4/9/26

The Bennington County Conservation District is hosting several educational and networking events this summer for municipal leaders, board members, and engaged residents interested in the future of land use, housing, conservation, and community resilience in our region. These events are designed to support your work, gather local perspectives, and strengthen our abilities to serve our communities.

-- ACT 181 & ACT 59 LISTENING SESSIONS --

These sessions will provide a brief overview of Act 181 and Act 59, followed by open group discussions. Your participation helps ensure that local perspectives are represented in statewide land‑use modernization and regional conservation planning. All sessions begin at 4:00 PM

Woodford: May 26 — Prospect Mountain Ski Area

Arlington: May 28 — The Arlington Common

Rupert: June 4 — Merck Forest & Farmland Center

Winhall: June 9 — Winhall Community Arts Center

Pownal: TBD — Interested in hosting a listening session? Contact us!

 

-- COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WORKSHOP (PILOT) --

June 5, 2026, 2:00–6:00 PM

EarthFire Abbey, Pownal

This workshop will bring together municipal staff, board and commission members, emergency responders, local organizations, and community leaders from Pownal and surrounding towns to explore practical strategies for building resilience through local governance. The session includes a presentation from our friends at Community Resilience Organizations facilitated discussions, resource sharing, and opportunities for cross‑town collaboration. Stipends are being offered for participation. Please visit our Event Page for more details. 

We encourage you to attend and to share these opportunities with colleagues and community members who may be interested.

If you have questions or would like printed materials for your town office, please let us know.

Thank you for your continued service to your communities.

 

Other Upcoming Events

4/14 - How to Love a Forest

Join us on April 14, 5:30–7:00 PM at the Manchester Community Library for an evening with Vermont forester, bestselling author, and digital storyteller Ethan Tapper. This event is part of the NEA Big Read, celebrating creativity, connection, and community through the lens of our shared landscape.

4/25 - Small Scale Cover Cropping Workshop

Please join us at the Gardens at Yellow Barn Farm on April 25th from 10AM-1PM for a workshop on cover cropping on a small scale. 

MULTIPLE - Act 181 & Act 59 Community Listening Sessions

Join us for community conversations in Rupert, Winhall, Arlington, Bennington, and Woodford as Vermont updates its land‑use and conservation planning frameworks.
Your voice is essential in shaping how these statewide changes reflect local realities.

Details & dates: https://www.bccdvt.org/act-181-act-59-community-listening-sessions-2026

06/05 - Community Resilience Municipal Workshop Series – Pilot Session (Pownal)

Our first pilot workshop in Pownal will bring together municipal staff, volunteers, and community members to explore practical tools for climate resilience, emergency preparedness, and long‑term planning.

Event info: https://www.bccdvt.org/2026-06-05-community-resilience-initiative

 

Volunteer Days Coming Soon!

As the growing season ramps up, we’ll be announcing several volunteer days across the county. Stay tuned for opportunities to get your hands dirty and support local conservation projects. Find us on the Bee app!

Don't have the time? Consider donating instead!

Help Us Spread the Word

Please feel free to share this email among your networks. Community engagement is strongest when information travels neighbor‑to‑neighbor.