April 26 to May 2, 2026, will be “Conservation District Week” in Pennsylvania. During this week, district offices will hold events, conference calls, and meetings with legislators. Resources such as letters, a press release, and social media images will be available from PACD to promote Conservation District Week. Stay tuned for more information.
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 from April 19 to 22, 2026. Once again, there will be a conservation district booth at the show from Sunday, April 19, to Tuesday, April 21.
PACD is seeking volunteers for the following shifts:
Please consider volunteering for a shift at the conservation district booth. This is a valuable opportunity to promote the districts and explain the type of work they do, as well as reinforce existing relationships with local township officials.
To volunteer, please contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.
Greg Bonsall (left) and Tim Hornberger from Union County Conservation District staff the Conservation District Booth in Harrisburg on January 12, 2026.
Thank you to all the volunteers who made the conservation district booth at the PA Farm Show a success!
Thank you to the following conservation districts who sent volunteers:
Conservation district directors and associate directors, district staff, and partner agency staff are invited to register for the Virtual 2026 PACD Winter Meeting. The event will take place as a series of videoconferences throughout January. Registration for each videoconference is required and free to participate. Please email the individual listed for a registration link.
PACD Conservation Committee Videoconference
January 7, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link
PACD District Employees Committee Videoconference
January 9, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org for a registration link
PACD Education and Outreach Committee Videoconference
January 13, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org for a registration link
PACD Legislative Committee Videoconference
January 15, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link
PACD Ways and Means Committee Videoconference
January 22, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link
PACD Operations Committee Videoconference
January 23, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link
PACD Executive Council Committee Videoconference
January 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-Noon
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link
(Left to right): Heather Duncan, Executive Director, West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts, Jen Nelson, Executive Director, Delaware Association of Conservation Districts & Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, and Amy Brown, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. Photo by Kristen Saacke Blunk.
PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended the 2025 Chesapeake Agricultural Networking Forum from November 12-14 in Hershey, PA.
The event was held for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grantees, partners, and practitioners in agricultural conservation from across the region. Attendees discussed emerging trends and topics, networked, shared information and ideas, and informed what’s next for collective efforts to further advance agricultural conservation across the Bay watershed.
Mark your calendars for the 2026 PACD Winter Meeting, which will take place as a series of videoconferences throughout January. Registration will be both free and required. Watch for registration information in a future edition of Front Page.
PACD Conservation Committee Videoconference
January 7, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
PACD District Employees Committee Videoconference
January 9, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
PACD Education and Outreach Committee Videoconference
January 13, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
PACD Legislative Committee Videoconference
January 15, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
PACD Ways and Means Committee Videoconference
January 22, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
PACD Operations Committee Videoconference
January 23, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
PACD Executive Council Committee Videoconference
January 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–Noon
Left to right – PA Representative Keith Greiner, PA Representative Nikki Rivera, Sallie Gregory, Matt Kofroth, Sonia Wasco, Chris Thompson, Russ Redding – PA Secretary of Agriculture, and PA Representative Brett Miller.
Lancaster County Conservation District held a Gala on September 25, 2025, at Moonstone Manor in Elizabethtown, PA. Over 160 people attended the Gala to celebrate the district’s 75th year. PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended the celebration.
Click here to read the event press release.
PACD Executive Director Amy Brown and guest George Miller at the Gala. Photo courtesy of Lancaster County Conservation District.
Ryan Davis, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, leads the session.
Missed it? Join a webinar on October 9.
PACD partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer a riparian buffer boot camp in Snyder County. Nine conservation district staff attended the field day to learn how to complete new site visits, develop a planting plan, use flags to mark the site, and conduct maintenance. Participants planted and sheltered trees as part of the hands-on learning experience.
If you were unable to attend the in-person training, please join us for a virtual riparian buffer training for conservation districts by registering using the link below.
Riparian Forest Buffer Training for Conservation Districts
October 9, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. to Noon
This training is partially financed by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
(Clockwise from top left): Attendees hear from Sarah Colantonio, President, Work Wisdom; Kevin Stauffer, SEK; Jim Ladlee, State Program Leader, Emerging & Advanced Technology, Penn State Extension; Jill Whitcomb, Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection; and Cindi Johnson & Stacey Piper, Piper Strategies.
The 2025 Management Summit was held September 16–18 at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College. Over 60 district managers, management staff, and partner staff attended. In addition to keynotes on managing uncertainty, understanding artificial intelligence, and communicating for influence, attendees participated in discussions on change management models, learned about audits and principles of accounting, and were updated on current legislative issues.
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.
It’s time to RSVP for your fall region meeting! All meetings will be held in person, with the option to attend virtually. PACD will provide updates on PACD projects, strategic planning, and legislative activities.
Please note that in-person attendance for the North West Region Meeting is recommended due to high visitor volume and Wi-Fi demand.
Please click on your region meeting below for RSVP information and other details.
PACD North West Region Meeting
September 29, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Elk Country Visitor Center, Benezette, PA
PACD South West Region Meeting
September 30, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA
PACD North East Region Meeting
October 9, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Pike County Conservation District, Hawley, PA
PACD North Central Region Meeting
October 14, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA
PACD South Central Region Meeting
October 16, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA
PACD South East Region Meeting
October 30, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA