The Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program (MSW) was established to educate and empower volunteers to protect the environment by providing extensive training in watershed management and natural resources.
Each year 15-20 people per county are selected for the program. Trainees attend classes that focus on a broad range of water and natural resource topics, including groundwater, stream ecology, wetlands, conservation education, invasive plants, water recreation, wildlife, forestry and stormwater management.
In turn, participants dedicate volunteer time to perform projects and educate the community about environmental stewardship based on university research and recommendations. Training and volunteer service projects are coordinated at the county level by extension staff, partners, or trained volunteers.
Currently MSW training is offered in the following counties: Allegheny; Berks; Bucks; Chester/Delaware; Cumberland; Dauphin/Lebanon/Lancaster; Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming; Lehigh/Northampton; Monroe; Montgomery; Philadelphia; and York.
