Let’s learn from each other to increase the success of environmental education (EE) grant funding in Pennsylvania! Join successful grant writers and funding agency program officers for this FREE virtual workshop on EE grant-writing tips and tricks. Presenters from Stroud Water Research Center, the PA Department of Education, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, Millersville University, and NOAA will introduce the world of funding, describe how to read a request for proposal (RFP), give tips for success, explore where to find EE grants, and facilitate Q&A.

When: Thursday, February 18, 2021, from 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Where: Online via Zoom video conferencing. The connection link will be emailed prior to the event.

Audience: Pennsylvania classroom teachers, non-formal environmental educators, school administrators. 1.5 Act 48 hours are available for Pennsylvania certified teachers. A certificate of participation will be provided for other attendees if needed.

Cost: Free

Registration: Required. Limited to the first 100 participants registered.

Learn more and register today! 

The 2021 Erosion Control Workshop, presented by Allegheny, Butler, and Washington County Conservation Districts, includes eight webinars, with one held at 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday in February. The Erosion Control Workshop is an annual event for municipalities, contractors, consultants, developers, engineers, and other land development professionals. The cost is $15 per webinar.

• Identifying and Mitigating Acid-Forming Materials, Tuesday, February 2
• PA DEP Regulatory Updates, Thursday, February 4
• Application of Managed Release Concept BMP, Tuesday, February 9
• Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), Thursday, February 11
• NPDES Construction Stormwater – Common Deficiencies, Tuesday, February 16
• Conservation Districts and MS4 Pollutant Reduction Plans, Thursday, February 18
• Hey Engineer! Why Did My Embankment Slide into a Mine?, Tuesday, February 23
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects, Thursday, February 25

Click here for more information. 

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2021 Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II) will be held in the same manner as 2020. The application period is now open.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
April 12-15, 2021 (online portion, mornings only)
August 2-4, 2021 (in-person field days) at the Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Both portions are required to complete the course.
Deadline to apply: February 12, 2021

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
August 23-27, 2021
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) and Holiday Inn Harrisburg (tentative depending on the COVID situation)
Deadline to apply: February 19, 2021

Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

These training opportunities are made possible by the following sponsors: Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

 

PACD seeks input from farmers and agricultural landowners from the Pennsylvania portion of the Ohio River Watershed about the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on February 9 and 11, 2021. Farmers can participate in these discussions whether or not they have enrolled land in the program.

Please share this information with your farmer contacts in the Ohio Watershed.

All farmers who participate in the virtual focus group will receive $125 in return for their time. Registration is limited to 15 qualified farmers on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are farming 50 acres of more, please register for the focus group on February 9 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: https://bit.ly/pacd-oh-1

If you are farming less than 50 acres, please register for the focus group on February 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: https://bit.ly/pacd-oh-2

Note: Conservation district staff, directors, and associate directors are not eligible to participate.

Questions? Contact PACD Director of Communications & Education Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

Last year’s New Director Orientation workshops included a unit on laws applicable to conservation districts, including the PA Public Official & Employee Ethics Act. Understanding ethical practices and conflicts of interest is of crucial importance for district boards’ public accountability. So this year, we are taking a deeper dive to focus on these topics during Building for Tomorrow’s 2021 Board Leadership Series.

On Tuesday, February 16, Thomas Tupitza of Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. will present an overview of fundamental ethical principles and best practices for district boards, including conflict of interest, public trust, transparency, and fairness. We will follow this up with a second workshop on Wednesday, February 17. Presented by Brian Jacisin, Deputy Executive Director at the PA Ethics Commission, this workshop will focus on the PA Public Official and Employee Ethics Act and the specific ways that conservation district boards are subject to its provisions, including the investigatory purview of the State Ethics Commission.

The Board Leadership series also includes Director Forums, as well as a planning workshop on Wednesday, February 24. The series is open to all conservation district board members, associate directors, managers, and partners. Click here to register and 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.

Click on the link below to register for this Thursday’s PACD Executive Council Video Conference. Registration is free and required for anyone wishing to participate.

PACD Executive Council Video Conference

January 28, 2021 | 10 a.m. to Noon

Registrants will receive a confirmation email with a link to the Zoom meeting, instructions to participate, and a phone number for anyone who wishes to participate via conference call. Questions? Contact Molly Burns with PACD at mburns@pacd.org.

PACD seeks input from farmers and agricultural landowners from the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay/Susquehanna River Watershed about the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on the afternoons of January 26 and 28, 2021. Farmers can participate in these discussions whether or not you have enrolled land in this program.

Please share this information with your farmer contacts in the Bay Watershed.

Farmers who have CURRENTLY or PREVIOUSLY enrolled some of their land in the CREP program, please register for the focus group on January 26 from 5 to 7 pm:

https://bit.ly/pacd-cb-1

Farmers who have NEVER enrolled any of their land in the CREP program, please register for the focus group on January 28 from 5 to 7 pm:

https://bit.ly/pacd-cb-2

Note: Conservation district staff, directors, and associate directors are not eligible to participate.

Questions? Contact PACD Director of Communications & Education Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

The Armstrong Conservation District held a workshop for municipal officials on December 15, 2020. Thirty-nine municipal officials representing fifteen municipalities attended the workshop. Topics included stormwater management ordinances; dirt, gravel, and low volume road program (DGLVR) updates; MS4 permit requirements; and meeting MS4 compliance using environmentally sensitive maintenance practices on DGLVR and watershed restoration efforts.

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.

PACD is hiring a full-time Program Manager. The Program Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and administering special programs, meetings, and trainings. The Program Manager will also represent PACD on assigned committees and boards, assist with grant writing, and work with other grant programs as needed. This is a full-time position.

Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to PACD. Please apply by e-mail with the subject heading “Program Manager” to jobs@pacd.org. All application materials must be received by 4:30 pm on January 21, 2021.

Click here to read the full job announcement. 

On August 7, 2020, the Perry County Conservation District held an equipment demo day. A diverse audience of farmers attended, ranging from those concerned about soil health to farmers who use 100% tillage. Demonstrations included soil disturbance by running a grain drill and no-till equipment.A rainfall simulator was shared, and many conversations were started about erosion versus the ability to get the seed in the ground in less than ideal conditions.

The district also created a podcast to facilitate sharing farmers’ success stories to create a positive culture around conservation. Click here to listen to the “Carefully Cultivated” podcast, which currently has 11 episodes!

Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program 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.