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Your Community Conservation Connection

Cross Currents

March 2018

Message from the Director

Last year alone over 1200 community members gave their blood, sweat, and yes even a few tears to support local conservation efforts throughout the Perkiomen Watershed. Volunteers are really the heart of everything we do at the Conservancy, and it literally takes thousands of volunteer hours every year to complete all of our restoration and education projects. With this in mind, we want to show how much we appreciate having you on our team. So starting this year, we're expanding the Perkiomen Watershed Conservation Corps to include adults and youth alike!

Signing up for the Conservation Corps is easy! Simply sign-up for our volunteer events as usual by utilizing the links on our website and emails, and we'll starting tracking your hours!

After you log 10 volunteer hours, or sign-up for three different events, you'll receive one of our coveted Perkiomen Watershed Conservation Corps baseball caps ... and the Perks don't stop there! We've developed an entirely new volunteer appreciation program to thank you for all that you do for the Perkiomen Watershed!

For now, sign-up to volunteer... the Stream Clean-Up and the 1,000 volunteer challenge might be a good place to start... and soon you too could be part of the elite Perkiomen Watershed Conservation Corps! Be sure to check out our website and emails for more news on how you can learn and grow with the Conservancy and the Conservation Corps!

Thanks and I hope to see you in a Conservation Corps hat soon!

Ryan Beltz

Executive Director

Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy

Bat House Building Workshop

Saturday, March 10, 9:00 am

Need something to do this coming weekend?

Well... Help out our little bat buddies by signing up for the bat house building workshop! Our local bats are really in trouble and need every advantage they can get. Build a bat box and help a neighbor in need!

In this workshop, you'll learn all of about bat conservation efforts AND you'll walk away with your very own bat box! This is a great workshop for any property owner and for parents and kids.

Register Today!

The March Meltdow n 5k

Sunday, March 25, 11 am

The Meltdown begins and ends at Free Will Brewing in Perkasie, PA. Join us for this unique 5k race on the scenic trails in and around Perkasie and along the the Perkiomen Creek. Runners and walkers get a dry-fit long-sleeve tee and a craft beer from Free Will.

Register today... because the price goes up by the end of the week... and you might not get the official race tee!

Learn More and Register Now!

New Volunteer Opportunities

at the March Meltdown!

Volunteers are needed to help make our first
March Meltdown 5k a success!

We need your help o n Sunday, March 25th.

Spots are open from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm.

You can help distribute shirts or help with participant check-in. We also need volunteers to be course directors, help with timing and pass out water. This could be your moment to shine! Also... all volunteers get a free tee AND a complimentary brew (if you're of proper age)!

Check out all of the available volunteer positions

and join us for this unique and fun event!

The 2018 Perkiomen Stream Clean-Up and...

The 1,000 VOLUNTEER CHALLENGE!!

Be part of the largest stream clean-up in Perkiomen history!

Come out and volunteer on Saturday, April 7 th from 9 am to 12 pm to remove trash, scrap metal, tires, and other harmful pollutants from our waterways.

We need over 1,000 volunteers to co ver 74 different clean-up sites located throughout the watershed. With so many spots, it'll be is easy to find a site near you. Sites can also accommodate a wide number of volunteers so be sure to bring your friends, family & co-workers.

Have a corporate group?

Corporate groups are also offered the opportunity to
volunteer on Friday, April 6th from 9 am to 12 pm.

Or, if you have a pick-up truck or trailer, volunteer as a pick-up crew member to haul trash from the sites to the dumpsters. The pick-up crews launch around noon and finish around 3 pm.

J oin the more than 700 volunteers who have already registered.

Help make this the largest stream clean-up EVER!

Sign up today!

Sponsor the Conservancy's Stream Clean-up!

Corporate sponsorships are the life-line to the Perkiomen Stream Clean-up! Hosting 1,000 volunteers is a costly endeavor, without corporate support we simply couldn't make it happen.

Have a business or know of a corporate group that would be interested in sponsoring this event?

Check out our Corporate Sponsorship Page

Your support makes the difference!

There's still room in the...

Lenape "Solo" Challenge!

An unprecedented show of enthusiasm has brought the registration period for the Lenape "Team" Challenge to a close just three weeks after it opened!

This is bad news. However... there is some good news!

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the event and the that fact that

many long-time "Challengers" were unable to register,

we have decided to open a solo category for this year's event!

The Lenape "Solo" Challenge will take place at the same time as the Lenape "Team" Challenge on Saturday, April 21, 2018 but will have a 1/2 hour staggered start. Solo Challengers will follow the same course as Team Challengers; however, instead of canoeing down the Perkiomen, Solo Challengers will kayak!

Space is extremely limited for this pilot category. So don't wait!

Register Now for the Lenape "Solo" Challenge!

* * *

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. To be part of the Trifecta, Participants can do all three events 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

The Perkiomen Native Plant Sale!

Join us for our second annual Native Plant Sale held at the Peter Wentz Farmstead on Saturday, May 12th from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

The Conservancy will be selling over 130 different species of native ferns, flowers, vines, and grasses in 4 inch pots. We will have species suited for a wide range of growing conditions, ensuring you can give a little TLC to every section of your yard! Prices range from $4.00 - $15.00 per plant. Behmerwald Nursery will also be joining us to sell beautiful native trees and shrubs.

The Native Plant Sale will also feature:

Staff and volunteers from the Peter Wentz Farmstead highlighting native plants that were used during the 18th century, a Spring Wildflower Walk starting at 9:30 am and a Downspout Planter Workshop starting at 1 pm.

For more information check out the link below:

Perkiomen Native Plant Sale

A Great Combination:

Children + Outdoors + PWC Science!

If your child likes spending time outdoors, making discoveries, and learning about the natural world, they will love the Conservancy's summer science programs! These programs feature small class sizes led by professional adult educators, hands-on, experiential learning, and lots of fun! PWC Summer Science Academy Programs are for children from pre-K through 6 th grade.

For more information and to register visit:

Summer Science Academy