The Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program offered two workshop series for directors and staff this spring.

Sixty-eight attendees representing 31 districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection participated in the 2024 Regional Director Workshop Series on Strategic Board Development. Attendees discussed strategic aspects of board culture and performance, the processes of director nomination and nominating organization approval, and the importance of intentional outreach for district boards.

Follow-up webinars for those who missed the workshops are scheduled for Wednesdays, May 29 and June 12. They will focus on the development needs of new directors and associate directors. Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

The 2024 Staff Training Initiative included five regional workshops on Emotional Intelligence facilitated by Sarah Colantonio of Lancaster-based Work Wisdom LLC. Attendees discussed aspects of emotional intelligence in the workplace and methods to reduce stress and improve well-being. A total of 95 staff from 30 districts attended the workshops.

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.

The 2024 regional workshop series for staff and directors kicked off last week. Twenty-six staff attended the first Emotional Intelligence: Apps for Wellbeing workshop at the Ramada Conference Center in State College on Tuesday, February 20. Ten directors, managers, and partner staff attended the Strategic Board Development workshop hosted by Clinton County Conservation District on Wednesday, February 21.

There’s still time to register for March workshops; don’t miss out on these training opportunities!

Click here to register for Emotional Intelligence: Apps for Wellbeing.

Click here to register for Strategic Board Development.

In case you missed it:

• The 4th Annual Conservation District Video Awards presentation and links to all the 2023 contest entries are posted to the blog page at Building for Tomorrow. 
• All webinar sessions and supplemental resources for the three-part Understanding Time Management Webinar Series are posted to the webinars page at Building for Tomorrow. 

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.

The 4^th Annual Conservation District Video Awards were presented on Thursday, February 15. The 1st place CONDIVA trophy for the highest-scoring video of 2023 was awarded to Monroe County Conservation District for Maple Sugaring. Two runner-up entries tied for 2^nd place: Living in Our Waters: The Wonders of Macroinvertebrates, submitted by Beaver County Conservation District, and iMap Invasives Scavenger Hunt, submitted by Pike County Conservation District. Visit Building for Tomorrow for links to the video of the presentation and all the 2023 entries.

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.

There’s still time to register for the Understanding Time Management Webinar Series. Starting January 31, this three-part webinar series will examine the key principles of time management, tools and systems for managing time, and the psychology of procrastination. 

The 4th Annual Conservation District Video Awards will be presented on Thursday, February 15, from Noon–1:00 p.m. All district personnel and partners are invited to join us at as we celebrate the hard work of staff from across the state and recognize excellence by awarding the coveted CONDIVA trophy. Click here to register. 

Emotional Intelligence: Apps for Wellbeing Workshops are scheduled for all district staff from February 20 through March 27. This interactive workshop includes a presentation and group discussion focusing on techniques and practices to develop and support emotional intelligence in and out of the workplace. The workshop is facilitated by Sarah Colantonio, president and founding partner at Lancaster-based Work Wisdom LLC, and previous facilitator for Building for Tomorrow’s Management Summit and Emerging Leaders Pre-Con workshops. Visit Building for Tomorrow for workshop registration – deadlines are two weeks before the workshop date.

Directors, associate directors, and managers should register for the 2024 Strategic Board Development Workshops, scheduled regionally from February 21 through March 26. Workshop attendees will discuss factors in assessing board readiness for future challenges, understand SCC procedures for the director nomination process and for the approval of Nominating Organizations, and identify opportunities to help build and sustain strategic relationships with nominating and other organizations working to make positive impacts in their communities. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required. Visit Building for Tomorrow for workshop registration links.

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.

2024 Staff and Director Training Initiatives are open for registration and include programming for all district personnel and partners.

A three-part webinar series on Understanding Time Management is scheduled for January 31, February 7, and February 14. The series will examine our understanding of time as a resource, strategies, tools for productivity, and the psychology of procrastination.

A workshop titled Emotional Intelligence: Apps for Wellbeing is scheduled at five regional locations in February and March. This half-day interactive training includes a presentation, group discussion, and activities focusing on the fundamentals of emotional intelligence and stress management. Attendees will learn techniques and practices to develop and support emotional intelligence both in and out of the workplace. The workshop will be facilitated by Sarah Colantonio, president and founding partner at Lancaster-based Work Wisdom LLC and previous facilitator for workshops at Building for Tomorrow’s Management Summit and Emerging Leaders Pre-Con.

