Become a Master Watershed Steward

This post is a bit off topic, but we can't grow food without water!

As you make your list of resolutions for the New Year, spend some time thinking about how you might best use your talents and interests to give back to the community and make the world a little bit better in 2014.   If you enjoy the outdoors, fishing and kayaking along our local streams, or just have an interest in the environment and the water we drink, Penn State Extension’s new Master Watershed Steward Program may be a good fit for you. 

The Lehigh & Northampton County offices of Penn State Extension are now accepting applications for the 2014 Master Watershed Steward Program.  It’s a great way to give back, meet interesting people and learn how to help protect our precious water resources.

The program offers 40 hours of training for ordinary citizens on numerous environmental topics, including water quality, stream health, native plants, habitat, recreation, groundwater and much more.  After completing the 40-hour training session, participants are required to fulfill 50 hours of volunteer service. In subsequent years, Master Watershed Stewards can maintain their status by donating 20 hours of volunteer time to watershed projects or programs, and attending a minimum of ten hours of continuing education training annually. Examples of watershed projects and programs include organizing stream cleanups, designing and installing demonstration rain gardens or streamside plantings, and organizing educational workshops that address such topics as backyard conservation or homeowner stormwater management.

The new training program will begin the week of March 12th and continues on subsequent Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 pm through mid-June. The course also includes three hands-on Saturday field trips, including a canoe trip, and a Friday evening amphibian survey. Classes will be held at partnering environmental organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley.

For more information about the Master Watershed Steward Program regarding program details, costs and volunteer commitment or to request an application for the 2014 training program, contact Erin Frederick by telephone at 610-391-9840 or by email at elf145@psu.edu.   Applications are due by January 10. A program information session will be held Wednesday, January 15 from 6:00 to 9:00pm at Seidersville Hall, in the Lower Saucon Township Municipal Complex, Bethlehem.  The 2014 Master Watershed Steward Program is a collaborative effort of Penn State Extension, the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, Northampton County Conservation District, Appalachian Mountain Club and the Water Resources Education Network.