By Steve Mohapp
School is out, but that doesn’t mean the learning stops. Ten Pennsylvania educators spent part of their summer vacation at Stroud Water Research Center’s Outdoor Teaching and Learning Camp, where they learned to deliver Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs) and guide students toward environmental stewardship.
From classroom to creek, educators explored one driving question: How do humans affect streams in Chester County? It’s the sort of place-based question that sparks curiosity and locally relevant scientific investigation. Researching the answer, educators practiced designing investigations that help students study local watersheds and take informed actions.
Participants, who included classroom teachers and nonformal educators from environmental organizations, sampled aquatic macroinvertebrates, performed water quality tests at three streams and Octoraro Reservoir, and surveyed birds and plants at White Clay Creek Preserve. The weeklong experience also included canoeing at the reservoir and fishing at Glenroy Preserve, as educators explored how recreation can deepen students’ connection with nature while reinforcing scientific concepts.
“After the busy school year, it was perfect to learn with other science educators while visiting beautiful creeks, canoeing on a gorgeous reservoir, hiking on fantastic trails, and visiting the impressive Stroud Center,” says Shawn Robbins, a long-term substitute teacher at Souderton Area School District. “Each of the facilitators was super knowledgeable, inspiring, and kind. They modeled what a teacher and their community partners would do when facilitating a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience. The camp days were filled with a perfect balance of enjoying the summer and learning a lot.”
At the end of camp, educators left with their own MWEE plan ready to implement at their school or organization, giving students opportunities to investigate local environmental issues and become active stewards of their watersheds.
Interested in bringing meaningful watershed education to your classroom or organization? Request a professional development program from the Stroud Center or check for upcoming events.
