The 2026 series of regional “Back to Basics” Director Orientation trainings wrapped up last week with a workshop hosted by Berks County Conservation District on April 23. Training content was developed from the newly revised 2026 Director Handbook and featured an overview that included district history, law, governance, and board development. A total of 59 district staff, directors, associate directors, county commissioners, and partner staff participated in the training sessions.

Thank you again to Clinton, Westmoreland, Monroe, Forest, and Berks Conservation Districts for hosting, and to everyone who attended. The regional training series was part of the 2026 Board Development Initiative, which also includes a monthly short-video series and the release of the updated 2026 Director Handbook, which is currently being distributed to district offices.

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 2026 Staff Training Initiative wrapped up on March 31 with a workshop at the Wanango Country Club. A total of 113 district and partner staff attended the Assertive Communications & Empowered Conflict Management training series, presented by Rita Coleman, and over 60 attended the February webinar series sessions on Working with Local Media and Smart Social Media, presented by Piper Strategies.

Stay tuned for a survey and announcements on 2026-27 Leadership Development programming for staff.

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 Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. In the April installment we continue our series of training module videos with Conservation District Partners & Relationships. These short videos will also be included on the new 2026 Director Handbook website and are being produced as modules for self-guided learning at Clean Water Academy.

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.

2026 Director Handbook Now Available

The newly revised and updated 2026 Handbook for Pennsylvania’s Conservation District Directors has launched and is now available at www.PaConservationDirectors.org. This comprehensive resource includes information on statutory responsibilities, governance best practices, operational guidance, legal requirements, and partner relations to help conservation district directors fulfill their public duties effectively and confidently.

The 2026 Director Handbook online edition incorporates modern accessibility features, simple navigation, and rich content, including streamlined reference materials, embedded orientation videos, and links to external resources for self-guided learning. A simplified print edition will be distributed to all districts beginning in April. Whether you are a newly appointed director or a seasoned board member, the Director Handbook serves as a practical guide for informed decision-making, ethical leadership, and sound administration. All directors are encouraged to review the updated edition and retain it as a core governance manual for district boards.

Update: April 1 NW Regional Director Training Relocated

The Back to Basics Director Orientation training scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at Lawrence County DPS has been moved to the Forest County Conservation District in Tionesta. Click here to register. 

Last Chance to Register for Assertive Communications Staff Training Workshops

Important reminder for all district staff: registration deadlines for the Assertive Communications & Empowered Conflict Management workshops are approaching quickly! The training is designed to help participants navigate difficult situations—and occasionally encounters with difficult people—with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

The workshop will be beneficial to anyone who works with landowners, contractors, or the public. Facilitator Rita Graham brings deep experience working with conservation districts and their various stakeholders, and her training approach is geared toward addressing real-life scenarios for district staff. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity. Attendance is free and open to all staff and partners.

Tuesday, March 17 – St. Vincent College, Latrobe 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 3/9

Thursday, March 19 – Ramada Conference Center, State College 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 3/9

Wednesday, March 25 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 3/11

Tuesday, March 31 – Wanango Country Club, Reno 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY 3/17

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 Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. In the March installment, we begin our series of training module videos, starting with the History of the Conservation Movement. These short videos will also be included on the new 2026 Director Handbook website and are being produced as modules for self-guided learning on Clean Water Academy.

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 Assertive Communications & Empowered Conflict Management workshop is designed to help participants navigate difficult situations–and occasionally, encounters with difficult people–with confidence, clarity, and purpose. This interactive session empowers attendees to apply assertiveness skills to real-life work and home situations.

Participants are encouraged to come prepared with a current scenario so they can develop and practice delivering an assertive message that clearly communicates their wants or needs without being passive or aggressive. Through a mix of brief lectures, individual reflection, group discussion, and hands-on practice, participants will explore their personal responses to conflict and learn how to choose the most effective approach.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to assess when and how to use assertiveness as a conflict management tool, develop effective assertive messages, and apply techniques for setting boundaries.

