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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T130000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20260317T154131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T211208Z
UID:23041-1776254400-1776258000@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:2026 Environmental Advisory Council Network Roundtable: Municipal Sustainability Staff Positions & Partnerships
DESCRIPTION:Description\nSome municipalities in Pennsylvania have established dedicated staff positions to help advance environmental and sustainability initiatives. EACs can be instrumental in helping to create those positions and support the achievement of municipal goals by working alongside sustainability staff. Attendees will hear from sustainability staff\, EAC members\, and community partners from the cities of Allentown\, Bethlehem\, and Easton. \n		Register\n \nSupported by WeConservePA Business Sponsor
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/2026-environmental-advisory-council-network-roundtable-creating-supporting-municipal-sustainability-staff-positions/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T113000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20260209T155307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T215108Z
UID:22915-1773309600-1773315000@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Membership Meeting and Lecture: Nature's Fireworks
DESCRIPTION:Member organizations are requested to attend WeConservePA’s annual meeting of members.  \nMembership Meeting | 10:00 – 10:30 amThe Membership Meeting will be immediately followed by the Lecture\, Nature’s Fireworks\, featuring Peggy Butler of the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival. You are welcome to attend either event or both. A single registration covers the Membership Meeting and the Lecture. \nLecture: Nature’s Fireworks | 10:30 – 11:30 amFireflies—also known as lightning bugs—are among the most beloved insects in the natural world. Since 2013\, the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival has celebrated Pennsylvania’s State Insect through an annual festival and year-round environmental education. In this presentation\, Peggy Butler will share fascinating firefly facts\, uncover some lesser-known secrets\, and offer practical tips for protecting fireflies in your backyard or on lands you manage. \n\nPresenter: \nPeggy S. Butler | Pennsylvania Firefly Festival \nIn 2012\, through an amazing set of circumstances\, Peggy and her husband Ken found themselves immersed in the world of fireflies. The discovery of Synchronous Fireflies at their home in Kellettville in the Allegheny National Forest\, inspired them to share this wonder of nature with others. They are the co-founders of the PA Firefly Festival Inc. with a mission to educate both children and adults about environmental change and the emerging threats to all firefly habitats. \nPeggy is a devoted conservationist\, a Level 1 Leave No Trace Instructor\,  an avid bird watcher\, wildlife photographer and video producer.  She is passionate about  promoting & protecting the beauty and wildness of Forest County. The Butlers are now committed to serving University researchers and the citizen science community through conservation and protection of firefly and pollinator habitat including the dark sky environment. \n		Register
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/membership-meeting-and-lecture-natures-fireworks/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T130000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20251121T153450Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T200301Z
UID:22659-1764849600-1764853200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Nourishing Roots of Legacy Giving Virtual Seminar
DESCRIPTION:WeConservePA member organizations and their teams can get a jump on planting seeds with donors to realize year-end gifts of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) especially for those donors with Required Minimum Distributions(RMDs). This is also ideal timing for prompting donors who have Donor Advised Funds (DAF) to recommend grants\, and gifts of appreciated stock. \nTopics\n\nCommunicating Opportunities to Give before 12/31 – The time is NOW! Donors need time to consider recommending DAF and QCD gifts to your organization. This virtual webinar will walk through messaging to enhance year-end contributions.\nSpotting and nurturing your most promising seedlings: Your database can tell you a lot about your field and forest. This virtual webinar will walk through key indicators of who in your database may be most receptive to outreach on legacy giving.\nHow to plant your seeds: communicating options to promote germination – This virtual webinar will look at newsletters\, email messages\, websites\, and event announcements to help you spread the word\, without incurring significant costs.\n\nPresenter\nStephen P. Link | Director of Philanthropic Services\, Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management \n\n$25.00 Virtual Seminar Fee (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/nourishing-roots-of-legacy-giving-virtual-seminar/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20250616T135905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250807T130119Z
UID:21836-1761649200-1761652800@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Restating Older Grants of Conservation Easement for Improved Conservation Outcomes
DESCRIPTION:Conservation easement practice has continually evolved and improved. Many older grants of conservation easement lack the benefit of years or even decades of progress. For their holders\, the results can be confounding: limited enforceability\, unnecessary legal exposure\, and sticky interpretation challenges. \nWeConservePA Legal Director Justin Hollinger will review the risks and issues with older grants\, provide training on restating older grants of conservation easement using a modern grant form\, and discuss associated legal considerations including: \n\nLeverage to restate and amend\nBenefits of bringing easements within the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act\nMapping old restrictions into a modern grant structure\nEvaluating the total legal effect of amendment\nSupplementing baseline documentation\n\nPresenter\nJustin Hollinger\, Esq | Legal Director\, WeConservePA\nWeConservePA Conservation Law Program: Justin is available to address your question\, concern\, real estate acquisition project\, easement amendment\, stewardship issue\, or whatever your organization needs. Learn more. \n$25.00 Virtual Seminar Fee (free for WeConservePA members) / $15.00 CLE Fee \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/restating-older-grants-of-conservation-easement-for-improved-conservation-outcomes/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T133000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20250806T203229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250807T130043Z
UID:21961-1759406400-1759411800@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Stream and Wetland Mitigation Banking: Perspectives for Land Trusts
