Agricultural Conservation Boot Camp Training Scheduled for Union County in March

A free Agricultural Conservation Technical "Boot Camp" training series began its virtual sessions this month, with the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts bringing the Basic Level program to the Union County Government Center, 155 N 15th St. in Lewisburg, for a four-day in-person block running April 13 through April 16, 2026.

The program combines three virtual sessions, scheduled March 19, March 26 and April 20, with in-person training that runs from 9:30 a.m. on April 13 through 4:30 p.m. on April 16 at the Lewisburg facility. Attendance at all seven sessions is mandatory: "Both in-person and all virtual training sessions are required to complete the course," according to PACD.

The course targets early-career professionals in agricultural conservation fields. PACD describes the eligible audience as "Agricultural Conservation Technicians, NRCS field staff, Nutrient Management Technicians, Chesapeake Bay Technicians, and others in agricultural positions with less than 1 year of professional experience, or less than 3 years experience if employee did not attend a previously held Level I ACT training."

Curriculum spans basic surveying skills, construction materials, soils identification, pasture management, conservation in crop ground, hydrology and resource concern identification. PACD frames the material as broadly applicable rather than role-specific: "A foundational overview is covered for topics, and the material is applicable to a variety of conservation careers within agriculture. Not all topics will specifically apply to one employee's current position."

Registration fees are fully waived. Funding flows through a Special Leadership Development Project Grant sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. The four sponsoring organizations are NRCS, the State Conservation Commission, Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

Participants accepted into the course will receive information about an overnight room block. Lunch is provided during the in-person days; breakfast and dinner are not, and attendees are asked to bring a refillable water bottle and coffee mug.

The application deadline passed January 30, 2026. Those with questions about the program can reach PACD's Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.