Seminar FR1
Whole Thinking in Conservation
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Peter Forbes, Center for Whole Communities

How does the practice of conservation change when we begin to view it not just as a legal act, but a cultural one? What would an approach to conservation that depended on relationships as well as laws look like?
 
Participants in this seminar will begin to answer this question by developing a greater understanding of the role of land, and its uses and misuses, in shaping healthy and prosperous communities. They will consider new theories of how broad societal change occurs, and the role of conservation and education in fostering positive change. They will rethink language and strategies around partnerships; build stronger goals for collaboration with community partners; discuss how best to inspire conservation rather than demand it; and learn how to build stronger bases of support through community-driven efforts. Finally, they will consider new ways to determine what successful conservation looks like, and learn about a new measurement tool – “Whole Measures” – to help them know when they’ve achieved it.

Peter’s life-long pursuit is to be a witness and storyteller of the bond between people and the land, and to translate what he has learned into a new form of leadership. Peter is recognized across North America for building bridges between sectors, coalitions and organizations and for nurturing a new land movement integrating land health, social justice, and human spirit.

Seminar FR2
Winning Local Land Conservation Ballot Measures
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Will Abberger, Trust for Public Land
Dulcie Flaharty, Montgomery County Lands Trust
Mike Frank, Heritage Conservancy
Tara Tracy, Brandywine Cons

Attendees will:

• Recognize the appropriate language and variables associated with public finance ballot measures
  
• review the national/state trends and the overall benefits of successful ballot measure
  
• understand the process of developing a ballot measure, including feasibility research and measure design
  
• understand the necessary components of a successful campaign and identify key partners in the process

Whether you are with a land trust or municipality, you may find yourself working to pass a ballot referendum for land conservation. This workshop brings together a group of experts that have worked at all levels of the process and with both small and large communities; they will provide unique perspectives and case studies on building an effective ballot measure and campaign.

Topics to be covered include national trends in land conservation funding, ballot measure basics, key factors in measure design, and critical steps for passing an open space ballot measure. Case studies will be used to highlight key points.

Seminar FR3
Determining Stewardship Costs: Raising & Managing Dedicated Funds
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Renee’ Carey, Northcentral PA Conservancy
Peter Williamson, Natural Lands Trust

How much will it cost your land trust to manage a conservation easement for the long haul? Arriving at a realistic figure is tricky—but essential—if you are going to keep your promises.

In this course you will learn how to calculate the full stewardship expenses of conservation easements and fee land transactions; present and/or anticipated future staff costs; potential enforcement/defense costs for conservation easement holdings; and any necessary legal or technical advice.

This course will also discuss the various systems for the investment and management of financial assets and different types of dedicated. Participants will receive a copy of the 356-page student guide developed by the Land Trust Alliance.

This is a Land Trust Standards & Practices Course and covers the following core practices: Investments & Management (6F), Funding Easement Stewardship (11A), and Funding Land Stewardship (12A). To learn more about the Land Trust Standards & Practices visit conserveland.org and www.lta.org.

Seminar FR4
Strategies to Protect Historic Landscapes: Where Land Conservation Meets Historic Preservation
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Bryan Van Swedan, PA Historical & Museum Commission
Carol Lee, PA Historical & Museum Commission
Erin Hammerstedt, Archaeological and Historical Con sultants, Centre Hall
Jeff Marshall, Heritage Conservancy
John Snook, Brandywine Conservancy

CEUs

Seminar FR5
Establishing Successful TDR Programs: Local, County & Multi-Municipal Approcahes
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
John Theilacker, Brandywine Conservancy
John Snook, Brandywine Conservancy
Tom Daniels, University of Pennsylvania
Dan Zimmerman, Warwick Township
Karen Martynick, Lancaster Farmland Trust

The objective of this seminar is to demonstrate how the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) tool can be established at single and multi-municipal levels, and the roles that counties, land trusts, and others can play in facilitating TDR transactions.

The Brandywine Conservancy recently partnered with county planners, township, city, and regional officials, local land trusts, and others to increase the understanding and the use of the TDR zoning tool in Lancaster County. The primary format for this sharing is a Lancaster County TDR Practitioners Handbook authored by the Conservancy and Professor Daniels, funded by Lancaster County, and guided in its formation by an informal “partnership” of County, township, city, land trust, and other representatives.

Through detailed analysis of the Lancaster County TDR success stories, the partnership has identified a number of program “design” options or tweaks to the basic TDR framework that can be used to increase the chances for local success in other municipalities within the Commonwealth. And, as an increasing number of municipalities participate in multi-municipal planning efforts, the interest in the transfer of TDRs across municipal boundaries grows. Guidance on how to structure a multi-municipal TDR program through either a joint zoning ordinance, a written agreement, or through formal multi-municipal comprehensive planning has been thoroughly explored through the Lancaster County TDR partnership effort.

CM/CLE Credits

Seminar FR6
Alone in the Field: Staying Safe in the Great Outdoors
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Drew Gilchrist, Natural Lands Trust
Florence Martino

Land trust employees spend a great deal of time, often alone, in remote locations. Being safe in the out of doors is combination of preparation, relaxed awareness, avoidance and an understanding of basic self defense.

The first half of the workshop will focus on the first three behaviors:

Preparation – What should you take with you into the woods and fields; what you should have available in your vehicle; and who knows where you are and what time you are expected to return.

Relaxed Awareness - Paying attention to your intuition, listening to the voice in you head and potential natural hazards

Avoidance – Lessons from the animal kingdom, using fear as a tool and risk assessment. Distance is a good thing.

The second half of the workshop will focus on what happens if all else fails. Basic self-defense techniques of blocks kicks and strikes will be demonstrated by the instructor and a trained female assistant. Participants will practice using shields and padded targets in a safe and friendly environment. Other concepts to be discussed will include, vulnerable target areas, the three strike principal and tactical retreat.

This seminar is designed to be a “hands on” presentation. Participants should come to the workshop prepared for physical activity.

Please Note: Registration is limited to 16 participants for this course; feel free to call 717.909.1298 or email nfaraguna@conserveland.org to confirm space availability.