PACD is partnering with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to facilitate Chapter 102 Fall Regional Sessions. These free sessions are for conservation district and DEP staff.

Click here for the draft agenda. 

Click on the links below to register for the session in your region. Due to limited space, please limit registrations to 3-4 staff per office.

September 25, 2018 (deadline to register is September 14)
Northcentral Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
DEP Northcentral Regional Office, Williamsport, PA

October 2, 2018 (deadline to register is September 21)
Northwest Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
DEP Northwest Regional Office, Meadville, PA

October 3, 2018 (deadline to register is September 22)
Southwest Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
Cranberry Public Library, Franklin Station Room, Cranberry Township, PA

October 16, 2018 (deadline to register is October 5)
Northeast Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
DEP Northeast Regional Office, Wilkes-Barre, PA

October 30, 2018 (deadline to register is October 19)
Southeast Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
DEP Southeast Regional Office, Norristown, PA

November 6, 2018 (deadline to register is October 26)
Southcentral Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
DEP Southcentral Regional Office, Harrisburg, PA

Contact Shannon Wehinger swehinger@pacd.org with questions.

The 2018 Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting will take place at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, PA, on October 9-11 for newer watershed specialists and October 10-11 for the full group. Special training for newer watershed specialists will take place on October 9.

Highlights from this year’s agenda include macroinvertebrate training by the Stroud Water Research Center, hands-on training with PAOneStop and the Web Soil Survey, an update on invasive species, and much more.

Registration is open to conservation district watershed specialists and invited guests. The deadline to register is Monday, October 1. Click here for more information and to register for the meeting.

 

Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition was held August 14-16, 2018, at The Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. Despite the rain and mud on Tuesday, PACD and conservation districts from Centre, Union, Dauphin, Bradford, Huntingdon, and Bedford counties met hundreds of landowners and farmers to discuss local conservation during the three day event.

A BIG thank you goes out to all who volunteered for this great networking experience!

The PACD/SCC Winter Meeting will be held January 30-31, 2019 at the Toftrees Golf Resort, State College, PA. Stay tuned for more information about the meeting.

Representatives from the northeastern United States traveled to the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster for the National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) Northeast Regional Meeting. Conservation leaders from these states met for educational programs, tours, and networking.

“It is exiting to host a meeting that brings our counterparts from other northeastern states together. This week, we were able to showcase some of Pennsylvania’s conservation district projects via tours and educational sessions. Attendees learned about the Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program which helps decrease pollution from unpaved roads and is unique to Pennsylvania. They visited a plain sect farm where they saw how the Lancaster County Conservation District helped the farmer control pollution. They participated in a stormwater tour by LandStudies, Inc. which shows work being done in our communities to reduce flooding. Finally, visitors had the opportunity to visit Stroud Water Research Center and learn about research they are conducting to ensure we have enough clean water for future generations,” said Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director. “Our conservation districts work hard every day to make a difference in our communities.”

After saying goodbye to our collegues from other states, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) and the State Conservation Commission held their 71^th Joint Annual Conference. Several Pennsylvania conservationists were recognized at an awards luncheon on July 18.

The 2018 PACD honorees are as follows: 

• Legislator Leadership Award – Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr. (PA 30th District)
• President’s Award – Pat Sueck
• Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award – Jay Snyder (Lancaster County)
• Conservation District Employee Excellence Award – Renee Swineford (Snyder County)
• Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Program Awards

40 Years of Service

• Craig Bingman, Manager, Snyder County
• Years of Service
• Carl Goshorn, Manager, Cumberland County
• James Pillsbury, Hydraulic Engineer, Westmoreland County
• Tammie Robinson, Administrative Assistant, Indiana County
• Lorelle Steach, PA Envirothon Coordinator, Bedford County

Click here to read the entire press release and here to see photos from the event.

Be sure to register this week for the National Association of Conservation District (NACD) Northeast Regional Meeting and PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. The discounted, early bird registration was extended until the final pre-registration deadline of July 6, 2018! Walk-in registrations will be accepted, however availability of meals and activities cannot be guaranteed.

The meeting location is the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. NACD events will take place July 15-17, 2018, and PACD/SCC events will take place July 17-18, 2018.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Turkey Hill Dairy is generously donating ice cream novelties and beverages for the “Welcome to Pennsylvania” Ice Cream Social during the NACD Northeast Regional Meeting & PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. The event will take place Sunday, July 15, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster, PA.

PACD invites you to join us for a friendly, informal, meet-and-greet over some cool, creamy, ice cream treats. To participate, you must be registered for the NACD portion of the conference. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to network with your counterparts from other states in our region.

There is still time to register! Pre-registration closes on July 6. Click here to register today! 

Armstrong Conservation District’s H2Oh! on the GO! mobile exhibit will be parked at the NACD Northeast Regional Meeting & PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference from July 15-18, 2018. The Armstrong Conservation District is generously making this interactive, educational, traveling exhibit available for our attendees to explore during the conference.

The conference is taking place at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel, Lancaster, PA. Click here to register or for more information. 

The early bird discount ends Friday, June 15! Be sure to register this week for the NACD Northeast Regional Meeting and PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference to receive the discounted registration rate.

The meeting location is the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. NACD events will take place July 15-17, 2018, and PACD/SCC events will take place July 17-18, 2018.

Click here for more information and to register. 

 

Conservation districts and their partners are invited to register for the Combined 2018 National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) Northeast Regional Meeting and 71st PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. The combined conference will take place at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. NACD events will take place July 15-17, 2018, and PACD/SCC events will take place July 17-18, 2018.

PACD is still collecting items for goodie bags that all attendees will receive. Pictured are the messenger bags sponsored by WorldView Solutions, a rain gauge from Berks County Conservation District, and maple syrup from McKean, Potter, and Tioga County Conservation Districts. Not pictured are pens from Snyder County Conservation District. Thanks to Sandy Thompson for taking the lead on coordinating the giveaways! She can be reached at sdthompson@mckeancountypa.org if you would like to contribute.

Be sure to register by Friday, June 15, to take advantage of the early-bird discount! Click here for more information or to register for the meeting.