DESCRIPTION:Ecological restoration through mitigation banking is a rapidly growing industry in Pennsylvania and across the United States. A mitigation bank is a wetland\, stream\, or other aquatic resource area that has been reestablished\, rehabilitated\, or enhanced\, for the purpose of providing compensation for unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources that are protected under Federal or state law. Mitigation banks can be created by government agencies\, nonprofits\, or often by for-profit banking corporations. An established bank must typically be protected by a conservation easement. Currently in Pennsylvania\, there are five for-profit companies approved to conduct mitigation banking with 22 approved mitigation banks generating 54 miles of stream credits and 327 acres of wetland credits of compensatory mitigation banking. \nIncreasingly\, mitigation banking is touching the world of land trusts and conservancies\, both as mitigation bankers seek easement holders and as ecological restoration is achieved through mitigation banks being established on already eased land or preserves. This webinar will bring together perspectives from a land trust\, consultant\, regulator\, and mitigation banking company to shed light on how the mitigation banking process functions and how land trusts can make informed decisions as they potentially engage in mitigation banking. \nPresenters\n\nRyan Szuch | President\, Grow Conservation LLC (moderator)\nEmilie Rzotkiewicz | Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer\, Allegheny Land Trust\nDave Goerman | Water Program Specialist\, PA Department of Environmental Protection\nJon Kasitz | Client Solutions Manager\, Resource Environmental Solutions\n\n\n$25.00 Virtual Seminar Fee (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/stream-and-wetland-mitigation-banking-perspectives-for-land-trusts/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20250616T133931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250807T130144Z
UID:21832-1757934000-1757937600@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Foot in the Door: Legal Tools for Future Land Acquisition
DESCRIPTION:Many landowners may be open to selling\, bargain selling\, or even donating their land to a conservation organization\, but for one reason or another\, not in the present. There is no need for a landowner-conservation organization conversation to stop there. A variety of legal tools—relatively painless to the landowner—can provide assurance that the organization will get a chance to acquire the land when the appropriate time eventually arises. \nWeConservePA Legal Director Justin Hollinger will provide an overview of these tools and their associated legal considerations\, specifically: \n\nRights of First Offer\nRights of First Refusal\nPurchase Options\nLife Estates and Future Interests\n\nPresenter\nJustin Hollinger\, Esq | Legal Director\, WeConservePA\nWeConservePA Conservation Law Program: Justin is available to address your question\, concern\, real estate acquisition project\, easement amendment\, stewardship issue\, or whatever your organization needs. Learn more. \n$25.00 Virtual Seminar Fee (free for WeConservePA members) / $15.00 CLE Fee \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/2025-foot-in-the-door-legal-tools-for-future-land-acquisition/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250722T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250722T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20250515T210902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T192509Z
UID:21686-1753182000-1753185600@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:New Model Documents for Conservation Easement Administration
DESCRIPTION:WeConservePA Legal Director Justin Hollinger will offer brief guided tours and answer questions about the new model legal documents that have joined the WeConservePA library in recent months. \n\nThe Model Compliance Statement provides conservation easement holders with a well-considered way to provide sellers and buyers of eased land with reasonable assurance that the selling landowner is in good standing\, without unreasonably compromising Holder’s enforcement rights.\nThe Model Baseline Documentation Acknowledgement optimizes the legal effect of baseline documentation by ensuring that all of its content is effectively identified and acknowledged.\nThe Model Policy for Acting on Owner Requests for Review\, Waiver\, and Interpretation provides a standard process to guide easement holders when called upon to exercise discretion. (Accompanying the model are templates for communicating decisions to landowners.)\n\n$25.00 Webinar Fee (free for WeConservePA members) / $15.00 CLE Fee \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \n\nPresenter\nJustin Hollinger\, Esq | Legal Director\, WeConservePA\nWeConservePA Conservation Law Program: Justin is available to address your question\, concern\, real estate acquisition project\, easement amendment\, stewardship issue\, or whatever your organization needs. Learn more.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/new-model-documents-for-conservation-easement-administration/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250610T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250610T110000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20250519T190154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T200303Z
UID:21710-1749549600-1749553200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Proposed Changes to the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants
DESCRIPTION:Over the past few months\, WeConservePA has offered for public comment a number of proposals for changes to the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants. On June 10\, Executive Director Andy Loza and Legal Director Justin Hollinger will walk people through the proposals. Ample time will be provided for people to comment and for discussion. The most current revision to the proposed changes will be shared with registrants to review prior to the event. If time allows\, the session will end with Q&A about anything involving the model. \nFree Event \n		Register\n \n\nPresenters\nAndy Loza | Executive Director\, WeConservePA\nJustin Hollinger\, Esq | Legal Director\, WeConservePA\nWeConservePA Conservation Law Program: Justin is available to address your question\, concern\, real estate acquisition project\, easement amendment\, stewardship issue\, or whatever your organization needs. Learn more.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/proposed-changes-to-the-model-grant-of-conservation-easement-and-declaration-of-covenants/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250520T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250520T153000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20250423T131224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T202524Z
UID:21602-1747749600-1747755000@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Private Transfer Fees\, Deferred Payments\, and Other Stewardship Funding Arrangements
DESCRIPTION:The administration and enforcement of conservation easements is costly — and perpetually so.  Landowner contributions are a key strategy for funding a holder’s easement obligations; however\, achieving both affordability to the landowner and sufficiency for the land trust in a one-time contribution can be challenging if not impossible. A range of legal tools are available to transform and energize this strategy by spreading stewardship funding commitments over time\, or across future ownerships. For both donated and purchased easements\, WeConservePA Legal Director Justin Hollinger will contextualize the funding challenge\, review legal tools\, identify communication strategies\, and outline important legal and practical considerations. Erik Hetzel (Willistown Conservation Trust)\, Kristen Henwood (Natural Lands)\, and Sara Schlesinger (Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy) will reflect on the implementation of stewardship funding tools in their organizations’ respective service areas. \n$25.00 Webinar Fee (free for WeConservePA members) / $15.00 CLE Fee \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \n\nPresenters\nJustin Hollinger\, Esq | Legal Director\, WeConservePA\nWeConservePA Conservation Law Program: Justin is available to address your question\, concern\, real estate acquisition project\, easement amendment\, stewardship issue\, or whatever your organization needs. Learn more. \nErin Hetzel | Director of Land Protection and Public Grants\, Willistown Conservation Trust\nSara Schlesinger | Land Steward Specialist\, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/private-transfer-fees-deferred-payments-and-other-stewardship-funding-arrangements/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20241105T160530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241219T212945Z
UID:21112-1737637200-1737640800@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Conservation Easement Donation Agreements: When\, Why\, and How?
