls for the Montgomery County Senior Environment Corps to design, develop and deliver a program to train young people on water quality testing and macroinvertebrate identification.

The program will follow the water quality monitoring protocols developed by the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps, which cover physical assessment of streams and surrounding land, chemical testing and macroinvertebrate collection and identification.

The program will be delivered to youth groups in the North Penn area of Montgomery County. At least six workshops will be conducted with Boy and Girl Scout groups and the local Boys and Girls Club.

The program will take place during 2007-2008 and will partner youths and seniors, giving young people a hands-on experience in basic water related environmental activities, and providing a look at the impact of nonpoint and point source pollution on the environment. It will also reinforce what young people are learning about water pollution and conservation, and give them a better understanding of a watershed and why it’s important to protect it.

Members of the SEC will contact youth groups (scouts and clubs) in the North Penn area for guidance during the development stage. They also plan to recruit young people to assist with the presentations and will solicit feedback from their audiences on ways to improve the program.

Corps members also partners with the North Penn Water Authority to conduct an educational outreach program using groundwater and surface water models. The models are used at various schools, municipalities, and civic groups.

The Montgomery County Senior Environment Corps is an active volunteer organization that is run by The PEAK Center (formerly the North Penn Senior Center), an organization that helps adults aged 55 and above to remain active, healthy, contributing members of the community. Another goal of The PEAK Center is to develop intergenerational programs that bring together youths, adults and senior adults.

For more information, visit the Montgomery County Senior Environment Corps webpage. For information on Senior Environment Corps Programs in your area, contact Beth Grove, 717-244-6248 or send email to: PaGreatSEC@aol.com .

3/9/2007