FAQ

The primary focus of CCPaSEC is on stream water monitoring. Teams of seniors perform periodic monitoring and assessing of local streams. Results are entered into a database so that the information can be shared with other organizations nationwide. The Corps can also be involved in other programs including, but not limited to environmental education for children, tree planting, waterway cleanup and many more projects. 

People join CCPaSEC because they appreciate the importance of a healthy environment. They want to make sure future generations will be able to enjoy pristine waterways that support wildlife.

People remain CCPaSEC volunteers because of the friendships that are formed, the pleasure of being outdoors and the satisfaction of knowing that the work they do is helping to improve the communities and world in which they live. These special individuals also know they are making a positive difference in this world for themselves, for the children and for the environment.

To join CCPaSEC, become a member of ClearWater Conservancy(CWC) or the Retired Senior Volunteer Program(RSVP) of Centre County.  

• Call ClearWater Conservancy: 814-237-0400 or email: clearwater@clearwaterconservancy.org to discuss joining CWC/CCPaSEC.
  or 
• Complete a simple RSVP Enrollment Application and a Photo Release Form (available at the RSVP Office) for joining RSVP/CCPaSEC and mail to:
  

  RSVP/CCPaSEC
  Willowbank Building Room 339
  420 Holmes Street
  Bellefonte, PA 16823

  or FAX to: (814) 548-1137

  For more information, contact:

  Brenda Reeve (RSVP Project Director)
  (814) 355-6816/ breeve@centrecountypa.gov

  Ashley Brownson (RSVP Assistant)
  (814) 355-6816/ aebrownson@centrecountypa.gov

In either case, a CCPaSEC representative will then contact you.

You’ll have fun and make new friends while helping to improve our world for the future. The time commitment can be as small or as large as you are able or willing to give.
Training and special workshops are provided for those who are interested in learning more about specific subjects.

Typically 3-4 hours a month including travel time. Each team monitors their sites once a month. A typical team monitors two sites (a couple of teams do 3 sites); each site takes approximately one hour. Members can optionally become more involved by attending our monthly meetings, working on a committee, attending additional training sessions, quality assurance activities, speaking to other groups, etc.

No. Typically two members of a team go in the stream to take temperature readings, fetch the sample and possibly do stream flow measurements. Other members of the team perform the tests at stream-side in nice weather or go to a covered area in inclement weather. In the spring and fall our teams perform a biosurvey in their streams. This means stirring up a square meter (3 times in different locations), capturing the macroinvertebrates (eg. Mayflies, caddisflies, etc) in a net, identifying, counting and recording the various species. Usually, two or three team members will collect the macros in the stream and bring the net to stream-side for identification by the group.

You will be invited to join a team for several monitoring events during which you will become familiar with our equipment – meters, individual chemical kit for alkalinity, etc. Our field manuals give step-by-step instructions and no prior knowledge of chemistry is required. Other training for stream flow measurements, habitat assessment, database input, design studies, etc are done in the field or at a monthly meeting.

You will be assigned to a team and receive additional on-the-job-training in the field.

We have anywhere between 3 and 7 members on a team. When a team does stream flow, the optimum number is five – 3 in the stream doing flow and two on shore simultaneously performing tests. Having more than 5 members is beneficial because as retired seniors we do travel a bit and having those additional members assures adequate coverage throughout the year. We also use the monitoring event as an opportunity to socialize – the more the merrier.

PASEC started in PA in 1997 at the request of DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). The Centre County chapter formed in 2002. Currently, we have over 2,200 volunteers active in 51 counties. Over 4,700 monitoring events took place in Pennsylvania in 2005.