The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold Chapter 102 Fall Regional Sessions for conservation districts and DEP staff in October. Registration will be required, but attendance is free and lunch will be provided. Please save the date for the meeting closest to you! Registration will open in July.

Northwest: October 1, 2019, DEP Northwest Regional Office, Meadville, PA

Southwest: October 2, 2019, Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

Northcentral: October 15, 2019, DEP Northcentral Regional Office, Williamsport, PA

Northeast: October 22, 2019, Back Mountain Regional Emergency Services, Dallas, PA

Southeast: October 29, 2019, DEP Southeast Regional Office, Norristown, PA

Southcentral: October 31, 2019, Dauphin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Center, Dauphin, PA

Travel stipends available

The Grow More training series is specifically designed to help agricultural outreach staff reach beyond the choir of those farmers already using soil health practices. This training consists of two half-days and will explore farmer behavior, messaging strategies, and event planning. Training will focus on hands-on learning and activities specific to YOUR outreach.

Event Timing: Two days. 1st Day Noon–5:00 p.m. and 2nd Day 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Space is limited.

June 11 & 12, 2019
Franklin County
Chambersburg, PA: Wilson College

June 13 & 14, 2019
Lancaster County
Lancaster, PA: Shady Maple

July 9 & 10, 2019
Wyoming County
Tunkhannock, PA: Comfort Inn and Suites

July 11 & 12, 2019
Northumberland County
Sunbury, PA: Northumberland Conservation District Office

July 23 & 24, 2019
Clinton County
Mill Hall, PA: Clinton County Conservation District Office

July 25 & 26, 2019
Blair County
Duncansville, PA: Comfort Inn

Click here for the event flyer and here for the registration link.

Please contact Jessica Espenshade at espenshadej@nwf.org or 734-887-7114 with questions.

Thirty individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Level II, April 29-May 3, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, and the PA Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Level II annual training consists of two learning tracks: agronomy and engineering. The two tracks allow participants to focus more deeply on their area of study. The event features a balance of classroom work and field work to give participants hands-on experience.

The training is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the training.

Thirty-four individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Basic Level April 1-5, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, farmland preservation, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

The training is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the training.

Close to 130 staff from 46 conservation districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection attended 102/105 Topic-based Technical Training April 2-4, 2019, at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA. Participants received training on Chapter 105, erosion and sedimentation control (E&S) on Chapter 105 permitted sites, delegation agreement levels and responsibilities, and a range of compliance and enforcement topics.

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.

Close to 50 employees from Pennsylvania’s conservation districts and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) attended 102/105 Basic Technical Training March 19-21, 2019, in Boalsburg, PA. During the training, students received concentrated instruction to facilitate their work with the Chapter 102 and 105 programs. This year’s course also incorporated online prerequisite coursework through DEP’s new Clean Water Academy, an online training resource for conservation district and DEP staff.

The 2019 Building for Tomorrow Regional Director Trainings on Sexual Harassment and Respect in the Workplace kicked-off in Wilkes-Barre on March 5, 2019 and State College on March 6, 2019.

This interactive workshop program on sexual harassment was presented by Mary Kay Williams of MindShift Consulting.

There are three workshops remaining:

• Wednesday, March 13 – Cross Creek Resort, Titusville
• Thursday, March 14 – West Meeting Center, West Elizabeth
• Thursday, March 21 – Woodcrest Retreat Center, Ephrata

Click here for more information or contact Matt Miller at 717-238-7223 x107.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Reminder to all Conservation District Staff – you still have time to register for the 2019 Building for Tomorrow Staff Conference on February 27 & 28 at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.

Our theme for this year’s conference is Culture & Communication, and the event program will provide you with personal inspiration as well as valuable information that you can take back to your districts.

Our Day 1 Keynote Session will explore the connection between values, mission, and culture and give you tips to bolster your focus and effectiveness and super-charge your performance and potential. Day 2 begins with an interactive workshop focusing on cultivating a culture of respect in the workplace and beyond. Breakout sessions for both days include timely and important information on a range of public-facing and internal communications topics for all staff positions.

Click here to register and for more information.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.  Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Conservation district and DEP staff can now register for the 2019 102/105 Technical Training sessions. Both the basic and topic-based courses will take place at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA, with little or no cost to attend. Please click the links below for more information.

102/105 Basic Technical Training – March 19-21, 2019:
Registration Information | Agenda

102/105 Topic-based Technical Training – April 2-4, 2019:
Registration Information | Agenda

Are you prepared for a fire? We hope that the answer is yes, and we assume that a big part of that preparation involved drawing up a plan and then practicing it.

But are you prepared for a harassment or discrimination complaint? Is your district positioned to be in control of the process to ensure a positive outcome in the face a problematic personnel issue?

Fire drills are only effective when you practice them before a fire happens, so don’t wait to be prepared for a personnel problem that could expose your district’s board members to potential liability in the event of a complaint.

All conservation district directors and associate directors are encouraged to attend our 2019 Building for Tomorrow Director Training workshops on Sexual Harassment and Respect in the Workplace, presented by Mary Kay Williams of MindShift Consulting. District managers are welcome too!

In addition to examining the definitions of harassment and discrimination, the interactive workshop program will include discussions of “what if” scenarios and focus on effective policies and steps you can take to lessen liability. These sessions are free of charge and lunch will be provided.

Please click on one of the following links to register (all workshops are 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.):

Tuesday, March 5 – Genetti Hotel & Conference Center, Wilkes-Barre
Wednesday, March 6 – Ramada Conference Center, State College
Wednesday, March 13 – Cross Creek Resort, Titusville
Thursday, March 14 – West Meeting Center, West Elizabeth
Thursday, March 21 – Woodcrest Retreat Center, Ephrata

Help us spread the word and please encourage your fellow directors to participate.

Contact Matt Miller with questions.