Start your new year off on the right foot...

Become a Member Donate Volunteer Visit our Website

Your Community Conservation Connection

Cross Currents

January 2018

Message from the Director

At the Conservancy we are committed to giving you the one thing no one else can... and that's hands-on opportunities for local conservation and environmental education... and together we posted some pretty impressive numbers in 2017.

In 2017 alone...

More than 1,300 community members participated in local conservation projects.
Over 8,000 local students participated in environmental education programs held by the Conservancy.
Together we removed 14,000 pounds of trash and 20,000 pounds of invasive water chestnut from our local waterways.
Over 1,000 people participated in Conservancy-sponsored outdoor recreation events and races.
Together we planted over 9,000 native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in watershed restoration projects.

Now we have the opportunity to look ahead. The Conservancy's calendar for 2018 is packed with exciting events and inspiring programs. Join us for the old favorites like the Lenape Challenge or the Perkiomen Stream Clean-Up. Or try something new like the PA Master Naturalist Program or one of our many outdoor workshops. Make the Conservancy part of your New Year's resolution!

Thanks and I hope to see all of you soon!

Ryan Beltz

Executive Director

Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy

2018 Lenape Challenge

Registration Now Open!

Winter blizzards got ya down?

April is just around the corner and so is the Lenape Survival Challenge. This year's race is scheduled for April 21, 2018. Be sure to check out our new registration system!

The Lenape Challenge is a unique two-person adventure race that combines 5 miles of off-road running with 2.5 miles of paddling on the Perkiomen Creek. The course starts at the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Schwenksville and takes you and your partner on a romp through fields, woods and up over the slopes at Spring Mount. After a wicked climb and maddening decent, you'll hit the Perkiomen Creek for an epic 2.5 miles of boulder dodging and rapid running in Old Town canoes. You'll finish the race with a dash to the finish... just you, your teammate and a wet canoe.

The Challenge sells out every year... so Register Now!

* * *

The Lenape Survival Challenge is the first event in the Trifecta Adventure Series.

The Challenge is followed by the Perkiomen Creek Sojourn on June 2, 2018 and the Perk to Pub Bicycle Adventure on August 18, 2018. Participants can do all three or can do any combination of participation and volunteering. The series culminates in a pub party at Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville. All who complete the series have a chance to win BIG!

Trifecta Adventure Series

Planning Is Underway For PWC's 2018 Stream Clean-up!

This year the Stream Clean-up will take place on Saturday, April 7 ^th at 9 am.

Our Conservation Team is hard at work putting together the site map for this year's event. This involves finding new sites, as well as assessing past sites for the amount of trash, type of trash, parking availability and site accessibility.

If you have a site in mind that is in need of some TLC, remember to use the TrashSpot App on our website so that we can tackle it during the 2018 Clean-up. Please remember that potential sites must be near a stream, creek or pond and should have enough parking for at least two cars.

Sign-ups for the Stream Clean-up will be available on our website in February. Make sure to register early to ensure
that you get the site that works best for you!

A Special Thank You...

The staff and board of the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Mr. Charles W. Koenig for his support of the Conservancy's early childhood environmental education programs through a charitable contribution!

Beginning in 2013, Mr. Koenig has made yearly contributions enabling the Conservancy to offer reduced rate science-based, hands-on environmental education programs to over 500 area preschool children! The children in these programs are delighted to learn about the adaptations and habitat requirements of a variety of animals including those that live at the top and bottom of our earth and those that live underground. Research has shown that early and frequent contact with the nature helps to instill love and respect for the natural world that can begin the path to environmental literacy.

Thanks again to Mr. Koenig for his generous support!

Are you interested in learning about Southeastern Pennsylvania's environment and natural history?

Then apply for the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Program

held at the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy!

Adults who are interested in deepening their knowledge of Southeastern Pennsylvania's natural world through natural science education and conservation based volunteer service should apply for this program to become a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist.

Weekly presentations and monthly field trips given by local experts greatly increase PA Master Naturalist participants' knowledge and understanding of Southeastern Pennsylvania's soils, geology, climate, wildlife, and much more.

This program provides participants with many insights which they can utilize to become volunteer leaders and environmental stewards in their community.

Don't miss the January 15 ^th early application deadline
to receive discounted tuition!

Apply today before this program sells out!

Visit our website for more information and to learn how to apply.