Are you 55 years or older, live in Elk County and want to become involved in protecting our resources and educating the public on the natural world? If so, the new Elk County Senior Environment Corps wants you.
The Elk County Conservation District and Nature Abounds, a national non-profit located in Clearfield and organizer of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps, are working together to get the new group up and running. Members can participate in a variety of tasks from monitoring water-quality, observing and reporting on wildlife, and even helping with office tasks. The possibilities are endless.
Kim Bonfardine, watershed specialist with the Elk County Conservation District, said, “We need more monitoring of our water-quality and our wildlife, so we’re excited to be joining the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps. Senior volunteers are perfect for the project as they often have a very strong knowledge of the area, our water and the wildlife found here.”
According to Nature Abounds President, Melinda Hughes-Wert, “We’re thrilled that Elk County will have a new Senior Environment Corps. The new group will be part of the larger statewide Pennsylvania Senior Corps, who has been working hard to protect our natural resources.”
Hughes-Wert continued, “Members have monitored water quality, helped to inventory wildlife, marked abandoned oil wells and educated the next generation of environmental stewards. All of this is made possible with funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 319 Non-point Source program, and with support of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as well as the Foundation for Pennsylvania’s Watersheds.”
For more information, contact Melinda Hughes-Wert of Nature Abounds at either 814-765-1453 or at Volunteer@Natureabounds.org .
