Penn State Extension Future Master Watershed Steward Program Scaling Up

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 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] 

Related Articles:

-- Register Now!  PA Statewide Watershed Conference Oct. 29-30 In Altoona  [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: Abandoned Coal Mine Reforestation Initiatives Healing The Land  [PaEN]

-- ClearWater Conservancy’s Deb Nardone Resigns As Executive Director To Step Into The Role Of Executive Director For Foundation For PA Watersheds  [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]

-- Forbes Trail Chapter Trout Unlimited Host Military Veterans And First Responders At Trout Fishing Event In Westmoreland County  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 21, 2023]  PA Environment Digest