Posted: November 29, 2023 by Penn State Extension | Master Watershed Steward Program

Spring 2024 Master Watershed Steward Training classes will run from March to June. Tune in to an information session to learn how you can get involved and give back to the community.

Erie/Crawford/Warren County trainees at one of their field trips. Photo by Amber Stilwell

Next spring, the Penn State Extension Watershed Steward program is offering ten training classes across 36 counties.

The program provides broad coursework in water science and natural resources with ongoing volunteer and educational opportunities that equip participants with the tools to make a difference in their communities. We are seeking individuals who enjoy learning, have the desire and time to volunteer, and value working with others.  

This spring’s training will be held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday evenings starting March 14th, 2024, and will run through June 20th.  Some county programs may start March 7^th or earlier, offering an initial in-person meeting.  In-person, outdoor field experiences will also be scheduled locally, and online “enrichment” sessions on a variety of niche topics will also be offered.

In exchange for 40 hours of instruction, candidates must agree to contribute 20 hours of volunteer service their first year, followed by 20 hours of volunteer efforts and 10 hours of continuing education per year thereafter. Volunteer activities available to Master Watershed Stewards include organizing educational events, designing demonstration rain gardens, organizing stream cleanups, planting riparian forest buffers, working with municipal officials to plant native meadows, monitoring streams for bacteria, and more.

To learn more about the Master Watershed Steward program, you can tune in to one of our county information sessions. The counties that are training this year are listed below.  Follow the link in your local program to register for a session (links and dates will be updated as they become available) :

• Cumberland/Franklin/Adams: Wednesday, January 10 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM
• Chester/Delaware: Thursday, January 25th at 7:00 p.m.
• Endless Mountains: Wednesdays, January 10th and 31st at 6:00 p.m.
• Lackawanna/Luzerne: Thursday, January 25 at 6:30 p.m
• Berks/Schuylkill & Lehigh/Northampton: Thursday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m.
• Philadelphia: Tuesday, December 19, Thursday, January 4
• Pennsylvania Wilds: December 1, January 9
• Warren/Erie/Crawford: Thursday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m
• Allegheny & Westmoreland/Indiana/Armstrong: Monday, January 8, Thursdays, January 11 & 18
• York: Monday, January 8th at 6:00 pm and Thursday, January 18th at 12 p.m.

If your county isn’t listed above, check out our county program pages to contact your local coordinator.  You may be able to train with a nearby program.