What is the Watershed Circle?
The Watershed Circle is roughly 3-month learning cohort that is designed specifically for congregations and community groups that are looking to take their FIRST or NEXT watershed step. We convene community representative(s) in our cohort to support community projects. The program's goal is to graduate Community Watershed Protectors with a Community Watershed Project identified, planned, or completed. The group will meet 6 times on Zoom for an hour-and-a-half.
This Watershed Circle cohort is open to all levels of watershed experience, but will assume some basic knowledge.
We encourage review of the recordings as a way of gaining important knowledge about watersheds if watersheds (what they are, their problems, their protection, and how we can help) are new to you.
If you are a religious leader or seminarian, the program will have additional specialized supports to accommodate your needs.
The format for each meeting will be 30-45 minutes of presentation and education, followed by discussion based peer-to-peer learning. Additionally, participants will receive 1:1 support from a member of the PA IPL team or outsourced expert support by request.
Who is eligible to join the Watershed Circle?
The Watershed Circle is open to congregations or community groups of any size, any tradition (or none), and any stage of watershed journey. The program is designed for individuals who already are connected to a group of people (congregation or community group), but that does not mean your whole group needs to attend each session (although they are welcome to).
Examples of groups who will benefit from the Watershed Circle:
- An all-volunteer local watershed group looking for coaching support to build a plan for their next community project
- A congregation that is brand new to watershed stewardship, has limited volunteer capacity and finance, and wants to discern a small action they can take to help their community
- A large congregation that has a creation team that is looking to map out their focus areas for the coming months
- A community group that is justice-oriented and is looking to figure out how to address concerns related to their watershed
For individuals without a formal (or informal) group who are interested in deepening their watershed stewardship, we would suggest connecting with a local community group already doing this work in your region or reaching out to a PA Plants Native! distribution site in your region for opportunities. If you have further questions about who this program is designed for or situation specifics you'd like to share to help in your discernment on whether the program is a good fit for you, please reach out to info@paipl.org
Why should I consider joining the Watershed Circle?
The Watershed Circle is unique in a number of ways. Our five guiding principles in convening this cohort are:
- Faith responsive - that is, we are seeking to provide support that is responsive to the unique opportunities and challenges that arise in faith and value-based settings
- Community led - that is, we are seeking to resource communities in identifying and leading change in their watershed from the ground up (no forced solutions here!)
- Environmental Justice - that is, we are seeking to center environmental justice as a praxis from which our work emerges and grows (more on our commitment to EJ here)
- Peer learning - that is, we recognize that we are not the sole experts but that our role is to unlock the wisdom and expertise of lived experience in the room
- Project coaching - that is, we recognize that access to technical expertise and project coaching can be difficult and confusing, and we are committed to sharing resources and referrals that equip and empower communities to take watershed action
What is a Community Watershed Project?
We are defining Community Watershed Projects pretty broadly in this first class to allow congregations and community groups to join us as a variety of levels of watershed knowledge and practice.
Community Watershed Projects can include:
Pedagogical-focused
Hosting a watershed-focused educational workshop or event at your congregation
Co-hosting a watershed-focused event or listening session in your community
Writing an education series for your congregation/community newsletter or handouts
Posting educational information about watersheds on your congregation or community boards or website
Sharing your congregation or community’s watershed story with others
Planning-focused
Mapping out what types of watershed projects would be possible for your congregation or community
Building a watershed volunteer base and leadership goals for your congregation or community
Identifying funding streams for designing and implementing desired watershed projects
Discerning your congregation’s watershed next steps if you recently completed another environmental or justice project
Project-focused
Completing a congregational or community watershed audit
Installing a rain barrel
Hosting a trash clean up
Becoming a secondary distribution site for PA Plants Native!
Planting native trees
Installing a rain or pollinator garden
These are just some ideas! We encourage you to bring your own interests, passions, and needs with you in identifying a Community Watershed Project that's right for you. If you have a specific project in mind that you'd like (brief) feedback on whether it is a fit for this Watershed Circle, please send a paragraph (or less) description to info@paipl.org.
Meeting Schedule (all virtual):
- August 26, 2025 7-8:30PM - Session 1
- September 9, 2025 7-8:30PM - Session 2
- September 30, 2025 7-8:30PM - Session 3
- October 14, 2025 7-8:30PM - Session 4
- October 28, 2025 7-8:30PM - Session 5
- November 11, 2025 7-8:30PM - Session 6
How do I apply to the Watershed Circle?
To apply, please complete the registration form below. Deadline is August 1 (although we may consider applications after this time on a case-by-case basis). Our goal is to convene a cohort of 10-15 congregations or community groups.
If you have questions about this program or have trouble completing the registration form, please reach out to info@paipl.org for further assistance.
Is there a cost to participate in the Watershed Circle?
There is no required cost for participation in the program. We would encourage you to consider making a donation if you find the program useful to your ongoing watershed stewardship so that we can offer more opportunities like this in the future. We also invite you to consider becoming a congregational/community member of PA IPL. More information is available about our membership options here: https://paipl.us/getinvolved/engagement/
