Hi everyone! It is exciting to be a part of this organization. I am a wife, mother of 3, and Nana to 6 beautiful grandchildren. I enjoy reading and kayaking in my downtime and am a fair-weather newbie to fly fishing. If my husband has his way, I will become an avid fly-fisherman!
Working in the manufacturing industry for most of my life, I look forward to participating in this new adventure.
2024 Staff and Director Training Initiatives are open for registration and include programming for all district personnel and partners.
A three-part webinar series on Understanding Time Management is scheduled for January 31, February 7, and February 14. The series will examine our understanding of time as a resource, strategies, tools for productivity, and the psychology of procrastination.
A workshop titled Emotional Intelligence: Apps for Wellbeing is scheduled at five regional locations in February and March. This half-day interactive training includes a presentation, group discussion, and activities focusing on the fundamentals of emotional intelligence and stress management. Attendees will learn techniques and practices to develop and support emotional intelligence both in and out of the workplace. The workshop will be facilitated by Sarah Colantonio, president and founding partner at Lancaster-based Work Wisdom LLC and previous facilitator for workshops at Building for Tomorrow’s Management Summit and Emerging Leaders Pre-Con.
A workshop on Strategic Board Development is scheduled at six regional host districts in February and March. Strategic Board Development seeks to ensure that district needs are met in the future and present, including assessing board capacity and skill sets, an examination of culture, and a commitment to community outreach. Workshop attendees will discuss factors in assessing board readiness for future challenges, understand SCC procedures for the director nomination process and for the approval of nominating organizations, and identify opportunities to help build and sustain strategic relationships with nominating and other organizations working to make positive impacts in their communities.
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.
Jenna St. Clair and Kelse Brown from the Schuylkill Conservation District staff the conservation district booth at the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg on January 9, 2024. Photo used with permission from Schuylkill Conservation District.
Thank you to all the volunteers who made the conservation district booth at the PA Farm Show a success! The 2024 show featured the Stormwater Plinko game, which drew visitors to the booth.
Thank you to the following conservation districts who sent volunteers:
Allegheny
Berks
Centre
Clinton
Cumberland
Indiana
Lancaster
Lebanon
Schuylkill
Washington
And the PA Envirothon
The Conservation Technician for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) provides technical assistance to the Growing Greener program and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The area covered includes 17 counties in the South Central and South East Region.
This position will: Provide technical assistance to area partnership Growing Greener personnel and the NRCS in the planning, design, and construction of engineering practices; Prepare designs of agricultural conservation practices and water quality best management practices (BMPs), which are site-specific and require coordination among various groups and individuals; and Provide engineering assistance in conducting preliminary investigations.
Salary Range: $40,000 to $42,000. Benefits include health insurance, a 401k retirement plan, and accrued PTO leave.
Click here for the full job description. Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to PACD at jobs@pacd.org. The deadline to apply is January 26, 2024.
PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This free training is scheduled for May 7-9, 2024, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg (Hershey Area) in Grantville, PA.
The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania delivering conservation planning technical assistance, including, but not limited to, NRCS, conservation districts, SCC, farmland preservation entities, and non-profits. This training is only for those interested in writing conservation plans and becoming an NRCS Certified Conservation Planner or apprentice.
The training is free, and lunch will be provided.
The application period is now open. Click here for the application and more information. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2024.
Jim Walter of the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program in Bucks County discusses vegetation selection for the newly constructed rain garden in Bensalem Township as part of the workshop for lower Bucks County municipal staff.
In October 2023, the Bucks County Conservation District (BCCD) hosted two adult workshops on non-point source (NPS) pollution principles, reaching 40+ participants. Both workshops were held in the more populus and urbanized southern third of Bucks County, where municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) programs are in varying stages of development. Each workshop targeted audiences of either municipal representatives or residential property owners. One workshop presented the utility and efficiency of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to local municipal engineers and public works teams. While the other workshop introduced residents to the community benefits and DIY options associated with SLOW –SOAK –STORE stormwater best management practices.
These workshops represented a joint effort by Bucks County Conservation District, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards, Friends of Poquessing Watershed, Bensalem Township, and Lower Southampton Township.
To see other upcoming events with BCCD, please visit https://bucksccd.org.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection under section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
PACD Program Manager Holly Miller poses with the newly installed CREP banner at the PA Farm Show Complex.
The 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show runs January 6-13, 2024 in Harrisburg. This year’s event celebrates how we are Connecting Our Communities. Visit the Conservation District booth (co-located with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) in the GIANT Exposition Hall.
Also, check out the new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) banner that will be displayed in the Farm Show facility for all of 2024! This banner is part of the CREP Outreach Program Office hosted by PACD and funded through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
Click here to read more about the event.
John Chibirka (right) instructs the Level II training in April 2012. Photo by Holly Hunt.
The application period for Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II) is now open. Conservation district staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free training opportunities, including classroom learning and experience in the field.
Basic and Level II training will each be held twice. Applicants may apply for one and only one of the four training sessions. Do not apply for both levels this spring.
Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
March 19, March 26, and April 22 (virtual) & April 8-11, 2024 (in-person)
Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA
Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
March 19, March 26, and April 22 (virtual) & April 15-18, 2024 (in-person)
Union County Government Center, Lewisburg, PA
Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
April 19, April 26 (virtual) & April 29-May 3, 2024 (in-person)
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) and the USDA NRCS State Office, Harrisburg, PA
Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
April 19, April 26 (virtual) & May 13-17, 2024 (in-person)
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) and the USDA NRCS State Office, Harrisburg, PA
The deadline to apply is January 26, 2024.
Email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with questions.
The following sponsors make these training opportunities possible: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.
Winter 2024 Leadership Development programming includes offerings for all district personnel. This year’s Staff Training Initiative includes regional workshops on emotional intelligence and a webinar series on time management.
Regional Director Training workshops will focus on strategic board development and working with nominating organizations.
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.
Photo of workshop participant provided by Lawrence County Conservation District.
Lawrence County Conservation District held two rain barrel workshops. Forty-eight participants received education regarding watersheds, nonpoint source pollution, water quality, stormwater management, and best management practices to help reduce stormwater runoff.
The presentations were followed by a tour of a rain garden and cistern used in the local community garden. Thirty rain barrels with adapter kits were distributed during the workshops.
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.