PACD Front Page 06.24.13

On Monday, June 17, PACD Executive Director Robert Maiden had an opportunity to speak with House members about the state's Dirt and Gravel Roads Program. Under Senate Bill 1, the conservation districts would receive $28 million for dirt and gravel roads.

Click here and scroll down to House Transportation Committee Public Hearing - 6/17/2013 to watch the video. Maiden's testimony runs from 2:09 through 2:15. Click here to read the testimony which was provided for the committee. A 2013 Program Status Map is available here. For more information about the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program, visit www.dirtandgravel.psu.edu.

Environmental Educator Conference Boasts Success!

Laura Hopek, Lehigh Conservation District, was joined by her father and Barry Bryan from Bradford Area School District as they worked on a water quality monitoring exercise as a part of Susan Shire's "Ag in the Classroom" presentation.

With nearly 20 participants, including attendees and presenters, the 2013 Environmental Educator Conference went off without a hitch. Throughout the course of the day, attendees heard from Lori Lauver, with Expedition Chesapeake; Susan Shires with the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation; and Christina Medved with the Stroud Water Research Center. Attendees concluded with a round table discussion led by Laura Anderson with the Wyoming Conservation District. "Almost everyone attending the conference turned in an evaluation form and they all indicated the presentations were helpful, useful and informative," said Terry Fisher, PENNVEST Application Developer.

This conference was made possible by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Northumberland Conservation District.

Hunter-Davenport Attends National Conference

Angela Coleman, Associate Deputy Chief for Business Operations with the U.S. Forest Service provided a keynote address on the second day of the conference. Coleman's presentation was on diversity initiatives in the U.S. Forest Service.

June 19-21, Brandi Hunter-Davenport, PACD Director of Education, participated in the
"Future of Diversity in our Disciplines and Careers: Natural Resources and the Environment" national conference, which was hosted by Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment along with several partnering organizations. The three-day event took place on Tech's campus at the Inn of Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center located in Blacksburg, VA.

Nearly 100 presenters and participants came together throughout the course of the multi-day seminar to learn more about what they could do individually and collectively to increase minority interests in the environmental movement, specifically how to bolster the number of minorities who would consider and want to work in the environmental and natural resources career fields.

"I gained an invaluable experience by attending this conference," said Hunter-Davenport. "I heard from officials from around the country and we were all asking the same question: what do we do to entice minorities to consider natural resources and the environment as potential career options? Collectively, we discussed the needed tools to start that process in our home communities as well as the partners we can begin working with to move this effort forward. This is a conference I will likely never forget."

For more information about the conference, including all partnering organizations and a full list of presenters, visit http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2013/06/061113-cnre-diversityconf.html.

Conservationists Start Young at PACD

PACD's Clerical Assistant Sandy Austin's daughter Bridget researched and dressed as conservationist Rachel Carson for the 4th grade Famous Pennsylvanian Museum at St. Margaret Mary School. Parents strolled through the museum learning facts about famous people born in Pennsylvania.

You can see Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring in the photo. Great job Bridget!

NACD Announces 2014 Stewardship Theme
NACD is pleased to announce next year's education materials and Stewardship Week theme: "Dig Deeper - Mysteries in the Soil." The 2014 NACD Soil and Water Stewardship Week will take place April 27-May 4, 2014. Look for additional information on the poster contest and education programs in mid-July via NACD's education pages .

Monroe County Conservation District: Retain the Rain Project

The Monroe County Conservation District recently completed a community art project with an environmental message. Artists of all ages painted rain barrels, which are on display in Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg from April-October 2013. Rain barrels have the functional purpose of protecting water quality and collecting roof runoff for future outdoor use.

This project increased community involvement and educated participants on different avenues of environmental protection. The rain barrel workshop, art exhibit and installation of the rain barrels throughout town, has generated great interest in the beauty and function of rain barrels. "A total of 70 rain barrels have been ordered through our first official rain barrel sale, likely as a result of this project," says Watershed Specialist, Trish Attardo.

Funding for this project was provided through a PACD Nonpoint Source Pollution Educational Mini-grant, along with additional support from the Pocono Arts Council, the Monroe Career and Technical Institute, the Brodhead Watershed Association, and the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority.

National Oceans Month
June is National Oceans Month and a time to remember the importance of ocean management. With challenges such as pollution and climate change, ocean policy implementation is more important than ever. If your district is participating in any type of event in observance of National Oceans Month, please send event photos with captions, to jessica-espenshade@pacd.org.