Events conservation districts planned to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2020, were canceled or modified due to the COVID-19 crisis. So what can we do to mark this momentous occasion? PACD suggests encouraging folks in your county to have a neighborhood trash pick-up while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

Another way to honor Earth Day with kids is to distribute the “We All Live Downstream” otter coloring page and the “Good Neighbors Activity & Coloring Book” through social media.

Please share your Earth Day messages on Facebook and tag @PAConservation.

The following trainings will be rescheduled due to the coronavirus.

• Spring 102/105 Basic Technical Training
• Spring 102/105 Topic-based Technical Training
• Fluvial Geomorphology Training

Additionally, all six of the PACD region meetings will be held via webinar. Check PACD’s events page at https://pacd.org/?page_id=65 for the latest information including the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training.

Close to 4,000 township officials and guests from all over Pennsylvania will attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference and Trade Show. Once again, there will be a conservation district booth at the show, which runs from Sunday, May 3, to Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

We are looking for volunteers for the following shifts:

• Sunday, May 3 from Noon – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, May 4 from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 5 from 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Please consider volunteering for a morning or afternoon shift at the conservation district booth. PSATS is a valuable opportunity to promote districts, explain the type of work they do,  and reinforce existing relationships with local township officials.

Contact Jann McNamara at jmcnamara@pacd.org or 717-238-7223 to volunteer.

The 74th National Association of Conservation District’s Annual Meeting took place at Bally’s Las Vegas, February 8-12, 2020. NACD Director Cliff Lane and Alternate NACD Director Kelly Stagen joined by several other conservation district and partnering agency representatives.

Hosted in partnership with the Nevada Association of Conservation Districts, NACD’s 2020 Annual Meeting brought together nearly 1,000 conservation leaders from across the nation for educational sessions, workshops, and networking. This year’s meeting theme, “Conservation Innovation: Working from the Roots Up,” explored innovative techniques for delivering conservation on the ground.

During the meeting, the Board of Directors elected Michael Crowder of West Richland, Washington, to serve as the association’s president-elect.

Mark your calendar and join us for the PACD spring region meetings!

The region meeting dates and locations are as follows:

March 24, 2020
PACD South Central Region Meeting
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

March 26, 2020
PACD North Central Region Meeting
Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA

March 31, 2020
PACD South West Region Meeting
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

April 3, 2020
PACD North East Region Meeting
DEP Northeast Regional Office, Wilkes-Barre, PA

April 22, 2020
PACD North West Region Meeting
Venango County (location TBA)

April 30, 2020
PACD South East Region Meeting
Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA

 

The PACD/SCC Winter Meeting was held in Boalsburg, PA, from January 22-23, 2020. In addition to the business meetings of PACD and the State Conservation Commission, sessions were held on educational opportunities through the PA Game Commission and effective conservation messaging from the National Wildlife Federation.

A 50/50 raffle was held during the meeting. A total of $134.50 was raised for the PA Envirothon!

Click here to view photos from the event. 

Thank you to all the volunteers who made the conservation district booth at the PA Farm Show a success! The 2020 show premiered the “Compost, recycle, or trash” corn hole game, which drew in visitors to the booth.

Thank you to the following conservation districts represented by volunteers:

Berks
Chester
Cumberland
Dauphin
Franklin
Indiana
Juniata
Lebanon
Perry
Pike
Schuylkill
Union
Venango

Be sure to register for the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting before preregistration closes January 10! Walk-in registration will be available at the conference, though meal availability cannot be guaranteed. Click here for more information and to register. 

If you haven’t done it already, this is the week to register for the Winter Meeting and make your overnight reservation. Take advantage of the Early Bird discount and reduced hotel room rate before they expire this Friday, December 20. Make your arrangements before the holiday and rest easy in the new year! Click here for hotel information and to register.

PACD will again be partnering with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to host a conservation district booth at the 2020 PA Farm Show. 

We need volunteers to staff the booth for the following days and times:

Saturday, January 4–8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 5–12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday, January 6–8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 7–8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 8–8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 9    ALL SLOTS FILLED
Friday, January 10–8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 11–8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.   

Please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to fill one of these shifts by contacting Jann McNamara at jmcnamara@pacd.org with your contact information and the shift you’d like to fill.