|
|
|
First PENNVEST Workshop a Success for PACD
| | |
More than 15 individuals attended the PENNVEST Workshop on September 20. The half-day educational session, hosted by PACD, took place at the Westmoreland Conservation District. Initial feedback from the workshop has been extremely positive, with one participant noting, "[It] Was a good opportunity to network and learn about PENNVEST."
PENNVEST NPS Program Application Developer Terry Fisher is looking to host similar workshops in other areas of the state.
|
Conservation District Educators Attend "Dive Deeper" Youth Watershed Conference
| |
 | | Several conservation district staff attended the Dive Deeper Youth Watershed Conference in Harrisburg on September 27. They are (front row left to right): Donna Hays and Tammy Piper, Franklin Conservation District; Sallie Gregory, Lancaster Conservation District; Back row: Celina Seftas, Huntingdon Conservation District; Teddi Stark, Juniata Conservation District; Laura Hopek, Lehigh Conservation District; and Mary Ellen Noonan, Bucks Conservation District.
Photo by Brandi Hunter-Davenport.
|
On Thursday, Sept. 27, several district environmental educators and watershed specialists participated in the first-ever "Dive Deeper Summit" in Harrisburg.
The day-long conference offered attendees information about the state of local water resources as well as materials regarding the importance of providing water education to youth. The summit's overall goal was to give attendees insight into the development of tools and tips to further their work in water education and programming in their home communities.
"This was definitely a worthwhile event", said Brandi Hunter-Davenport, PACD Director of Education, who was an exhibitor for the day. "The summit allowed us to not only gain additional tools aimed at educating residents about protecting the state's waterways, but also provided an opportunity to highlight the conservation work the districts are engaged in on a daily basis."
Topics covered throughout the day included sessions on making the connections between land and the surrounding community, Expedition Chesapeake and how to prepare today's students for tomorrow's jobs in the water industry. Attendees traveled from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Delaware and Washington D.C. for the event.
For more information about the summit, click here.
|
2013 Farm Show on the Way! Yes, it's that time of year again!
| |
PACD will be hosting a booth to highlight the work of the districts during the 2013 Farm Show exhibition. The 2013 event is scheduled to take place January 5 through 12. We are currently in need of suggestions to make the booth interactive for visitors as well as volunteers to assist in our planning. If you are interested in joining the planning committee and/or in volunteering for a shift during the week-long event, contact Brandi Hunter-Davenport at brandi-davenport@pacd.org. For more information about the Farm Show, visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us.
|
|
Using Photos to Communicate
| | |
The Communications, Public Relations & Marketing Tips Series
Photos are powerful means of communication. In the age of Google, most people are not taking the time to do any deep reading. Giving people the information they need concisely and with photos is the way to go. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Depending what you are using your photo for, you may need to edit it before using it for an item or printed publication.
For example, here is an unedited photo of the Marcellus Shale Tour that took place as part of the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. We see the date stamp, two elbows, the bill of a hat and some distracting satellite dishes.
Here is the same photo after cropping, resizing and a color touch up in the top right. This photo tells a story.
Luckily, there are many free programs that will help you quickly and easily get your photo(s) ready for use. The photo in this article was edited using Gimp. Editing took less than two minutes.
Other free programs include web-based Pixlr (you don't need to download the program to use it) and Phixr.
A few adjustments can elevate your photos from good to great. Happy editing!
|
|
Lycoming County Opens Conservation Learning Trail
| |
 | | Ed Zinser, PACD NC Regional Director (middle), joins Mark Davidson, LCCD Manager and Carey Entz-Rine, Watershed Specialist, for the trail ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 21, 2012. |
On Friday, September 21, Ed Zinser, PACD NC Regional Director, attended the Lycoming County Conservation Learning Trail ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"Lycoming County and several state agencies worked together to make this learning resource a reality," said Zinser."The county and the conservation district staff is to be commended for the conception, creation and execution of this preservation learning tool which will be a great asset for state residents of any age."
The half-mile-long trail runs above an overlook at Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County. Educational items such as interpretive panels and native species identification markers can be found along the trail.
The ceremony, which was overseen by Megan Lehman, the Lycoming County Planning Department's Environmental Planner, included remarks by representatives from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as well as the Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP).
Mark Davidson, Lycoming County Conservation District (LCCD) Manager, also took a few moments to recognize the hard work and contributions of the many involved. "This was definitely a team effort," noted Davidson. "Countless hours and hands went into the completion of this project. We are very excited about what is to come."
Davidson was joined by Jeff Wheeland, Lycoming County Commissioner Chairman, in the cutting of the ribbon, marking the trail's opening.
PA DEP provided an environmental education grant to fund the project. Additional funding was provided by the County of Lycoming. For more information about the trail, click here.
|
|
Envirothon Mini-Grants to be Made Available
| |
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $300,000 to support the Pennsylvania Envirothon, which educates high school students about natural resources and environmental science through competitive events around the state.
The grant is being provided by the department's Environmental Education Fund and will be used through June 30, 2014, to provide support for the Envirothon program. With this funding, the program will be able to develop regional workshops for Envirothon coordinators and advisors; facilitate the state event; provide assistance for the PA representative to prepare and travel to the North American Envirothon competition; and begin a mini-grant program for county conservation districts. An award of one (1) mini-grant will be available per county conservation district in the amount of up to $600 each to assist with their county high-school Envirothon events.
The mini-grant application [for the districts] is currently under development. The Pennsylvania Envirothon will notify conservation districts when the mini-grant application is available.
For more information about Envirothon, visit http://www.envirothonpa.org.
|
|
Berks County Conservation District Announces Fall 2012 Designer's Workshop
| | |
The Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) is hosting a constructed wetlands and basin retrofit projects workshop on October 11. The event will take place at the McGlinn Conference Center at Alvernia University in Reading, PA. Participants can earn a total of eight (8) Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for $130 if they attend for the full day. Four (4) PDHs will be available to anyone attending for a half-day session (either morning or afternoon) at a cost of $75. Click here for additional information.
To register, please contact Tammy Bartsch at 610-372-4657 x200, or e-mail tammy.bartsch@berkscd.com.
|
|
Penn State Extension to Hold Conservation Dialogue
| |
Conservation district directors, associate directors and staff are invited to a Conservation Dialogue between producers and lawmakers regarding conservation practices and programs in Pennsylvania. The free "Conservation Dialogue: PA Producers Informing the Next Farm Bill Conservation Title" will take place at the Masonic Village Farm (Lancaster County) on October 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact Brandi Robinson brobinson@psu.edu or 814-867-4539 by October 4 to reserve your spot. Please help spread the word to producers.
|
|
|
|
|
