PACD’s new Conservation Technician in the Bloomsburg office is Kyle Pierce. Kyle graduated from Lycoming College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics and a minor in Mathematics. He previously worked as a construction laborer for Don E. Bower Inc. Kyle resides in Berwick, PA, with his fiancé Kiersten and their dog, Ashtyn.

On June 15, the Dauphin County Conservation District held a workshop where homeowners learned about stormwater and the effects their actions have on the quantity and quality of stormwater generated on their property. In addition, various best management practices were discussed for attendees to consider implementing on their property.

Thirty-four participants attended the workshop and received one rain barrel per household. In addition, one lucky household received a rain barrel painted by a local high school art student (pictured).

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.

 

It’s time to RSVP for your fall region meeting! All meetings will be held in-person with the option to attend virtually. Please click on your region meeting below for RSVP information and other details.

Topics of discussion include a legislative update, including format changes for the annual highlights pages; a PACD program update; a statewide Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) program update; and whether conservation districts want to fund a statewide salary study to support district funding levels in the state budget.

PACD North West Region Meeting
September 21, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Kinzua Bridge State Park, Mount Jewett, PA

PACD South West Region Meeting
September 28, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

PACD South East Region Meeting
September 29, 2022 | 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA

PACD South Central Region Meeting
October 5, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Cumberland Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

PACD North Central Region Meeting
October 18, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Clinton Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA

PACD North East Region Meeting
October 25, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Schuylkill Conservation District, Pottsville, PA

Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, was held August 9-11, 2022, at The Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. PACD and conservation districts from Berks, Bucks, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Lehigh, and Union counties met hundreds of landowners and farmers to discuss local conservation during the three-day event.

Thank you so much to all who volunteered to share the great work of conservation districts with the public! Also, a special thank you to Jonathan Yoder and Carey Lightner from Huntingdon County Conservation District for setting up the booth for us.

 

All management staff and aspiring managers are encouraged to register for the 2022 Summit and Pre-Con, September 13-15 at the Wyndham Garden State College.

This year’s Summit begins on Tuesday, September 13, with a dedicated Pre-Con meeting on Leadership Fundamentals, perfect for first-time and new managers, assistant managers, team leaders, and other staff who aspire to management roles. The Leadership Fundamentals workshops will focus on foundational interpersonal and self-leadership skills for managers and future managers. The morning session, presented by Jacqui Catrabone of Erie-based Strategy Solutions Inc., will look at team roles and dynamics and will examine the concepts of engagement and empowerment and their role in healthy organizational culture. Jonathan Cleck of Greencastle Consulting Associates of West Chester will present the afternoon session focusing on the roles of self-awareness and regulation, trust and vulnerability, crucible moments, and resilience in developing high-performance leaders.

Strengths-Based Management is the theme of the Wednesday, September 14, Keynote workshop. This session will begin with an introduction using reports from the CliftonStrengths for Managers initiative; all registered attendees will be invited to participate in this assessment before the Summit. The workshop by Jonathan Cleck will guide participants in identifying and understanding their dominant and secondary talent themes. It will also examine ways to integrate their strengths with management roles and styles to improve performance, team cohesion, and problem-solving. The Wednesday afternoon session features an interactive workshop and panel discussion on Partner Relations and Communications, facilitated by Rita Coleman-Graham. Participants will explore aspects of working collaboratively and communicating effectively with various district partners and will interact with partner panelists on improving communication and interactions by understanding shared goals, expectations, and roles.

The Summit wraps up on Thursday, September 15, with a manager networking TEDx screening, a facilitated group discussion on Budgeting, Assessing Program Costs, and Other Financial Questions, and a Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership presentation.

The deadline for registration is September 2 – visit Building for Tomorrow for Pre-Con and Summit registration links and event agenda.

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.

