The Penn State Master Watershed Steward program was established to educate and empower volunteers to protect environmental resources.
Training and volunteer service are coordinated at the county or regional level by staff, partners, or Master Watershed Steward Program graduates. Generally, 15-20 people are selected for the program based on county of residence. Those accepted to the program attend training classes focusing on a broad range of environmental resource topics, including groundwater, stream ecology, wetlands, soils, geology, native and invasive plants, water recreation, climate science and stormwater management.
There is a one-time registration cost of $150 to those accepted into the program. This is to cover the cost of the manual, name tag, and cost of the meeting facilities. Financial assistance is available to those in need.
What do Penn State Master Watershed Stewards do?
Master Watershed Stewards work with the community to improve the health of our streams, rivers and other natural resources. The Master Watershed Steward program is open to people of all skills and abilities. You can help protect natural resources outside the home by planting trees, wading into streams to take water quality samples or leading Waterways on Wheels bike rides. You can also help by doing computer work such as running webinars, graphic design or writing articles, if that interests you and fits your schedule more easily.
Example projects
- Organizing educational events such as rain barrel building workshops and seminars watershed-friendly practices.
- Participating in stream restoration projects.
- Sampling water quality and stream assessments.
- Coordinating and conducting stream clean-ups.
- Working with municipal officials on stormwater.
- Planning and carrying out habitat improvement projects.
- Teaching adults and children about the environment.
- Writing educational articles and hosting webinars.
What is required of a Penn State Master Watershed Steward?
To become a Master Watershed Steward, you need a keen interest in the environment, a willingness to learn more and, most importantly, a strong desire to make a difference in the community. This can be a college student, teacher, accountant, construction worker - or any other occupation. It can also be someone interested in angling, boating, kayaking, hiking, gardening, or overall naturalist. Any and all of these can become a Master Watershed Steward!
To become a certified Master Watershed Steward, you must complete a minimum of 40 hours of training and fulfill 20 hours of volunteer service. After initial certification, Master Watershed Stewards are expected to give at least 20 hours of volunteer service and attend at least 10 hours of annual training. If you struggle to reach 20 hours or need different types of volunteer activities to participate, you can always talk to your local coordinator.
How do I find volunteer opportunities?
Your coordinator will email volunteer opportunities to you, or you may review them on our volunteer portal, allowing you to pick and choose what best fits your schedule and your interests. All your MWS activities are also covered by our liability and accident insurance.
We are also open to your ideas! If you have an idea for a project or a program, we encourage you to connect with your coordinator to make it happen.
What are the continuing education opportunities?
Like volunteer opportunities, your coordinator will share information on continuing education programs from Penn State Extension, local and statewide partners. There are webinars, conferences and in-person opportunities to choose from that cover a wide range of environmental issues. The Master Watershed Steward program also offers customized programs, where you’ll learn from experts on how to deliver projects and programs in your community. Additionally, Master Watershed Stewards are able to take the Master Well Owner Network training to further their knowledge of proper construction, testing, and maintenance of private water wells, springs and cisterns.
Where is the Master Watershed Steward Program offered?
Currently, Penn State Extension offers or will soon offer the Master Watershed Steward Program in the following counties:
- Adams
- Allegheny
- Berks
- Bucks
- Cameron
- Centre
- Chester
- Crawford
- Dauphin
- Delaware
- Elk
- Erie
- Lancaster
- Lebanon
- Lehigh
- Luzerne
- Lycoming
- Mckean
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Northampton
- Philadelphia
- Potter
- Tioga
- Warren
- Westmoreland
- Wyoming
- York
How do I become a Penn State Master Watershed Steward?
If you live in the participating counties, contact the county coordinator to learn more about how to become a Master Watershed Steward or submit an application form.
