The 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show runs January 6-13, 2024 in Harrisburg. This year’s event celebrates how we are Connecting Our Communities. Visit the Conservation District booth (co-located with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) in the GIANT Exposition Hall.

Also, check out the new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) banner that will be displayed in the Farm Show facility for all of 2024! This banner is part of the CREP Outreach Program Office hosted by PACD and funded through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.

Click here to read more about the event.

 

The application period for Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II) is now open. Conservation district staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free training opportunities, including classroom learning and experience in the field.

Basic and Level II training will each be held twice. Applicants may apply for one and only one of the four training sessions. Do not apply for both levels this spring.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
March 19, March 26, and April 22 (virtual) & April 8-11, 2024 (in-person)
Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
March 19, March 26, and April 22 (virtual) & April 15-18, 2024 (in-person)
Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II 
April 19, April 26 (virtual) & April 29-May 3, 2024 (in-person)
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) and the USDA NRCS State Office, Harrisburg, PA

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
April 19, April 26 (virtual) & May 13-17, 2024 (in-person)
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) and the USDA NRCS State Office, Harrisburg, PA

The deadline to apply is January 26, 2024.

Email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with questions.

The following sponsors make these training opportunities possible: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

Winter 2024 Leadership Development programming includes offerings for all district personnel. This year’s Staff Training Initiative includes regional workshops on emotional intelligence and a webinar series on time management.

Regional Director Training workshops will focus on strategic board development and working with nominating organizations.

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.

Lawrence County Conservation District held two rain barrel workshops. Forty-eight participants received education regarding watersheds, nonpoint source pollution, water quality, stormwater management, and best management practices to help reduce stormwater runoff.

The presentations were followed by a tour of a rain garden and cistern used in the local community garden. Thirty rain barrels with adapter kits were distributed during the workshops.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Columbia County Conservation District (CCCD) has partnered with the Berwick Borough to install downspout planters throughout high-trafficked areas. The CCCD received a DEP Environmental Education Mini-Grant to complete this project. Berwick Borough is subject to an MS4 permit, so the CCCD and the Borough partnered to receive MS4 credits for the Borough and work towards meeting the County’s Countywide Action Plan goals.

Click here to read the entire article. 

 

This holiday season, the Carbon County Environmental Education Center (operated by full-time staff from the Carbon County Conservation District) invited children of all ages to help decorate a science-themed Christmas tree with ornaments depicting famous scientists, both past and present.

“It was just an idea, and our staff sort of ran with it,” said Susan Gallagher, the center’s Chief Naturalist. “We were talking about how kids should know the stories of all the people who’ve changed the world, and the next thing I knew, our part-time staff were making ornaments out of Petri dishes.”

Each ornament featured a picture of a famous–or not so famous–scientist on one side, with their contribution to scientific discovery written on the other.

The display included a reading area with age-appropriate books about scientists from all over the world and a sign-in sheet where children added their suggestions for more ornaments.

 

If your district has video from this year, we want to see and share your work with district and partner personnel from across the state and beyond!

Building for Tomorrow is now accepting submissions for the 4th Annual Conservation District Video Awards, scheduled for Thursday, February 15, 2024, from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Every year, our panel of judges reviews district video entries to recognize excellence in this field and to determine the recipients of the coveted CONDIVA trophy awarded to the highest-scoring videos. The presentation on February 15 will include clips from all entries, as well as some insight from the creative district staff members who produced this content before we find out which districts bring home the trophies (and bragging rights) for 2023. CDVA entries from past years have been featured in statewide Earth Day celebrations and the Summer Joint Annual Conference, and as the profile for the event grows every year, so does our audience.

All districts that produced video content in 2023 should fill out a CDVA Submission Form and return it before December 31, 2023. We’re looking forward to promoting and celebrating your hard work!

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.

 

 

A three-part webinar series on Understanding Time Management is scheduled for Wednesdays, January 31, February 7, and February 14. The series will examine strategies and methods based on three key principles of time management, demonstrate the purpose and value of common time management tools, and uncover the causes of procrastination and ways to eliminate it. Click here to register.

The 2024 Staff Training Workshop, Emotional Intelligence: Applications for Wellbeing, is scheduled for five locations across the state. This interactive workshop will include a presentation, group discussion, and activities focusing on concrete applications of emotional intelligence (EI). Workshop attendees will learn techniques and practices to develop and support EI both in and out of the workplace and gain a greater awareness of leadership derailers. Workshops are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and are open to all conservation district staff. Registration is $35 per attendee, which includes all workshop materials, coffee and beverage service starting at 9:45 a.m., and a lunch buffet from Noon – 12:45 p.m.

2024 Staff Workshop Schedule: Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

• Tuesday, February 20 – Ramada Conference Center, State College
• Tuesday, February 27 – Fred Rogers Institute at St. Vincent College, Latrobe
• Tuesday, March 12 – Penn State Berks, Reading
• Wednesday, March 20 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas
• Wednesday, March 27 – Quality Inn Conference Center, Franklin

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.

 

Districts interested in strategic planning support for the upcoming year should submit a Letter of Intent before Friday, December 29. For more information, please visit the Strategic Planning Grants page at Building for Tomorrow or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Manager mmiller@pacd.org.

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.

 

The 2024 Director Workshop series features six regional meetings focusing on director nomination, nominating organizations, and preparing district boards for the future.

Board development enhances an organization’s ability to achieve its mission by helping directors fulfill their responsibilities effectively. Strategic board development takes a proactive approach to ensure that district needs are met in the future as well as the present by assessing and identifying areas for improvement and growth and addressing gaps in skills and experience on your board.

Workshop attendees will:

• discuss factors in assessing board readiness for future challenges
• understand SCC procedures for the director nomination process and approval of nominating organizations
• review the list of active nominating organizations for their districts
• identify opportunities to help build and sustain strategic relationships with other organizations working to positively impact their communities

All conservation district directors, associate directors, managers, and partner staff are welcome. Workshops are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and networking with refreshments begins at 9:30 a.m. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required. Lunch and all workshop materials are provided.

2024 Director Workshop Schedule: Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

• Wednesday, February 21 – Clinton County Conservation District
• Wednesday, February 28 – Westmoreland Conservation District
• Tuesday, March 5 – Berks County Conservation District
• Wednesday, March 13 – Cumberland County Conservation District
• Tuesday, March 19 – Monroe County Conservation District
• Tuesday, March 26 – Warren County Conservation District

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.