Workforce Development Leads to Environmental Protection My Story

After working in the field of environmental education, conservation, and management as an educator and a licensed professional, it is my professional opinion that the long-term solution to effective environmental protection comes through not just awareness programs, but workforce development programs.  When individuals and families are supported by stable growing and expanding careers we have the opportunity and luxury of getting them to take a moment to think about how their choices impacts the community, other citizens, and the environment.  After 30+ years of attending workshops, fairs, and other educational events, I have found that the bigger barrier to positive change does not come through “progress”, “fear-mongering”, or “shame”, but through environmental education and workforce development opportunities.   At one event, there was a group of kids at a presentation that were not paying attention.  Rather than asking them to stop, I said the following “Boy that Presenter seems lame”, they all said “Yeah”, I then said it is rather strange, because I pay him over $ 50,000 per year, but he knows his stuff.  The kids were shocked that this guy that was dressed in jeans, ratty hair, and to be honest looked like a “nerd” made that kind of money.   I had 75% of the kids, stop talking and pay attention for the rest of the presentation.  In fact, three of the kids asked questions, and 1 stayed to here the presentation again.

Note: You do not have to change all, but if you can get their attention and change one – this is a Win!.

As a kid, I played in mine spoils, acid mine drainage, and when the streets would flood, I got my inter-tube.   Then I did not know, the flooding in the streets meant the stormwater and sewage water piping were backing up and creating a pond of contaminated water in the streets.  Also, my parents did not know this either, but I had fun. Now I did grow up in a mining town and I did graduate high school with a 5 grade reading level, it was not the “Sky is Falling”, “Global Cooling”, or “Fears of Over-Population”, that sparked by interest in the environment is was the Boy Scouts, mentoring with individuals that loved their job,  career, and were passionate about their communities.  Through mentoring and Scouting, I learn a respect for the environment and my fellow man, self reliance, and skills in leadership and planning and earned the honor of being an Eagle Scout.

Note: Yes, I graduate from high school with a 5th grade level of reading and writing and I found this out in college.  I was diagnosed with dyslexia in college. It was hard getting a BS and MS degree and then working in a professional that requires me to write reports, but I did it.  Why?  Because I found my weaknesses and did not avoid them, but took them head on and started pushing the boulders up and over the hill.

We are in a world today that appears to be in a bit of a mess, but it has been worse.  From my experience, the following has been some of the biggest weaknesses on the education side of the issue. In my classes, I use a method called POT.  POT is good. In the case of career training and workforce development, this means prepare (start pushing the boulder up hill), observe (your situation/weaknesses), and translate (put into action).  We need to stop blaming others and begin to work together, this means solid self reflection and being willing to offer a “hand-up” not a “hand-out”.  I never learned to fish, but I did learn how to take care of myself, family, and community in other ways.  If a short stocky kid can push boulders up and over the hill, so can anyone else.

Some of my first steps – Prepare   (I have provided links to training programs that seem to be on-point).

Reading / Writing Issues

Reading/ Writing – If you have a problem reading and writing – get help.  When I was 16 yrs old there was no online education that was visual now there are a lot of programs.  I might recommend the following: Ready, Set, Read!  –  This is a class for teachers that helps teach others to read.  This will help identify issues and challenges.

Reading – If you need to speed up your reading, Try Merrill Ream Speed Reading.

Start a Introduction to Journaling.

Reading/Writing/and Speaking – Start a Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners.

Math

Math Skills- Try the Math Refresher Course.

Resume and Job Search
Try the Resume Writing Workshop.

Job Search – Try Twelve Steps to a Successful Job Search.

Read
In this climate, I would suggest reading some of the classics like 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Hitchhikers Guide the Galaxy, Gulliver’s Travels, and any book written by Mark Levin, Bill O’Reilly, or Mark Twain (others).   If you have a reading problem like I did, I would start with comic books, reading out loud, and any book about the Knights of the Round Table.  This is where I started when I was in college.  If you have a reading problem, you may want to look into public speaking and debate.  You may find this is a strength and now there are lots of audio books.

Note: I did not recommend any inspirational authors – inspiration comes from faith, yourself, and family.  Start looking in the mirror and take a hard look at yourself. You can do it.

If you are past this issue and need training in a workforce development career – I would recommend trying 360 Training.

I know this is a bit off topic – but please bare with me.  The next article will focus on Preparing Study Habits/Learning/ Supporting Yourself and than an introduction to Observe. Observe will be more about learning about YOU/Yourself.

Safe Journey!

Second Thought – A book I would recommend reading.

Eastern Region Water Quality Association 2018

B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc and the Keystone Clean Water Team attended the Eastern Regional Water Quality Association 2018 Conference at Kalahai in the Poconos in September 2018.   During this conference, we did the following:

1. Taught our 1 day course on water sampling, chain-of-custody, and working as a water professional.
2. Conducted a 1 hour training session on what is in my water 2018 by Brian oram!
3. Presented our new tools for the industry
   • Diagnose It – http://www.knowyourh20.us/diagnostic
   • Presented our Updated Free Phone Apps – http://www.knowyourh2o.us/download-our-mobile-app
   • Announced our NEW Drinking Water Educational Booklet – http://keystone.carbonwaters.org/pennsylvania-groundwater-quality-guide
   • Announced our New Training Portal for Professionals

Things you can do to make a difference.

Share Our Portal

Neighboorhood Hazard Reports

Visit our Store

Facebook Hack – Social Media

“On Friday, September 28, 2018 Facebook said that an attack on its computer network had exposed the personal information of nearly 50 million users.The attackers exploited the “View As” feature that allows users to see their Facebook page the way someone else would. This could allow the attackers to take over Facebook accounts. Facebook has fixed this issue and informed law enforcement. They also do not know if the affected accounts were misused or if user information was actually accessed.  Make sure you are getting everything your ID Theft membership has to offer.”

