2012 Schuylkill Scrub: April 1 to May 31, 2012
The 2012 Schuylkill Scrub, a collaborative effort to clean up the waterways of the Schuylkill River Basin, will take place from April 1 through May 31. The Schuylkill Scrub web site (at the aforementioned link) is the place to register existing and new cleanup efforts from the headwaters of the Schuylkill River down to the confluence with the Delaware River in Philadelphia.

For additional details, please visit the web site or email Tom Davidock at SchuylkillScrub@gmail.com.

National Drinking Water Week: May 6-12, 2012
National Drinking Water Week has been celebrated for more than 30 years by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and its members. This is a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. Visit the AWWA 2012 Drinking Water Week web page by clicking here for ideas of how to celebrate with kids in your classroom and/or at home.

Please contact Deirdre Mueller, AWWA Public Affairs Manager, at dmueller@awwa.org or 303-347-6140 with any questions.

Shout Online Conference Series - Water Matters Program 2012: May 16-17, 2012
Shout is a collaborative program for teachers and students by the Smithsonian Institution, Microsoft Partners in Learning, and Taking it Global. The Water Matters in 2012 Conference Series offers free, online programming led by Smithsonian presenters between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on May 16-17, 2012; sessions will focus on water quality: when it's not clean and healthy.

For additional information, including session and registration details, please visit http://www.smithsonianconference.org/shout/program-2012/.

Delaware Bay Day - Saturday, June 2, 2012
The Bayshore Discovery Project will again host Bay Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 2 in Bivalve and Port Norris, New Jersey. Activities for the whole family include a street parade, blue crab races, oyster shucking contest, games, mini-golf, and more. Bay Day would not be complete without live music, food, wine tasting, and exhibits on Bivalve's rich maritime history. The A.J. Meerwald, New Jersey's tall ship, will also be offering river cruises at various times throughout the day.

For additional details, please visit http://www.ajmeerwald.org/index.htm and click on 'Bay Day.'

Delaware River Shad Fishermen's Association's 6th Annual Youth Fishing Day - Saturday, June 16, 2012
The Delaware River Shad Fishermen's Association will host its 6th Annual Youth Fishing Education Day on Saturday, June 16 at the Blue Mountain Fish and Game Club in Walnutport, Pa. This free event, geared for kids ages 8-15, will take place from 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.; kids will learn about casting, knot tying, fishing ethics, canoe safety, and more.

For additional details, including contact information, please visit http://www.drsfa.org/youthfishingday.htm.

18th Annual Delaware River Sojourn: Sunday, June 24 through Saturday, June 30, 2012
The 18th Annual Delaware River Sojourn, an seven-day paddling excursion on the wild and scenic Delaware River, will take place from Sunday, June 24 through Saturday, June 30, 2012. This year's theme is Adventures on the Delaware.

For details, please click on the above link.

Nurture Nature Center's Science on a Sphere Exhibit
The Nurture Nature Center (NNC) in Easton, Pa. is pleased to offer programming utilizing their new Science on a Sphere Exhibit. The exhibit displays up to 250 global views of earth and space. In addition, NNC sponsors programs geared to helping communities address local environmental risks through science, art, and dialogue.

For additional details, please call 610-253-4432 or visit the above link.

AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program
Through this program, 20 AmeriCorps members are placed in watershed management areas across New Jersey at host agency sites like the DRBC. Over the course of 1,700 hours, members assist the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection in monitoring the rivers of New Jersey through visual and biological assessment volunteer monitoring programs. Members train community volunteers to participate in these monitoring programs. Through audio visual presentations, members provide information to community organizations and schools in order to have an informed citizenry about water and watershed issues in New Jersey. Visit the program's web site for additional information on the program.

Contact: Akili Gordon, Program Manager, at (609) 777-1406 or by email at akili.gordon@dep.state.nj.us.

FREE Guided Tours of The University of Delaware's College of Marine and Earth Studies Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Del.
Middle and high-school students and teachers are welcome to attend free tours of this world-class marine research institution! Tours typically begin with a 30-minute video that highlights many of the college's research activities. Following the video presentation, knowledgeable guides take students on a walking tour of the facilities where the majority of the research in the college's Marine Biology-Biochemistry and Oceanography programs is conducted.

A favorite stop on the tour is a tropical reef tank, which introduces students to one of the most diverse communities on Earth. With the rapid deterioration of coral reefs worldwide, the tank provides a springboard for discussions about the causes of and solutions to this global crisis. "We are mindful of educators' needs to align student field experiences with grade-appropriate science standards and are prepared to customize the tours accordingly," says Rosalind Troupin, a retired physician and current director of the tour program. "Based on an educator's needs, we may, for instance, help coordinate a tour with a field biology or environmental education lesson involving naturalists in nearby Cape Henlopen State Park."

From September through May, the free tours may be scheduled for middle- and high-school classes of five or more people, Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Requests should be made at least one week in advance by calling the College of Marine and Earth Studies at (302) 645-4346, by e-mailing Michelle Scorziello at mkscorzi@udel.edu, or by writing to the Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service, University of Delaware, College of Marine and Earth Studies, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958-1298. The Hugh R. Sharp Campus is accessible to people with disabilities.

During the summer, free public tours commence at 10:00 a.m. each Friday during June, July, and August and also on Tuesdays in July and August. Individuals who wish to join a tour should call the college at (302) 645-4234 no later than noon the preceding day to reserve a place. Please note that tours are not suitable for children under the age of 12.

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department's Philadelphia Storm Drain Marking Project
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department are proud to co-sponsor this project, which calls for volunteers to help affix "Yo! No Dumping, Drains to the River" medallions onto the street in front of storm drains across the region in areas which are not already marked. All supplies will be provided at no cost, and volunteers are welcome to participate year-round.

For more information and to register, please contact Dee Ross, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Program Specialist, at (800) 445-4935, ext. 106 or by email at dross@delawareestuary.org. For online details, please click here.

Upcoming Events at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, located along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, near the Museum of Art and Boathouse Row, is busy with various event opportunities for kids and adults alike. Come and learn something new while having fun at this excellent education center! For hours, directions, and other contact information, please visit http://www.fairmountwaterworks.com and also download their education programs brochure! (pdf). An evening series entitled Schuylkill Soundings is offered on the third Thursday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. For specific information on this series and other events at the Fairmount Water Works, please visit http://events.fairmountwaterworks.com or call (215) 685-0723. Learn more about its fascinating history!

The Stroud Water Research Center
The Stroud Water Research Center, one of the premier stream research laboratories in North America, offers teacher workshops throughout the year. The workshops will be held at the center in Avondale, Chester County, Pa. unless otherwise noted. Please dress for the outdoors. Space is limited. For more details about their specific offerings, please visit the Stroud Center's web site, where you also can learn about the center's student programs.

Contact: Education Programs Manager Christina Medved at (610) 268-2153 ext. 258 or cmedved@stroudcenter.org for additional questions and information.

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This information is being provided to the Delaware River Basin Commission by various sources and compiled here as a public service. A listing on this page does not necessarily imply endorsement by the DRBC. Since the information is subject to change, you are encouraged to contact the person(s) listed for the most complete information.

If you have upcoming opportunities you would like to share, please contact the DRBC.