PACD Front Page e-Newsletter

Front Page e-Newsletter

PACD Hiring Administrative and Program Assistant

The PACD Administrative and Program Assistant is responsible for bookkeeping and clerical duties and provides general program support for the office. This is a part-time position reporting to the Executive Director.

Applicants should send a cover letter and resume by 4:30 p.m. on November 4, 2020, to jobs@pacd.org.

Click here for the announcement.

Save the Date for Virtual PACD Committee Meetings

Mark your calendars for the winter round of PACD committees, which will take place via video conference prior to the virtual 2021 PACD Executive Council Meeting. Registration will be both free and required. Registration information will go out to conservation districts and agency partners in November.

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference

January 8, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference

January 11, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference

January 12, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Video Conference

January 14, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Ways and Means Committee Video Conference

January 19, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference

January 21, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.

Meet Cassie Daniels – PACD’s Newest Conservation Technician Based in Clarion

Cassie Daniels graduated from Clarion University in 2018 with a double major in Environmental Geosciences and Geology and a minor in Geography. Having experiences with the Student Conservation Association and the Army Corps of Engineers, she knew she wanted to combine both conservation and engineering aspects to her career. So, PACD is the perfect fit.

Cassie enjoys anything outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, ice fishing, camping, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Cassie can be reached at cdaniels@pacd.org.

Juniata County Conservation District Holds Stormwater Workshop

Juniata County Conservation District held a workshop in McAlisterville for property owners and municipal staff on September 30, 2020. The “What’s the Point” workshop defined stormwater runoff and its sources, encouraged management and reduction of stormwater, and developed an understanding of stormwater’s effects on watersheds near and far.

The workshop was held in person and had thirteen participants. Municipal officials attended and engaged in brainstorming ways to be more effective in educating residents about stormwater management. The workshop also had a hands-on planting component.

Photo caption: Juniata County Conservation District provided the photo of the workshop.

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.

McKean County Conservation District’s My Growing Tree Program Goes Remote

The popular ‘My Growing Tree’ program, traditionally delivered to all McKean County elementary school first graders in April for Arbor Day, took a hiatus during the pandemic. This fall, the McKean County Conservation District, with the Potter County Conservation District and PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry, re-worked the program into a remote kit that could be delivered to schools without visiting classes.

The remote kits loaned to teachers include a lesson plan, videos, activities, and additional resources.

Click here to read the entire article.

This program was made possible by a DEP Environmental Education Grant.

Photo caption: Kits were provided to teachers for the My Growing Tree Program. Photo provided by McKean County Conservation District.

Columbia County Conservation District Produced Videos to Replace Summer Camp

When Columbia County Conservation District had to cancel their Nature Mini Camp this summer due to COVID-19, Watershed Specialist Brittney Hartzell created a virtual alternative. The district made activity bags for the kids to pick-up then posted videos to go with the activities. Videos include animal tracking, macroinvertebrates, leaf rubbings, and dissecting owl pellets. Click here to view the videos.

Photo caption: Screenshot from the “Track Molds” video by the Columbia County Conservation District.

NACD Announces Launch of District Grant Application Period

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the launch of its 2021 application period for the Friends of NACD District Grants Program. Up to $2,500 each will be awarded to four conservation district projects.

Click here to read the press release.

NRCS Offers Support to Urban Farmers in Harrisburg, Philly, and Pittsburgh

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has developed a new funding opportunity for individuals or groups producing agricultural crops in Pennsylvania's designated urban areas. NRCS offers an urban agricultural project through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to provide financial and technical assistance to urban farmers to address natural resource concerns by applying conservation practices.

Applications must be submitted by December 18, 2020, for funding consideration.

Click here to read the entire press release.