The 2024 EAC Network Virtual Conference, held Saturday February 24, saw a record number of attendees.

Screenshot from 2024 EAC Network Virtual Conference.

Agenda

The event kicked off with a short presentation on the EAC Network resources available through WeConservePA, followed by a lightning share session featuring brief presentations from nine EACs on projects and initiatives happening across the state. Topics included: battery recycling program (Charlestown Township), holiday string light recycling program (Whitpain Township), community-based clean-up program (City of Allentown), Floating Gardens (Doylestown Township), birdwatch area native plant restoration project (Whitehall Township), the pro’s and con’s of a regional EAC (David Ross), Getting Through the Noise (Town of McCandless), and methods to advise boards of supervisors on concerns (New Hanover Township). The morning plenary was followed by six additional sessions across three breakouts: Inching Our Way to Healthy Yards and Streams, Climate Action Planning: What Can Municipalities Do?, Oh Deer! Management Options for Municipalities, Greening Communities: Urban Agriculture and Urban Forestry, Putting the Dimmer on Light Pollution, and Advancing Sustainable Ways Communities are Managing Household Waste.

The full agenda can be reviewed here: 

Statistics

  • Registrants had access to 7.5 hours of training.
  • Total registration for the event was 186 individuals.
  • Thirty-nine environmental advisory councils were represented, with an additional five municipalities without EACs participating.
  • The overall rating for the event was 4.5
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Screenshot from 2024 EAC Network Virtual Conference.

Comments from Evaluation:

  • “Informative and well-organized conference.  Thank you for all that you did to make it a success for so many EACs!”
  • “It’s great to see such a good turnout and mix of EAC’s from across the state.  Lots of learning and sharing at each section via the chat which supplements the presentations.  Excellent facilitation as usual!”
  • “thanks again for an excellent conference!!!  makes me excited for next year.”

EACs Represented

  • Abington EAC
  • Bethlehem City EAC
  • Borough of Lansdale EAC
  • Charlestown Township EAC
  • Cheltenham EAC
  • Doylestown Township EAC
  • East Nantmeal EAC
  • East Pikeland Township EAC
  • East Vincent Township EAC
  • Erie EAC
  • Hatboro EAC
  • Jenkintown EAC
  • Lower Gwynedd Township EAC
  • Lower Macungie Township EAC
  • Lower Saucon Township EAC
  • Lower Southampton EAC
  • McCandless Township EAC
  • Meadville EAC
  • Media EAC
  • Montgomery Township EAC
  • Moon Township EAC
  • New Britain Township EAC
  • New Hanover Township EAC
  • Newtown Township EAC
  • Oxford Region Volunteer EAC
  • Schuylkill Township EAC
  • Solebury Township EAC
  • Springfield Township EAC (Montco)
  • Township of Lower Merion
  • Tredyffrin Township EAC
  • Upper Dublin township EPAB
  • Upper Gwynedd Township EAC
  • Upper Uwchlan Township EAC
  • Wallace Township EAC
  • West Bradford Township Land Preservation & Sustainability
  • West Norriton Township EAC
  • West Vincent Township EAC
  • Westtown EAC
  • Whitpain Township EAC
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Screenshot from 2024 EAC Network Virtual Conference.

Additional Municipalities Represented

  • Plymouth Township (Montco)
  • Smithfield Township
  • Upper Merion Township
  • West Whiteland Township
  • Wyomissing

Other Organizations Represented

  • Back to Earth Composting
  • Bird Town Pennsylvania
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • DarkSky International
  • Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative
  • Generation 180
  • PA Audubon Council
  • PA DCNR
  • PA DEP
  • Pennsylvania Game Commission
  • Penn State University
  • USDA
  • West Chester Dark Sky Committee
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Screenshot from 2024 EAC Network Virtual Conference.