This section describes a special foundation that was created to further address the educational mission of the State Association and all 47 districts. The VASWCD Educational Foundation, Inc. was established in 1990. It is a nonprofit foundation, classified as a 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation mission is to provide and promotes leadership in the conservation of natural resources through stewardship and education programs.
The Virginia Envirothon is a project of the VASWCD Education Foundation. Envirothon is a natural resource competition for high school students. Students who participate learn stewardship and management concepts and work to solve real environmental issues. The program is field oriented, community based, and gives students an opportunity to work with natural resource professionals.
Another flagship program of the Foundation is Youth Conservation Camp (YCC). YCC is offered to high school students from across the Commonwealth. The program is sponsored by local SWCDs and coordinated by the VASWCD. Campers spend a week during July on the campus of Virginia Tech and the surrounding area learning about conserving Virginia’s natural resources.
Other projects of the Foundation include scholarship opportunities, director and staff training opportunities, workshops for local educators, Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) support, annual poster contest and awards program, etc..
The Foundation relies on donations and grants. Contributions to the Educational Foundation are tax deductible and utilized to support educational efforts within the Commonwealth. Learn more about the Foundation and its projects by perusing the VASWCD website at www.vaswcd.org.
