May 13, 2011

Meet the Coolidges, A Low-Carbon Family. iConservePA this week started a new online educational series offering suggestions on how to live a low-carbon lifestyle by saving energy, planting smartly and living locally.
Over the next few months, Sam, Pam and Becca Coolidge will highlight ways they and you can focus on low-carbon living.
The first video features Becca heading to her market to buy locally produced products.
Are you a Super Sleuth?
Like rain barrels, composters, native plants, new garden tools? These and other great green prizes are up for grabs in the CSI Super Sleuth Sweepstakes!
Fifteen secret codes are hidden throughout the iConservePA website as part of the Science at Home and Meet the Coolidges Educational Series and four codes are available by attending special programs at Pennsylvania State Parks or visiting the iConservePA GreenHouse.
Enter the codes here by November 30 for up to 19 chances to win BIG!

iConservePA Science At Home And Afield. Be a citizen science investigator with CSI:Pennsylvania and get to know the natural phenomena happening at home or afar. Science at Home features eight easy to understand programs sure to pique the interest of citizen scientists of every age.
Watch Citizens Count, the first of five videos in our Science Afield series, and learn how everyone’s power of observation can help science. With host Jessica Sprajcar, travel across Pennsylvania to discover the people and places on the front lines of scientific inquiry.
Are you a Super Sleuth?
Like rain barrels, composters, native plants, new garden tools? These and other great green prizes are up for grabs in the CSI Super Sleuth Sweepstakes!
Fifteen secret codes are hidden throughout the iConservePA website as part of the Science at Home and Meet the Coolidges Educational Series and four codes are available by attending special programs at Pennsylvania State Parks or visiting the iConservePA GreenHouse.
Enter the codes here by November 30 for up to 19 chances to win BIG!

May 5, 2011

Voices Of The Schuylkill Watershed is a video project filmed, written and illustrated by 3rd and 4th graders at the Miquon School in Conchohocken. It recently won an award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Schuylkill Action Network. Other award-winning videos from the same school include: Anya's Watershed Video and This Is Our Watershed. Click Here for the awards announcement.

May 4, 2011

Allegheny Valley Land Trust Converts Rail Line, Mines Lands To Trail. The Allegheny Valley Land Trust recently completed a project to convert over 90 miles of rail line into a recreation trail, including the purchase of 269 acres of abandoned mine lands which contains 48 miles of rail-trail.
The abandoned mine land property also contains historically significant treasures, among the relics are a tunnel built in 1915, a rail car turn table, rail line bridges, and coke ovens used in the 1800’s.
Environmentally unsound, unregulated coal mining practices of the past have Western Pennsylvania with a legacy of polluted waters, scarred landscapes, and health and safety hazards. The decrease in productive, valuable land has, in turn, impacted the regional economy.
However, the region's inherent, wild beauty offers many recreational opportunities. Rail-Trail organizations have indentified this potential and have been remarkably successful in converting abandoned mine lands, including rail lines into recreational havens.

May 3, 2011

DEP Secretary Outlines Priorities Before House Committee. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer has a chance to correct the record on issues facing the agency and presents his priorities before the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. Click Here for written opening statement. Click Here for summary of comments presented.