 

Franklin County Conservation District received a Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant to hold a Summer Conservation Farm Luncheon on August 9, 2022, at the Lurgan Lions Club near Roxbury. The district also took this opportunity to honor the 2022 Franklin County Conservation Farmer of the Year, Bryan and Tina Kyle of Chambersburg.

The grant funding enabled the Franklin County Conservation District to provide meaningful education on Best Management Practice (BMP) benefits to approximately 55 attendees. Attendees visited the Kyle beef farm and saw firsthand the benefits of no-till cropping and various BMP improvements that have been implemented. They also learned how BMPs can reduce nonpoint source pollution. After touring the Kyle farm, guests returned to the Lurgan Lions Club, where they could view the club’s recently-completed stream restoration project.

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.

 

Submitted by Dylan Varner, Nutrient Management Specialist, Cumberland County Conservation District

Cumberland County Conservation District conducted their Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Test (PSNT) program. The PSNT program helps determine if additional nitrogen is needed to reach the desired yield goals, limiting, and in some cases eliminating, excess nitrogen from entering surface water entities.

Cumberland County’s 2022 PSNT Program tested 132 fields equaling 2,304 acres. Twenty-one farmers participated, and just two farmers required additional nitrogen.

If all the farmers participating needed a nitrogen recommendation and would follow our calculated recommendation, we would save around 247,432 lbs. of excess nitrogen from being applied to the fields and potentially entering the Chesapeake Bay. This, on average, would save each participating farmer $5,891 at current nitrogen prices. This would be a big step in helping Cumberland County reach its goal to reduce its current nutrient pollution by 2.205 million pounds of nitrogen per year.

Click here to read the entire article. 

Urban soil is known to contain contaminants, like lead, that harm human health. New research from the University of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Conservation District links patterns of contamination in Pittsburgh’s soil with historic emissions from the city’s industrial past.

Read click here to read more. 

Position Title:  Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant

Number of Positions Available:  1

Salary Range:  $20-22/hour

Location:  5925 Stevenson Ave., Suite A, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Duties:

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) supports Pennsylvania’s conservation districts so they can conserve natural resources for our future. The PACD Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant is responsible for bookkeeping and clerical duties and provides general program support for the office. This is a part-time position reporting to the Executive Director.

Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

A qualified candidate should have the following:

• Working knowledge of bookkeeping using QuickBooks, including entering payroll and reconciling accounts.
• Ability to play a critical role in the office’s day-to-day operation, including answering phones, processing mail, and ordering supplies.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail to assist with a variety of programs on an on-going basis.
• Proficiency in QuickBooks and Microsoft Office Suite.

Education:

Applicant must, at a minimum, have completed high school.

Work Schedule:

This position is part-time, 20-25 hours per week. Hours are somewhat flexible. Occasional travel is required.

Benefits:

Benefits include a 401k retirement plan, nine paid holidays, and accrued PTO leave. Relocation expenses will not be provided.

How to Apply:

Candidates must submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references to PACD:

Please apply by e-mail with the subject heading “Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant” to jobs@pacd.org.

Deadline for Application: 

All application materials must be received by 4:30 pm EDT on August 19, 2022.

 

All management staff are encouraged to register for the 2022 Management Summit, September 13-15 at the Wyndham Conference Center State College. This year’s conference features a dedicated Pre-Con meeting on Tuesday, September 13, that will examine fundamentals of team management and personal leadership development and is suitable for all new and first-time managers, assistant managers, team leads, and other aspiring management staff. In addition, summit attendees will be invited to participate in the CliftonStrengths for Managers assessment. The focus topics for Wednesday, September 14, include strengths-based management and partner relations, with two interactive workshops and a facilitated panel discussion. Thursday, September 15, will include a group discussion on program cost assessment and other budget issues, along with a presentation from the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information to register for the 2022 Pre-Con and Management Summit.

The deadline for reservations from the Wyndham room block is Friday, August 12 – please see the event registration pages for room reservation instructions.

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.