PHLOW - How it Began
Potomac Headwaters
Leaders of Watersheds |
The best thing about
PHLOW - Potomac Headwaters Leaders of
Watersheds
- is that youth are the leaders who decide what activities to do.
Students who participate in PHLOW Teams meet monthly during the
school year and get together for two or three Saturdays also. There
will be team in several counties in the Eastern Panhandle of West
Virginia. All the teams will be part of a community of support in
neighboring counties. This community will provide an opportunity
for the teams to help each other and also competition during the
year. Teams can choose from a range of service learning activities
once they determine which ones best suit their school and
community. Professionals and volunteers from the Cacapon Institute,
WV Conservation Agency, and WV Department of Environmental
Protection will provide support for the planning and implementation
of projects but it is the youth who make the final decision.
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PHLOW Teams can make up their own projects or choose to do some of
these activities (click on the title to learn more):
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You don't want to miss out on the fun, the friends
you will make, or how service learning will make you proud! |
To sign up. Send an Email to: Frank Rodgers. Or pick up the
phone and call 304-856-1385. |
A watershed is the land where all the rain runs to the same body of
water such as a pond, stream, or river. Watersheds start small and
add together to cover bigger and bigger areas of land. For example,
stream watersheds join together to become river watersheds. In West
Virginia the mountains and hills show us where watersheds separate.
Just look up and figure out which way rain would flow when it runs
down hill. |
Watershed Activities
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What is a watershed? |
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Watershed Puzzle II |
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Watershed Creator |
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Stream
Cleaner |
All of these
activities are accessible through the Potomac Highlands Watershed
School. Just click on the activity name on the blackboard
here. |
Conduct
watershed surveys of their school grounds
or community public lands. Every wonder where you were? PHLOW
Teams will learn about mapping. Mapping can tell you where you are
and where you are going. Mapping can also help tell the story about
a piece of land or property. Teams will learn mapping and try out
Global Positioning Systems, some of the newest electronic gear
professionals use to figure out where they are. Team will also make
their our own maps using color pictures taken from a plane called
aerial photography. This information will help teams decide where
they want to do a service learning project. We all want to have the
best school and community we can and there is always lots of work to
do. You can look at paths, parking, buildings, pavement, buildings,
woods, and lots more.
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Devise watershed
management plan
to beautify and improve your school grounds. PHLOW teams will use
their maps to help decide what to do to fix problems and make
improvements. Your Team will have to work together to think
clearlly, identify problems, discuss solutions, and develop plans.
There are many professionals who can help you and share what they
know about gardens, tree planting, erosion control, and other
options. You will be helping to design a plan to make your school
or community a better place for the younger students. |
Implement Best
Management Practices
- work with professionals and volunteers to organize projects that
will make your school and community a better place. After the
survey, review, and planning process students must get approval from
the appropriate authorities (Principals, PTA, BOE, etc.). Next,
PHLOW Teams must, with the help of their mentors and the PHLOW
grant, secure resources. Under the supervision of CI, WVCA and
other project partners, and in cooperation with local adult civic
organizations, the Teams will then organize service days. This
approval and implementation process will strengthen the important
leadership skills of persuasive communication, resource management,
and plan implementation. |
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Run a Native Tree Nursery
- Learn how to grow trees from seed, collect seeds to grow, and
plant small trees in pots and care for them. PHLOW Teams' nurseries
will provide a much needed supply of native trees and shrubs for
riparian plantings. Native plants, the ones that have always grown
here naturally, are important for wildlife and stream health. A
healthy forest is the best way to ensure a healthy stream.
Overseeing the nurseries is an important job. You can learn tree
identification, growing techniques, and management skills. |
Hold A Watershed
Stewardship Fair
- identify, invite, and schedule experts to come to your school or
club. Your Team can show off their own work at the fairs too. Show
what you learned about watersheds |
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Start a Public Outreach
Campaign
- Once you learn all about watersheds like how to help the streams,
use water wisely, and prevent pollution you'll want to share that
information. You can make your own brochure, speak to people, and
share what you learned. PHLOW Your Teams could make a
presentations to local civic groups, and social organizations,
Ruritans, Lions Clubs, church groups, and others about watershed
issues, and the value of good land management. Lots of what we know
about streams and watersheds is new and you'll be surprised how
interested adults will be. |
Something Completely Different
Hampshire High School Deer Exclusion Experiment. At Hampshire
High School the students built a fence to keep deer out of some part
of their woods. Keeping the deer out will help small trees grow and
make the forest more healthy. A healthy forest is the best thing
for a healthy wateshed. To see them put up their fence click
here. |
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Tree Huggers! At East Hardy Middle School about 40 students formed
a club to do a number of service projects. They passed out trees to
younger students on Arbor Day (the national day to think about the
importance of trees), they planted trees, they cleaned a stream, and
they helped with school recycling. The students took pictures for
you to see here. |
Funding for West Virginia Commission for National and Community
Service and Potomac Headwaters Leaders of Watersheds
Service-Learning Project is provided by a Learn and Serve America:
Community-Based Grant from the Corporation for National and
Community Service. |
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