Let’s grow together!
New for 2025! Introducing our reinvigorated training sessions for community members and professionals who are looking for hands-on learning experiences focused on local environmental topics. This series of trainings are intended for interested community members, teachers, municipal staff, and beyond. Training sessions will be hosted throughout the year and will cover a variety of environmental topics including water quality monitoring, proper tree planting, multiple stormwater solutions, such as rain gardens, rain barrels, and more.
Volunteers do not have to participate in this program to volunteer for Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy opportunities.
Upcoming Trainings
Wilderness First Aid
Date: Thursday, January 16th & Friday, January 17th
Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, PA 19473
Guide: Ryan Beltz, PWC’s Executive Director
Ticket Price: $250.00
Earn Wilderness First Aid certification through the Red Cross. The Wilderness First Aid course is specifically designed to prepare you to act and care for emergencies that occur off the beaten path. This course is perfect for scout leaders, camp counselors, and outdoor enthusiasts. If you find yourself outdoors and in charge of a group, then you need to take this course!
The Wilderness First Aid course is 16 hours in length and is taught over two consecutive days. Participants must attend both days in order to earn this 2-year certification. CPR/AED training and certification will be provided.
Date: Thursday, January 23rd
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, PA 19473
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Ticket Price: $30.00
Join us to learn about rain gardens! This training will cover rain garden benefits, designs, installation, maintenance, and more. Participants will receive a voucher for three free native plants from the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s annual Native Plant Sale.
Date: Thursday, February 27th
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, PA 19473
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Ticket Price: $30.00
Learn about the many benefits of native plants and the harmful environmental impacts of “lawn culture.” Different methods and tips for reducing lawn area and increasing garden area on your property will be discussed along with garden design and plant selection. Participants will receive a voucher for three free native plants from the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s annual Native Plant Sale.
Rain Barrel Building & Painting Workshop
Date: Thursday, March 6th & Tuesday, March 11th
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, PA 19473
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Ticket Price: $95.00
Build and paint a rain barrel for your property! During this workshop, participants will learn how to construct, paint, and maintain a rain barrel. Rain barrel benefits and uses will also be discussed. In addition to building the barrel, participants will also sand and paint their barrels during this two day workshop. Participants will go home with a painted, 55 gallon, food grade plastic rain barrel after the workshop.
Date: Friday, March 14th
Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Location: Ursinus College
601 E. Main St., Collegeville, PA 19426
Ticket Price: $65.00
Conservancy's MS4 Benefactor Members receive two free tickets!
Join the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy and our regional partners to dive deeper into the world of stormwater! Discover the different methods local organizations are using to tackle stormwater issues. Municipalities will walk away with educational materials and volunteer opportunities for their residents. This training is also designed to be a one-stop-shop for municipal staff, covering all six MCMs! A buffet lunch is included with your ticket.
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, PA 19473
Guide: Jeff Cocci, PWC’s Education Coordinator
Ticket Price: $20.00
During this training session, participants will learn about citizen science water quality monitoring before heading down to the East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek to conduct monitoring. Participants will use water quality monitoring kits and participate in a macroinvertebrate survey to assess water quality. This will be one of two Water Quality Monitoring trainings that will be hosted. Stay tuned for info about our Water Quality Monitoring - Lakes & Reservoirs training that will be hosted this summer.
Plantpod training
Date: Saturday, July 12th
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Briarwyck Park
315 Sturgis Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438
Guide: Ryan Beltz, PWC’s Executive Director
Ticket Price: $20.00
Learn about PlantPods, a new and fun way to boost the water quality in local waterways! During this training session, participants will learn how to construct PlantPods, discuss their benefits, and will launch a PlantPod system into the pond at Briarwyck Park. Participants will also remove and analyze a previously installed PlantPod system that has been in the pond for several months prior to the training session.
Butterfly Survey Training
Date: Saturday, August 9th
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Dragonfly Farm at Reiff Park
775 Quarry Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438
Guide: Beth Myers, PWC’s Director of Ecology
Ticket Price: $20.00
Learn more about our local lepidoptera! This training session will provide participants with information about a variety of native butterfly species, their habitats, and host plants. Participants will also learn about the Conservancy’s volunteer Butterfly Survey program, our butterfly gardens, and our Butterfly Learning Center. Attendees will also participant in a guided butterfly survey! Training session attendees will leave the workshop with a local butterfly host plant guide sheet!
Proper Tree Planting & Care Training
Date: Saturday, September 13th
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Dragonfly Farm at Reiff Park
775 Quarry Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Ticket Price: $20.00
Learn how to properly plant and care for trees! This training session will cover planting site selection, tree species and stock selection, proper planting methods, proper mulching, and future tree care tasks including pruning, staking, utilizing tree guards/fencing, and more. Participants will also participate in a tree planting during the workshop. Training session attendees will leave the workshop with a native sapling to plant on their property!