DESCRIPTION:Most conservation easements begin with a conversation. Landowners and land trusts must get acquainted and make preliminary decisions about goals\, willingness\, and means. If successful\, conversation gives way to work in earnest to define\, document\, and ultimately transfer the easement. This work will require substantial investments of time and money. At this stage\, a land trust may want assurance that it won’t get stuck covering the expenses of going forward if the landowners decide later not to complete the easement. Landowners in turn may want assurance that the land trust is truly committed to the project before they incur expense. \nA Conservation Easement Donation Agreement (“CEDA”) helps land trusts ensure smooth\, appropriately resourced transactions. A CEDA clarifies a range of important matters: necessary steps\, responsibility for various tasks\, form of legal documents\, payment responsibilities\, termination rights\, and the legal relationship between owners and easement holders. WeConservePA has published a streamlined edition of its Model CEDA in draft form for public review and will soon finalize the new version. In this online seminar\, WeConservePA Director of Conservation Law Justin Hollinger will present a guided tour of the Model CEDA and review associated considerations. \n$25.00 Webinar Fee (free for WeConservePA members) / $15.00 CLE Fee \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \n\nPresenter\nJustin Hollinger\, Esq | Director of Conservation Law\, WeConservePA \nJustin Hollinger joined WeConservePA in 2023. A member of the PA Bar\, Justin provides legal resources to PA land conservation organizations. His projects include maintaining and updating WeConservePA’s library of model documents and resources\, providing legal education\, facilitating ongoing cooperation between land conservation attorneys and land conservation personnel\, and providing direct legal services. Prior to joining WeConservePA\, Justin represented Pennsylvania affordable housing nonprofits in complex real estate transactions. He received his J.D.\, summa cum laude\, from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law\, and his B.A.\, magna cum laude\, from Temple University. \n\nSponsor:
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/conservation-easement-donation-agreements-when-why-and-how/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241112T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241112T160000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240822T160302Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241106T154108Z
UID:20898-1731423600-1731427200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Natural Burial: Connecting People with Land from Cradle to Grave
DESCRIPTION:[A reprise of the 2024 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference Session] \nNatural (or green) burial is not a new concept.  As many know\, it involves the burial of an unembalmed body\, directly into the soil without a concrete vault\, and in an entirely biodegradable casket or shroud.  What is new with this concept is that many of these “green cemeteries” are essentially nature preserves – nature preserves that just so happen to allow for these limited impact burials on the land.  Find out how natural burial can facilitate and complement the many goals of land preservation\, including restoration\, reforestation\, and climate resiliency to name a few\, while generating significant income for the property and the organization at the same time.  Green burial is a logical complement to land preservation that provides value for the community in which it exists and furthers land management goals at the same time.  By combining open space with natural burial people can be in relationship with and connected to the land from “cradle to grave.” \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \n\nPresenter:\nCarin Bonifacino | President\, Friends of Green Burial PA\, Friends of Green Burial PA \nCarin has been an advocate of green burial since the early 2000’s and is excited to have the opportunity to reach more people with information about this after death alternative through Friends of Green Burial PA.   Carin spent the first half of her life working in horticulture and small-scale farming and\, after two significant deaths in her family\, decided to switch careers at mid-life.  After attending One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York\, Carin became an ordained Interfaith minister in 2019 and now officiates funerals and memorial services for people from all walks of life. Carin frequently speaks on the topic of natural burial at libraries\, schools\, hospices\, churches\, and community groups\, just to name a few\, and loves to share information about its benefits to both people and the planet. \n  \n\nSponsor:
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/natural-burial-connecting-people-with-land-from-cradle-to-grave/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241107T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241107T110000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240111T183809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241105T170659Z
UID:20173-1730973600-1730977200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Resurrecting a Native Trail Landscape
DESCRIPTION:[A reprise of the 2023 Greenways and Trails Summit Session] \nHawk Mountain Sanctuary has committed in 2014 to aggressively work towards maintaining our forests for biodiversity\, which includes invasive species containment and eradication\, storm water management\, and trail tread stabilization and improved tread siting.  We have moved gradually towards accomplishing these monumental goals through adaptive planning and implementation.  The focus of this presentation will be how we moved through planning stages and then what implementations on our 2500 acres have been successful and which have not. \nAs with any land management project proper planning is essential.  This entails knowing your landscape intimately\, especially throughout the growing season.  Having a base knowledge of botany\, with an emphasis of “what belongs” and “what doesn’t belong”.  Identifying invasive plant impact within our native forest communities and knowing how each species spreads allows us to prioritize our management efforts and what methods for control are best to apply and what time of year.  Often not one strategy or technique fits\, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the ability to adapt has offered our greatest results. A great deal of our land management concerns are linked to storm water.  With the continued increase of a changing climate and predictions of increased storm intensity storm water management becomes a critical issue for healthy forest sustainability.  We have made several improvements that enhance our native landscape with future plans for additional management structures. \nThe Stewardship Department has close to a decade of intensive field management and recognizes it has an ethical responsibility to share our successes with all land stewards to improve our natural world and preserve its biodiversity. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to mcook@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \n\nPresenters:\nTodd Bauman | Director of Stewardship\, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary \nTodd Bauman has been working in the field of conservation for the past 35 years as a result of a childhood dream.  He has earned an A.S. Degree in Wildlife Technology from Penn state DuBois and then received his B.S. in Environmental Science from East Stroudsburg University.  During the 35 years he worked as a seasonal ranger in Colorado and then in Baxter State Park in Maine.  This following of his childhood dream only took place after two earlier careers\, one as a construction professional followed by 5 years in law enforcement.  His past 28 years have been in stewarding the lands of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary\, of which he continues to grow and learn the evolving challenges in landscape management.  Todd’s professional qualifications include holding licensing as a Pesticide Applicator and ISA Arborist\, Wilderness First Responder certification\, accomplished trail builder\, expert in chainsaw operation\, expert in wildland travel\, and demonstrated expertise in traditional tool use. \nNoah Rauch | Sanctuary Steward\, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary \nNoah Rauch has been involved with Stewardship at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary since 2012\, starting as a volunteer in the Hawk Mountain Conservation Corps service-learning program. It was through his time on the mountain as a teen that he realized his passion for wildlands conservation\, remaining committed to the preservation and sanctity of the sanctuary through his high school and college career. Through over a decade of hands-on experience Noah has amassed a tremendous amount of knowledge of native and invasive flora and fauna within the northeastern landscape\, best management practices in invasive species management\, and has led multiple field crews in the remediation of sanctuary trails as well as in the restoration of impacted sanctuary forest. He holds certifications in commercial pesticide application\, chainsaw operation\, wilderness first response in relation to medical emergencies\, and currently serves in his local municipalities Environmental Advisory Council as Vice Chair. \nStephen Wade | Sanctuary Steward\, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary \nStephen Wade has been involved in stewarding lands for the past 6 years.  He received a B.S. in secondary education but later recognized he is most passionate about working in the preservation of our natural world.  He earned his M.S. in Park and Resource Management from Slippery Rock University in 2017.  During this time\, he spent a field season working with the Montana Conservation Corps and then following took a full-time position as a residential Sanctuary Steward at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary where he has been continuing to hone his skills in land stewardship.  Mr. Wade is a certified pesticide applicator\, Wilderness EMT\, and an accomplished trail builder.  He has also led Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in its comprehensive movement of wildlife friendly facilities with a focus on creating bird friendly facilities.  Steward Wade\, with an excitement for teaching\, leads the Stewardship Departments Seasonal Steward/Invasive Specialist Training curriculum. \n\nSponsor:
