Anyone Can Join

Join our waitlist by clicking one of the “Register” buttons below under your desired workshop type. You will learn everything you need to know at the event. No workshop in your area?  Join our waitlist or contact scaas@des.sc.gov to request one.

Training Types

• In-person
  • Workshops are free, last 5-6 hours, and include a classroom lesson, outdoor field practice, and open-book certification test.
• Hybrid
  • 3-hour, live trainer virtual lesson, 3-hour field day (separate date), open-book certification test.
• Online
  • LAKE MONITORING ONLY. Full online certification. See details below.
• En Español
  • Talleres de arroyos de agua dulce y macroinvertebrados únicamente. Envíe un correo electrónico a scaas@des.sc.gov para solicitar un taller. Disponible en el área de Greenville.

Workshop Selection

Freshwater Stream Workshop

Learn to measure temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, transparency, and bacteria in freshwater streams monthly. Choose a site that flows year-round, is wrist to hip deep, and can be safely accessed with proper permission. If you don't know where to sample, we can help you locate a site.

Freshwater Stream Protocol Videos

YouTube

• Chemical Monitoring - Dissolved Oxygen
• Bacteria Monitoring - E. Coli
• Transparency - Sediment
• Habitat Assessment

Tidal Saltwater Workshop

Learn to measure temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and transparency in tidal saltwater. Tidal saltwater sites must have a salinity above 0.5 ppt and are sampled monthly. If you don't know where to sample, we can help you identify a site.

Tidal Saltwater Protocol Videos

YouTube

• Chemical Monitoring - Dissolved Oxygen
• Salinity - Salt
• Transparency - Sediment

Macroinvertebrate Workshop

Macroinvertebrates are visible organisms without a backbone that are good indicators of stream water quality. Learn to collect and identify macroinvertebrates to assess freshwater stream habitat health. Monitor a wadable stream twice per year. Ideal sites have enough flow to push the macroinvertebrates into nets and have a variety of habitat (substrate, leaf packs, woody debris). Macroinvertebrates must be collected from freshwater stream sites that flow year-round, are wrist to hip deep and can be safely accessed with proper permission. If you don't know where to sample, we can help you identify a site.

Macroinvertebrate Protocol Videos

YouTube

• Sampling for Macroinvertebrates

Lake Monitoring: Online Certification

Learn to make observations and measure transparency, hue, lake level, and temperature monthly. Keep an eye out for algal growth and report possible invasive aquatic plants. Sample from a dock, boat, or kayak/canoe/SUP. Select monitoring sites greater than 5 acres and do not sample engineered ponds. If you don't know where to sample, we can help you locate a site.

Virtual Certification Process

• Watch the Introduction Video
• Read the Volunteer Handbook
• Take the Online Test                                                                                                                                                       
• Purchase Your Testing Kit from Water Rangers ($102)