• The Strategic Planning Grants program for 2021-22 is accepting letters of intent through November 19. Interested districts should review the program requirements and submit a letter of intent by November 19.
• Managers, assistant managers, and team leaders can still register for the 2021 Management Summit, September 15-16 in State College.
• Registration is open for the 2021 Fall Leadership webinar series in October and November. All conservation district personnel are welcome to attend these sessions.

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.

Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, was held August 10-12, 2021, at The Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. PACD and conservation districts from Berks, Cambria, Clinton, Huntingdon, and Lycoming 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!

During the July 29, 2021, Executive Council meeting, three new officers were elected.

President: Kelly Stagen, Pike County

1^st Vice President: Dennis Beck, Cambria

2^nd Vice President: Emil Bove, Westmoreland

PACD Treasurer Sonia Wasco and Secretary Charles Duritsa continue to serve in their current positions. Outgoing President Mike Price was presented with a gavel plaque during the meeting. We thank Mike for his two years of leadership as PACD President!

Conservation district staff and partners attended the PACD Executive Council Meeting on July 29. During the meeting, several individuals were recognized.

The 2021 honorees are:

Legislator Leadership Award

• Senator Gene Yaw (PA 23rd District)

President’s Award

• Lisa Jo Suhr

Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

• Cindy Adams Dunn

Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award

• Bob Robinson (Wyoming County)

Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

• Matthew Golden (Washington County)

Conservation District Trash Champion

• Washington County Conservation District

Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards

30 Years of Service

• Brian Sneeringer, Adams County Conservation District
• James Coslo, Centre County Conservation District
• Debra Dressler, Juniata County Conservation District
• Donald Williams, Somerset Conservation District

35 Years of Service

• Anthony Quadro, Westmoreland Conservation District

Click here to read the entire press release. 

PACD is pleased to announce the five state-level winners of the National Association of Conservation Districts 2021 “Healthy Forests Healthy Communities” poster contest.

The winners in each age category are:

K – 1^st Grade: Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County

2^nd – 3^rd Grade: Riley Thomas, Cambria County

4^th – 6^th Grade: Brock Wharton, Cambria County

7^th – 9^th Grade: Evelyn Warner, Cambria County

10^th – 12^th Grade: Kathryn Polstra, Columbia County

To promote the importance of trees, students from kindergarten through twelfth grades entered posters conveying their thoughts and ideas through original artwork. Submissions were judged based on the entry’s conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal.

PACD thanks all of the participants in the contest for their interest and dedication to conservation. Best wishes to the state-level winners in the upcoming national judging competition.

For more information about the NACD poster contest, visit http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests.

Click here to read the press release. 

 

The Westmoreland Conservation District has been working diligently to install best management practices and green infrastructure in the community. These projects, implemented with the help of local partners including local municipalities, school districts, watershed organizations, farmers, and the Westmoreland County Community College, have made great strides in preventing water and erosion issues.

To showcase the phenomenal work completed, the district created a BMP portfolio that highlights 45 of the many projects. The portfolio organizes the projects within four categories – watershed restoration; stormwater management; agriculture; and dirt, gravel, and low volume roads.

Click here to read the entire article and here for the BMP portfolio. 

On July 16, 2021, Bradford County Conservation District (BCCD) held its 65^th anniversary celebration at Mt. Pisgah State Park. PACD Director of Communications and Education Shannon Wehinger attended the event.

Visit the BCCD Facebook page for more photos of the event. Click here to read a press release. 

Registration is open for the 2021 Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership Webinar series, scheduled for Wednesdays, October 27, November 3, and November 10. The webinars are open to all district personnel and partners. District directors and managers are especially encouraged to attend. This year’s program features a two-part workshop on Succession Planning & Management and a presentation on Environmental Justice. Registration is separate for each of these programs. Please visit Building for Tomorrow for more information. 

District managers, assistant managers, and team leaders can still register for the 2021 Management Summit September 15-16 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center. This year’s Summit focuses on staff development and retention with sessions on coaching and mentoring, employee lifecycle management, and employee policy in the post-COVID era. Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda and registration. 

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.

Conservation District managers from the South Central Region met at Raystown Lake on July 19, 2021. The managers were joined by PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh and a few retired managers as well.

The PACD staff in the Harrisburg office updated their phone system. With the new system, staff each got a direct line. The main number (717) 238-7223 will still work, but it will take callers to an automated menu to select the extension they want.

If you want to dial a staff person directly, please use these numbers:

Brenda Shambaugh – 717-794-6103

Amy Brown – 717-794-6104

Holly Miller – 717-794-6105

Nick Yeagy – 717-794-6106

Diane Young – 717-794-6109

Molly Burns – 717-794-6110

Matt Miller – 717-794-6111

Shannon Wehinger – 717-794-6112

If callers use the main number, staff can be reached at their three-digit extension, which is the last three numbers of their direct line. Brenda’s extension is x103; Matt’s is x111, etc.