Hands On CEU Opportunities in PA

Saturday, April 2- Live Staking and Tree Planting

A landowner near Mount Joy has an eroding streambank that could use some live stakes and trees to help hold it in place. Live staking is the process of taking cutting of plants like willows and red twig dogwoods and inserting them directly into the streambank where they grow roots and into new plants. It is a fun activity that mostly takes place while standing within the stream. In addition, we will be planting trees for a small riparian buffer on dry land to further stabilize the bank and provide other water quality improvement. Register here: https://extension.psu.edu/volunteer-stream-repair-live-stake-and-tree-planting.  

Saturday, April 9, 9 AM-Noon, Annville – Riparian Buffer Planting

Join the Swatara Watershed Association, Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, and others to plant 250-300 trees near the Swatara Creek. Register at https://extension.psu.edu/volunteer-riparian-buffer-planting

 Tuesday, April 12, 4:30 PM- 6:30 PM, Hummelstown- Upland Tree Planting

The landowner for this project is in need of a tree planting following the construction of a natural gas pipeline and invasive species removal. Join us and Londonderry Township for a weekday evening planting to get this larger project started by planting almost 100 trees next to the pipeline right-of-way. Late arrivals or early departures are fine, just let us know when you email me to register at klk343@psu.edu.

The week of April 18-22- Various Lancaster locations- Tree plantings

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has several small tree plantings that could use a few helping hands during the 3^rd week of April. The timing for these can be flexible depending on when volunteers are available to help. The planting locations are in Elizabethtown, Conestoga, and Strasburg. If you have daytime flexibility to help, please reach out the Ashley Spotts at ASpotts@cbf.org. 

Save the Date: Saturday, April 23, 9 AM- Noon, Middletown- Riparian Buffer Maintenance, Replant and Litter Clean-Up

Join Manada Conservancy, Lower Swatara Township, and other Greening the Lower Susquehanna volunteers to do some much needed spring maintenance on a planting along the Swatara Creek that was planted a few years ago. Tubes need straightened, some trees need pruned, and trees need replanted where there has been some mortality. We will also be cleaning up litter along the roadway and at an adjacent boat launch. This is a highly visible site from Route 283 so it is important to make it look good! A registration link will be sent out shortly. In the meantime, mark your calendar!

Saturday, April 30, 9 AM- Noon, Hershey- Streamside Pollinator Planting

Join us in supporting the Derry Environmental Action Committee and their partners in expanding and improving their pollinator and water conservation area in Hershey, PA. This former agricultural land and then invasive species overrun streamside has been in transition to native meadow and riparian buffer for over five years. We need more help to continue this project in the Spring Creek Watershed. Register for this event at https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-and-water-conservation-planting-volunteer-opportunity

Sunday, May 1- Swatara Sojourn (Paddling and Litter Clean Up)

Join the Swatara Creek Watershed Association on their annual sojourn- a fun day of paddling, education and litter clean-up. This is not a Penn State Greening the Lower Susquehanna event but we know many of you would enjoy this opportunity. You can find out more at https://swatarawatershed.org/swatara-sojourn/.