Master Watershed Steward Christine Boyle makes a splash in Luzerne County

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After Christine Boyle retired in 2018, she began thinking about ways to remain active, keep learning and give back to her Luzerne County community. Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Steward program checked all the boxes.

She also was familiar with the great work and dedication of the Master Watershed Stewards because her husband was one of those volunteers.

“I love to be outdoors hiking, camping, and kayaking or canoeing,” Boyle said. “Many of those activities involve being near and appreciating the water. The Master Watershed Steward program allows me to combine my affinity for our environment with a vehicle to keep learning, to educate others and to pursue positive volunteering.”

Cathy Tombasco, Master Watershed Steward coordinator for Penn State Extension in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, describes Boyle as a “superstar volunteer.”

“She’s articulate, knowledgeable and demonstrates great skill in public speaking,” Tombasco said. “Christine also works well in youth programs, doing everything from getting into a stream with children to search for macroinvertebrates to volunteering at festivals and fairs.”

Boyle’s favorite aspect of the program is engaging with the public, young and old alike. One standout initiative in which she has participated as a steward is Pennsylvania American Water’s “World of Water Camp.” This day camp is made available to customers of the utility company and provides an educational setting with a lot of hands-on exploration for children.

“The campers get a wonderful mix of in-classroom and outdoor learning,” Boyle said. “The breadth of experiences is terrific — from exploring the boulder field and other environs at Hickory Run State Park, to exploring the diversity of the Lehman Sanctuary, to collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates in the creek at Hillside Farms and fishing in the Susquehanna River in downtown Wilkes-Barre.”

During the camp, Boyle and other volunteers utilize resources created in the Master Watershed Steward program, such as a macroinvertebrate display, to help direct the learning. She added that engaging the campers with hands-on opportunities seems to be an effective approach to sustained learning.

Boyle noted that working with partners at Pennsylvania American Water and the Riverfront Parks Commission is always fun and gratifying, too.

“Our partners are committed to the success of the camp and always ready to share great energy, knowledge and resources,” she said. “Watching a camper hold their first salamander, catch a fish or splash around looking under rocks for macros is rewarding.”

Riverfest in Wilkes-Barre is another event that the Master Watershed Stewards support. Boyle explained that the setting along the river is picturesque, but it also allows people to learn about riparian buffers, the life in a river and how their behaviors every day can support the health of the river.

“The Master Watershed Steward program plays an important role in highlighting the importance of knowing about and protecting our waterways, and it empowers people from all walks of life to be the messengers,” she said.

Boyle did not have any extensive environmental education before joining the program and said she enjoyed the provided training. Fellow stewards are always supportive, and after completing the program, there are numerous ways to volunteer.

“You can be the person who has great ideas for a new program or training tool; that person who can build anything and comes up with an on-site project for a partner; that person who loves talking with local water authorities; or that person who is eager to participate in and support other people’s initiatives,” she said. “I feel like there is a place for everyone to add considerable value within the Master Watershed Steward program.”

Tombasco agreed that volunteers are central to the success of the Master Watershed Steward program.

“Our volunteers are individuals with diverse backgrounds, abilities and interests, but they share a remarkable dedication to the program and a passion for the environment,” she said.

“The optimist in me believes that for every seed of information we plant that takes root, we give ourselves a fighting chance for cleaner waterways,” Boyle said. “The struggle is epic, and that can be disheartening, but we can do what we can to inform and encourage others to take up the torch.”

The Penn State Master Watershed Steward program provides extensive training in watershed management to volunteers who, in return, educate the community about watershed stewardship based on university research and recommendations. The program was established to strengthen local capacity for management and protection of watersheds, streams and rivers by educating and empowering volunteers across the commonwealth.

Anyone interested in becoming a Master Watershed Steward can learn more at the program’s website.