The Columbia County Conservation District held two separate rain barrel workshops. The 49 attendees learned about non-point source pollution, how it affects our waterways, and best management practices that can be used at home to reduce stormwater.

Thanks to partners at Rohrbach’s Farm Market and the Coca-Cola syrup factory near Allentown, who donated all the barrels for free, the district was able to host two workshops instead of the original plan to hold one. A total of 45 50-gallon rain barrels were distributed to be installed around Columbia County to reduce stormwater.

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.

The “Maximizing Grazing for Maximum Benefit Workshop and Pasture Walk” was offered by the Columbia, Montour, and Luzerne County Conservation Districts on April 18, 2024.

Russ Wilson and Dave Hartman shared their insights on managing pastures and the animals that rely on them. The morning session featured Russ at the Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center Auditorium. Then, Dave led a pasture walk at his farm in the afternoon. They emphasized management that provides livestock with extended grazing in the late fall and early winter while providing enough nutrition to finish with a high-quality product. The rain held off, so the 55 farmers and agency personnel in attendance could see best practices applied at the farm level.

Financial support for this event was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through a Growing Greener Grant.

Joint Annual Conference Early-bird Deadline Extended to June 28, 2024

Registrants attending the conference on Wednesday can choose to join one of two exciting field tours sponsored and hosted by Penn State.

• Chestnut Restoration Research and Frost Entomology Museum – Participants will take in two spots of interest on the campus of Penn State University Park. First, visit the research site of the American Chestnut restoration project at the Arboretum, a partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) to breed a variety of American chestnut resistant to chestnut blight. Next, stop at the Frost Entomological Museum to explore insect biology, better understand their relationship with humans, and learn how people in the Department of Entomology are expanding our collective knowledge of insects and their place in this world.
• Rock Springs Research Farm and Ag Progress Days – Participants will take a bus tour of agricultural research plots at the Larson Research Farm at Rock Springs. The research and education on this 2,200-acre site, which is not open to the public, works toward better food and farming for the health of society and the environment. Current studies at this living laboratory focus on fruits, vegetables, grains, weeds, soil, insects, fish, water, farming techniques, forestry and more. Participants will then stop at Ag Progress Days to see conservation practices implemented at the site, including the riparian buffer on Spruce Creek.

Register by June 28, 2024, and save $30.00 on Full Registration! Click here for more information and to register.

There is still time to participate! The submission deadline for the 2024 National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Poster Contest is June 30, 2024. This year’s theme is “May the Forest Be with You Always.” Posters must be submitted to PACD via email to swehinger@pacd.org. Click here for more information. 

Building for Tomorrow is hosting a dedicated training program exclusively for new conservation district managers in 2024. 2024 New Manager Training begins in September, starting with Summit PreCon on Tuesday, September 17, and continuing through both days of the 2024 Management Summit on Wednesday, September 18, and Thursday, September 19. The September portion of the training will wrap up with a PostCon meeting on Thursday, September 19, after the Summit program has concluded. The training will continue in October, with a full-day meeting in State College on Wednesday, October 23, focusing on management effectiveness and developing personal leadership skills. The program will conclude with a webinar series in October through December with dates to be determined. Please stay tuned for further announcements.

There is no charge for participation in the New Manager Training events, but registration is required. 2024 New Manager Training group members are eligible for reimbursement of one room night for both the September and October training. Visit Building for Tomorrow for training agenda and registration links, or contact Leadership Development Manager Matt Miller mmiller@pacd.org 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.

Last fall, the McKean County Conservation District held an Erosion Control in Our Forests Workshop. Thirty foresters, loggers, logging contractors, and private forest landowners attended the event. Attendees learned more about the fundamentals of erosion control, permitting, planning before a timber harvest, best management practices to implement during the harvest, and stream crossing practices.

The workshop was made possible through a multi-county effort by the conservation districts of Tioga, Potter, Cameron, Elk, and McKean Counties in cooperation with the PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Implementation Committee and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry.

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.

 

The PACD water resource trainer or instructional designer works under a technical training grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This grant provides technical training on 25 PA Code Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) and 25 PA Code Chapter 105 (Dam Safety and Waterway Management). The position may also support other conservation, water resource, and water quality-related training. This is a full-time, salaried position based out of Harrisburg, PA. The position reports to the Executive Director. The salary range is $56,000-64,000/year.

Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to the PACD via email with the subject heading “Water Resource Trainer” to jobs@pacd.org. The deadline to apply is June 5, 2024.

Click here for the full announcement. 

PACD is co-hosting a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) Review Course. The course will be held at the Clinton County Conservation District in Mill Hall, PA, on September 10, 2024. The cost is $380 for non-district participants and $180 for conservation district staff (contact hmiller@pacd.org for the discount code). Click here to register online. 

The review course is open to anyone, including conservation district, agency, or private company staff, actively pursuing a CPESC certification through EnviroCert International, Inc. Please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested.

The deadline to register is August 30, 2024. Click here for more information. 

Penn State Ag Progress Days will be held August 13-15, 2024, at the Russell E. Larson Agriculture Research Center at 2710 West Pine Grove Road in Pennsylvania Furnace. Nine miles southwest of State College, PA, this event will feature the latest technology and research exhibits, educational programs, and guided tours.

This event is an excellent opportunity to call attention to the work and programs accomplished by the conservation districts.

We are looking for volunteers for the conservation district booth for this event (2 volunteers are needed per shift). If you’d like to schedule a shift, send your name, contact information, and preferred shift(s) to swehinger@pacd.org.                                                                           

Tuesday, August 13: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.       
Tuesday, August 13: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 14: Filled
Wednesday, August 14: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 14: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 15: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 15: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

When available, volunteers will be sent a final volunteer schedule, parking passes, and other show information. For more information on Ag Progress Days, visit their website at http://agsci.psu.edu/apd.

The CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts Initiative has been extended through April 2025. Thank you to the 300+ who have participated in the initiative so far!

Access codes for the CliftonStrengths online assessment and Top 5 Reports will continue to be available to staff at all districts. Participating managers will continue to have access to CliftonStrengths for Managers, including a Top 10 Report, and access to Gallup portal resources such as the individualized Manager Learning Journey self-guided curriculum and other learning models, articles, and advice. CliftonStrengths team-building workshops are also available for participating districts and are great opportunities for both staff and board development.

Contact LD Manager Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org for more information on getting the most out of CliftonStrengths or to schedule a workshop for your district team.

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.