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Environmental Education

Pennsylvania Streams & Schoolyards Environmental Education Program

Join CBF educators in canoe and schoolyard-based exploration of local waterways in south-central Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania
One student holds a sieve while a second student looks into it trying to identify stream macroinvertebrates.
Dawn J. Sagert/The York Dispatch
One student holds a sieve while a second student looks into it trying to identify stream macroinvertebrates.

Program Overview (PDF) | Information for Parents & Guardians

Apply for a Program

Program Capacity: 26 for canoe program (grade 6 and above), 30 for schoolyard program up to three sessions (grade 4 and above).

The Pennsylvania Streams & Schoolyards Environmental Education Program provides canoe and schoolyard-based field investigations in south-central Pennsylvania. Participants explore phenomena to analyze how humans impact the health of local waterways and the larger Chesapeake Bay watershed. Hands-on investigations utilizing water quality tests, biological surveys, and ecological assessments connect students to their local ecosystems and reinforce classroom curriculum as well as STEELS standards. Each program aims to create a hands-on approach for students to explore how restoration efforts and action projects in the Keystone State benefit regional waterways, reduce impact on biodiversity, and inform solutions further downstream.

Bring the watershed to life before and after your CBF Student Field Program using our curated list curriculum-based Resources for Teachers and Students.  

Meet Our Team

Meet our passionate team of experts, dedicated to inspiring future Bay stewards through hands-on learning and unforgettable experiences.
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  • Megan McCarthy.
    Education

    Megan McCarthy

    Pennsylvania Streams & Schoolyards Program Manager/Educator

  • Education

    Kassie Fenn

    Pennsylvania Student Leadership & Education Coordinator

Related Resources

Explore our resources to learn more about the Bay and how you can help protect it.
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Resource Resources for Teachers and Students
Dive into environmental education resources about the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers, and streams, including blogs, videos, student investigations, and more. Perfect for teachers, parents, and students in the classroom and at home.
Resource Apply for a Student Field Program
CBF Education offers one-day and multi-day field programs for students and teachers to get outside with us and learn about the Bay, its rivers, and streams.
Resource Information for Parents and Guardians
These are the forms that your child will need (including health forms and packing lists) for our one-day and residential (overnight) programs.
Resource Student Field Programs Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most commonly asked questions about CBF's Student Field Programs.
Resource Safety and Educator Certification
We are committed to the safety of all our participants.

Related Stories

Stay informed with stories covering Bay health, restoration efforts, and the people making a difference.
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  • Blog Story

    A Day in the Education Field

    What exactly happens on a CBF field experience? CBF Pennsylvania educator Adaiah Bauer walks us through a typical day in the field.

    SEP 22 2023 Adaiah Bauer, PA Rivers & Streams Assistant Manager, CBF
  • Blog Story

    Endangered Species Listing for Hellbender Is Long Overdue

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed listing the Eastern hellbender as an Endangered species. A group of determined young people in Pennsylvania, the original “Hellbender Defenders,” say the recognition is long overdue.

    JAN 28 2025 B.J. Small

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