Awards
Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director (or Associate Director) Excellence Award
A Conservation District Director or Associate Director will be recognized for his or her outstanding volunteer efforts that have furthered the activities and accomplishments of conservation districts on a statewide basis. Nominations for this award may be submitted by PACD members. Award recipients will be selected by PACD Executive Board members. Nominations must be received at the PACD office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30.
Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
A Conservation District Employee will be recognized for his or her outstanding efforts that have furthered the activities and accomplishments of conservation districts on a statewide basis. Nominations for this award may be submitted by PACD members. Award recipients will be selected by PACD Executive Board members. Nominations must be received at the PACD office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30.
Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation
Dr. Goddard was an outstanding administrator who was able to accomplish great achievements in environmental recreation for Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic Region of the USA. The award is intended to recognize and reward individuals or organizations at the administrative level for their efforts in environmental recreation, rather than at the technical level, where so many awards already exist. Entries must be received at the PACD office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30.
Legislator Leadership Award
This award is presented to a legislator whose outstanding efforts have helped further the activities and accomplishments of the PACD or Pennsylvania’s 66 county conservation districts. Nominations for this award may be submitted by PACD members. Award recipients will be selected by PACD Executive Board members. Nominations must be received at the PACD office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30.
The NACD poster contest, open to students in grades K-12, offers young people an opportunity to express their views on natural resource issues through the medium of art. Students’ submissions are judged in five age categories according to the conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal. Pennsylvania conservation districts wishing to participate in the NACD Poster Contest should submit their entries to PACD. Entries cannot be accepted directly from individuals for the state contest. They MUST go through the county conservation district first. The entry deadline is June 30. Posters must be submitted to PACD via email to swehinger@pacd.org. Conservation districts will need to take a photo of the posters individually and save each JPEG as the student’s name. Also, the student’s Poster Contest Entry Form and the Local to State Contest Form will need to be emailed with the JPEG photos. Mailed, hardcopy posters will not be accepted.
- 2025 Poster Contest Flyer
- Poster Contest Entry Form (Email one per poster to PACD)
- Entry Form for State Level Judging (Email one per conservation district)
PACD President’s Award
At the discretion of the PACD President, an individual, organization or agency will be recognized for their outstanding efforts that have resulted in furthering the accomplishments of the non-profit organization, PACD. The President may choose to accept suggestions from Board members and staff, or select the award recipient, independently.
Award recipients may not be nominated for the same award for a period of five years.
Trash Champion
PACD is partnering with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for the annual Conservation District Trash Champion Contest. To participate in the contest, PA’s conservation districts are invited to pick up trash between April 1 and May 31, 2025.
Register for your event now and report your results upon completing your trash pick-up efforts at Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Receive free bags, gloves, and safety vests as supplies last. Free or reduced disposal is available at participating landfills during the month of April.
The winning district will receive $500 from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.