The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) wants to help keep you informed during the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic.

NACD has created a COVID-19 webpage that contains resources and guidance for conservation districts and their associations to determine protocol and response in the wake of COVID-19. You can find updates on national resources, advice, and tips on how you can help others during this time.

Click here to view this resource. 

Want to share guidance and resources about COVID-19? Please email NACD Director of Communications Sara Kangas at sara-kangas@nacdnet.org.

The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held its annual Farmers Winter Meeting on Friday, February 14, 2020, near Selinsgrove.

Ninety-six people attended the meeting. Topics presented during the meeting included understanding the science and the practical application of soil health on your farms, U.S. Department of Agriculture updates, the PA Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) tax credit program, repairing and maintaining farm lanes, and the SCCD’s stream buffer program.

Guest speakers came from the farming community, PA No-Till Alliance, Stroud Water Resource Center, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, PA State Conservation Commission, Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads Studies, SCCD, and Penn State Extension.

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.

 

The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators has created a new resource titled, “Teaching Environmental Education at Home.” The page consists of online options for fun and interactive environmental educational experiences for students to do by themselves or with their parents.

Click here to view the resource. 

Click here to read an article from Elk County on activity tips. 

Do you know a staff person, director, or associate director who has gone above and beyond the call of duty? A legislator who champions conservation legislation? Or a Pennsylvania resident or Pennsylvania-based organization you would like to recognize for their contributions in support of environmental recreation? If so, nominate them for a PACD award!

The awards are:

• Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award
• Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
• Legislator Leadership Award
• Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2020. Click here for more information and the nomination forms.

Nominations should be emailed to Jann McNamara at jmcnamara@pacd.org.

The Sunshine Act is clear that public meetings should be held at public buildings with open public participation whenever possible. If an official emergency declaration prevents that from happening, a meeting via teleconference, webinar, or other electronic method that allows for two-way communication is permissible in most circumstances. (Some agencies may be governed by laws which add requirements beyond those included in the Sunshine Act.)

Click here to read more. 

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Pat Sueck, former PACD President, on March 13, 2020.

Pat was first appointed to the Board of the York County Conservation District in 1990. In 1998 Pat was elected as the PACD President and served in that position for two years. For 18 years, she served as the PACD representative to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) representing

Pennsylvania at the national and regional levels. Pat kept busy promoting conservation at countless NACD annual and regional conventions, legislative “fly-ins” to D.C., and Envirothon events at the county, state, and national levels. Pat has chaired the NACD North East Education Committee and served as the NACD North East President. She was also a member of the National Conservation Foundation, which is now the home of the National Envirothon. Pat was the recipient of the District Special Service Award in 1998, the NACD President’s Award in 2010, and the PACD Distinguished Service Award in 2012.

Her dedication to conservation and agriculture was apparent to anyone who met her. Her warmth, caring, and leadership in the conservation community will be missed.

Click here to read her obituary. 

New dates have been announced for the 102/105 Basic and Topic-based Technical Training sessions. Both sessions are open to the conservation district and PA Department of Environmental Protection staff who work with the Chapter 102 and 105 programs. At this time, we anticipate opening Basic registration in April and Topic-based registration in mid-summer. We thank our registrants for their patience and understanding during this process.

The new dates are:

June 16-19, 2020
102/105 Basic Technical Training
Wyndham State College, Boalsburg, PA

September 16-18, 2020
102/105 Topic-based Technical Training
Wyndham State College, Boalsburg, PA

March 31 Records Retention Webinar postponed, Staff Conference session video available for viewing

The Records Retention for Conservation Districts webinar scheduled for March 31, 2020, has been postponed. Stay tuned for an announcement on rescheduling for April. In the meantime, videos for the Records Retention and Prevailing Wage sessions at the 2020 Staff Conference are now available for viewing at the Building for Tomorrow website. 

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.

The Agriculture Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training Basic and Level II are rescheduled. Participants in Basic received updated information for the webinar sessions and in-person field days this fall. Level II applicants will receive the rescheduled dates once they are confirmed.

The following trainings will be rescheduled due to the coronavirus.

• Spring 102/105 Basic Technical Training
• Spring 102/105 Topic-based Technical Training
• Fluvial Geomorphology Training

Additionally, all six of the PACD region meetings will be held via webinar. Check PACD’s events page at https://pacd.org/?page_id=65 for the latest information including the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training.