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         The general programs reach out to all member of the community.  They include: Soil Stewardship, Twilight Meetings, Contractors Workshop, Winter Conference, and Educator Workshops.

• Soil Stewardship Week- The NCCD's longest running program , Soil Stewardship Week,  calls attention to our responsibility to care for our natural resources.  The NCCD offers all Northumberland County churches free materials to help then celebrate Soil Stewardship Week in late April or early May.  Requests for materials must be received by early March.  The materials include a Church Leader guide and a choice of bulletin covers, inserts, or litanies.  These materials are used for a church celebration centered around responsible stewardship of our environment.  The theme for 2005 is "Celebrate Conservation".

• Educator Workshops- These summer workshops are offered by NCCD in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the PA Game Commission.  The workshops provide materials and support to address the new PA Department of Education Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology.   Participants learn about the environment, receive teaching materials, and earn Act 48 hours.   The workshops are split up by grades (K-5, 6-8, 9-12).  Funding for the workshops are made possible through a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Education Grant.  In 2004, "Project FLP" was offered.  More about Workshops.

            Mary Ann Troutman from Line Mountain     

            School District practices an activity

            from Project Wet called Water Olympics.    

            Angela Moyer from Northwestern   

            Academy looks on.

• Twilight Meetings- These meetings are held at the end of the summer for the agriculture community.  Typically, the evening begins with a tour of the host farm operation, followed by dinner and speakers.  Topics include Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service updates, Chesapeake Bay program, and other site/time specific topics.  Private pesticide applicator credits are usually available. 

A beautiful view from a tour of the Martz Game Farm during the twilight meeting held there.

• Contractors Workshop- This workshop is held is held every January for land improvement contractors involved in the installation of soil and water conservation practices.  The 2003 Contractors Workshop was sponsored by Valley Ag & Turf and took place on January 22, 2003 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00p.m. at the NCCD Education Center. 

• Winter Agriculture Conference-  The 2005 Winter Conference took place on March 2, 2005 from  9:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. at the Degenstein Community Library in Sunbury.  Topics included ACRE Initiative, Soybean Rust, Transferring the Farm, Crop Insurance, Benefits of Buffers, Forestry and the Private Forest Landowner, Expansion, BT Corn/ Diseases in Corn, & Renewable Energy Sources.

Caressa Crone discusses Crop Insurance with area farmers at this year's winter conference.