On February 11, 2026, PACD Director of Communications & Education Shannon Wehinger traveled to Penn State’s main campus in University Park, PA. PACD was invited to host a conservation district booth at the Penn State Earth, Environment, and Sustainability Career Fair.

Shannon met with Penn State students interested in careers and internships related to science, the environment, agriculture, and conservation. A sign with a QR code to the PACD jobs webpage was prominently displayed.

The booth space was sponsored by the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT), which allowed conservation districts to have a booth at no cost to PACD.

The Earth, Environment, and Sustainability Career Fair featured employers focused on environmental science, sustainability, conservation, geosciences, geography, meteorology, and agriculture. The event is a collaboration between the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the College of Agricultural Sciences (Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science), Penn State Career Services, and Penn State Sustainability.

On February 10, 2026, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended the first annual conservation and farmland preservation banquet at the Lebanon County Conservation District.

The event recognized the hard work of local farmers, landowners, and conservation partners.

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.

 

 

PACD will randomly spotlight one social media post from a conservation district each week. Don’t forget to share or tag other districts to share good news or something others could learn about.

This week’s feature item is Cameron County Conservation District’s Facebook post about their Trout in the Classroom program. Follow the district at https://www.facebook.com/CameronCountyCD.

 

On February 3, 2026, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown and PACD Project & Event Specialist Molly Burns spent the afternoon at the PA State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, where the Pennsylvania State Council of Farm Organizations (PSCFO) held its annual Cornucopia event. The event allowed participants to highlight Pennsylvania’s food and agricultural products while giving farmers and ag organizations the chance to connect directly with state legislators.

PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell C. Redding and the Dean of the College of Agriculture for Penn State, Troy L. Ott, spoke during the event.

Highlighting PA conservation district employees who go above and beyond. Conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff may highlight outstanding district employees in our weekly e-newsletter by using this form. 

PACD will randomly spotlight one social media post from a conservation district each week. Don’t forget to share or tag other districts to share good news or something others could learn about.

This week’s feature item is Lancaster County Conservation District’s Facebook post about their best management practice of the month feature series. Follow the district at https://www.facebook.com/lancasterconservation.

Have a staff person in mind for the Outstanding in their Field feature? Use this form. 

 

As we kick off the new year, we’re looking back at 2025 to celebrate Clean Water Academy’s Top 10 Course Completion Champions across all conservation districts. These individuals completed the most courses throughout the year, demonstrating an incredible dedication to expanding their knowledge and expertise. Congratulations to our Top 10 learners!

1. Katie Sasala, Potter – 106 course completions
2. Brittany Brooks, York – 71 course completions
3. Kendra Schreck, Beaver – 71 course completions
4. Alexander Hrishenko, Mercer – 67 course completions
5. Alexander Peppiatt, Bucks – 65 course completions
6. Sara Benzio, Beaver – 64 course completions
7. Matthew Williams, Pike – 62 course completions
8. Alexis Albu, Berks – 57 course completions
9. Alaska Roberts, York – 56 course completions
10. Kate Vandal, Berks – 56 course completions

With new courses and training opportunities ahead in 2026, now is the perfect time to dive in

Click here to visit Clean Water Academy. 

Please contact PACD Water Resource Trainer Molly Bengs at mbengs@pacd.org with any questions or to create an account.

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.

 

The monthly Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. In the February installment, we preview some features of the newly revised online Director Handbook, which launches in March, along with a reminder about the “Back to Basics” Orientation Workshop regional series in March & April. Visit Building for Tomorrow for video and workshop registration links.

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.

 

On February 3, 2026, PACD Director of Operations Holly Miller attended the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) Workgroup meeting at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, PA. Partners met to discuss priorities and the future of the program.