Seasonal Programs

First Waves Indiana

First Waves Participants Paddleboarding on Yellow Creek Lake.

What is First Waves Indiana?

First Waves Indiana is a collaborative program between the Watersmith Guild and the Indiana County Conservation District to provide meaningful outdoor experiences to underserved youth in Indiana County. The First Waves program was created by the Watersmith Guild in 2014 and currently includes programs in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Cambria, and Indiana.

Watersmith Guild

The Mission of the Watersmith Guild is to inspire watershed conservation and improve lives through arts and adventure programming. Learn more by clicking here to visit their website.

Program Details

The event consists of a three day program including standup paddleboarding, river surfing, watershed conservation, and filmmaking. Participants will engage in inspirational and exiting activities throughout each day that connect them with the natural world.

Dates, times, and event details can be found by clicking here to be re-directed to the First Waves Indiana event page.

Sponsor a Youth!

This program is free to participants but not without cost. Help us create meaningful experiences that engage and inspire future generations of conservationists by making a financial contribution for the program or sponsoring the total cost of one youth's experience. CLICK HERE to access the donation page.

Water: Watershed Awareness - Your Local Water Cycle

In this program students will learn about their local watershed, the conservation practices currently in place, and explore a map of their local watershed. Students will trace the water cycle and...Read More

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Water: Stream Study - Macroinvertibrates

Did you know there is a whole living world underneath the surface of a stream? Scientists can identify organisms that live in streams to learn if the habitat is healthy! One group of...Read More

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Native Plants & Trees: Planting Trees

This program is designed to help young people learn about the importance of trees in the environment, how to plant and take care of native trees, and share the information they have...Read More

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Native Plants & Trees: Seeds!

Inside every seed is a baby plant waiting to grow. Seeds hold the future of their species. In this program, students will learn where seeds come from, how they move from place to place, what they...Read More

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Wildlife: Pennsylvania Wildlife

In this hands on activity, students will learn how to better identify the wildlife species found in these various environments through the use of mounts, skins/pelts, pictures, skulls, as well as...Read More

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Wildlife: Wildlife in Winter

Wildlife in Winter is a program that offers brief information about the animals of PA during the winter months. We discuss the animals that migrate to Pennsylvania and also the animals that leave Pennsylvania...Read More

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Agriculture: More Butterflies and Bees Please!

Bees are responsible for the pollination of up to 90% of human consumed food crops. Although many worry about the fate of the European Honeybee, few realize that our native bee populations, such as the Bumblebee, are responsible for pollinating...Read More

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Agriculture: Sustainable Gardening

Sustainable gardening is one of the most important and effective sustainability practices that we can follow. Its practice and benefits include respecting, and improving the soils, using native plants, shrubs and trees to...Read More

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Agriculture: Worms!

Here’s to nature’s recyclers! Kids can burrow right in and learn about the industrious — and danger-filled life of the delightfully yucky earthworm. Learn how worms turn dirt into soil and why worms are so important to farmers and gardeners...Read More

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Agriculture: Regenerative Agriculture

Farmers have experienced climate disasters in the past. During the Dust Bowl of the 1930's the majority of American topsoil blew away in the wind, devastating most American farms. Today, farmers are once again facing the...Read More

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Biodiversity: Wetland Biodiversity

We discuss wetland habitats and the adaptations different organisms have to live in and by water. This program is conducted by 4 educators who present at 4 different stations for a total of 120 minutes. The stations...Read More

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Herpetology

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Seasonal Programs

First Waves Indiana

What is First Waves Indiana?

Watersmith Guild

Program Details

Sponsor a Youth!

Water: Watershed Awareness - Your Local Water Cycle

Water: Stream Study - Macroinvertibrates

Native Plants & Trees: Planting Trees

Native Plants & Trees: Seeds!

Wildlife: Pennsylvania Wildlife

Wildlife: Wildlife in Winter

Agriculture: More Butterflies and Bees Please!

Agriculture: Sustainable Gardening

Agriculture: Worms!

Agriculture: Regenerative Agriculture

Biodiversity: Wetland Biodiversity

Herpetology

Questions about Seasonal Programs?