Front Page Newsletter November 13, 2023

Save the Dates for PACD Spring Region Meetings

Please mark your calendar and join us for the PACD spring region meetings! All meetings will be in-person with a virtual option.

PACD South Central Region Meeting

March 7, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

PACD North Central Region Meeting

March 19, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA

PACD South East Region Meeting

March 28, 2024 | 9:30 a.m. to Noon

Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA

PACD North East Region Meeting

April 4, 2024| 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Monroe County Conservation District, Stroudsburg, PA

PACD South West Region Meeting

April 18, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

PACD North West Region Meeting

April 23, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Armstrong Conservation District, Kittanning, PA

Click here to find your region.

PACD Hiring Administrative Assistant (Part-time)

The PACD Administrative Assistant is responsible for clerical duties and provides general program support for the office. This part-time position reports to the Executive Director in the Harrisburg, PA office. Salary range: $20-22/hour plus benefits.

Click here for the full announcement. Please apply by email with the subject heading "Administrative Assistant" to jobs@pacd.org. All application materials must be received by 4:30 p.m. EDT on November 21, 2023.

Save the Dates for 2024 Boot Camp Training

Mark your calendars for Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II). Conservation district staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free, week-long 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 application period will open in early January 2024. Email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org to receive a notification when the application period opens.

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.

Photos provided by Lehigh County Conservation District.

Lehigh County Conservation District Installs Rain Garden

The Lehigh County Conservation District, in partnership with Lehigh County, installed a rain garden at Cedar View Apartments, which provides low-income housing to 122 residents who are older than 62 years of age or are physically challenged.

Residents learned the importance of minimizing stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollutants from adjacent parking lots and mowed lawns through an educational program at the project site.

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.

Westmoreland Conservation District Recognized by Chamber of Commerce

The Westmoreland Conservation District received the 2023 Non-profit of the Year award from the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce at their annual business meeting and award celebration. The award recognizes the programs and partnerships the district has made in its nearly 75-year history.

Watch this video spotlight to learn more about the district and how it helps communities.

Screenshot of Westmoreland Conservation District Manager Rob Cronauer from video.

NOAA B-WET Grants Available

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announces the availability of Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Two funding opportunities are available:

School District Programming

Funding will support projects to help school districts deliver meaningful watershed educational experiences to students, provide professional development to teachers and educators, and/or build school districts' capacity to increase environmental literacy. Applicants may address a special interest area: climate change. NOAA anticipates up to $900,000 in total funding, supporting roughly nine to 14 new projects.

Statewide K-12 Environmental Literacy Capacity Building

This funding will support statewide efforts to build capacity to deliver environmental education. NOAA anticipates up to $500,000 in total funding, supporting four to six projects.

Applications are due by February 16, 2024. Join us for informational webinars for potential applicants about program priorities and the application process on December 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. and December 18, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. To sign up for these webinars and to learn more, visit the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office website.

Questions should be directed to Elise Trelegan at elise.trelegan@noaa.gov.