Participants construct rain barrels during workshop
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.
During this COVID-19 time, TJSWCD will be providing 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 will periodically add new activities and links as the days go by.
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 Education Coordinator Lauriston DaMitz at 434-975-0224 Ext. 107
The TJSWCD coordinates the Envirothon Program on the local level. The deadline to register for our local Envirothon is December 15, 2020. For registration information, contact Lauriston DaMitz, 434-975-0224, Ext. 107.
- 2021 Special Topic: Water Resources Management: Local Control and Local Solutions
- 2021 Local Competition: Virtual Competition
- 2021 Area II Competition: Virtual Competition
- 2021 State Competition: Virtual Competition, May 16, 2021
- 2021 National Competition: July 25-July 31, 2021, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
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.
UPDATE: Due to COVID-19, the 2021 Youth Conservation Camp is virtual this year with a new twist…
The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Virginia Department of Forestry are partnering to offer the Virginia Academy of Natural Resources July 12-16, 2021, for current Virginia 9th-12th graders.
Campers will attend virtual, live presentations in the morning and have exploration assignments in the afternoon focusing on Aquatics, Forestry, Soil & Wildlife. Click here to apply for the 2021 Virginia Academy of Natural Resources by April 30th, 2021.
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 2020 Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District Scholarship Award Recipients:
- Evie Sackett of Albemarle County, attending Monticello High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Sarina Cooper of Albemarle County, attending Western Albemarle High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Henry Chin of Albemarle County, attending Monticello High School, receiving a TJSWCD scholarship.
- Tori Sanborn of Albemarle County, attending Western Albemarle 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.
2021 Scholarship Application deadline: 4:00 p.m. March 29, 2021
2021 TJSWCD Scholarship Announcement
2021 TJSWCD and VASWCD Scholarship Guidelines
2021 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.