What is the Youth Water Quality Education & Engagement Project?

The Youth Water Quality Education & Engagement project is for high school and middle school students in Armstrong and surrounding counties.  This project was made possible with an environmental education grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection. This nine-month project is FREE for students to participate in and will educate students about the importance of clean and healthy water to our community; what may be impacting local water quality; and how they can be part of the solution to mitigating pollution or reducing future negative impacts.   After participating in a half-day educational workshop to be held on Saturday, November 2^nd, students will be invited to work on a variety of local and regional projects that can make a difference in the health of our region’s water quality.  Students will work on these projects with their peers and have the opportunity to learn from professionals in the field.  This project is in partnership with the Armstrong Conservation District, United States Army Corps of Engineers at Crooked Creek, and Penn State Extension.

What kind of projects and experiences will students be invited to volunteer at?

• Tree planting for streambank stabilization with the Armstrong Conservation District. Each student will also receive a free tree seedling to plant at home.
• Touring CWM Environmental Laboratory to learn about various water quality tests that are conducted for municipalities and private companies.
• Planning and implementing a storm water drain stencil project in an Armstrong County community to remind community members that anything that goes down the drain ends up in our watersheds.
• Working with scientists at the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct water quality testing and to learn about macroinvertebrates at Crooked Creek Lake.
• Building and/or installing fish habitat at Crooked Creek Lake with the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Assisting a local watershed organization with a water quality project.
• Learning about ground water and well protection and testing their own families’ water with Penn State Extension.
• Building a rain barrel with Penn State Extension.
• Conducting maintenance on a riparian forest buffer with the Armstrong Conservation District.
• Learning about rain gardens and permeable pavers with the Armstrong Conservation District.
• Designing a lesson to teach younger children about water quality and water pollution for an Earth Day or other community/children’s event at the Outdoor Discovery Center in the Spring of 2025.

How will this program benefit students?

• Students will learn about important environmental issues affecting their community and participate in projects that can make a difference in improving water quality or which help to educate others about these issues.
• Students will meet and volunteer alongside professionals working on water quality projects in our region.
• Students will gain real-world experience that allows them to meet new people (including peers from neighboring school districts and community members); work on their leadership skills; and give back to the community through volunteering.

• Students will receive a rain gauge, shower timer, and toilet water displacement bag, along with guidance on the use of each of these water conservation tools.

• Students will receive a certificate for participation in this project.

If you have questions, please contact Rachel Filippini, ODC Program Coordinator at [email protected] or 724-543-2599.

High School & Middle School Students:  Interested in getting more involved?  Please fill out the form by clicking here so we can learn more about you.