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.
Social Media Spotlight
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 is Delaware County Conservation District’s Facebook post on monitoring streams for winter salt. Follow the district at https://www.facebook.com/p/Delaware-County-Conservation-District-Pennsylvania-100068132910615.
PACD and Conservation Districts Attend Bay in the Balance Conference
Photo caption (clockwise from back row left side): Joe Quatrini, Bradford County Conservation District Manager; Dave Stoner, Franklin County Conservation District Manager; Amy Brown, PACD Executive Director; Molly Burns, PACD Project and Event Specialist; Adam McClain, Adams County Conservation District Manager; Chris Thompson, Lancaster County Conservation District Administrator; Randall Leisure, Lebanon County Conservation District Associate Director and PACD South Central Region Director; Gordon Hoover, Lancaster County Conservation District Vice Chairman; Lori Glace, Juniata Conservation District Manager and Agricultural Land Preservation Program Administrator.
Stakeholders convened in Gettysburg from March 2-4, 2026, for the Bay in the Balance conference. PACD and several conservation districts attended, including Adams, Blair, Bradford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Tioga conservation districts.
The Bay in the Balance conference approach brings together diverse stakeholders to discuss and develop strategies to balance the interests of a vibrant agricultural sector, local water quality, and limited state and federal resources, keeping conservation efforts moving forward.
Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences sponsored the conference in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Pennsylvania agricultural industry, and numerous non-governmental organizations.
Leadership Development Updates
2026 Director Handbook Now Available
The newly revised and updated 2026 Handbook for Pennsylvania’s Conservation District Directors has launched and is now available at www.PaConservationDirectors.org. This comprehensive resource includes information on statutory responsibilities, governance best practices, operational guidance, legal requirements, and partner relations to help conservation district directors fulfill their public duties effectively and confidently.
The 2026 Director Handbook online edition incorporates modern accessibility features, simple navigation, and rich content, including streamlined reference materials, embedded orientation videos, and links to external resources for self-guided learning. A simplified print edition will be distributed to all districts beginning in April. Whether you are a newly appointed director or a seasoned board member, the Director Handbook serves as a practical guide for informed decision-making, ethical leadership, and sound administration. All directors are encouraged to review the updated edition and retain it as a core governance manual for district boards.
Update: April 1 NW Regional Director Training Relocated
The Back to Basics Director Orientation training scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at Lawrence County DPS has been moved to the Forest County Conservation District in Tionesta. Click here to register.
Last Chance to Register for Assertive Communications Staff Training Workshops
Important reminder for all district staff: registration deadlines for the Assertive Communications & Empowered Conflict Management workshops are approaching quickly! The training is designed to help participants navigate difficult situations—and occasionally encounters with difficult people—with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
The workshop will be beneficial to anyone who works with landowners, contractors, or the public. Facilitator Rita Graham brings deep experience working with conservation districts and their various stakeholders, and her training approach is geared toward addressing real-life scenarios for district staff. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity. Attendance is free and open to all staff and partners.
Tuesday, March 17 – St. Vincent College, Latrobe
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 3/9
Thursday, March 19 – Ramada Conference Center, State College
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 3/9
Wednesday, March 25 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 3/11
Tuesday, March 31 – Wanango Country Club, Reno
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY 3/17
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.
Social Media Spotlight
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 Venango Conservation District’s Facebook post on a Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road project. Follow the district at https://www.facebook.com/VenangoConservationDistrict.
Outstanding in Their Field
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.
Executive Director Attends Women in Ag Event in Juniata County
PACD Executive Director Amy Brown (front, right) poses with attendees from Juniata, Snyder, and Mifflin County Conservation Districts.
On February 26, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended Juniata County Conservation District’s Women in Ag “Looking to the Future” event in Mifflintown, PA.
Topics included manure management, native pollinators, invasive plant control, and more.
March Board Development Video
The 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 March installment, we begin our series of training module videos, starting with the History of the Conservation Movement. These short videos will also be included on the new 2026 Director Handbook website and are being produced as modules for self-guided learning on Clean Water Academy.
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.
Outstanding in Their Field
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.
Staff Training Workshop: Assertive Communications & Empowered Conflict Management
Screenshot of Rita Graham.
The Assertive Communications & Empowered Conflict Management workshop is designed to help participants navigate difficult situations–and occasionally, encounters with difficult people–with confidence, clarity, and purpose. This interactive session empowers attendees to apply assertiveness skills to real-life work and home situations.
Participants are encouraged to come prepared with a current scenario so they can develop and practice delivering an assertive message that clearly communicates their wants or needs without being passive or aggressive. Through a mix of brief lectures, individual reflection, group discussion, and hands-on practice, participants will explore their personal responses to conflict and learn how to choose the most effective approach.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to assess when and how to use assertiveness as a conflict management tool, develop effective assertive messages, and apply techniques for setting boundaries.
All workshops are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and are open to all district personnel and partner staff. Networking with refreshments begins at 9:00 a.m. and lunch is provided.
The workshop will be facilitated by Rita Graham, who brings a wealth of experience working with conservation district staff to deliver training that applies concepts to real-world scenarios. Rita explains why this topic is important and what attendees will take away from the workshop in the short video here.
- March 10 – French Creek State Park, Elverson, PA
- March 17 – Fred Rogers Institute at St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
- March 19 – Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
- March 25 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas, PA
- March 31 – Wanango Country Club, Reno, PA
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.