This resource guide was created to document watershed education through youth engagement via the Circuit Trails, a vast regional trail network that connects people to jobs, communities, parks and waterways throughout a nine-county region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is hoped that the information in this document about activities and experiences will help other organizations and individuals carry on the work and programming started by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
This resource guide contains teachable topics and corresponding lessons that are easily accessible on a Circuit Trail. Topics include watersheds, stormwater runoff, stream ecology, benthic macroinvertebrates, green infrastructure, artificial waterways and stream order.
In addition, this resource guide serves as a route planner. Several tours and routes were created over the summer of 2015. On a weekly basis, Cadence Youth Cycling's Circuit Team navigated through Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey, to access educational platforms. We hope you enjoy replicating these routes and that you will offer feedback and suggestions for additional routes and educational activities.
The guide also reviews struggles and successes with watershed education provided on or near trails. Using analysis of surveys and feedback from youth participants and partners, we were able to synthesize and share their experiences. We conducted our most extensive survey with Cadence Youth Cycling. Our goal was to see if programming increased understanding of watersheds and the Circuit Trails regional network.