All workshops are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and are open to all district personnel and partner staff. Networking with refreshments begins at 9:00 a.m. and lunch is provided.

The workshop will be facilitated by Rita Graham, who brings a wealth of experience working with conservation district staff to deliver training that applies concepts to real-world scenarios. Rita explains why this topic is important and what attendees will take away from the workshop in the short video here. 

• March 10 – French Creek State Park, Elverson, PA 
• March 17 – Fred Rogers Institute at St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA 
• March 19 – Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA 
• March 25 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas, PA
• March 31 – Wanango Country Club, Reno, PA 

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.

 

Registration is open for the “Back to Basics” Director Orientation Workshop series. The presentation includes an overview of conservation district history, law, governance, and partnerships, as well as a discussion of the importance of director engagement and strategic development within districts.

This orientation training is designed for newly appointed directors and associate directors, but is also appropriate as an onboarding or review tool for all district personnel and partner staff. Workshops will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include a working lunch. Networking with refreshments starts at 9:00 a.m. Registration is free and required.

• March 11 – Clinton County Conservation District 
• March 12 – Cumberland County Conservation District 
• March 18 – Westmoreland Conservation District 
• March 24 – Monroe County Conservation District 
• April 1 – Lawrence County Dept. of Public Safety
• April 23 – Berks 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.

Congratulations to CDVA Winners!

The 6^th Annual Conservation District Video Awards presentation was held on Thursday, February 12. Eleven entries from 2025 were screened to showcase the talent and hard work of district content creators, and a short panel discussion on video production and impact followed the awards presentation. Links to all 2025 CDVA entries are posted at Building for Tomorrow: https://www.paleadership.org/blog/.

• 1^st Place Award: Tannersville Cranberry Bog, submitted by Derek Lederer, Monroe County Conservation District
• 2^nd Place Award: DSA Day, submitted by Hannah Kulbitsky, Schuylkill Conservation District
• Runner-Up Awards: Erosion & Sediment Control: Protecting Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources, submitted by Logan Freed, Bucks County Conservation District & Why Streambank Stabilization Matters, submitted by Jeffrey Kim, Washington County Conservation District

Register Now for “Back to Basics” Director Orientation Workshop

Registration is open for “Back to Basics” Director Orientation workshops, offered regionally across the state in March and April.

The session includes fundamentals for all new district directors and associate directors, including an overview of conservation district history, legal compliance, governance best practices, and partnerships, with a focus on roles, responsibilities, and engagement.

Workshops are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include a working lunch. All district and partner personnel are welcome to participate. Registration is free and required. Visit Building for Tomorrow for the workshop schedule and registration.

All district personnel and partner staff are welcome to participate.

2026 Staff Training Initiative

There’s still time to register for 2026 Staff Training sessions, including:

• Webinar: From Message to Media: Amplifying Impact Through Local Outreach – February 18
• Webinar: Smarter Social Media: Campaigns, Curation, & Content – February 25
• Webinar: QuickBooks User Forum – March 4
• Workshops: Assertive Communications & Conflict Management Workshops – throughout March

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 monthly Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. In the February installment, we preview some features of the newly revised online Director Handbook, which launches in March, along with a reminder about the “Back to Basics” Orientation Workshop regional series in March & April. Visit Building for Tomorrow for video and 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.

 

All district and partner staff are invited to attend an Assertive Communications & Conflict Management workshop, scheduled at five locations throughout the state in March. The training will be facilitated by Rita Graham, who explains why this topic is important and what attendees will take away from the workshop in this short video.

The workshops run from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and networking with refreshments begins at 9:00 a.m. Lunch is provided. Attendance is free but registration is required. Please click the links below to register:

• Tuesday, March 10 – French Creek State Park, Elverson 
• Tuesday, March 17 – Fred Rogers Institute at St. Vincent College, Latrobe 
• Thursday, March 19 – Ramada Conference Center, State College 
• Wednesday, March 25 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas 
• Tuesday, March 31 – Wanango Country Club, Reno

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.