Formal and non-formal educators convened in Harrisburg on September 23, 2021, for The Dive Deeper Summit. The summit gathers youth water educators in the Mid-Atlantic Region that pairs knowledge and resource sharing with networking opportunities. Attendees could participate in person or virtually this year.

Shannon Wehinger, PACD Director of Communications and Education, and conservation district staff attended the summit. The summit provided ample opportunities to experience hands-on activities to enhance water education.

The 2021 Conservation District Watershed Specialist Webinar Series will take place October 5-7, 2021. Watershed specialists will learn how to use Stroud Water Research Center’s EnviroDIY program and Monitor My Watershed to build, program, install, and manage a standard Enviro DIY monitoring station; learn how a seasoned watershed specialist approaches project management; learn about prevailing wage; get tips on putting together a project bid package from a conservation district perspective, and much more. Registration is open to conservation district watershed specialists and invited guests only. For a registration link, contact Molly Burns with PACD at mburns@pacd.org.

Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, was held August 10-12, 2021, at The Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. PACD and conservation districts from Berks, Cambria, Clinton, Huntingdon, and Lycoming Counties met hundreds of landowners and farmers to discuss local conservation during the three-day event.

Thank you so much to all who volunteered to share the great work of conservation districts with the public!

Conservation District managers from the South Central Region met at Raystown Lake on July 19, 2021. The managers were joined by PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh and a few retired managers as well.

Conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff; partner agency staff; and invited guests are encouraged to register for the PACD Executive Council Video Conference, which will take place from 10:00 a.m. to Noon on July 29, 2021. With PACD committee meetings concluded, this will be the final event in the 2021 Virtual PACD Annual Conference video conference series.

Registration is free and required. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting, instructions to participate, and a phone number for anyone who needs to participate via conference call. To request a registration link, contact mburns@pacd.org.

The 2021 Virtual PACD Annual Conference will take place as a series of video conferences this July, beginning with the PACD Conservation Committee on July 8 and ending with PACD Executive Council on July 29. Registration is open to all conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff; partner agency staff; and invited guests. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting and instructions to participate online or via phone.

Please email the listed contact for each video conference you’d like to attend to request a registration link.

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference

July 8, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference

July 9, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact hmiller@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Video Conference

July 14, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact swehinger@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference

July 15, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Ways and Means Committee Video Conference

July 20, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact abrown@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference

July 22, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Executive Council Video Conference

July 29, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This free training is scheduled to take place October 19-21, 2021, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg (Hershey area) in Grantville, PA.

If you are interested in taking this training, please begin the process to get an AgLearn account NOW!  There is a prerequisite, and it can take months to get an account.

The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania delivering conservation planning technical assistance including, but not limited to, NRCS, conservation districts, SCC, farmland preservation entities, and non-profits. The training is free, and lunch will be provided.

To receive information on this training as it becomes available, including the online prerequisite, email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

Please consider volunteering at the conservation district exhibit at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days.

Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College, PA, and features the latest technology and research exhibits, educational programs, and guided tours.

Over 60% of the 46,000 expected to attend are actively engaged in agriculture or related activities. With so many farming families from across Pennsylvania at this event, it’s an excellent opportunity to call attention to the work and programs done at the districts.

This year’s event will be held from August 10-12, 2021. Volunteers are needed for the shifts listed below. If you have questions or to schedule your shift, send your name, contact information, and preferred shift to dyoung@pacd.org.

Tuesday, August 10:             1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Wednesday, August 11:         9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Wednesday, August 11:         1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Wednesday, August 11:         5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Thursday, August 12:            9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (1 volunteer needed)

Thursday, August 12:            1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (1 volunteer needed)

A final volunteer schedule, parking passes, and other show information will be sent to volunteers when available. For more information on Ag Progress Days, go to their website at http://agsci.psu.edu/apd.

The 2021 Virtual PACD Annual Conference will take place as a series of video conferences this July. The six PACD committees will meet virtually between July 8 and 22, followed by PACD Executive Council on July 29.

Registration is open to all conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff, as well as partner agency staff and invited guests. Registration for each meeting is free and required. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting and instructions to participate. A phone number will also be provided for anyone who wishes to participate via conference call.

To request a registration link, please email the listed contact for each video conference you’d like to attend.

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference

July 8, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference

July 9, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact hmiller@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Video Conference

July 14, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact swehinger@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference

July 15, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Ways and Means Committee Video Conference

July 20, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact abrown@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference

July 22, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Executive Council Video Conference

July 29, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

Participants are asked to note the new 10:00 a.m. start time for the Section 319 Virtual Watershed Planning and Implementation Meeting. The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to Noon on both May 19 and 20.

Section 319 Virtual Watershed Planning and Implementation Meeting
May 19 and 20, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon – New Start Time!

The event is open to entities involved in Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management projects, including conservation district staff, DEP and EPA staff, incorporated watershed associations, counties, municipalities, councils of governments; 501(c)(3) non-profits, educational institutions, and municipal authorities.

Click here by Friday, May 14, 2021, for more information and to register.