|
Office of Watershed Management
Division of
|
Educational Programs
The Division of Watershed Management recognizes the role of public education in the protection of public drinking water supplies and associated resources. Educational programs are operated at the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs where staff, exhibits and materials help to interpret the DCR/MWRA water system, the history of the reservoirs, and the natural and cultural features of the watershed. Formal and informal interpretive programs are provided for the general public, school groups and special interest groups. Staff also disseminates information about access policies and recreational use on DCR lands. By raising awareness and appreciation for these precious resources, the Division is helping to fulfill its mandate to "protect, conserve and enhance the resources of the Commonwealth and to assure the availability of pure water for future generations." QUABBIN PROGRAMS
Quabbin Visitor Center 485 Ware Road (Route 9) Belchertown, MA
01007 (413) 323-7221. Directions to Quabbin Visitor's Center Quabbin School Programs Educational programs are offered for school groups at the Quabbin Visitor Center on a variety of topics from Quabbin history to the bald eagle restoration program. Group size is limited to 60, and programs are offered on a first come-first serve basis. Prior arrangements are required for group programs, arrangements can be made through the Visitor Center - (413) 323-7221. Groups interested in just visiting the Visitor Center are encouraged to notify the Center prior to their visit. All groups larger than 25 persons are required to secure a permit from the Center. There is no charge for the permit, but the application should be submitted two weeks before the visit date. Classroom programs and field trips are also offered to schools and groups in the watershed area and to communities which receive water from Quabbin. Topics range from water quality, water awareness, watersheds, natural history and Quabbin area history.
Public Programs Teacher Workshops Non-Staff Services For further information and to schedule programs, please contact Clif Read, Supervisor of Interpretive Services, at (413) 323-7221 or e-mail clif.read@state.ma.us. Wachusett/Sudbury School Programs Teacher Workshops Group Visits For further information and to schedule programs call Jim Lafley, Wachusett/Sudbury Education Program s at (508) 792-7423 x231 or email Jim.Lafley@state.ma.us. Stillwater Farm Stillwater Farm Interpretive Trail Brochure and Map The Stillwater Farm Interpretive Site in Sterling is an environmental education facility managed by the Division of Water Supply Protection. This 55 acre site on the Stillwater River hosts an 18th century farmhouse and a self-guided interpretive trail. This facility provides individuals and groups an opportunity to better understand the connections between land use and community character, and between natural resource protection and land management. Stillwater Farm, through scheduled programs and events, demonstrates both past and present interactions between the working landscape and resource stewardship. Particular emphasis is given to watershed related issues and dynamics. For more information, contact Jim Lafley, Education Program Coordinator, at (508) 792-7423 x231, or e-mail Jim.Lafley@state.ma.us Project WET is a national water education program that features a highly acclaimed curriculum and activity guide for teachers. Trained facilitators offer WET workshops for educators, community leaders and natural resource managers. The Massachusetts Environmental Education Society is the state sponsor of this program. Project WILD is an international interdisciplinary environmental education program focusing on terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. The program provides students in K-12 with critical thinking skills through the use of hands-on interdisciplinary lessons. MassWildlife is the state sponsor of this program; please contact Pam Landry at 508-389-6310. Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award winning, broad-based environmental education program for educators and students in PreK - grade 12. PLT helps students learn HOW to think, not WHAT to think, about the environment. PLT, a program of the American Forest Foundation, is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad. DCR's Kristen Karl-Carnahan is the MA state coordinator; she can be reached at 617-626-1463. The Massachusetts Drinking Water Education Partnership (MADWEP) provides year-round educational programs and information to increase public understanding of drinking water issues. The Partnership is dedicated to protecting drinking water supplies and public health through collaborative projects, culminating in Drinking Water Week events each May. Massachusetts Envirothon is America's leading natural resource education program for high school students. Teams comprised of five students represent their school or organization in a statewide competition testing their knowledge of: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and current environmental issues. The Friends of Quabbin, Inc. was formed in 1984 as a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of the unique natural and historical resources of the Quabbin Reservoir and Reservation. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) website contains many different sites of interest, including its school program, an on-line historical timeline of the water supply system, and annual water quality reports. "A History of the Development of the Metropolitan District Commission's Water Supply System" (3.5 MB pdf file) is a 1984 study by Wallace, Floyd Assoicates that contains a detailed history of the water supply system. Wachusett Greenways is a grass roots team of volunteers working to expand a network of trails and open spaces linking Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling and West Boylston. Its largest current project is the Mass Central Rail Trail, of which 10 miles have been completed and 30 miles are under development in Sterling, West Boylston, Holden, Rutland, Oakham, and Barre. Wachusett Earthday, Inc., operates the Wachusett Watershed Regional Recycling Center at 131 Raymond Huntington Hwy, West Boylston, in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Towns of Boylston, Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling and West Boylston.
|
|
