Forty-five individuals attended the Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training session – Level II, April 27 to May 1, 2026. The training was held at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Harrisburg, PA.

Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA NRCS and its affiliates, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, PACD, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, the State Conservation Commission, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, a farmland preservation office, and a local conservancy.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission sponsor the training, which PACD coordinates with these partners.

Twenty-four individuals attended the Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level April 13-16, 2026, at the Union County Government Center in Lewisburg, PA. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and its affiliates, Penn State Extension, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, county farmland preservation offices, and nonprofit organizations.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Conservation Commission, Penn State Extension, and PACD coordinate the event.

Registration is now open for Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training, which will take place June 1-5, 2026, at the Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center in Camp Hill, PA. Attendance is open to conservation district and DEP employees working with Chapter 102.

The training is appropriate for individuals who are new or relatively new to their position, have never attended a similar training, would like a refresher, or would like guidance and skill enhancement for field inspections. The course curriculum assumes all participants have completed the prerequisite coursework on Clean Water Academy.

There is no cost to register, most meals are provided, and lodging reimbursement is available. (See registration page for additional details.) There is no virtual attendance option.

Click here for additional information and to register. You must log into the Clean Water Academy (CWA) to register. Please contact Molly Bengs at mbengs@pacd.org if you need help accessing the CWA. All other questions may be directed to Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org.

This training is funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.

Mark your calendars for Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training June 1-5, 2026, at the Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center in Camp Hill, PA. This training is open to conservation district and DEP staff who work with Chapter 102. The curriculum is designed for new or newer conservation district technicians and incorporates both classroom learning and a field component. Registration will open in April. Questions? Contact Molly Burns with PACD at mburns@pacd.org.

This training was funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.

PACD and the PA Society of Professional Engineers, in conjunction with the PA Department of Environmental Protection, are hosting an Engineers Workshop: Permitting without Pain – Presenting Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Chapter 102. Six professional development hours are offered.

March 10, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Penn State Harrisburg Campus, Capital Union Building, Middletown, PA

Click here for information, including registration, agenda, and pricing. Please share this information with your local engineers.

The application period for Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II) is now open. Conservation district staff are encouraged to apply. Do not apply for both Basic and Level II. Click the links below for more details on the training and the application.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
March 19, March 26, April 20 (virtual)
April 13-16, 2026 (in-person)
Both in-person and all virtual training sessions are required to complete the course.
Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
April 17 and April 24 (virtual)
April 27-May 1, 2026 (in-person)
Both in-person and all virtual training sessions are required to complete the course.
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA, and the USDA NRCS State Office, Harrisburg, PA

The deadline to apply is January 30, 2026. Email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with questions.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission sponsor the training, Penn State Extension provides instruction support for the Basic level, and PACD coordinates the training with these partners.

PACD hosted a Level 1 Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) training December 9-10, 2025, in Indiana, PA. The two-day training included one day in the classroom and one day in the field.

Thank you to the PA Department of Environmental Protection, Indiana County Conservation District, and Native Creations for coming together to host this opportunity for district staff to become credentialed.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc., through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Mark your calendars for Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II). Ag conservation professionals interested in growing their technical abilities are encouraged to take advantage of these free, week-long training opportunities that include classroom instruction and field experience. The courses provide a foundation that will be supplemented by future on-the-job and formal training. Participants will expand their professional network, connecting with fellow attendees as they interact with senior staff and subject matter and technical experts who serve as instructors.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
March 19, March 26, April 20 (virtual)
April 13-17, 2026 (in-person)
Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA
Both in-person and all virtual training sessions are required to complete the course.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
April 17 and April 24 (virtual)
April 27-May 1, 2026 (in-person)
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA, and the USDA NRCS State Office, Harrisburg, PA
Both in-person and all virtual training sessions are required to complete the course.

The application period will open in early January 2026. Do not apply for both levels this spring.

Email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org to receive a notification when the application period opens.

The following sponsors make these training opportunities possible: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, Penn State Extension, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

Space is still available for the second session in Indiana County.

PACD hosted a Level 1 Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) training on October 30-31, 2025, in Berwick, PA. The training is two days: one day in the classroom and one day in the field.

This session will be repeated at Indiana County Conservation District on December 9-10, 2025 (snow date December 11). Usually, this training costs $475, but these sessions are free and exclusively for conservation district staff. 

Registration is a two-step process:

The first step is to fill out the online application here. 

The second step is to select your training date here. 

Staff DO NOT need to be located in the Chesapeake Bay to take the training. The training is a baseline credential in the design, installation, and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, with emphasis on properly maintaining stormwater best management practices.

Pre-class assignments and logistical details will come from Katie@cblpro.org  as we get closer to the date. Participants must pass a written exam to become certified. Continuing education credits are available from many organizations. The complete list is at cblpro.org.

Thank you to the PA Department of Environmental Protection, Indiana County Conservation District, and Native Creations for coming together to host this opportunity for district staff to become credentialed.

Questions? Contact melissa@cblpro.org.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc., through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Missed it? Join a webinar on October 9.

PACD partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer a riparian buffer boot camp in Snyder County. Nine conservation district staff attended the field day to learn how to complete new site visits, develop a planting plan, use flags to mark the site, and conduct maintenance. Participants planted and sheltered trees as part of the hands-on learning experience.

If you were unable to attend the in-person training, please join us for a virtual riparian buffer training for conservation districts by registering using the link below. 

Riparian Forest Buffer Training for Conservation Districts
October 9, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. to Noon

This training is partially financed by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.