I appreciate your interest in the Master Watershed Steward program. The following basic training course in Lancaster, Lebanon, and Dauphin Counties will occur on Thursday evenings in spring 2026, from late February through early June. Applications are now being accepted, and interviews are taking place in the winter of 2026. Please read below for more details. Spring 2026 Master Watershed Steward training will begin on Thu, Feb 19, 2026.
Water Ways on Wheels - A Bike Tour led by Master Watershed Stewards. One of several outreach programs coordinated by stewards in the Lower Susquehanna.
If you are interested in the environment and the water we drink, are willing to learn more, and, most importantly, have a strong desire to make a difference in your community, Penn State Extension's Master Watershed Steward Program may be a good fit for you!
Winner of the Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, 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. To become certified as a Master Watershed Steward, you must complete 40 hours of training through Penn State Extension and reach 20 hours of volunteer service the year after training. In subsequent years, Master Watershed Stewards maintain their certification by fulfilling 20 hours of volunteer time for watershed projects or programs and attending a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education provided by Penn State Extension and other organizations.
The Master Watershed Steward Program of the Lower Susquehanna (covering Dauphin, Lebanon, and Lancaster Counties) will offer training to become a Master Watershed Steward starting in February 2026.
Interested in applying for 2026?
Before applying, please visit Do You Really Want to be a Master Watershed Steward?
To apply:
- Signup for an MWS information session to get answers to your questions: Master Watershed Steward Training Info for Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties
- Complete this application.
If you have any questions or would like to become a program partner, please connect with program coordinator, Shawn Jacobs, at smj5092@psu.edu or 717-330-1300.
