Watershed Stewards Academy Ramps Up With Informational Session July 26

The Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) is ramping up for the next round of citizen training to become Master Watershed Stewards. The program is an initiative of the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works and Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville.

According to a WSA press release, there will be four informational sessions for citizens curious about the program. The sessions are at 6:30 p.m. on July 26, Aug. 18, Aug. 25 and Aug. 30 at Arlington Echo, 975 Indian Landing Road in Millersville.

The academy is open to any community member(s) who want to learn how to reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff in Anne Arundel County. The academy begins the 13 training sessions in October, and wraps up in March with a graduation ceremony and a reveal of the capstone projects that students will undertake in their own communities.

Brad Knopf of Cape St. Claire is one of the county's certified watershed stewards, and has been busy educating his Cape neighbors, as well as the entire Broadneck area about what they can do to make an environmental difference for local waterways.

monthly is just one of the ways he spreads his message.

"There are so many good things about the program, it's hard to know where to begin," said Knopf. "To get together with a group of people that care deeply about the health of the world and are willing to do something about it is very gratifying. Sometimes I think we want to care, we want to do something about it, but being busy, or not knowing where to start somehow leads us to put it off. I found it very liberating to see how motivated and dedicated some people really are. Once watershed stewards are trained and certified, they work in their own communities to assess the watershed, educate neighbors, reduce pollutants and take action where necessary."

"The curriculum is very thorough and wide-ranging," he continued. "From the delightful guidance of Suzanne Etgen, to the comforting support of all the Consortium members (professionals in relevant fields and experienced eco-warriors), there is a rich learning experience. Everything from neighborhood assessment skills to community organizing, from navigating the legal guidelines of the state and counties to funding and grant sources and more is covered, in a brisk but user-friendly fashion." 

To complete the training, each candidate must:

• Live within the community they represent and be actively engaged in community activities.
• Be a resident of Anne Arundel County. (Some slots may be reserved for persons from other jurisdictions who would like to duplicate WSA in their County)
• Complete application process including one informational meeting.
• Be proficient in basic computer skills such as Microsoft Office, internet browsing and mapping programs and be willing to learn new programs.
• Have experience with public speaking and meeting facilitation.
• Be willing to serve as a community resource for environmental and watershed information. 
• Complete the Master Watershed Steward certification program (all sessions are mandatory attendance).

Applications to become a certified master watershed steward are being accepted through Sept. 8. For more information, visit setgen@aacps.org.

"There are plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty and learn by helping get something done," encouraged Knopf. "We assembled and installed rain barrels, dug and planted rain gardens, and cheered each other on as we completed our 'capstone" projects.' I loved it."