Participants in the Mountains to the Bay adult education program
Students discover how insects are used to determine water quality during a MWEE event
RSEP labeled storm drains to inform public that they drain to waterways
The TJSWCD provides a variety of natural resource-related educational services.
Click here for some fun and engaging education resources!
TJSWCD provides opportunities to continue to discover your local watershed independently in your own backyard, your home, at the kitchen table, or in your garage with a variety of links to videos, activities and articles for students and teachers to engage in. We always adding new content so be sure to check back often!
Presentations, Workshops, Field Days
Local officials, schools, community organizations and the general public rely on the TJSWCD for workshops, “field days”, presentations, school events, and technical information. Classroom presentations are available to support grade-specific Standards of Learning (SOLs), and presentations on a variety of topics are available for community organizations. Call the TJSWCD to request a presentation or technical workshop.
If you are interested in TJSWCD providing an educational event for your organization, please contact our Education staff by emailing education [@] tjswcd.org
The TJSWCD coordinates the Envirothon Program on the local level. The deadline to register for our local Envirothon is December 15, 2022. For registration information, contact email education(@)tjswcd.org
- 2022 Special Topic: Waste To Resources
- 2022 Local Competition: March 25, Camp Albemarle
- 2022 Area II Competition: April 30, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve
- 2022 State Competition: May, date & location TBD
- 2022 National Competition: July in Ohio
VASWCD Youth Conservation Camp
Each year, the TJSWCD provides funding to send two students to a weeklong Conservation Camp held at Virginia Tech each summer. The program brings together about 70 interested students for a week of learning about Virginia’s natural resources from conservation professionals and faculty from Virginia Tech. Most of the instruction is hands-on and outdoors.
Information about the 2022 Youth Conservation Camp is now available, to learn more or to apply click here. The deadline to apply is May 9th, 2022.
Scholarships
The TJSWCD provides an annual Scholarships for individuals wanting to pursue a degree in a natural resource-related field.
We are pleased to announce the 2021 Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District Scholarship Award Recipients:
- Jacob Barlow of Louisa County, attending Louisa County High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Amber Thompson of Louisa County, attending Louisa County High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Elizabeth Rosson of Louisa County, attending Louisa County High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Haley Rosson of Louisa County, attending Louisa County High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Karina Long of Albemarle County, attending Western Albemarle High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Emily Chang of Albemarle County, attending Albemarle County High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Rebecca Taylor of Fluvanna County, attending Fluvanna County High School, receiving the Eddie Wood Memorial Scholarship.
Congratulations! TJSWCD wishes you the best in your collegiate studies and conservation endeavors.
To be eligible for all scholarships, applicants must have a permanent address within the boundaries of the TJSWCD, which includes Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa and Nelson Counties and the City of Charlottesville. Individual applicants must be full-time students enrolled in, or who have applied to, a college level curriculum. Applicants shall document a class ranking in the top 20% of his or her graduating class or a 3.0 or greater GPA or appropriate equivalent of individual scholastic achievement.
In addition to the TJSWCD scholarships, one chosen application will be forwarded to the Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) for consideration in their statewide scholarship program. Only one application form is necessary to apply for both the TJSWCD and VASWCD scholarships.
Scholarship applications are typically due in March of each year and winners are notified in May. Applications (including form, official transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, and essay) must be submitted to the TJSWCD office. PLEASE NOTE: During this time of the COVID pandemic, our offices are currently closed to the public. In accordance to public health guidance, staff is working remotely during this time, therefore we will be accepting scholarship applications by email only. Please see the announcement below for email submission instructions.
2022 Scholarship Application deadline: 4:00 p.m., April 6, 2022
2022 TJSWCD Scholarship Announcement
2022 TJSWCD and VASWCD Scholarship Guidelines
2022 TJSWCD and VASWCD Scholarship Application
Chesapeake Bay “Meaningful Watershed Education Experience” (MWEE)
The multistate “2000 Chesapeake Bay Agreement” and the “Chesapeake Watershed Education Agreement: Fostering Chesapeake Stewardship” established educational goals related to watersheds and associated educational programming in schools. The TJSWCD provides “Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences” (MWEE events) to assist local schools in meeting these goals.
… are investigative or project oriented.
… are richly structured and based on high-quality instructional design.
… are an integral part of the instructional program.
… are part of a sustained activity.
… consider the watershed as a system.
… involve external sharing and communication.
… are enhanced by natural resources personnel.
… are for all students.
The District provides MWEE educational support to all fourth grade classes within Albemarle County and Charlottesville public schools. Similar watershed education programs are available for other grades and schools as our schedule allows, so please feel free to inquire with the TJSWCD.
These MWEE events include three “stations” facilitated by TJSWCD education staff and Rivanna Master Naturalist volunteers:
Rivanna Stormwater Education Partnership (RSEP)
RSEP is a collaborative effort among the local entities that hold stormwater permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. The TJSWCD facilitates and coordinates this partnership.