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/resurrecting-a-native-trail-lanscape/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240426T182418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240820T143326Z
UID:20517-1730206800-1730210400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Property Review: Selection Standards and Criteria
DESCRIPTION:Reprise of 2024 Land Conservation Conference Session \n\nProperty review is an essential step in determining if a property is worth conserving\, how it may rank in priority with other potential properties\, and if a land trust has the capacity to take on a new project. The Land Trust Alliance’s Accreditation Standard #08 addresses Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects\, with five practices to guide how to do so. With many opportunities to conserve land and limited wherewithal\, review serves a pivotal role in prioritizing property acquisitions. It is up to the land trust to gauge each project’s conservation value\, partnerships and support\, fundability\, stewardship capacity\, and purpose. A wealth of data is available which can be used in the property review process\, but selecting the appropriate criteria can easily become overwhelming. \nThis presentation will review LTA Accreditation Standard #08 and demonstrate how two organizations approach new property inquiries differently through an established review process. Allegheny Land Trust follows a multi-step process involving completion of a property inquiry form\, initial property review\, and project evaluation form. Similarly\, Natural Lands’ multi-step project review process includes an initial landowner contact/intake form\, preliminary yes/no desk review\, and criteria evaluation. In the past year\, Natural Lands has been working to revise its project selection criteria using GIS data compilations to more directly consider climate change resilience\, biodiversity and habitat connectivity\, risk of sprawl\, and connecting underserved communities to nature. While these two processes take slightly different approaches\, they both serve a critical role that best suits the organization when evaluating new projects. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenters:\nCasey Markle | Conservation Easement Director\, Allegheny Land Trust \nCasey has been with the Allegheny Land Trust since 2022\, taking the lead on conservation easements\, inquiry response and property review for the organization. Casey also assists in land acquisition\, coordinating due diligence efforts\, ensuring adherence to national land trust accreditation compliance standards\, supporting grant applications and multiple watershed research and water mitigation projects. Prior to working at ALT\, Casey worked at Atlas Technical Consultants as a technical specialist conducting phase I environmental site assessments and field sampling. Casey is a graduate of Saint Vincent College\, devoting much of his research to abandoned mine drainage and eutrophication. He has a multidisciplinary background in environmental education\, laboratory and field analysis\, and environmental consulting.  \nRobyn Jeney | Land Protection Project Manager\, Natural Lands \nRobyn joined Natural Lands in 2019 as a Land Protection Project Manager. She is engaged primarily in land and conservation easement acquisitions. Prior to joining Natural Lands\, Robyn was a Resource Planner with the New Jersey Pinelands Commission\, where she administered the Commission’s land acquisition grant program and managed the implementation of roadside habitat mowing and maintenance practices. Robyn has undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from the Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Resource Management from the University of Pennsylvania.  \n\nSponsor:
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/property-review-selection-standards-and-criteria/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T110000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240802T151422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240820T143504Z
UID:20831-1728554400-1728558000@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Federal Funding and the Tools to Find It
DESCRIPTION:This is a time of unprecedented funding opportunities for land conservation but knowing where to look\, tackling capacity restraints\, and getting the training needed to succeed can be challenging. This session will identify and demo a selection of new tools and programs available to support land trusts with the funding process. Highlighted will be WALT: Wildlife and Land Trusts\, a tool for land trusts to identify federal resources for wildlife conservation developed by Defenders of Wildlife\, as well as Chesapeake Conservation Partnership’s NEW federal funding navigator\, and other available technical assistance. \n		Register\n \nSpeakers\nMary Pfaffko | Director Private Lands Program\, Defenders of Wildlife \nMary Pfaffko is the Director of the Private Lands Program at Defenders of Wildlife where she conducts policy analysis and advocates for wildlife conservation on private lands. This includes engagement with Congress\, agencies\, and organizations. Prior to joining Defenders\, she served as Assistant Chief of Nongame for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources\, Teaming with Wildlife Associate for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies\, and Wildlife Biologist for DC Fisheries and Wildlife. She has an MA in International Affairs from American University and a BS in Environmental Science from University of Florida. \nSuzy Yetter | Staff Ecologist\, ClearWater Conservancy \nSuzy joined ClearWater Conservancy in June 2017. As the staff Ecologist\, Suzy provides technical expertise in developing and implementing conservation strategies through ClearWater’s land and water resources programs and works with landowners\, volunteers\, local organizations\, and other partners to protect and restore healthy ecosystems. Before coming to ClearWater\, Suzy spent over 20 years studying riverine benthic macroinvertebrate ecology\, conducting natural resource and water quality assessments\, and managing interdisciplinary research projects at Penn State University where she earned her B.A. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and her M.S. in Ecology. \nFaren R. Wolter\, PhD | Conservation Social Scientist & Chesapeake WILD Program Coordinator \nDr. Faren R. Wolter leads and coordinates the establishment of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s newest landscape-scale conservation effort\, Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) or Chesapeake WILD; consists of a competitive conservation investment grant program and a diverse partner action network collaborating across the Chesapeake Bay watershed to share resources\, amplify capacity\, and leverage funding to scale-up place-based conservation actions that focus on restoring\, conserving\, and connecting habitat for imperiled fish and wildlife\, and improving recreational access to and connections with nature for people. She also has a side-interest in training detection canines as a non-invasive field technique to assist wildlife research and conservation.  Dr. Wolter holds a Ph.D. in Forestry with an emphasis in Society & Ecosystems from University of Missouri – Columbia\, and a B.S. in Aquaculture\, Fisheries\, and Wildlife Biology from Clemson University. She is also graduate of the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute and earned a professional designation as a Certified Wildlife Biologist®. \nBen Alexandro | Program Manager\, Chesapeake Conservation Partnership \nBen is well versed in partnership building\, conservation science and policy issues. He championed several policy victories to protect forests\, clean water and the Chesapeake Bay. Ben led advocacy efforts on public lands and waters conservation issues while he was the senior government affairs advocate at the League of Conservation Voters. He also spent six years working to conserve the Chesapeake Bay watershed at the Maryland League of Conservation Voters where he most recently was the water program director and the Maryland lead for the Choose Clean Water Coalition. Before graduate school\, he coordinated the Potomac Watershed Partnership with the Cacapon Institute. Ben has a master’s degree in conservation biology and sustainable development and a M.P.P. in environmental public policy with a focus on nonprofit management and leadership from the University of Maryland. He also earned a bachelor’s in wildlife conservation from the University of Delaware. \nChase Douglas | Program Coordinator\, Chesapeake Conservation Partnership \nAs the CCP program coordinator\, Chase works to grow and strengthen new and existing partnerships while also providing technical support to CCP partners. Chase previously worked with the Friends of the National Zoo as their partnership coordinator and operations support coordinator\, and most recently\, he was one of the visitor services managers at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Chase has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a minor in biology from Salisbury University. While completing his studies\, he held an internship with the Salisbury Zoo’s education department\, where he cared for their ambassador species and brought them to local community events to educate people about how they could support conservation efforts. \n\nSponsor: 
