Complete Watershed Education Package

From “soup to nuts”, this powerful package of knowledge guarantees your students a solid working knowledge of the vital role watersheds play in our lives. Through these sessions students learn by doing, thinking, researching, experimenting, and planning. Originally funded by the McLean Contributionship and the Claniel Foundation, this program has received rave reviews.  

Watershed Education Components
Select the entire package or choose from the components listed below. 

For more information or for reservations contact: Linda Oltman, Environmental Education Coordinator, at (610) 287-9383 or loltman@perkiomenwatershed.org.


Introduction to Watersheds—This high-energy one-hour classroom program serves as an active introduction to watershed concepts.  Using topographic maps, a large floor map of the Perkiomen Creek Watershed, and "survivor challenges", students will develop an understanding of what a watershed is, identify major tributaries of the Perkiomen Creek, find out who lives in a watershed, and discover factors that affect water quality and flow through a watershed. One hour program in the classroom/Teacher Preparation Packet & brief team meeting included/$120 fee per class, $10 travel & transportation fee per class

Source Water Pathways— River systems, aquifers, lakes, oceans… all supply the water essential to our daily lives. How does it get to us and what do we do to maintain it?
One hour program in the classroom/Teacher Preparation Packet & brief team meeting included/$120 fee per class, $10 travel & transportation fee per class

Stream Morphology - Recommended for 4th - 6th grade students  Using hands-on activities, students determine the factors involved in stream formation, including water source, substrate, incline, velocity, and turbidity.  We then hike to the East Branch Creek to compare, and contrast the effect of these same processes.  1/2 day class at the Conservancy (can be combined with another class for a full day field trip)  $8 per student ($80 minimum fee per class)

Stream Investigations - Recommended for 4th & 5th grade students
Combine research with personal field observations!  Students assess the life-sustaining components of the stream community, collect macroinvertebrate specimens, and trace the flow of energy.  An afternoon TeahCam session, allows students to examine a variety of aquatic organisms, and identify the special features which help them to survive. Full day program at the Conservancy/Teacher Preparation Packet & brief team meeting included/$16 per student ($160 minimum per class fee)

Stream ExplorationsRecommended for 6th - 8th grade students,  Water quality assessment through chemical testing, measurement of physical parameters, and observation of biological indicators provides students with opportunities to collect, analyze and report upon authentic data.  An afternoon TeachCam session affords students the opportunity to view specimens in a "larger than life" format.  Life cycles and adaptations are covered. Full day program at the Conservancy/Teacher Preparation Packet & brief team meeting included/$16 per student ($160 minimum fee per class)

Human Impact and Sustainable SolutionsRecommended for 4th - 6th grade students  Herbicides, pesticides, oil, gas, and soil erosion all impact the health of the watershed in which we live.  Where does it all come from, and what alternatives, or best management practices, are available to ensure a lighter more sustainable interaction with our watershed ecosystems?  During this presentation students make hypotheses, and conduct experiments to determine the effects of our everyday practices on land and water resources. One hour program in the classroom/Teacher Preparation Packet & brief team meeting included/$120 fee per class, $10 travel & transportation fee per class. At the Conservancy - 1/2 day program (can be combined with another class for a full day field trip) $8 per student ($80 minimum fee per class)

Land Use Action Plans—Using information gleaned from the watershed components, students will create land use action plans which, once “approved”, will form the basis for the construction of 3-D models. 
1/2 day program at the Conservancy/Participation in at least one other program in the Watershed Education package is a pre-requisite/Teacher Preparation Packet & brief team meeting included/$8 per student at the Conservancy ($80 minimum fee per class)

Meets PDE Academic Standards

 What the Teachers are saying…
“Yes! The (stream) investigation was definitely relevant to fourth grade interests! Much of it covered our standards and curriculum in fourth grade. Your pre-trip material truly made the trip a more valuable learning experience. Thanks for the educational, organized, and exciting program. Thanks, too, for being so kind, patient, and understanding of all our students. That means a great deal!”
- Teacher, Gilbertsville Elementary School

What the Students are saying…
“Thank you for the awesome, interesting, and excellent learning experience! We learned many things about stream life and water. We especially enjoyed learning about the shredders, collectors, producers, and consumers. Finding the locations of the insects was really fun, interesting, and cool!” - Gilbertsville Elementary 4th grade students

“Would I recommend this program to a friend? Yes, yes, and double YES!”
- 6th grade PWC Summer Science Academy student

“One thing I learned was that everyone lives in a watershed!”
- 6th grade Perkiomen Valley Middle School Student