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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260527T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260527T130000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20260403T211111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T211422Z
UID:23136-1779883200-1779886800@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:2026 Environmental Advisory Council Roundtable: Road Salt Pollution & Municipal Strategies to Reduce Impact
DESCRIPTION:Description\nThis session if for EAC members who are involved in salt-related initiatives or who want to learn more about:\n\nWhat is road salt pollution and why does it matter?\n\nWhat municipal strategies can help reduce environmental harm\, protect infrastructure\, and achieve more cost-effective winter road management?\n\n\nWhat resources are available to help educate communities and support municipal leaders in reducing road salt pollution?\n\n\nThe roundtable will also review existing and resources available for EACs from organizations including Stroud Water Research Center\, Pennsylvania Road Salt Action Group (PARSA)\, and Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC).\n\n  \n		Register\n \n  \nSupported by WeConservePA Business Sponsor
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/2026-environmental-advisory-council-roundtable-road-salt-pollution-municipal-strategies-to-reduce-impact/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T101500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T150000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20240801T193238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T213745Z
UID:20829-1777457700-1777647600@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:2026 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference
DESCRIPTION:The Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference is Pennsylvania’s premier networking\, training\, and inspirational event for people working to conserve land. \n		Event Details and Registration\n \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/pennsylvania-land-conservation-conference-2026/
LOCATION:Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square\, 25 Queen St\, Lancaster\, PA\, 17603\, United States
CATEGORIES:Conference
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T130000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20260319T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T150000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20260209T205700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T215954Z
UID:22923-1773909000-1773932400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Land Acquisition and Stewardship Gathering: Pittsburgh
DESCRIPTION:Pricing\n$25.00 member – $50.00 non-member (before March 13)\nMorning coffee\, refreshments\, and lunch will be provided. \nTentative Agenda (detail will be added as it becomes available)\nConnect with dozens of conservation colleagues for a day of presentations and discussions addressing land acquisitions and stewardship. The agenda will be substantially shaped by you. You are strongly encouraged to suggest topics\, concerns\, and questions you would like to see addressed at the gathering. Do so on the registration form or by emailing Andy Loza any time. \n8:30 am – 9:30 am | Check-in\, coffee\, refreshments\, and casual conversation \n9:30 am – 10:30 am | Locking Down Land Acquisitions (or at least getting a foot in the door) \nPurchase option\, sales agreement: what’s the difference? How do you craft one or the other to best address your interests? For the landowner not yet willing to sell\, how can you ensure that you will get a chance at a property before it goes to another? This session addresses these questions\, explores the experiences of attendees\, and reviews model documents WeConservePA provides to assist. \n10:30 am – 10:45 am | Break \n10:45 am – 12:00 pm | Conserving Forests in Perpetuity\nAnnie Maloney and Guy Dunkle of Foundation for Sustainable Forests and Andy Zadnik of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will highlight their respective organizations’ land management strategies\, philosophies\, and business models for achieving biodiversity\, ecosystem health\, and potentially sustainable revenue for stewardship. \n12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch (provided by WeConservePA)\nTopics for discussion will be assigned to tables as shaped by the morning sessions and requests of registrants to address specific topics\, issues\, concerns\, and scenarios. \n1:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Land Acquisition and Management Topics\nThis session will be substantially shaped by the requests of registrants to address specific topics\, issues\, concerns\, and scenarios: Topics suggested so far include: \n\nDeeper dive into forest management regimes\nTiming the various aspects of due diligence\nAddressing oil\, gas\, and mineral rights\n\n		Register
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/land-acquisition-and-stewardship-gathering-pittsburgh/
LOCATION:Western Pennsylvania Conservancy\, 800 Waterfront Drive\, Pittsburgh\, PA\, 15222
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T113000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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:20251115T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T160000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20251002T160352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T160352Z
UID:22056-1763195400-1763222400@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:2025 EAC Fall Gathering
DESCRIPTION:WeConservePA and event host Chester County Planning Commission invite Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) members\, municipal staff\, and elected officials to attend the annual Fall Gathering—a one-day\, in-person education and networking event to support local environmental initiatives. \nThe 2025 event will take place on Saturday\, November 15 at The Conference Center—Penn State Great Valley in Malvern\, PA.  \nVisit the event page for agenda\, registration\, and sponsorship information.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/2025-eac-fall-gathering/
LOCATION:Penn State Great Valley | Malvern\, PA
CATEGORIES:Conference
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://weconservepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/EAC-Fall-Gathering-BlogHeader.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T120000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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;VALUE=DATE:20250921