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/funding-for-land-trusts-and-the-tools-to-find-it/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241001T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241001T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240523T145127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240820T143619Z
UID:20604-1727787600-1727791200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Declarations of Public Trust: Clear Intentions and Strong Protection
DESCRIPTION:RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 1\, 1PM\nPennsylvania law favors the protection of public parks\, open spaces\, and natural resources. But leaving things to the operation of law invites serious (and sometimes surprising) risks. In some instances\, residents may find themselves without clear recourse to prevent the loss or repurposing of supposedly protected land. In others\, unforeseen legal challenges may foil local governments’ pursuits of otherwise legitimate public projects. Establishing clear\, well-reasoned guardrails with a formal “declaration of public trust.” can help minimize these potential problems. This session will begin with a short overview of applicable legal doctrines\, followed by an in-depth review of the Model Declaration of Public Trust; a legal tool that enables local governments to clarify intentions and enhance protection. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) | $15 Continuing Legal Education Fee (Optional) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenter:\nJustin Hollinger | Director of Conservation Law\, WeConservePA \nJustin Hollinger joined WeConservePA in 2023. A member of the PA Bar\, Justin provides legal resources to PA land conservation organizations. His projects include maintaining and updating WeConservePA’s library of model documents and resources\, providing legal education\, facilitating ongoing cooperation between land conservation attorneys and land conservation personnel\, and providing direct legal services. \nPrior to joining WeConservePA\, Justin represented Pennsylvania affordable housing nonprofits in complex real estate transactions. He received his J.D.\, summa cum laude\, from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law\, and his B.A.\, magna cum laude\, from Temple University. \n\nSponsor:
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/declarations-of-public-trust-clear-intentions-and-strong-protection/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240725T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240725T200000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240523T152112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240523T152112Z
UID:20606-1721934000-1721937600@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Protecting Parks and Open Space in Perpetuity
DESCRIPTION:Many communities assume the permanence of their parks and other public open spaces. While numerous Pennsylvania laws and doctrines favor the permanence of these special places\, the effectiveness of legal protections often depends on the actions of members of the public and their elected officials. In this session\, we will review the statutes\, doctrines\, and legal tools that safeguard our parks and open spaces and consider some problematic gray areas where special care is advised. \n		Register\n \nPresenter:\nJustin Hollinger | Director of Conservation Law\, WeConservePA \nJustin Hollinger joined WeConservePA in 2023. A member of the PA Bar\, Justin provides legal resources to PA land conservation organizations. His projects include maintaining and updating WeConservePA’s library of model documents and resources\, providing legal education\, facilitating ongoing cooperation between land conservation attorneys and land conservation personnel\, and providing direct legal services. \nPrior to joining WeConservePA\, Justin represented Pennsylvania affordable housing nonprofits in complex real estate transactions. He received his J.D.\, summa cum laude\, from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law\, and his B.A.\, magna cum laude\, from Temple University.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/protecting-parks-and-open-space-in-perpetuity/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240627T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240627T200000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240521T180037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240521T191421Z
UID:20589-1719514800-1719518400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Model My Watershed®: An Introduction for EACs
DESCRIPTION:Model My Watershed® is an open access watershed-modeling web application\, developed by the Stroud Water Research Center (and partners)\, which allows users to analyze real land-use and soil data\, model stormwater runoff and water quality impacts\, and run comparisons on how different conservation or development strategies can impact runoff and water quality.  Join David Arscott\, Ph.D.\, President and Executive Director of the Stroud Water Research Center and Carol Armstrong\, Master Watershed Steward\, and Chair of the Charlestown Township EAC for an introduction on how to use the tool\, best use-cases\, limitations\, and an overview of the training resources available for EACs who would like to put this powerful tool to work for them. There is no cost to attend. \n		Register\n \nSpeakers\nDavid Arscott\, Ph.D. | President and Executive Director\, Stroud Water Research Center \nDavid Arscott serves as President and Executive Director of Stroud Water Research Center\, an independent\, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that seeks to advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems through global research\, education\, and watershed restoration. He co-leads the development of WikiWatershed.org\, a web toolkit designed to help conservation practitioners\, researchers\, educators\, and students advance knowledge and stewardship of fresh water. As a freshwater ecologist\, Arscott’s research has focused on riverine landscape ecology and dynamics\, aquatic invertebrate\, fish\, and algal ecology\, aquatic food web structure and dynamics\, habitat conservation\, and land-water interactions.   \nCarol Armstrong\, Ph.D. | Master Watershed Steward\, Chair\, Charlestown Township EAC\, Executive Board of the Friends of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge \nCarol Armstrong is a neuroscientist and neuropsychologist with 35 years of research\, healthcare\, and teaching with the University of Pennsylvania. Experiencing the impacts of loss of biodiversity\, climate change\, and chemicals in the environment\, she shifted to a volunteer career supporting scientists in their work on watershed protection and restoration. Dr. Armstrong is a PA Master Watershed Steward\, Chairs the Environmental Advisory Committee of Charlestown PA\, serves the Board of the Friends of the J. Heinz National Wildlife Refuge\, and trained in riparian buffer restoration and stream water quality monitoring with the Stroud Water Research Center.  
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/model-my-watershed-an-introduction-for-eacs/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T141500
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240423T185709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240523T150501Z
UID:20499-1717506000-1717510500@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Legal Considerations for Amending Conservation Easements
DESCRIPTION:For some conservation practitioners\, a cloud hangs over discussions of amending grants of conservation easement. Indeed\, the confluence of legal principles and authorities affecting these decisions makes caution necessary. However\, armed with a clear understanding of the formal rules—and the concepts that underpin them—​land trusts can confidently advance conservation\, even by amendment. \nThis session will offer an organized overview of the legal and kind-of-legal authorities that bear on these decisions: state law\, the Internal Revenue Code\, Standards & Practices\, accreditation\, and the grant of easement text. This session precedes the publication of updated WeConservePA guidance on this topic. Attendee questions\, comments\, and feedback will inform WeConservePA efforts to maximize the usefulness of forthcoming guidance. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) | $15 Continuing Legal Education Fee (Optional) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenter:\nJustin Hollinger | Director of Conservation Law\, WeConservePA \nJustin Hollinger joined WeConservePA in 2023. A member of the PA Bar\, Justin provides legal resources to PA land conservation organizations. His projects include maintaining and updating WeConservePA’s library of model documents and resources\, providing legal education\, facilitating ongoing cooperation between land conservation attorneys and land conservation personnel\, and providing direct legal services. \nPrior to joining WeConservePA\, Justin represented Pennsylvania affordable housing nonprofits in complex real estate transactions. He received his J.D.\, summa cum laude\, from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law\, and his B.A.\, magna cum laude\, from Temple University.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/legal-considerations-for-amending-conservation-easements/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T111500
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240116T164946Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T164946Z
