Menu

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 located 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.

Subscribe to E-News

Join our education newsletter list to receive updates about education programs, professional training opportunities, and virtual learning resources.

View the email archive


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! There are several funding sources that 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.


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 to support citizens, conservation practitioners, municipal decision-makers, researchers, educators, and students to collaboratively advance knowledge and stewardship of fresh water. WikiWatershed 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

Still from the caddisfly video.
Caddisflies
Learn about the ecosystem benefits of net-spinning caddisflies, as well as how they interact with their environment.
Still from the electrofishing video.
Fish Electroshocking to Determine Stream Health
Have you ever wondered what swims by your feet in your local creek? In this month’s episode of Science Education Feature, Dr. Valerie Ouellet uses electroshocking to identify the creatures
Still from the baby brook trout video.
Feeding Baby Brook Trout
Wild trout need cold, clean fresh water, which you would find in a shaded stream, a stream that has many trees growing right by it.
Still from the science education video.
Snake Eating Fish
Stroud Center scientists are often outside working in and around streams, and sometimes just happen to catch a view of the coolest things!
Teacher and kids in White Clay Creek search for aquatic insects.
Environmental Education: Hands-On, Boots in the Water Learning
We develop environmental education programs for indoor, outdoor, and digital classrooms, reaching thousands of adults and children each year.
Publication title with image of a mayfly
Status and needs of environmental education related organizations in Wisconsin: results from the 2015-2016 state-wide survey
Hougham, J., S. Kerlin, K. Liddicoat, K. Ellis, and E. Crampe. 2017. A technical report from University of Wisconsin-Extension,Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education, and the 2015