Fall Clean-up, Cook-out, and Owl Prowl

Help Blue Mountain Wildlife and the Schuylkill Headwaters Association end the summer season with a Clean-Up along the shore of the Kernsville Dam and Peace Rock Beach. Canoes, kayaks and other approved watercraft welcome. Those on foot will be cleaning up the area around the Rock and the Peace Rock Beach on the Schuylkill County side of the river. Those who bring watercraft will help clean up the eastern shore of the Schuylkill. Meet us at the Upper Parking Lot in the Kernsville Dam Recreation Area (about a quarter mile past the Kernsville Dam itself on Kernsville Dam Road). Vehicles may be needed to ferry volunteers over to the Peace Rock Beach and back. SHA and BMW will provide bags, vests, gloves and other clean-up tools.

After the clean-up, join us for a good old-fashioned Cook-Out with hot dogs and s’mores along the shore of the Schuylkill River.

After the Cook-Out, Shea Marino will lead us on an Owl Prowl from the Upper Parking Lot toward The Rock and back. Learn about the nightly life of the noctural creatures at the Kerny, listen to the calls of the various owl species and maybe hear our resident owls return our calls. Dress in layers and bring flashlights.

If you have any questions about the clean-up, contact Alexa Kramer at outreach@schuylkillheadwaters.org or at 570-622-3742 Ext. 119.

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2015/fall-clean-up-cook-out-and-owl-prowl/

Annual Bear Creek Festival

Come join us for the annual Bear Creek Festival on Sunday, May 17, 2015 from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, 2270 Fair Road, Summit Station, PA.

Come learn about all things environmental, outdoors, natural, and agricultural in Schuylkill County. This is a family fun day filled with free activities, free admission, and free parking! Contact Schuylkill Conservation District at 570-622-3742 for more information.

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2015/annual-bear-creek-festival/

Rain Garden Workshop – April 28, 2015

BM Rain Garden Flyer

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2015/rain-garden-workshop-april-28-2015/

Schuylkill Acts & Impacts Application DEADLINE EXTENDED!

New Deadline: FRIDAY, APRIL 24th, 2015 by 5:00 p.m.

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Schuylkill Acts & Impacts is a weeklong service-learning program that will be offered to a team of fifteen high school students from communities within the Schuylkill River Watershed. This expedition will involve a physical journey (by kayak and van) along the 120-mile Schuylkill River from its headwaters in the anthracite coal lands of Schuylkill County to its confluence with the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Team leaders from Fairmount Water Works, Take It Outdoors Adventures and the Schuylkill Headwaters Association will guide students downriver, illustrating an array of issues impacting water quality in the Schuylkill River through guided tours, programming, and applied service work designed to highlight issues in the watershed and explore hands-on solutions to these problems.

A downloadable version of the application can be found here: SAI_Application 2015_Final

The application should be filled out completely, scanned, and returned as a pdf file to Outreach and Education Coordinator Alexa Kramer at outreach@schuylkillheadwaters.org. If email submission is not possible, a hard copy can be mailed to:

Schuylkill Headwaters Association
P.O. Box 1385
Pottsville, PA 17901

Application and all related materials are due on Friday, April 24th, 2015 by 5:00 pm.

All information concerning the program and directions for filling out the application can be found within the application. If you have any questions about the program, application, etc., please do not hesitate to contact Alexa Kramer at outreach@schuylkillheadwaters.org or at 570-640-8896.

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2015/schuylkill-acts-impacts-application-deadline-extended/

Apply Now For Schuylkill Acts & Impacts 2015!

Schuylkill Headwaters Association is very excited to announce that our 2015 Schuylkill Acts & Impacts expedition application is now available!

Schuylkill Acts & Impacts is a weeklong service-learning program that will be offered to a team of fifteen high school students from communities within the Schuylkill River Watershed. This expedition will involve a physical journey (by kayak and van) along the 120-mile Schuylkill River from its headwaters in the anthracite coal lands of Schuylkill County to its confluence with the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Team leaders from Fairmount Water Works, Take It Outdoors Adventures and the Schuylkill Headwaters Association will guide students downriver, illustrating an array of issues impacting water quality in the Schuylkill River through guided tours, programming, and applied service work designed to highlight issues in the watershed and explore hands-on solutions to these problems.

A downloadable version of the application can be found here: SAI_Application 2015

The application should be filled out completely, scanned, and returned as a pdf file to Outreach and Education Coordinator Alexa Kramer at outreach@schuylkillheadwaters.org. If email submission is not possible, a hard copy can be mailed to:

Schuylkill Headwaters Association
P.O. Box 1385
Pottsville, PA 17901

Application and all related materials are due on Friday, April 10th, 2015 by 5:00 pm.

All information concerning the program and directions for filling out the application can be found within the application. If you have any questions about the program, application, etc., please do not hesitate to contact Alexa Kramer at outreach@schuylkillheadwaters.org or at 570-640-8896.

