October 2010


OPPORTUNITIES
 
NYC Million Tree Planting Initiative
Engage your students in hands-on urban forestry stewardship activities.

Volunteer with NYC Parks Department
Opportunities for students to work in the parks planting and maintaining the City's greenspaces.

Arbor Day Poster Contest
The NYS Trees Are Terrific Arbor Day Poster Contest, focuses on the theme: "Take the Challenge - Be a Tree Hero."
Check out the entry rules, tips and directions on how to enter a successful piece of artwork.
Deadline for poster submissions is January 13, 2011.

Staples Urban Environment Challenge
Identify and address issues around climate change in NYC and win a $1,000 technology supplies package.

RESOURCES
 
WEEA Directory
The Watershed Environmental Education Alliance's (WEEA) Resource Directory is a comprehensive resource guide for school teachers and other educators seeking to enhance their water-based curriculum. Resources center around the NYC water supply system and include hands-on learning experiences, watershed field trips and outdoor educational opportunities.

OASIS Interactive Map
This interactive map provides information on outdoor recreational opportunities and educational facilities in the NYC water supply region.


DID YOU KNOW ?

The United Nations declared 2011 to be the International Year of Forests to raise awareness and strengthen sustainable forest management, woodland conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
 Funding Available for Watershed Tours
Applications due November 1st

The Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Program has funding available towards the cost of bus tours to the NYC watershed regions. Any organization, community group, professional association, 4th-12th grade classroom or other interested party within NYC or the Catskill/Delaware Watershed is eligible to apply for up to $3,000. The deadline for applications is November 1, 2010.
For more information, call
(845) 586-1600 or email Jessica Olenych at Common Ground Educational Consulting.
NYC Educators Take Watershed Tour

On June 24, New York City Environmental Protection organized a full-day bus tour with funding from the Watershed Agricultural Council. The tour was specifically for non-formal educators from New York City cultural institutions, youth groups, environmental and arts organizations, zoos, botanical gardens and others. Participants learned about stream management; hiked in a model forest; viewed the Gilboa Dam, Schoharie Reservoir and Gilboa fossils; and met local residents, engineers, educators and scientists. Despite the long and very full day, they were all smiles as they posed at the Long Road Stream Restoration Project where the group helped the restoration effort by planting native trees and shrubs.

Bus Tour funding is now available for the 2010-2011 school year. Applications are due on November 1st.



Watershed Education Grants Available in November

For the 14th consecutive year, the Catskill Watershed Corp., in partnership with NYC Environmental Protection, will offer Watershed Education Grants to schools and eligible nonprofit organizations from the Catskill/Delaware Watershed west of the Hudson River, and NYC's five boroughs. Applications and guidelines will be available at www.cwconline.org in mid-November. Proposals for projects and programs for the 2011-2012 school year are due February 1, 2011.

Recipients will be announced in the spring. For more information, or to discuss potential projects, email CWC Education Coordinator Diane Galusha or call toll-free 877-928-7433 (or 845-586-1400. Ext. 29).
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The Reservoir is brought to you by the Watershed Agricultural Council. The Watershed Agricultural Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City Watershed region. The WAC is supported by the U.S. Forest Service, New York City Environmental Protection, U.S.D.A and other sources. The Watershed Agricultural Council is an equal opportunity employer and provider.