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250924
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20230720T193521Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240529T180120Z
UID:19541-1758412800-1758671999@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit 2025
DESCRIPTION:September 21 – 23\, 2025\nThe 2025 Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit will be held in Harrisburg\, PA. \n		More Information
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/pennsylvania-greenways-and-trails-summit-2025/
LOCATION:Hilton Harrisburg\, One North Second Street\, Harrisburg\, 17101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Conference
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T120000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20250815T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250815T120000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20250519T190705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T124730Z
UID:21712-1755246600-1755259200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:2025 Land Protection and Stewardship Gathering
DESCRIPTION:Join dozens of your colleagues involved in acquiring and stewarding land and conservation easements for robust discussions of a variety of matters relevant to you. As in the past\, the agenda will be substantially shaped by you. You are strongly encouraged to suggest topics\, concerns\, and questions you would like to see addressed at the gathering. Do so on the registration form or by emailing Andy Loza any time. (Already on the agenda is a DCNR update and discussion of easement design.) \nSchedule\n8:30 am | Casual conversation\, coffee\, and other goodies\n9:00 am | Meeting formally begins\n12:00 pm | Optional informal brown bag lunch with colleagues\n \nFree Event \n		Register
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/2025-land-protection-and-stewardship-meeting/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Meeting
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250722T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250722T120000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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:20250402T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250404T170000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20230726T183926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240529T133749Z
UID:19593-1743580800-1743786000@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference 2025
DESCRIPTION:April 2-4\, 2025\n		More Information
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/2025-land-conservation-conference/
LOCATION:Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center\, 215 Innovation Boulevard\, State College\, Pennsylvania\, 16803
CATEGORIES:Conference
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250220T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250220T110000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20241107T193407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241107T193632Z
UID:21115-1740045600-1740049200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Roundtable: Educational Improvement Tax Credit (as Applied to Conservation Education)
DESCRIPTION:Join land conservation colleagues for a roundtable discussion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit. The session (1) gives current users of the EITC space to share their experiences\, challenges\, and thoughts with other experienced users and (2) provides an educational opportunity for folks exploring the potential of EITC for their organizations. The EITC program awards tax credits equal to 90% of an eligible business’s contributions to qualifying charitable organizations\, making this an extremely attractive proposition for businesses and garnering 501c3’s significant opportunity to boost their educational programming. \nThere is no cost to attend this event \n		Register\n \nQuestions?  Reach out to mcook@weconservepa.org \n\nSponsor:
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/eitc-roundtable/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Roundtable
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T113000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20241113T172620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T172620Z
UID:21137-1738233000-1738236600@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Winter Lecture: Invasive Species from Field to Plate:
DESCRIPTION:This event immediately follows the 2025 WeConservePA 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. \nAs land stewards\, we regularly find ourselves making decisions about subtracting or adding to local plant communities in service of a healthier landscape. With biodiversity as one of our goals\, we often remove species labeled as non-native or invasive. It may surprise some to learn that many of these species have hidden value – and that we may be able to find appreciation and build new relationships with them while continuing to prevent their spread. At the same time\, learning and sharing the edible or medicinal value of native species can inspire people to protect\, propagate\, and incorporate these plants into their own communities. \nForaging – the act of finding and gathering wild foods – can be one tool in the toolbox for conservationists and land stewards in our efforts to educate the public\, restore healthy ecosystems\, and connect on a much deeper level to the landscapes in which we live and work. We’ll discuss foundations of the practice along with some of the most common–and forageable–invasive species found in Pennsylvania. We’ll also highlight some delicious natives that we can tend and support as foragers. \nThe Horn Farm Center is an educational non-profit based in the Lower Susquehanna Riverlands region of York County\, PA. We offer classes\, events\, training programs\, and volunteer workdays that connect people with the land\, supporting our vision of a world where people live in reciprocity with nature and our agricultural practices revive ecosystems and human well-being. Learn more about our work at hornfarmcenter.org. \n		Register\n \n\nPresenter:\nJonathan Darby | Farm & Agroforestry Manager\, Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education \nJonathan Darby is dedicated to educating people about the intersection of farming and ecology\, to growing tomorrow’s farmers\, and to building community resilience in uncertain times. Jonathan is a wild foods enthusiast and educator\, former owner and operator of Sterling Farm\, and has been active in the local farming community for over fifteen years. \nJonathan has been involved at the Horn Farm since 2008 when he volunteered on the committee that conceived and created the Incubator Farm Project. Since then\, Jonathan has served the organization in varying capacities for over 15 years\, including as Farm Manager\, Education Director\, and even as a member of the Board of Directors. Today\, Jonathan serves as Farm & Agroforestry Manager\, leading Horn Farm Center’s demonstration projects and training programs. Jonathan received his Permaculture Design Certification in 2011 from Susquehanna Permaculture and in 2014 completed his Permaculture Teacher Training through Dynamic Ecological Design.