Katie Stanley demonstrating the Enviroscape's wastewater model to show water overflow, riparian buffers and the effects of hazardous waste in waterways.

August 5, 2019 |  Current AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, Katie Stanley is serving a 10-week term with the Piney Creek Watershed Association (PCWA) in Beckley, West Virginia. Only five weeks in to her service, Katie has been busy fostering environmental stewardship in her community.   Katie has showcased her organization at a local funders' event, visited two wastewater plants to understand how water is treated. She has led multiple educational demonstrations for children; one that she enjoyed the most was the creation of a worm farm to educate youth about the species’ environment. She has taken part in the Save our Steams (SOS) Training, monitored 21 waterways in several streams around the area, trained volunteers in water sampling, and has also been tasked with starting a Monarch waystation that will provide a home and safe haven for monarchs to lay eggs. Katie has led a monthly cleanup that will help bring awareness to littering in public roads. In less than 2 months, Katie has accomplished a great deal - and as she is not yet done, she also plans to assist local high school students to remove and re-route a duck pond to restore it to a more natural condition.

Katie’s Summer Associate experience has been enjoyable, fruitful and very educational for her. She has made great connections in the community, and Stewards is excited to see what she has in store for the final month of her service!