UID:20195-1710928800-1710933300@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Strategic Planning: Defining an Approach to Align Mission and Relevance
DESCRIPTION:Many regard strategic planning as something between a fruitless fad and an onerous obligation. The truth is\, strategic planning IS a lot of work\, but it isn’t just a trend or a huge task that needs to be checked off your ever-growing to-do list. A well-conceived and implemented strategic plan is a critical tool for running a successful organization. \nCan your organization succeed without a strategic plan? Maybe so\, but if success is not defined\, how will you know it when it happens? The key is to get it “right”. Organizations that commit the time and energy to a solid strategic planning process clearly proclaim their confidence—in their mission\, in their vision\, and in their staff and leadership—to take on the challenges before them. They commit themselves to achieving ambitious goals knowing that their timeline is achievable yet nimble enough to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. And that is the power of a strategic plan. \nThis session will outline the process\, timing and key elements that turn strategic planning into a critical tool for developing your organizations\, departments\, and/or committee’s strategic thinking. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenter:\nCatherine Grace | Director of Consulting Operations\, Relevant Strategies and Solutions \nCatherine Grace manages RS&S’s administrative\, financial\, and operational resources while also working with clients to develop comprehensive strategic plans. Catherine applies her keen analytical skills to help clients to determine strategies that will address challenges\, leverage opportunities\, and position themselves to achieve their mission-related goals. Having worked with a broad range of organizations\, ranging from arts and culture\, conservation\, education\, social services\, and zoos and aquariums\, Catherine has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit world today. She blends that knowledge with her planning and communication expertise to tailor strategies that guide her clients in setting ambitious goals\, growing revenues\, enacting actionable plans\, and setting a course for a strong and sustainable future. \nCatherine launched her consulting career at Schultz & Williams\, Inc.\, a national planning\, and development consulting firm\, as a project manager. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in education from Arcadia University. She also teaches nonprofit management and strategic planning as an adjunct professor for the University of New Haven.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/strategic-planning-defining-an-approach/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20240426T180551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240820T143422Z
UID:20514-1730206800-1730210400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Property Review: Selection Standards & Criteria
DESCRIPTION:Reprise of 2024 Land Conservation Conference Session \n\nProperty review is an essential step in determining if a property is worth conserving\, how it may rank in priority with other potential properties\, and if a land trust has the capacity to take on a new project. The Land Trust Alliance’s Accreditation Standard #08 addresses Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects\, with five practices to guide how to do so. With many opportunities to conserve land and limited wherewithal\, review serves a pivotal role in prioritizing property acquisitions. It is up to the land trust to gauge each project’s conservation value\, partnerships and support\, fundability\, stewardship capacity\, and purpose. A wealth of data is available which can be used in the property review process\, but selecting the appropriate criteria can easily become overwhelming. \nThis presentation will review LTA Accreditation Standard #08 and demonstrate how two organizations approach new property inquiries differently through an established review process. Allegheny Land Trust follows a multi-step process involving completion of a property inquiry form\, initial property review\, and project evaluation form. Similarly\, Natural Lands’ multi-step project review process includes an initial landowner contact/intake form\, preliminary yes/no desk review\, and criteria evaluation. In the past year\, Natural Lands has been working to revise its project selection criteria using GIS data compilations to more directly consider climate change resilience\, biodiversity and habitat connectivity\, risk of sprawl\, and connecting underserved communities to nature. While these two processes take slightly different approaches\, they both serve a critical role that best suits the organization when evaluating new projects. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenters:\nCasey Markle | Conservation Associate\, Allegheny Land Trust \nCasey has been with the Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) since 2022\, taking the lead on inquiry response and property review for the organization. Casey also assists in land acquisition\, coordinating due diligence efforts\, ensuring adherence to national land trust accreditation compliance standards\, supporting grant applications\, and he is involved in multiple watershed research and water mitigation projects. Prior to working at ALT\, Casey worked at Atlas Technical Consultants as a technical specialist conducting phase I environmental site assessments and field sampling. Casey is a graduate of Saint Vincent College\, devoting much of his research to abandoned mine drainage and eutrophication. He has a multidisciplinary background in environmental education\, laboratory and field analysis\, and environmental consulting.  \nRobyn Jeney | Land Protection Project Manager\, Natural Lands \nRobyn joined Natural Lands in 2019 as a Land Protection Project Manager. She is engaged primarily in land and conservation easement acquisitions. Prior to joining Natural Lands\, Robyn was a Resource Planner with the New Jersey Pinelands Commission\, where she administered the Commission’s land acquisition grant program and managed the implementation of roadside habitat mowing and maintenance practices. Robyn has undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from the Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Resource Management from the University of Pennsylvania.  \n\nSponsor:
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/property-review-selection-standards-criteria/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240306T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240306T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20231103T154754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231103T162116Z
UID:19972-1709730000-1709733600@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Graphic Grammar: Design Advice from a Guy Who Can't Draw
DESCRIPTION:Join Recreation and Conservation Program Specialist Josh VanBrakle with DCNR for a virtual reprise of his popular land conservation conference session. Visual communication is critical to conservation work. As we share ever more content through videos\, social media\, and interactive websites\, we increasingly depend on images to tell our stories. As students we spent years learning grammar for our writing. But few of us were taught graphic grammar—the language\, structure\, and syntax of visual communication. Just like writing grammar helps us get our point across\, so too does graphic grammar. In this session\, you’ll learn basic graphic grammar rules like color\, contrast\, and focal points and how to apply them to your designs. Not an artist? Not a problem. Neither am I. These design basics are something everyone can use. Whether you make social media posts\, design interpretive signs\, or just want to improve your next PowerPoint\, come and learn practical techniques to level up your communications. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenter:\nJosh VanBrakle | Conservation Program Specialist\, DCNR\, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation\nJosh VanBrakle was told by every art teacher he ever had that “he can’t draw.” But in his job as a recreation and conservation advisor at DCNR\, he has become a graphic designer who routinely creates fact sheets\, infographics\, videos\, interactive websites\, and more.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/graphic-grammar-design-advice-from-a-guy-who-cant-draw/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240305T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240305T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20231130T163957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231204T154944Z
UID:20017-1709643600-1709647200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:TerraFirma: Helping PA Land Trusts Uphold the Promise of Lasting Conservation
