Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

We support Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts who work for clean water and healthy soil every day.

Additional Week of Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level to be Held in August

Application Period is Open!

To accommodate new hires and those unable to attend this spring, an additional week of Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level will be held in person in Union County in August, with an additional three virtual training days in August and September. The four in-person days and the three virtual days must all be attended in order to complete the course. The application period is now open.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
August 15, August 16, and September 6 (virtual) & August 28-31, 2023 (in-person) 
Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA (Union County)

Click here to apply for the course. The deadline to apply is July 10, 2023. Notifications of those accepted or not accepted into the course will be made by July 14, 2023.

Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

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

 

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Bradford County Conservation District Featured in WNEP PA Outdoor Life Segment

Screenshot from www.wnep.com. Dan Rhodes, Education Coordinator for the Bradford County Conservation District, demonstrates the underwater submarine drone.

Bradford County Conservation District was featured in two of WNEP’s PA Outdoor Life show segments. The first segment features an eel release, and the second a drone submarine demonstration. 

 

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PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference Early-bird Deadline Extended

The conference early-bird rate has been extended through June 30, so register today and save $20 on full conference registration!

In addition to PACD and SCC business, the 2023 conference will feature a special workshop on building authentic relationships. The workshop will take place during the Directors Breakfast on July 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The ability to build authentic relationships is a key component to meeting water quality goals across the state, and a process that is inclusive of all stakeholders from diverse backgrounds is essential to building long-term and trusting relationships with surrounding communities. Brenna Goggin, Director of Leadership Development for River Network, will present an interactive workshop that will compare authentic relationship building to transactional efforts, examine practices for building trust, and suggest questions to ask before you begin this work. Participants will have an opportunity to workshop potential challenges, discuss potential strategies to deploy, and build a plan toward success.

Click here for more information and to register.

 

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Register Now for Lawn Conversion Training – Virtual Training is Tomorrow!

In-person training is July 11.

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

A virtual training will be offered using Zoom on June 20, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. An in-person training will be provided on July 11, 2023, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Sunset Golf Course in Middletown, PA. Please note there is a 35-person limit for the in-person training. Applicants are encouraged to attend one of the training sessions before applying for a lawn conversion sub-grant. Please use the links below to register.

Virtual Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts
June 20, 2023 | Zoom Meeting

In-Person Lawn Conversion Training for Conservation Districts
July 11, 2023 | Sunset Golf Course, Middletown, PA

Please contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org with any questions.

The Lawn Conversion 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.

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Cumberland County Conservation District Holds Rain Barrel Workshop

Photo provided by Cumberland County Conservation District.

In April, Cumberland County Conservation District held a rain barrel workshop during the Gardener’s Gathering at Lower Allen Community Park in Lower Allen Township. Twenty-two people attended the workshop. Discussion during the presentation revolved around non-point source pollution and how actions in Pennsylvania affect the Chesapeake Bay downstream.

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.

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Reminder: Register for PACD Summer Committee Meetings

PACD will hold our summer committee meetings via video conference in June and July prior to the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. The meetings are open to conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff, as well as partner agency staff and invited guests. Registration for the virtual committee meetings is free and required. Please email the staff person listed to receive the registration link.

June 27, 2023 | 10:00-11:00 a.m.           
PACD Legislative Committee Videoconference
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.                             

June 29, 2023 | 10:00-11:00 a.m.           
PACD Conservation Committee Videoconference     
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.                                

July 6, 2023 | 10:00-11:00 a.m.              
PACD Education and Outreach Committee Videoconference    
Contact swehinger@pacd.org to request a registration link.                          

July 12, 2023 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.                
PACD District Employees Committee Videoconference 
Contact hmiller@pacd.org to request a registration link.                                

July 13, 2023 | 10:00-11:00 a.m.            
PACD Ways and Means Committee Videoconference   
Contact abrown@pacd.org to request a registration link.                            

July 14, 2023 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.                
PACD Operations Committee Videoconference
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

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Lebanon County Conservation District Holds Legislative Roundtable

Group picture of attendees at the Lebanon County Conservation District Legislative Roundtable provided by the district.

On June 2, 2023, Lebanon County Conservation District held a Legislative Roundtable. During the event, the district highlighted its conservation efforts and discussed the importance of farmland preservation, environmental education, and how the Countywide Action Plan (CAP) is being implemented in Lebanon County.

Representatives Russ Diamond, Tom Jones, and John Schlegel attended the event. Also present was JoEllen Litz, Lebanon County Commissioner. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh, State Conservation Commission Executive Secretary Doug Wolfgang, and PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Division Director Kristen Wolf attended as well.

Click here to read an article on the event.

