Soil and Water Conservation Leadership Academy

This locally delivered educational program is designed to build your skills and enhance your ability to lead watershed, conservation and community-based projects that will protect water quality for future generations.

The purpose of this training is to help you:

• Feel better prepared to serve as an effective SCD or other watershed board member
• Enhance the ability to lead watershed, conservation and community-based projects that will protect water quality for future generations
• Define a strategic direction for the board and local watershed through effective facilitation and citizen input

How much time does the program take?

There are three levels of Leadership Academy training. Each face-to-face training session will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where will the Leadership Academy be held?

The program will be held in a different location each year to better accommodate districts. The next three years are planned as follows (subject to change):

The level number in the above table will be hyperlinked to the registration page if registration is live.

How much does it cost?

The cost of each level of the program is $35, which will cover food and any incidentals. A grant will cover all program materials for participants. Your local board or organization may be able to assist with registration costs.

Who should attend?

Soil Conservation District boards and employees, NRCS staff, Extension agents, County Water Resource board members, natural resource management students, and others interested in water and conservation efforts.

Why attend?

To have a better understanding of watershed and conservation efforts as well as the leadership skills necessary to protect water quality for future generations.

Which level should I attend?

The sections below outline the topics covered in each of the levels, so if there is a specific topic you are interested in learning more about, that is a great place to start. Every new SCD supervisor should attend at least Leadership Academy Level One. If you are already signing up for Level One and your SCD's budget can cover it, Level Two will build on that initial training and will occur in the same location as Level One training during that same year.

If you have previously taken Level One training but would like a refresher, you are likely to have a better experience if you register for Leadership Academy Level Two. You have already taken Level One training, and you remember more than you think you do! Attend Level Two training the next time around to build on that previous training and learn new things.

Level Three training has two components: a full-day, classroom session in the winter and a field trip portion in the summer to see practical applications of what you learned in Levels One, Two and Three. As such, Leadership Academy Level Three is best taken after you have already attended Levels One and Two.