DESCRIPTION:Terrafirma Risk Retention Group LLC is a unique charitable risk pool for conservation organizations that helps its members uphold the promise of lasting conservation. This presentation will provide a high-level overview of Terrafirma’s history\, structure\, benefits\, costs and coverage\, as well as data and analysis from a decade of covered claims and selected case studies relevant to Pennsylvania land trusts. Participants will take away information that they can use to help reduce disputes\, know common issues affecting conserved properties\, and understand how Terrafirma can benefit their land trust’s risk management strategy. \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenters:\nJeff Swinehart | President and CEO\, Lancaster Farmland Trust \nJeff Swinehart began his tenure as President and CEO of Lancaster Farmland Trust in 2022. Prior to this role\, he served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer for 3 years and Deputy Director for 13 years. With 24 years of land trust experience\, Jeff is responsible for carrying out the strategic plans and policies of the Board of Trustees. He provides direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization’s vision\, mission\, and values as established by the Board of Trustees. Jeff and his team have built Lancaster Farmland Trust’s easement portfolio to more than 500 easements and 30\,000 acres – the largest easement portfolio in Pennsylvania.  \nJeff is a member of the WeConservePA Board and Policy Committee\, serves as Chairman of the Manheim Township Planning Commission\, and is Chair of the Lancaster Clean Water Partners. In 2022\, Jeff began serving his second three-year term as the Mid-Atlantic representative for Terrafirma RRG\, LLC.  \nJeff graduated with a master’s degree in public administration from the Pennsylvania State University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography\, plus minors in Geology and Regional Planning from Mansfield University. \nTom Kester | Operations Manager and Secretary\, Alliance Risk Management Services\, LLC \nTom Kester is the Operations Manager and Secretary for Alliance Risk Management Services LLC (Terrafirma’s corporate manager) and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Terrafirma. Tom’s background is insurance and regulatory law. He previously worked as assistant general counsel for an affiliate of a large U.S. health care insurer\, staff attorney for the State of Vermont’s Medicaid and Affordable Care Act programs\, and as an associate in a private practice firm where he focused on real property matters and general civil litigation. He earned his J.D. from Vermont Law School and his B.A. in Government from Franklin & Marshall College. He is an actively licensed Vermont attorney\, and lives with his wife in central Vermont.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/terrafirma/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240208T101500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240208T111500
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20231212T210607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240124T154854Z
UID:20072-1707387300-1707390900@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corp: Workforce Development for the Benefit of Conservation and Outdoor Recreation
DESCRIPTION:WeConservePA Winter Lecture\nThis event begins promptly at 10:15 am and is preceded by WeConservePA’s annual meeting of members. You can attend one without the other. In any case\, the same registration is used for both the annual meeting and winter lecture. \nThe goal of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corp is to protect and restore the commonwealth’s lands and waters while providing young people with valuable paid work experience\, skills training\, and professional development\, along with the knowledge and expertise to be good stewards of our natural resources. Managed in partnership between the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Student Conservation Association\, the program connects youth and young adults with job opportunities in state parks and forestland\, as well as in local parks and public lands throughout the state. \nMunicipalities and non-profits can host PAOC crews on a cost-share basis to complete work on public lands. Typical projects include tree planting\, riparian corridor improvement\, mechanical invasive species removal\, hiking trail improvements\, light construction\, community shade tree inventories\, and young tree maintenance. Join us as we welcome DCNR staff for a brief overview of the program and how land managers can connect with the program for projects on their properties. \n		Register
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/winter-lecture/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Meeting,Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240208T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240208T101500
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20221122T160028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231220T225337Z
UID:18689-1707386400-1707387300@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:WeConservePA Member Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Member organizations are requested to attend WeConservePA’s annual meeting of members. Two items for member action are on the agenda: an update of the bylaws and the election of board members. You may review proposed revisions to the bylaws (including commentary) online in advance. \nThis event will be immediately followed by the WeConservePA Winter Lecture\, The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corp: Workforce Development for the Benefit of Conservation and Outdoor Recreation\, from 10:15 to 11:15 am. You can attend one without the other. In any case\, the same registration is used for both the annual meeting and winter lecture. \n		Register
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/weconservepa-member-meeting/
CATEGORIES:Meeting,Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240201T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240201T110000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20230714T182745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231103T154848Z
UID:19521-1706781600-1706785200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:What is a Title Commitment and How to Read It
DESCRIPTION:In this presentation\, originally presented at the 2023 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference\, each section of a title binder will be reviewed with an explanation of what each one is and what they mean to insuring a title.  Also covered will be how things that turn up on the title search need to be handled and how they can affect the property’s title.  There will be breaks between sections for questions\, and plenty of time at the end for further Q&A and discussion. \n$25 (free for WeConservePA Members) \n		Register\n\nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member discount code. \nPresenter:\nTina Miller | Settlement Officer\, Sentry Abstract Company \nTina is a settlement officer with 33 years of experience in the title insurance industry\, 28 of those years have been spent at Sentry Abstract Company. Tina started as a processor and worked her way up to settlement officer. She is detail oriented which is so important when it comes to completing a real estate transaction correctly. Tina prides herself on treating each of her clients as if they are her only priority and repays their loyalty with the best customer service they have come love. Tina works on her own files from start to finish so by the time they get to settlement all title issues\, document problems\, and everyday challenges have been handled. \n 
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/what-is-a-title-commitment-and-how-to-read-it/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240130T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240130T110000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20230714T180934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240129T152215Z
UID:19520-1706608800-1706612400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Building Reliable Support for Land Preservation
DESCRIPTION:Learn how a small land trust’s ideas came to fruition after years of hard work\, resulting in a county wide tax increase for land conservation. Teamwork\, marketing\, grants\, polling\, luck\, humor\, sacrifice\, and more all contributed to a successful campaign despite limited resources.  Join Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County’s Executive Director Sean Kenny as he reviews the triumphs and challenges of the process from concept to success in a county that once lagged behind its peers in preserving land. \n$25 (free for WeConservePA members)\n		Register\n\nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member discount code. \nPresenter:\nSean Kenny | Executive Director\, Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County \nSean P. Kenny is Executive Director of Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County\, a small land trust preserving land primarily through conservation easements.  FNLT has over 14\,000 acres in their preservation family on over 160 properties – growing that number annually by 1\,000 acres with a small staff and volunteers.  Sean lives on a FNLT preserved farm with his spouse and two children.  Sean volunteers in various leadership positions with York County Planning Commission\, York County Rail Trail Authority and York Central Market – to name a few.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/building-reliable-support-for-land-preservation/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240123T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240123T110000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20231103T160635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231103T160918Z
UID:19974-1706004000-1706007600@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Supporting Conservation Workflows with ArcGIS