Maybe it is time to Hack Proof Your Life

[amazon_link asins=’0997729007′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’webdespro-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5efd87f9-c433-11e8-bd3a-4faeafd4b7c0′]

Identify Protection Services

1. Life Lock

2. USA GOvt on ID Theft

How to Protect Yourself

Follow these steps to prevent tax identity theft:

Do

File your income taxes early in the season, before a thief can file taxes in your name.  Also, Keep an eye out for any IRS letter or notice that states:

• More than one tax return was filed using your Social Security number.
• You owe additional tax, you have had a tax refund offset, or you have had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return.
• IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you.

Don’t

• Don’t reply to or click on any links in suspicious email, texts, and social media messages. Make sure to report anything suspicious to the IRS.

Also – I might suggest switching to Duck Duck Go for Search.

Note: May Want to Sign Up for Ebates – A lot of extra discounts

Private Water Wells Lycoming County Pennsylvania Flooding Contaminated Drinking Water

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania – Flooding Private Water Wells – contaminated drinking water

With the significant and long-term rainfall events, we have rural areas that have undergone flooding.   If your area has been flooded and you use private water wells, you must take some action to ensure that your water well is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.    When water wells become inundated or a region floods, it is possible that the contaminated water may enter the water well directly via the well cap or indirectly through natural macropores  (i.e., spaces between the rock or particles of sand and gravel,  in the unconsolidated material or bedrock.  OUR suggestions are as follows:

1. Do not panic!
2. If you are not handy, we recommend that you contact a licensed professional well driller.
3. If you are handy and have power, we recommend that you inspect the area around the well and remove the well cap and shock disinfect the well.
4. We would recommend the well be purged to waste – do not purge the water into the septic system or back directly into the well initially.  When the well water appears clear, recirculate the water back into the well to wash down the sides of the casing.   Please make sure to by-pass any water treatment devices and water filters and do not run this water through your main plumbing of the home.
5. We then recommend that the well and main line be shock disinfected twice.  This is our website that contains information on how to shock disinfect a well and a link to a video that reviews the process and to the preferred chemical to use (Link to Amazon).  Please note- Some local well drillers has this chemical available.   If you can not get this chemical, it is ok in an emergency to use household bleach that does NOT contains scents, fragrances, or other additives.
6. After the well has been shock disinfected and purged one to waste, the second shock disinfection should be to the well and the distribution system of the home.  When you conduct this disinfection, it is critical that you remove all aeration devices, by-pass all filters, and remove any hoses or connections that have inline filters or screens, i.e., your washer hoses and you may want to consider raising the casing, adding a sanitary well cap, and adding a Well Seal.
7. When you believe you have shock disinfected the well properly, we recommend the following:
   1. Screen the raw untreated well water and the water from the piping of your home using a DIY Informational Water Testing Screening Test. (Link to TA – portion of the proceeds benefits the Keystone Clean Water Team)
   2. If the screening test is negative, we would suggest that you then contact a certified laboratory PA by county and have the water tested for at least total coliform and E. coli. using a method that gives you a physical count, i.e., an enumeration method.
   3. If the water is still positive for total coliform and/or E. coli, we would recommend that you shock disinfect the well and distribution system a second time, but use a longer reaction time and then retest using a certified laboratory.
   4. If you are in an area with farming or petrochemical storage or high use, we would also recommend an informational water screening test that includes trace metals, herbicides, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds  (Link to NTL – portion of the proceeds benefits the Keystone Clean Water Team).

PS: Adding too much disinfection chemical to the well is not wise, this can cause the release of arsenic and other trace metals into the water.

Recent Concerns:
Worms in Well Water
Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water

The Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501 c3 that focuses on Pennsylvania, but helps private well owners and small water systems worldwide.

For more information about us, please visit our portal.  We have a new educational booklet on groundwater in Pennsylvania.   More Questions -visit us at Water-research.net

If you can – give us a hand – all we ask is you share, retweet, and help promote our social media platforms.  If you can donate – GREAT !

Earth Science Week’s 2018 Contest American Geosciences Institute

Participate in Earth Science Week’s 2018 Contests

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – For this year’s Earth Science Week (October 14-20, 2018), the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is sponsoring four contests honoring this year’s theme, “Earth as Inspiration.” This year’s competitions will feature the traditional video, photography, visual arts, and essay contests:

• Teams and individuals of any age are invited to submit brief videos that tell viewers about artistic expression that stems from the natural world for the video contest, “Earth Expressions.”
• The photography contest, also open to all ages, explores how people are “Inspired by Earth.”
• Open to students in grades K-5, the visual arts contest is titled “Earth and Art.”
• Finally, students in grades 6-9 are eligible to enter the essay contest, “Finding ‘Art’ in Earth.”

For all contests, entries may be submitted any time up to the Friday of Earth Science Week, October 19, 2018. These contests allow both students and the general public to participate in the celebration, learn about Earth science, and compete for prizes. The first-place prize for each contest is $300 and a copy of AGI’s Geoscience Handbook.

To learn more about these contests, including how to enter, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests.

Reaching over 50 million people annually, AGI leads Earth Science Week in cooperation with its sponsors and the geoscience community as a service to the public. Each October, community groups, educators, and interested citizens organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers opportunities to discover the Earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth. Learn more at http://www.earthsciweek.org.

About AGI
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is a nonprofit federation of 52 scientific and professional associations that represents more than 260,000 geoscientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society’s use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.

AGI is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving the geoscience community and addressing the needs of society. AGI headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia.

The American Geosciences Institute represents and serves the geoscience community by providing collaborative leadership and information to connect Earth, science, and people.

More Student Project Options