The 2026-27 New Manager Training Program begins in August with a webinar series on District Fundamentals, including topics such as the Conservation District Law and other laws, board relations, and district partnerships. The series will run through October. All webinars are scheduled for Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., and links to session recordings will be posted. Visit Building for Tomorrow for a detailed agenda and registration link.

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.

 

Submitted by Tammy L. Bartsch, Event Coordinator, Berks County Conservation District

On June 5, 2026, the Berks County Conservation District held their annual legislative breakfast. This year’s breakfast featured a Dirt and Gravel Road Project in Ontelaunee Township, Bowers Road and Lake Shore Drive (Route 73).

Guests enjoyed a delicious lakeside breakfast buffet, followed by presentations and a few speakers.

Dean Druckenmiller, District Executive, gave a presentation on a Dirt and Gravel Road Project, which was to reroute a road to improve access to the parking lot. The total grant amount from the State Conservation Commission (SCC) was $138,927.60, and the in-kind contribution from Ontelaunee Township was $166,882.85. It took a few years and a lot of hard work to get the project completed.

David Osgood, Watershed Specialist, presented information on the Source Water Protection Plan.

To wrap up the morning, the Reading Area Water Authority gave a tour around the lake, which is not accessible to the general public.

There were over 40 people in attendance, including Senator Judy Schwank, Representative Jamie Barton, and Representative Jacklyn Rusnock. Staff from Representative David Maloney’s office, Berks County Commissioners Christian Leinbach and Dante Santoni, and Berks County Controller Joe Rudderrow were also in attendance. A variety of agencies were represented, including the SCC, the Reading Area Water Authority, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Berks County Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

 

 

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. 

Forty-three learners from 22 conservation districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection convened for Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training at the Penn Harris Hotel & Conference Center in Camp Hill, PA, June 1-5, 2026.

Participants engaged in a combination of hands-on classroom learning, fieldwork, and presentations on erosion and sedimentation control, including safety on the job site and how to best conduct a technical plan review. The field day featured strategically placed learning stations at two sites, each in a different stage of construction. Special thanks to the York County Conservation District for hosting the field day—the highlight of the week!

This training is funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.

On June 1, 2026, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended a Partners in Ag Conservation Excellence (PACE) tour of ag conservation projects completed with joint funding from the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The tour took place in Juniata and Mifflin Counties.

The tour visited Henry Acres Farm in Juniata County and Goss Farm in Mifflin County.

 

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) poster contest, open to students in grades K-12, offers young people an opportunity to express their views on natural resource issues through art. The NACD theme for 2026 is “Soil: Where it All Begins.”

The deadline to submit posters to PACD for the 2026 NACD Poster Contest state-level judging is June 30, 2026.

No photos of posters will be accepted, only clear, scanned PDF files. Districts should provide the files, correctly scanned and named, to PACD. If you don’t have a large scanner, a cell phone works too. If you aren’t sure how to do this, search online for instructions for scanning to PDF using a cell phone without an app.

Click here for the contest flyer and here for more information. Questions may be directed to Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org

Reprinted with permission from Pike County Conservation District’s June 1, 2026, Newsletter

Pike County Conservation District is proud to announce the completion of an Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) project at Egypt Valley Farm in Tafton, PA!

With additional support from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the farm operator, the project added conservation practices that protect water quality, improve soil health, and support long-term farm sustainability along Egypt Creek.

We’re proud to partner with local producers to make a lasting positive impact on our community’s natural resources!

The project is funded by the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program through the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.

 

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.