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Environmental Education

A Watershed Approach to Education

Stroud Water Research Center’s education department interprets the research of our scientists. Our programs are multidisciplinary and oriented to a wide audience. We hope that through exposure to our programs and information, people will be motivated to become responsible stewards of freshwater resources.

Our educators have developed extensive resources for educating “K through gray” audiences about watersheds and their importance. On-site and off-site school and scout programs, professional development workshops, and community and family programs are just some of the available options.

Upcoming Education Events

See all Stroud Center Events

Program Offerings

  • Virtual/online stream and watershed study experiences.
  • Outdoor-only education programs at the Stroud Center.
  • Outdoor education programs at your site (e.g., school or local park).

Contact the Stroud Center education department or submit a request to schedule.

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Online Courses

Curricula

Virtual Learning Resources

Macroinvertebrate Resources

Projects and Partnerships

Publications

Videos

Podcasts

Programs

School and
Youth Programs

Scout
Programs

Photo of Brownie Girl Scouts and leaders planting trees.

Community and
Family Programs

Professional Development
and Training

Program scholarships are available! Several funding sources allow the Stroud Center to offer programs at no or reduced cost for your school or youth group. Our funding from the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit program and other grants to subsidize education programs varies from year to year.

Request a Program
Pay for a Program

Program Feedback

“The students absolutely LOVED IT!!! All the staff were extremely engaging, enthusiastic and competent, which made our jobs extremely easy! We loved how hands on and engaging the entire activity was.”

“The facilitators were very knowledgeable. They challenged the kids and held their interest. As one of many field trips I have attended with my kids over the years this by far tops my list.”

“Thanks again for an outstanding field trip. Your ability to accommodate my student with hearing and visual challenges was exemplary! I’ve heard many favorable comments from our staff!”

“Thank you for an amazing day at your facility! I am sure every member of our watershed steward class left knowing much more than they did when we entered. You guys were great!”

“Just had an AMAZING field trip there with the 4th grade…. Thanks so much for a great day! Super day, really! The educators are super. They are the perfect ‘speed’ for the kids.”

WikiWatershed

WikiWatershed® is a web toolkit for citizens, conservation practitioners, municipal decision-makers, researchers, educators, and students to collaboratively advance knowledge and stewardship of fresh water. It is an initiative of Stroud Water Research Center.

Model My Watershed®

Model storms and compare conservation or development scenarios.

Leaf Pack Network®

Learn about your stream’s health by performing a leaf pack experiment.

Runoff Simulation

Explore how land use and soil determine stormwater runoff.

Leaf Pack Network Simulation

Leaf Pack Network Simulation screenshot
If you can’t get to a stream to perform a study, you now have a virtual option!

Monitor My Watershed®

Screenshot of Monitor My Watershed Browse Sites page
Share your water-quality data and explore data from other sources.

Macroinvertebrates.org

Macroinvertebrates.org homepage screenshot
Learn to identify 150 taxa commonly used in citizen science and education.

EnviroDIY™

Photo of two men building an environmental monitoring sensor
Join a community for do-it-yourself environmental monitoring.

Water Quality Mobile App

Enhance stream study and monitoring activities with a mobile app.

Education News

Children examine aquatic insects caught in a seine.
Summer is for Libraries — And Stream Life!
Creek Critters, a popular children’s book about freshwater ecology, is inspiring a new wave of fun and educational programming at libraries near and far.
Two teachers at a professional development course.
Online Course Boosts Environmental Literacy in Pennsylvania
Stroud Water Research Center launches Foundations of Environmental Literacy in Pennsylvania, a professional development course for educators.
A group of students smile as they build leaf packs for an experiment.
Dual Impact
A partnership between the LaMotte Company and the Stroud Center has bridged a gap between scientific research and water sustainability through education.
Students in an after-school program piece together a watershed drawing.
Stroud Center Brings Watershed Learning to After-School Programs
By weaving science into after-school programs, the Stroud Center is growing the next generation of freshwater champions.
Students in the Red Clay Consolidated School District in Delaware helped plant pollinator gardens at their school campuses this spring.
Red Clay Students Restore Wildlife Habitat on Their School Grounds
The project aims to restore degraded watershed ecosystems through educational experiences that engage communities in environmental stewardship.
Publication title with image of a mayfly
Institute Profile: Stroud Water Research Center
Ensign, S.H. 2025. Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin 34(2): 37–64.