 

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2015/apply-now-for-schuylkill-acts-impacts-2015/

Check it Out: “Give Us Your Best Shot Photo Contest”

This photo contest, sponsored by the Schuylkill Conservation District and the Schuylkill County Conservancy, will have two themes: “Schuylkill County is Naturally Beautiful” and “People in Nature”. The contest will be open from February 1 to April 1, 2015. All ages are welcome to submit their original work – no entry fee! Awards will be given.

See flyer below for more details, or contact “Porcupine Pat” McKinney at porcupinepat@yahoo.com or 570-622-4124.

PHOTO CONTEST FLYER 2015

 

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2014/check-it-out-give-us-your-best-shot-photo-contest/

Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Member Meeting

Wednesday, December 10, 2014: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

This members-only meeting, held at the Washington Crossing Historic Park, is an opportunity to learn about Coalition initiatives and priorities, discuss future directions, and meet other coalition members.

There is no fee to attend the meeting, but registration is required by December 3, 2014.

 

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2014/coalition-for-the-delaware-river-watershed-member-meeting/

Blue Mountain High School Field Trip – Silver Creek

IMG_0708On November 13, 2014, students and teachers from Blue Mountain High School braved the chilly weather to spend a day with Schuylkill Headwaters Association and volunteers at our Silver Creek abandoned mine drainage (AMD)treatment system. The day started with a walking tour of the system where the students learned a little history of coal mining in the area, how AMD is formed, and how the Silver Creek system is working to clean the water. The students then broke into two groups for the rest of the day. The first group stayed at Silver Creek, where two RSVP volunteers taught the students about several water quality parameters that they were going to test, such as pH, iron content, dissolved oxygen, acidity, and alkalinity. The students spent an hour and a half testing the water quality of the different ponds that make up the system. The second group of students were taken to the main branch of the Schuylkill River in the borough of New Philadelphia to collect and identify macroinvertebrates, as well as learn how to take a flow measurement on the stream. The day concluded with a discussion of why the events of the day were important, and what the results of the water quality testing and macroinvertebrate sampling were.

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More photos from the day can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.847767545245331.1073741852.183975821624510&type=1&l=035c314fa4

(Note: Link is set up to a Facebook photo album, but you do not need to have a Facebook account to view the photos)

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2014/blue-mountain-high-school-field-trip-silver-creek/

Upcoming Event..

On Wednesday, October 29, 2014, Schuylkill Headwaters Association and the Schuylkill County Historical Society will be hosting “Remembering and Recognizing the Schuylkill River” at the Majestic Theater in Pottsville, PA at 6:00 p.m. Special guest Adam Levine, a Historical Consultant with the Philadelphia Water Department, will be speaking. It is an event you don’t want to miss!RRSR Fall 2014

Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2014/upcoming-event/

FulFull-Term AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA Position: Now Seeking Applications!

Full-Term AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA Position: Now Seeking Applications!

Applications Due: April 1, 2014

Start Date: May 20, 2014

The Schuylkill Headwaters Association (SHA) is seeking a highly motivated, dynamic individual to assist in moving its environmental and watershed-based education platform forward by expanding the organization’s reach in Schuylkill County, PA and engaging local communities in the development and vision of the Silver Creek Environmental Education Trail and Recreation Park (SCEETR). These activities will both build the capacity of local community groups to take ownership of conservation projects to transform the Silver Creek Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) filtration system into a viable environmental field classroom and assist in recruiting volunteers for more dedicated contributions to SHA’s mission through service work and leadership. The OSM/VISTA will also nurture existing partnerships with local school districts, seeking their support and perspective on the direction and continued development of the SCEETR.

Responsibilities:

– Facilitate outreach activities to increase student awareness of the impacts of AMD and the legacy of anthracite coal extraction in Schuylkill County, PA

– In collaboration with local school teachers and educators, design, develop, and execute environmental and watershed-based curriculum at SCEETR

-Assist in research and preparation of grants to support community-based infrastructure

-Commit a minimum of 10% of time to personal professional development

Qualifications and Recommended Skills:

-Bachelor’s or 4-year college degree

-Strong writing skills, experience with grant proposals as well as media stories is a benefit

-Strong speaking and communication skills

-Effective at personnel or volunteer management

-Ability to balance multiple complicated projects and partners

-Comfortable working in an outdoor environment

-Fundraising and event planning experience is recommended

-Experience working with students and youth is recommended

-Knowledge of computer skills and the use of social media

-Valid driver’s license and access to reliable car

Commitment & Benefits:

-Date of Service: May 20, 2014 – May 22, 2015 (one year).

-Full-Time with some special weekend/evening events.

-VISTAs cannot work another job or earn other income during their year of service.

-Receive approximately $928/month before taxes.

-Receive a $5,645 Education Award (http://edaward.org/) upon completion of service.

For more information and to apply please contact Schuylkill Headwaters Association Outreach & Education Coordinator, Sierra Gladfelter at outreach@schuylkillheadwaters.org or 570-573-2093.

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Permanent link to this article: http://schuylkillheadwaters.org/2014/fulfull-term-americorps-osmvista-position-now-seeking-applications/

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