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Leadership Development Updates

Video and slides from the June 7 webinar Act 217: Conservation District law are available at Building for Tomorrow.

There is still space and time to register for the remaining sessions in the 2023 Spring Leadership Webinar series.

Managers and district staff that are interested in participating in the 2023-24 CliftonStrengths Initiative can visit Building for Tomorrow for more information.

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.

 

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DEP Announces 2023 Environmental Education Grant Awards

Twenty Conservation District Projects Funded for over $172,700

Allegheny County Conservation District: $4,999 to host field workshops for municipal managers to elevate their knowledge of watersheds, watershed planning, and best management practices to remedy non-point source pollution and impacts of climate change, such as localized flooding.

Bradford County Conservation District: $29,942 to hold a Forestry Education Symposium, providing two Forestry Education events for private landowners, forestry professionals, and logging professionals who are interested in expanding their knowledge of forest practices, sustainability, and forest health. Eight conservation districts as well as the Northern Tier Hardwood Association will partner to host the events. Each event will include multiple guest speakers and a field tour.

Bradford County Conservation District: $4,912 to supply six school districts with the necessary materials, curriculum, resources, and guidance to implement Eels in the Classroom, an interdisciplinary, standards-based, educational experience throughout the 2023/2024 school year and beyond.

Bucks County Conservation District: $17,500 to develop county-wide education programs, including presentations for youth (K-12) and multi-municipality public events. Programs will be accessed through a website menu of curriculums with associated displays, brochures, and hands-on materials.

Cameron County Conservation District: $5,000 to hold several elementary and high school student field studies, along with adult-based workshops and community events. Hands-on activities and demonstrations will address water issues involving flooding and climate change.

Columbia County Conservation District: $4,998 to partner with the Borough of Berwick to construct and install approximately 15 downspout planters at homes along main streets in the Borough. Hold at least one public workshop addressing benefits of downspout planters and other ways to reduce stormwater runoff, non-point source pollution, and improve water quality.

Dauphin County Conservation District: $5,000 to partner with municipalities to host Stormwater Management for Homeowners workshops on reducing non-point source pollution.

Delaware County Conservation District: $5,000 to host a one-day sustainability conference, located within an environmental justice area, that aligns with the DEP 2021 Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan and the 2022 Delaware County Sustainability Plan. Multiple tracks will engage K-12 and college students, academics, community members and leaders, citizen scientists, non-profits, and businesses.

Indiana County Conservation District: $8,955 to incorporate environmental education principles into public outreach efforts. The initiative will incorporate current and relevant climate change and water quality information, hands-on materials, engaging activities, age-appropriate lessons, and in-person workshops.

Jefferson County Conservation District: $4,795 to hold a three-day outdoor camp for women and girls to increase knowledge about the environment, climate change, and sustainability.

Juniata County Conservation District: $1,440 to increase public awareness about stormwater pollutants by collaborating with the Mifflintown Borough maintenance department to stencil about 60 stormwater grates with the message “only rain in the drain.”

Lackawanna County Conservation District: $30,000 to create a permanent three-station stormwater best management practice demonstration area and hold three hands-on events for multiple audiences on stormwater and local water quality.

Lebanon County Conservation District: $4,758 to hold two streambank landowner workshops providing presentations, materials, and hands-on macroinvertebrate stream studies to educate landowners on assessing stream health.

Lehigh County Conservation District: $5,000 to develop an educational garden laboratory in a vacant school courtyard to improve students’ understanding of local climate change and water quality and other real-world sustainability challenges.

Mercer County Conservation District: $3,385 to conduct a three-week camp for middle school students, including outdoor activities that address climate change and water quality issues and education on science and/or environmentally themed careers.

Potter County Conservation District: $5,000 to use a stream simulation table to help municipal officials and workers understand stream processes and concepts related to stream management and in-stream construction.

Snyder County Conservation District: $3,298 to host two rain barrel workshops for residents and business owners of Snyder County who are interested in learning about storm water management. Each participant will receive one complete rain barrel and rain gutter garden for installation at their property.

Susquehanna County Conservation District: $19,722 to host education activities for school groups and community members along an interpretive trail. Trail signage features five points of interest highlighting climate change and regional water quality topics.

Westmoreland County Conservation District: $5,000 to provide stormwater education to 40 students in the Mosaic Community Development Center’s afterschool program. The conservation district will present two in-person educational programs for the students and work with the students and center to develop a demonstration rain garden that incorporates the lessons learned.

York County Conservation District: $4,039 to hold two seminars for residents on York County’s watersheds. The seminars will provide in-depth information on how residents’ actions can make a difference, even if they don’t have a waterway or a water body on their property.

Click here to read about all the projects funded.

 

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