A workshop on Strategic Board Development is scheduled at six regional host districts in February and March. Strategic Board Development seeks to ensure that district needs are met in the future and present, including assessing board capacity and skill sets, an examination of culture, and a commitment to community outreach. Workshop attendees will discuss factors in assessing board readiness for future challenges, understand SCC procedures for the director nomination process and for the approval of nominating organizations, and identify opportunities to help build and sustain strategic relationships with nominating and other organizations working to make positive impacts in their communities.

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.

 

Winter 2024 Leadership Development programming includes offerings for all district personnel. This year’s Staff Training Initiative includes regional workshops on emotional intelligence and a webinar series on time management.

Regional Director Training workshops will focus on strategic board development and working with nominating organizations.

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.

If your district has video from this year, we want to see and share your work with district and partner personnel from across the state and beyond!

Building for Tomorrow is now accepting submissions for the 4th Annual Conservation District Video Awards, scheduled for Thursday, February 15, 2024, from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Every year, our panel of judges reviews district video entries to recognize excellence in this field and to determine the recipients of the coveted CONDIVA trophy awarded to the highest-scoring videos. The presentation on February 15 will include clips from all entries, as well as some insight from the creative district staff members who produced this content before we find out which districts bring home the trophies (and bragging rights) for 2023. CDVA entries from past years have been featured in statewide Earth Day celebrations and the Summer Joint Annual Conference, and as the profile for the event grows every year, so does our audience.

All districts that produced video content in 2023 should fill out a CDVA Submission Form and return it before December 31, 2023. We’re looking forward to promoting and celebrating your hard work!

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.

 

 

A three-part webinar series on Understanding Time Management is scheduled for Wednesdays, January 31, February 7, and February 14. The series will examine strategies and methods based on three key principles of time management, demonstrate the purpose and value of common time management tools, and uncover the causes of procrastination and ways to eliminate it. Click here to register.

The 2024 Staff Training Workshop, Emotional Intelligence: Applications for Wellbeing, is scheduled for five locations across the state. This interactive workshop will include a presentation, group discussion, and activities focusing on concrete applications of emotional intelligence (EI). Workshop attendees will learn techniques and practices to develop and support EI both in and out of the workplace and gain a greater awareness of leadership derailers. Workshops are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and are open to all conservation district staff. Registration is $35 per attendee, which includes all workshop materials, coffee and beverage service starting at 9:45 a.m., and a lunch buffet from Noon – 12:45 p.m.

2024 Staff Workshop Schedule: Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

• Tuesday, February 20 – Ramada Conference Center, State College
• Tuesday, February 27 – Fred Rogers Institute at St. Vincent College, Latrobe
• Tuesday, March 12 – Penn State Berks, Reading
• Wednesday, March 20 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas
• Wednesday, March 27 – Quality Inn Conference Center, Franklin

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.

 

Districts interested in strategic planning support for the upcoming year should submit a Letter of Intent before Friday, December 29. For more information, please visit the Strategic Planning Grants page at Building for Tomorrow or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Manager mmiller@pacd.org.

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.

 

The 2024 Director Workshop series features six regional meetings focusing on director nomination, nominating organizations, and preparing district boards for the future.

Board development enhances an organization’s ability to achieve its mission by helping directors fulfill their responsibilities effectively. Strategic board development takes a proactive approach to ensure that district needs are met in the future as well as the present by assessing and identifying areas for improvement and growth and addressing gaps in skills and experience on your board.

Workshop attendees will:

• discuss factors in assessing board readiness for future challenges
• understand SCC procedures for the director nomination process and approval of nominating organizations
• review the list of active nominating organizations for their districts
• identify opportunities to help build and sustain strategic relationships with other organizations working to positively impact their communities

All conservation district directors, associate directors, managers, and partner staff are welcome. Workshops are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and networking with refreshments begins at 9:30 a.m. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required. Lunch and all workshop materials are provided.

2024 Director Workshop Schedule: Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

• Wednesday, February 21 – Clinton County Conservation District
• Wednesday, February 28 – Westmoreland Conservation District
• Tuesday, March 5 – Berks County Conservation District
• Wednesday, March 13 – Cumberland County Conservation District
• Tuesday, March 19 – Monroe County Conservation District
• Tuesday, March 26 – Warren County Conservation District

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.