Submitted by Jen Novak, Education Programs Coordinator, Westmoreland Conservation District

Westmoreland Conservation District’s Turnback 250 event celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States. Approximately 75 people attended this event, which highlighted how our natural resources were used by Native Americans and early European settlers. 

Topics included hunting and trapping by Native Americans, learning to forage like a pioneer, gardening for food and dyes, and woodworking using our native tree species. The event also featured a visit by the WoodMobile, a traveling exhibit about Pennsylvania’s forests and the hardwood industry.

 

Submitted by Tammy L. Bartsch, Event Coordinator and Secretary to the Board of Directors, Berks County Conservation District

Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) recently partnered with the Berks County Master Gardeners during their plant sale. The event was two parts: a seedling sale and a Conservation Celebration.

The seedling sale raises funds for the BCCD scholarship program. This year, there were 82 pre-orders and a lot of walk-ins, raising just over $10,000.

The Conservation Celebration hosted mini workshops (worm composting, guacamole grow bag, and beekeeping). At the “Kidz Korner,” children could make a seed bomb, visit the Berks County SWAT Truck, a backhoe, an ambulance, and other vehicles in our version of Touch-A-Truck.

Participants included the Berks County Department of Agriculture, Berks/Schuylkill Beekeepers Association, B.A.R.N. (Berks Agricultural Resource Network), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Berks County Watershed Stewards.

The event was free, and despite the rain later in the morning, it was great!

Today, we proudly celebrate two remarkable members of the PACD team whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment have helped shape our organization for more than two decades — Molly Burns and Shannon Wehinger.

For over 20 years, Molly and Shannon have brought passion, knowledge, and steady leadership to PACD’s mission to support conservation districts and advance conservation across Pennsylvania.

Reaching more than 20 years of service is an extraordinary milestone and a testament to their dedication to PACD and the conservation community. We are grateful for the knowledge, positivity, and professionalism they bring each day.

Please join us in congratulating Molly Burns and Shannon Wehinger on this incredible achievement and in thanking them for their many years of outstanding service to PACD and conservation in Pennsylvania.

PACD is again 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 register and pick up trash between April 1 and May 31, 2026.

Register for your event now and report your results to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful upon completing your trash pick-up efforts. The deadline to enter your information is June 5!

The winning district will receive $500 from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. New for 2026, an additional prize will be awarded for the most volunteer hours!

Click here to view the flyer. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Heidi Pedicone at hpedicone@keeppabeautiful.org.

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 for October 20-22, 2026, at the Iron Valley Golf Club, 201 Iron Valley Dr., Lebanon, PA.

The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania that deliver conservation planning technical assistance, including but not limited to NRCS, conservation districts, SCC, farmland preservation entities, and non-profits. This training is only for those interested in writing conservation plans and becoming NRCS Certified Conservation Planners or apprentices.

The training is free, and lunch will be provided.

The application period will start in July. Email PACD Director of Communication and Education Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org to be notified when the application period opens.

Participants from conservation districts, the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and others joined the Clean Water Academy’s Lunch and Learn, “Landowner Outreach: Communicating the Value of Riparian Buffer Installation” on May 14, 2026.

Lamonte Garber, Watershed Restoration Coordinator from the Stroud Water Research Center, led the session. Lamonte provided an overview of effective strategies for engaging landowners in conversations about installing riparian buffers. Drawing from recent field experience, it highlighted practical approaches for communicating the value of buffers, addressing common concerns, and building trust with landowners.

Click here to view the recording on Clean Water Academy. You must be logged in to view it.

The Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy is an online training library administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and supported by PACD. It provides training for DEP staff, Conservation District staff, Sewage Enforcement Officers (SEOs), and the public.

  

 

PACD has about $80,000 remaining to fund the current round of APRP, which covers farming operations in the Delaware, Ohio, and Chesapeake Bay watersheds.

We are accepting applications on an ongoing basis through June 30, 2026, or until all funds are spent, whichever comes first. Plans must be completed within 90 days of application and final reports must be submitted by October 1. Plans eligible for reimbursement include:

• New or updated Manure Management Plans
• New or updated Agricultural Erosion and Sediment Control Plans (Ag E&S Plans)
• New or updated Act 38 Nutrient Management Plans or NRCS 590 plans
• New or updated Conservation Plans

We do not currently have funding for another round but will keep you posted if that should change. Click here for more information. 

 

The first QuickBooks User Forum was held in March to establish and begin building a peer-based support network for district QuickBooks users. The next quarterly Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Forum agenda is developed by attendee survey. At the June Forum the group will be looking at resources for basic QuickBooks training through PA CareerLink, transitioning from desktop to online, and working with reports. Click here to register for the June 10 Quarterly QuickBooks User Forum. 

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 Beaver County Mosquito-Borne Disease Control Program and the Beaver County Conservation District held a tire collection event on May 2, 2026, at the district grounds. This year, with the help of participants who braved the cold, blustery weather, over 1,200 tires were collected! The hosts would like to thank everyone who participated and helped to reduce mosquito breeding habitats in local communities.

The tire collection is a great outreach and educational event for the mosquito-borne disease control program. The program offers information on ticks and mosquitoes and emphasizes the importance of personal protection while enjoying the outdoors.

Click here to read the entire article. 

As part of the Lawn Conversion Sub-grant Program, PACD is partnering with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts!

A virtual training will be offered via Zoom on June 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to Noon. An in-person training will be provided on July 15, 2026, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA. Please note that there is a 35-person limit for the in-person training, and it is not required to attend both. Please use the links below to register for free.

Ryan Davis, Associate Forests Program Director from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, will lead both sessions.

Virtual Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts
June 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-Noon

In-Person Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts
July 15, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

The deadline to register for the in-person training is July 6, 2026. Lunch will be provided.

This training is part of the Lawn Conversion Sub-grant Program for Conservation Districts. It is encouraged to attend one of the training sessions before applying for a lawn conversion sub-grant.

Please get in touch with Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with any questions.

The Lawn Conversion & Riparian Buffer Mini-Grant Program for Conservation Districts is financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.