The Penn State Extension Lehigh and Northampton County offi ces are accepting applications for the 2018 Master Watershed Steward Program, held from March 7 through June, in 11 Pennsylvania Counties at partnering environmental organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Three information sessions will be held on January 10 at the Lehigh County Agricultural Center, January 18 at Northampton County Extension Offi ce and January 24 at Illick's Mill, in Bethlehem. The program is designed to provide people that are enthusiastic about the environment with the information and skills necessary to share their experience and knowledge with others.

Prospective stewards receive 40 hours of training on topics that include water quality, stream health, native plants, recreational resources and groundwater, and then fulfi ll 50 hours of volunteer service. They can maintain their status through 20 hours of volunteer time to watershed projects or programs and attend a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education training.

Cost is $100, and applications are due by January 8. 8 For more information, including dates and times, call Erin Frederick at 610-391-9840 or email [email protected].