Just in time for back to school! The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has announced the 2022 Poster Contest theme: “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life.” PACD will be accepting photos of your county’s winners until June 30, 2022. We are very excited to see all the artistic entries for this year’s theme!
Click here to read more.
In August, the Elk County Conservation District held an acid mine drainage (AMD) educational workshop and site tour in Force, PA. Topics during the workshop included how AMD forms, how it is remediated, and an experiment for participants on to “Make their own AMD.” A tour of a local site followed.
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.
Formal and non-formal educators convened in Harrisburg on September 23, 2021, for The Dive Deeper Summit. The summit gathers youth water educators in the Mid-Atlantic Region that pairs knowledge and resource sharing with networking opportunities. Attendees could participate in person or virtually this year.
Shannon Wehinger, PACD Director of Communications and Education, and conservation district staff attended the summit. The summit provided ample opportunities to experience hands-on activities to enhance water education.
On September 17, 2021, PACD’s 4-person team traveled to York County for the 14th annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser benefitting the York County Envirothon.
Due to overwhelming interest, the York County Conservation District added a morning shoot in addition to the afternoon shoot. Congratulations to York County Conservation District for another successful event!
PACD created a public service announcement (PSA) to encourage citizens to maintain their car to prevent pollution. Please share!
Materials include:
Click here to view the webpage of materials. Please share the PSA scripts with your local radio stations. Conservation districts and partners are encouraged to share the video on their social media channels.
Fall Leadership Webinar Series
Directors, managers, and interested district personnel and partners are encouraged to register for the Fall Leadership webinar series in October and November. This year’s Fall Leadership series includes presentations on succession planning and environmental justice. Click here for more information and to register.
Strategic Planning Grants
Reminder to districts considering strategic planning for the coming year – deadline to submit a Letter of Intent for the 2021-22 Strategic Planning Grants program is November 19. Click here for program requirements.
Management Summit Wrap-Up
The 2021 Management Summit was held last week in State College. This year’s event included a pre-conference meeting to wrap up the 2021 new manager hybrid training program. Fifteen new managers, assistant managers, and partners attended the pre-conference, with an additional four participating virtually.
Congratulations to the 2021 New Manager Training class, which included Nathan Brophy (Northumberland), Dion Campbell (Northampton), James Coslo (Centre), Ellen Enslin (Pike), Kevin Frederick (Lehigh), Kristina Heaney (Monroe), Holly Laird (Armstrong), Matthew Long (Lycoming), Jeff Hill (York), Jeff Pflug (Beaver), Carrie Richmond (Sullivan), and Trevor Weaver (Mifflin).
The Summit was attended by 48 managers, assistant managers, and partner staff, with an additional seven participating virtually. This year’s program focused on staff development and retention, with keynotes on coaching, mentoring, performance management, and employee life cycle.
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.
Montgomery County Conservation District planted a total of 0.75 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer at the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA in Montgomery County. The total cost for the buffer was $10,131.39 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program: https://pacd.org/?page_id=17536
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 Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
In June, Jefferson County Conservation District received a Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Mini-grant to hold their first-ever rain barrel workshop. The district educated over 13 participants about the importance of nonpoint source pollution, water conservation, and water quality.
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.
On Friday, August 27, 2021, the Potter and Cameron County Conservation Districts held a joint legislative project tour. The tour showcased two project sites in each county and highlighted the need for continued funding and prioritization. North West Region Director and National Association of Conservation Districts Director Cliff Lane represented PACD at the event.
Project sites visited include the Sterling Run Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Site and the Driftwood Mudsill Crib Wall and Riparian Planting Site in Cameron County. In Potter County, the areas visited included the Southwoods Road Soil Pinning Site and the Pine Run Culvert Replacement Project.
Tour participants included Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection North Central Regional Office representatives, local state representatives, commissioners, and conservation district board members from multiple counties.
The project sites provide great benefits for their respective watersheds and demonstrate the need for continued funding and prioritization of this work.
On August 25, 2021, two Fayette County Conservation District representatives spoke to the local radio station WMBS. Dave Lohr, Commissioner Director, and Pierce Willson, Agricultural Coordinator, participated in a 45-minute segment called “What’s Working in Fayette County.”
Dave and Pierce spoke about the history of conservation districts, soil conservation, and how the district helps farmers in the county.
Click here to watch the video.