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Front Page: Your Weekly News & Updates
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Winter Meeting, All Bay Meeting,
PACD hiring Natural Resources Executive Assistant, news from Adams, Cumberland, and Pike Counties, Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development events, news from NRCS and NACD, volunteers needed for state water plan regional advisory committee, and a
nnual environmental education conference.
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PACD/SCC Winter Meeting Preregistration Ends This Friday
Be sure to register for the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting before preregistration closes this Friday! Walk-in registration will be available at the conference, though meal availability cannot be guaranteed. Click here for more information and to register.
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Save the Date for 2020 All Bay Meeting
The 2020 Chesapeake Bay Program Conservation District and PA Agency Staff Meeting will be held on March 9, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The snow date is March 11, 2020. The meeting will be held at Susquehanna University, 514 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA. Please add this meeting to your calendar.
Meeting registration will be handled through the Clean Water Academy. If you don't already have an account, please request one now. Click here
to create an account. (Click Log In then Create New Account.)
Registration and a draft agenda will be shared when available.
Questions? Contact Amy Brown at
[email protected]
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PACD Hiring Natural Resources Executive Assistant
This position is located in Bloomsburg, PA, with the employer of record being the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and day to day technical guidance provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Natural Resources Specialist.
The incumbent has primary responsibility for providing assistance and coordination support for the National Conservation Planning Partnership conservation planning efforts. The position is under the technical supervision of the NRCS Natural Resources Specialist located in Benton, PA.
Click here to read the job description.
A cover letter and resume should be emailed to
[email protected]
by January 10, 2020.
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Shambaugh Visits Adams County
PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Adams County Conservation District (ACCD) on December 19, 2019, to attend their annual planning session and board meeting. The district first held a 2019 year in review session and a planning session for 2020. Partners (including PACD) and legislators were invited to participate. The regular board meeting followed this session.
Photo caption: (left to right) Front Row: PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh, ACCD Director David Benner, ACCD Director Ed Wilkinson, ACCD Director Jim Martin, ACCD Director Barbara Underwood. Back Row: ACCD Director Michelle Kirk, ACCD Director Carl Keller Jr., ACCD District Manager Adam McClain, and ACCD Director Charles Bennett.
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Building for Tomorrow Director Programming Focuses on Basics for 2020
Leadership Development programming for conservation district directors in 2020 will feature a renewed focus on the basics: educating directors on effective leadership in their districts and on their primary governance and fiduciary responsibilities as public officials.
Newly-appointed directors, as well as those who need a refresher, are encouraged to visit the
Roadmap for New Directors page
at the Building for Tomorrow website. This page houses reference documents and other orientation resources for self-guided learning, including Act 217 and other applicable laws, a director handbook, and links to online learning modules that can be completed at your own pace. Directors can earn a certificate for completing the training modules and will be recognized at the 2020 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference in July. Stay tuned for more information on discounted event registration for new directors.
"Back to Basics" Regional Director Training Workshops
are scheduled for February and March and offer newly-appointed directors a great opportunity to learn about effective leadership and their primary governance and fiduciary responsibilities as public officials. Workshop sessions are 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and will include lunch for all attendees. All conservation district directors and associate directors are encouraged to attend, and district managers are welcome to participate with their board members at these sessions.
Click on the links below to register:
Wednesday, March 4, at Erie County Conservation District
Registration info and workshop agenda can also be found at the Building for Tomorrow website
. The deadline for registrations is one week before the workshop date.
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.
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Time is Running Out to Reserve Your Room for the 2020 Building for Tomorrow Staff Conference
The January 10 room reservation deadline for the 2020 Staff Conference is quickly approaching. If you haven't done so yet, please register and make your reservations as soon as possible.
The conference is scheduled for February 12 & 13 at the Wyndham Garden State College and is open to all non-management conservation district staff. Attendees can make room reservations by contacting the hotel direct at 814-466-2255. Please indicate that your reservation is for PA Association of Conservation Districts (group code: 091220PAA_001)
Click here
for more information and to register.
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.
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Cumberland County Conservation District Holds Corn Planter Clinic
On December 18, 2019, the Cumberland County Conservation District and Cumberland Planter held their 9th Annual Corn Planter Clinic at the Shippensburg Auction Center. Topics included: The Foundations for a Better Yield, Considerations for Soil Health Fertility and Nutrient Management in No-Till Production, and No-Till Drill Preventative Maintenance. The clinic was well attended with 180 farmers, all there to gain valuable information before the spring 2020 crop year begins.
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Pike County Conservation District Hosts Podcast
Pike County Conservation District has a podcast called The Conservation Cast for Pike County residents that want to learn more about our environment.
The first episode is on watersheds and is available now. The second episode will be released on January 8 and focuses on water quality for homeowners. Click here to listen!
Financial and other support for The Conservation Cast has been provided by the Department of Environmental Protection's 2019 Environmental Education Grants Program.
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Farmers Encouraged to Apply for Conservation Assistance
Pennsylvania agricultural producers and landowners are encouraged to apply for technical and financial assistance to improve and enhance natural resources on their farm and forest land. Funding is available through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP-EQIP), administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The first application cutoff date for fiscal year 2020 is January 31, 2020.
Click here to read the entire press release.
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Friends of NACD District Grants Program
The Friends of National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) District Grants Program is available for the first time this year. With funding from the Friends of NACD Program, four $2,500 grants are available to districts to help fund projects and strengthen the district. These grants are not federal money, and there is no match requirement - a pretty great opportunity for a small district that could use the funding to seed something larger.
The deadline to apply is January 15, 2020.
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Volunteers Needed for State Water Plan Regional Advisory Committee
Pennsylvania wouldn't have a State Water Plan without the help of a broad range of professionals who volunteer their expertise by serving on Regional Advisory Committees. They guide the development of regional components of the plan, provide recommendations to the PA Department of Environmental Protection and the statewide committee on the selection of consultants and identification of critical water planning areas, and help facilitate a process for public input on the plan.
Regional Advisory Committee meetings start in January 2020.
There are two vacancies in the Lower Susquehanna, one vacancy in the Potomac, and one vacancy in the Upper/Middle Susquehanna.
Click here for more information.
If you're interested in serving on a Regional Advisory Committee, please contact Mark Matlock in the DEP Office of Water Resources Planning at
[email protected]
or (717) 783-2285 for further details.
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Annual Environmental Education Conference Going Big in 2020!
For the first time, PA Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) is collaborating with the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) to expand the training and networking between our parallel professions in a joint conference. The theme is "Live, Learn, Play."
Details:
PRPS/PAEE Conference & Expo
March 17-20, 2020
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Seven Springs, PA
The keynote speaker is Richard Louv, a nationally-known journalist and best-selling author of nine books, including Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder; The Nature Principle; and Vitamin N.
Register by January 31 to receive the discounted rate. Registration includes Wednesday and Thursday lunch, name badge, program book, educational sessions, exhibit hall admission, socials, coffee, and refreshment breaks.
Click here for more information and to register.
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Conservation Districts in the News
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Upcoming Events
January 22-23, 2020
Wyndham Garden State College, Boalsburg, PA
February 12-13, 2020
Wyndham Garden State College, Boalsburg, PA
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