Leadership Development Updates

Written by Shannon Wehinger on February 13, 2026. Posted in Leadership Development

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.