DESCRIPTION:The work of land conservation often takes place outdoors and away from the office\, including monitoring land holdings and easements\, collecting data to improve land management\, and reporting on conditions and assets. This work can be made more efficient with the use of location data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). With simple configurable applications\, users of all skill levels can digitally transform their field operations by modernizing paper workflows and ensuring the use of authoritative data in the field. In this presentation\, staff from The Nature Conservancy will describe how Esri’s ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Online tools support their preserve monitoring and reporting workflows\, in both the field and the office. \nPresented by Jake Leizear and Charlie Ritter with The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania and Delaware \n$25.00 (free for WeConservePA members) \n		Register\n \nReach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you need your member code. \nPresenters:\nAs the Legal Compliance Specialist for the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC)\, Charlie Ritter manages the annual legal monitoring program of TNC-held lands and provides direct technical GIS support to our Stewardship Team. He also serves as the liaison among a multitude of stakeholders to ensure TNC lands are in legal compliance. With professional experience spanning from the Adirondack Mountains to the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains\, Charlie has employed a variety of tools to monitor and manage diverse ecosystems. \nJake Leizear is the Conservation GIS Specialist for TNC in PA and DE and provides mapping and analytics support to our land\, freshwater\, coastal\, and urban conservation teams. With a background in ecology and large landscape conservation\, he focuses on data management\, GIS analyses\, and cartographic product creation. He has worked throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in his career\, identifying conservation opportunities with a variety of overlapping benefits to people\, wildlife\, and ecosystems.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/supporting-conservation-workflows-with-arcgis/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240122T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240122T201500
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20231214T140638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231214T140638Z
UID:20077-1705950000-1705954500@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Why Municipalities Should Consider a Utility-Scale Solar Ordinance
DESCRIPTION:A webinar specifically developed for leaders of Environmental Advisory Councils\, Pennsylvania Bird Towns\, and Pennsylvania Audubon Chapters\, the program will feature a short PowerPoint and links to resources assembled by the Pennsylvania Audubon Council’s Renewable Energy Committee.  Participants will be empowered to use the PowerPoint and linked resources in subsequent presentations to officials at the municipal government level in the communities they serve. \n		Register\n \nPresenters:\nCarolyn Grayshaw\, Director of Education for WeConservePA; Heidi Shiver\, President of Bird Town Pennsylvania; and Leigh Altadonna\, President of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council will explain the objectives of the webinar and introduce the panel of presenters. Tom Kuehl\, Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society and Judy Stepenaskie\, Wyncote Audubon Society\, will preview the PowerPoint and provide an overview of resources featured in this webinar. Laura Jackson\, Juniata Valley Audubon Society\, and Sue Murawski\, Presque Isle Audubon Society will provide a brief walkthrough of the Commonwealth Court decision concerning the Brookview Solar Project in Adams County. This decision was strongly based on upholding the local ordinance. Steve Nelson\, Director of Planning and Government Relations\, will provide a brief “Civics 101” lesson on the limits of authority of state government and the importance of the authority vested at the municipal level.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/solar-ordinance/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231025T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231025T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20230616T193836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230714T193341Z
UID:19438-1698238800-1698242400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Pennsylvania’s Solar Future
DESCRIPTION:Where Will Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Be Located and How Will It Get There? An examination of Pennsylvania’s current legal/regulatory landscape for utility scale solar project siting and the legal and regulatory schemes enacted by legislatures in other jurisdictions that may provide models for Pennsylvania to enact legislation that truly complements the public and private investment that has been made in farmland preservation. Any pending bills in the Pennsylvania legislature regarding issues of importance to solar development generally in Pennsylvania will also be reviewed. \nPA CLE Credits available for $15.00\, please reach out to cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org if you would like to purchase credits. \n		Register\n \nPresenter\nBrook Duer | Staff Attorney\, Penn State Law\, Center for Agricultural and Shale Law \nBrook Duer joined Penn State Law’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law as a staff attorney in 2019. Prior to that\, he was an attorney with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for 12 years\, serving 8 of those years as Chief Counsel to the agency and supervising the agency’s legal office. Prior to that\, Brook practiced law in Lancaster County for 18 years. Brook received a B.S. in Communications from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/pennsylvanias-solar-future/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231010T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231010T140000
DTSTAMP:20260426T075222
CREATED:20230803T202421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230803T202949Z
UID:19641-1696942800-1696946400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Living with Logistics: PennFuture’s Model Zoning Ordinance for Logistics Facilities
DESCRIPTION:As online shopping has become a major source of retail goods in the 21st century\, logistics industry practices have changed\, and so has the industry’s demand for land.  Although often referred to as “warehouses\,” today’s logistics facilities are not the long-term-storage-based warehouses of the past — they are huge distribution and fulfillment centers with the potential to generate far-reaching traffic\, noise\, aesthetic\, and environmental impacts unanticipated by zoning ordinances drafted long before this development pattern was even a remote possibility. Communities across the Commonwealth are now faced with the influx of these massive logistics facilities\, and municipalities are struggling to figure out how to respond before it’s too late. Zoning is perhaps the most powerful tool municipalities have to do this. \nIn order to help Pennsylvania’s municipalities proactively prepare for this incoming land use\, PennFuture has created a model zoning ordinance and guidebook.  The Model Logistics Use Zoning Ordinance is based on the information and experience that PennFuture’s staff has gained through our engagement with community members and municipalities in the Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania\, the logistics hub of the East Coast. We will share what we have learned in this process: how the logistics industry has changed in recent decades; how existing zoning ordinances are often inadequate to effectively address modern logistics uses; pitfalls we have noticed in the way zoning ordinances that do address these uses are doing so; and suggestions for how to draft an effective zoning regulation. \nJoin this conversation with the author of this model ordinance to learn more about the model ordinance and what you can do to advocate for it in your municipality. \n		Register\n \nBrigitte Meyer | Staff Attorney\, PennFuture \nBrigitte is a Staff Attorney in PennFuture’s Pocono Office where her work focuses on water quality and watershed protection\, special protection waters\, and stormwater management. Prior to joining PennFuture\, Brigitte was an Associate Attorney at Siana Law in Chester Springs\, Pennsylvania\, where her work focused on municipal and land use law. \nBrigitte received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and graduated from Northeastern University Law School (NUSL). While completing her law degree\, Brigitte served as a judicial intern at the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and participated in the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic. Her article\, “Lawyering in the Age of Lynching” is published in the Northeastern University Law Review. Prior to attending law school\, Brigitte worked full-time as the director of food service at camps in Virginia\, Texas and New York. \nAbby Jones | VP Legal and Policy\, PennFuture \nAbby is Vice President of Legal and Policy at PennFuture. As Vice President\, Abby is responsible for integrating PennFuture’s legal\, regulatory\, and policy activities in furtherance of the organization’s mission of protecting Pennsylvania’s air\, water and land\, and empowering citizens to build sustainable communities for future generations. In her role as an attorney based out of PennFuture’s Poconos office\, her work focuses on water quality and watershed protection\, special protection waters\, and stormwater management. Abby also works on the issues related to the petrochemical and fracking industries that are threatening the health of Pennsylvania’s people and environment. \nPrior to joining PennFuture\, Abby was a Staff Attorney at Riverkeeper\, where her work focused on civil litigation and administrative enforcement actions targeted at safeguarding the water quality and ecological integrity of the Hudson River and its tributaries. Before that\, Abby worked as an environmental attorney in New York City and Cheyenne\, Wyoming. She has written about and presented on a variety of environmental issues including the regulation and legal challenges of Marcellus Shale development in New York\, energy leases for private property owners in Western States\, and the Superfund cleanup of the Hudson River.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/living-with-logistics-pennfutures-model-zoning-ordinance-for-logistics-facilities/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
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END:VCALENDAR