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/winter-lecture-invasive-species-from-field-to-plate/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Other
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T103000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20241113T171922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T172156Z
UID:21136-1738231200-1738233000@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:WeConservePA Member Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Member organizations are requested to attend WeConservePA’s annual meeting of members.  \nThis event will be immediately followed by the WeConservePA Winter Lecture\, Invasive Species From Field to Plate with Jonathan Darby of the Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education. 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-2025-member-meeting/
LOCATION:Crow’s Nest Preserve\, 201 Piersol Road\, Elverson\, PA\, 19520\, United States
CATEGORIES:Other
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T140000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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:20241022T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241022T110000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20240722T173508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240722T173508Z
UID:20798-1729591200-1729594800@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Landscape Users Group Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Join WeConservePA and Dan Ford\, product manager with Landscape\, for a virtual meeting of Pennsylvania users of Landscape Conservation Software.  Learn how land trust land protection and stewardship staff and volunteers are applying this powerful tool\, share tips and tricks\, seek guidance\, and trouble shoot with peers and with assistance from a company representative. \nRSVP and submit questions and discussion topics in advance by email to Carol Grayshaw\, cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org.         
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/landscape-users-group-meeting/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Roundtable
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241017
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241018
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20240614T193624Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240805T192147Z
UID:20689-1729123200-1729209599@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Conservation Easement Seminar
DESCRIPTION:Connect with colleagues in person and immerse yourself in the topic of conservation easements for a day at this WeConservePA seminar hosted by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. There is content for newcomers and experienced folks alike. \n		Agenda and Registration
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/conservation-easement-seminar-2/
LOCATION:Western Pennsylvania Conservancy\, 800 Waterfront Drive\, Pittsburgh\, PA\, 15222
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T110000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20241005T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241005T163000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20240618T190237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241009T165445Z
UID:20695-1728117000-1728145800@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:EAC Fall Gathering
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) members\, municipal staff\, elected officials\, and others interested in the work of EACs for a full day of training\, networking\, and fun! The EAC Network Fall Gathering\, an in-person networking and training event\, will be held Saturday\, October 5 at Temple University\, Ambler.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/eac-fall-gathering/
LOCATION:Temple University\, Ambler\, 580 Meetinghouse Rd\, Ambler\, PA\, 19002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Conference
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241001T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241001T140000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
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:20260531T125600
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:20240711T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240711T120000
DTSTAMP:20260531T125600
CREATED:20240423T132332Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240523T150838Z
UID:20495-1720688400-1720699200@weconservepa.org
SUMMARY:Land Protection Group Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Join dozens of your conservation colleagues for an in-person gathering of those involved in acquiring and stewarding land and conservation easements on Thursday\, July 11\, from 9 am to noon. For coffee and other goodies\, arrive as early as 8:30 am. The gathering will take place at: \nThe Rookery at The Nature Place at Angelica Park\n575 St Bernardine St\nReading\, PA 19607\n[Map it] \nRSVP to Carol Grayshaw at cgrayshaw@weconservepa.org.  Please include your suggestions for topics\, concerns\, and questions you would like to see addressed at the gathering. \nThe agenda will be largely shaped by your suggestions. At minimum\, agenda items will include a DCNR update and review of WeConservePA’s latest technical guidance and models.
URL:https://weconservepa.org/event/land-protection-group-meeting/
LOCATION:The Nature Place\, 575 St. Bernardine St\, Reading\, 19607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Meeting
ORGANIZER;CN="WeConservePA":MAILTO:info@weconservepa.org
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR