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Taking A Leadership Role
By Kelly Meinhart, Producer
 hen
looking back on our school years, I wonder how many of us could
say that understanding watersheds was a major focus in our environmental
education programs? It’s likely that most of us would
have to say that it wasn’t.
Video Clips
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 hankfully,
environmental education standards have changed, and now demand
that our students understand the link between our water, our
land, and ourselves. To help teachers facilitate these lessons,
hands-on watershed programs have been developed and are offered
throughout the state. These events usually combine the efforts
of both state agencies and volunteer organizations, creating
lasting partnerships.
 ne
such effort is the Delaware River Education Youth Eco-Leadership
Summit. The Summit is a gathering of students, teachers and
environmental education experts for a three-day event designed
to share watershed knowledge and experiences.
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he
event offers hands-on activities like invasive plant identification,
building blue bird boxes, canoe safety lessons, identifying
macroinvertebrates and much more. It also creates the opportunity
for students to develop leadership roles by requiring that each
team of students prepare a presentation about their home watershed
and the studies they have completed throughout the year. It’s
a great opportunity to share their information and to also compare
problems in their watersheds.
 artnerships
are truly the backbone of the Summit. The Pennsylvania Bureau
of State Parks has been the driving force behind it since it
began in 1994. Others include the schools themselves, the Delaware
River Basin Commission, and other area organizations such as
the Audubon Society. Carol Collier, Executive Director of the
Delaware River Basin Commission adds to this:
“The concept of watersheds is sometimes difficult
to grasp, but hands-on programs such as the student leadership
summit make the subject come to life. I believe an important
reason for the success of this annual event is that Pennsylvania
Bureau of State Parks staff members encourage the active participation
of the “host school” teachers and students to
play key roles in helping to plan and successfully implement
nearly all aspects of the program. I am very impressed with
the professionalism and commitment to watershed education
displayed by current and previous State Parks staff working
on this event (particularly Estelle Ruppert, Bonnie Tobin,
and Tammie Peffer), as well as the student and teacher organizers
from the “host schools.” Engaging middle and high
school students in watershed studies where they learn how
activities on the land impact water resources build a brighter
future.” |
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 ormer
Summit committee chair Estelle Ruppert, who shepherded the summit
from its beginning in 1994 through 2000, describes the event
as one of the most satisfying educational initiatives in her
18 years with State Parks.
“The summit continues to evolve as staff members
from the Bureau of State Parks join with students, teachers,
and organizations, including the Delaware River Basin Commission,
to establish the summit as an integral part of the school curriculum
and the award-winning State Parks Watershed Education (WE) program.
The summit represents a culmination of talents, dedication,
and vision to promote the values of rivers and the contribution
of students throughout the basin. It represents the dedication
of students to watershed stewardship and the hope of education
as a key to environmental protection and cultural understanding.”
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This year’s summit is being held April 27-29 at the Tuscarora
Inn in Mt Bethel. There’s still time to get involved,
so be sure to contact the Delaware
River Basin Commission to get the details.
For more information, visit:
PA
Bureau of State Parks
Earthforce
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Part
of Statewide Program
