PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This free training is scheduled for October 20-22, 2026, at the Iron Valley Golf Club, 201 Iron Valley Dr., Lebanon, PA.

Intro to Conservation Planning is an introductory course for employees who are interested in writing conservation plans and becoming an NRCS Certified Conservation Planner. Eligible organizations include NRCS, State Conservation Commission, conservation districts, farmland preservation entities, and non-profits. Space is limited.

The training is free, and lunch will be provided.

The application period is now open. Click here for the application and more information.

The deadline to apply is September 11, 2026.

PACD partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer lawn conversion training to conservation district staff. A webinar training was held via Zoom on June 24. In-person training was held on July 15, 2026, at the Cumberland County Conservation District in Carlisle, PA.

Ryan Davis, Associate Forests Program Director at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, was the instructor for both trainings. He discussed the importance of lawn conversion practices, provided tips for installing them, and shared some lessons learned along the way.

The Lawn Conversion Program for Conservation Districts is partially financed by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

PACD partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer a virtual lawn conversion training on June 24, 2026. Ryan Davis, Associate Forests Program Director for the Alliance, was the instructor for the event.

Thirty-five conservation district staff and partners attended the training to learn more about lawn conversion, including site preparation, planting, and maintenance, as well as funding programs.

A recording of the training will be available soon for those who were unable to join us. Email swehinger@pacd.org for a link.

An in-person Lawn Conversion training is scheduled for July 15, 2026, at the Cumberland County Conservation District. Click here to register for free. 

 

Forty-three learners from 22 conservation districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection convened for Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training at the Penn Harris Hotel & Conference Center in Camp Hill, PA, June 1-5, 2026.

Participants engaged in a combination of hands-on classroom learning, fieldwork, and presentations on erosion and sedimentation control, including safety on the job site and how to best conduct a technical plan review. The field day featured strategically placed learning stations at two sites, each in a different stage of construction. Special thanks to the York County Conservation District for hosting the field day—the highlight of the week!

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.

PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This free training is scheduled for October 20-22, 2026, at the Iron Valley Golf Club, 201 Iron Valley Dr., Lebanon, PA.

The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania that deliver conservation planning technical assistance, including but not limited to NRCS, conservation districts, SCC, farmland preservation entities, and non-profits. This training is only for those interested in writing conservation plans and becoming NRCS Certified Conservation Planners or apprentices.

The training is free, and lunch will be provided.

The application period will start in July. Email PACD Director of Communication and Education Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org to be notified when the application period opens.

As part of the Lawn Conversion Sub-grant Program, PACD is partnering with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts!

A virtual training will be offered via Zoom on June 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to Noon. An in-person training will be provided on July 15, 2026, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA. Please note that there is a 35-person limit for the in-person training, and it is not required to attend both. Please use the links below to register for free.

Ryan Davis, Associate Forests Program Director from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, will lead both sessions.

Virtual Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts
June 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-Noon

In-Person Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts
July 15, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

The deadline to register for the in-person training is July 6, 2026. Lunch will be provided.

This training is part of the Lawn Conversion Sub-grant Program for Conservation Districts. It is encouraged to attend one of the training sessions before applying for a lawn conversion sub-grant.

Please get in touch with Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with any questions.

The Lawn Conversion & Riparian Buffer Mini-Grant Program for Conservation Districts is financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

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.