In its Annual Mid-Year Report, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts outlines the steps and process it has undertaken to promote and support its 66 county conservation district membership. From increased public outreach and education to new policy and program initiatives, the Mid-Year Report allows the public and membership to carefully review the benchmarks and successes of the organization during the past six months.

“Keeping our membership and the public informed about our progress, successes and future direction is paramount to keeping the lines of communication open,” said Robert B. Maiden, Executive Director for PACD. “Our Association works hard to support and enhance the activities, programs and initiatives of each of the county conservation districts and this report is a snap-shot of those accomplishments. While our work in this arena is never complete, it allows the membership to review the Association’s role in supporting their efforts from here in Harrisburg.”

In an effort to further support the state’s conservation districts, the report outlines a number of areas where the Association has focused its efforts to better position itself to provide new and additional resources to the districts including: Education and Public Outreach; Training; Government Relations and Policy; Engineering Assistance Program; and Management Services. These areas work in tandem to bring additional exposure to our Association and the districts, allowing public officials, citizens, and community organizations to realize the tremendous resource that the districts are and the important role they play in protecting Pennsylvania’s environment. 

Click here to read the report.

Do you enjoy working with youth?  Do you care about natural resources and the environment?  Do you want to make a difference in education awareness about our environmental footprint?  Here’s your chance to participate in all of these areas.  Volunteer for the Canon Envirothon, North America’s largest high school natural resource education program.

From July 22 – 27, 2012, Pennsylvania will host the 25^th annual Canon Envirothon at the Susquehanna University. Teams will come to Selinsgrove from nearly every U.S. state and Canadian province/territory, numbering close to 600 students, teachers, and others.

Examples of some of the volunteer responsibilities:
Registration – Check in teams; provide housing information; provide information about the area
Airport Greeters – Welcome teams to Pennsylvania; assist in directing teams to shuttle buses
Candid Photographers – Capture all aspects of the Canon Envirothon
Group buddies/Bus monitors – Serve as a non-biased chaperone for the teams; travel with the students to stations

There are nearly 50 different volunteer tasks and we will need close to 250 volunteers to fill them all.  If you can help for a half day, a full day, or several days, we welcome you!

For more information, or to sign up as a volunteer, contact Karen Books, Volunteer Committee Chair – kbooks@pa.gov or visit the PA Envirothon website Canon Envirothon 2012 section at http://www.envirothonpa.org/.

Sandy Thompson and John Larson with Rich Kadwill (center) as he receives the NACDE Outstanding District Professional Award.

During the annual winter meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) and the State Conservation Commission, more than 145 participants gathered in State College to address local and statewide resource concerns.

“These meetings provide our membership with a unique opportunity to come together and discuss the latest concerns facing the districts across the state”, said MaryAnn Warren, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. “This year we were honored to have many of the state’s leading conservation officials join us to have a frank and open discussion with our members about specific concerns and issues.”

Joining the members during the Conservation Partnership Forum, led by PACD President Warren, included: Michael Pechart, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; John Hines, Executive Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Gary Smith, Assistant State Conversationalist for Operations at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services; Kristen Saake-Blunk, Senior Extension Associate and Director for the Agriculture and Environmental Center at The Pennsylvania State University; and Karl Brown, Executive Secretary to the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. This open forum spurred discussion on conservation programs, issues and topics of interest.

“Issues relating to Pennsylvania’s environment and natural resources continue to dominate local, regional and state media outlets,” said Robert Maiden, Executive Director for PACD. “From Marcellus Shale to Growing Greener to dedicated funding, our membership engaged our state officials and each other to provide suggestions, alternatives and new ideas that will lead to stronger communication and better understanding of these challenges.”

In addition to the Forum, participants attended Leadership Development Sessions that are geared specifically to address the needs of the membership including ethics, funding and new social media opportunities.

PACD was honored to have John Larson, CEO of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) located in Washington D.C. attend the entire meeting. Mr. Larson spent his time sitting in on sessions and meeting with individuals to hear their comments and concerns about local and national conservation issues so he can better advocate for conservation districts at the national level.