Audubon Mid-Atlantic is excited to host our inaugural statewide I Bird I Vote Conservation Summit in Pennsylvania this fall! We have a fantastic line-up of panels and speakers to discuss the state of advocacy for birds in PA, renewable energy, and habitat conservation. Join us on October 24th and 25th for a lively discussion and networking among leaders in the movement to protect birds in Pennsylvania! 

This conservation and policy summit will take place from the afternoon of Friday, October 24th until Saturday, October 25th at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, Pennsylvania. There are optional field trips starting Friday morning!  During this gathering of bird lovers and conservation policy experts from around the state, we will explore the challenges facing birds and their habitats and will present advocacy solutions for attendees to consider. We will learn from Pennsylvania’s environmental champions and will share ideas and experiences from the Audubon community in the commonwealth. More information about the summit is available on the registration page. 

Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center:  

215 Innovation Blvd, State College, PA 16803 

Agenda:  

Friday October 24  

• 10:00-12:00 - Optional Field Trip – Audubon's Forest Conservation work in PA  

Scott Parkhill, Senior Forest Program Manager, Audubon Mid-Atlantic  

Joshua Rittenhouse, Program Manager, Forester Training and Endorsement, Audubon Mid-Atlantic (Directions and meeting point near State College will be sent closer to the date) 

• 12:00-1:30 - Lunch at Penn Stater and Check-in    

• 1:30-2:00 - Welcome  

Suzanne Biemiller, Executive Director, Audubon Mid-Atlantic, Jim Brown, Policy Director, Audubon Mid-Atlantic  

• 2:15-3:15 - Federal Policy Panel Discussion: Federal Programs that support Pennsylvania’s conservation work. How can we navigate uncertain times? 

Zachary Spencer, Manager of Government Affairs, National Audubon Society  

Renee Reber, Mid-Atlantic Climate and Clean Water Senior Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association, N. Scott Parkhill, Audubon Mid-Atlantic 

• 3:30-4:30 - Renewable Energy and Birds: Steps we can take in Pennsylvania 

Sam Wojcicki, Senior Director of Climate Policy at National Audubon Society  

Sharon Pillar, Founder and Director of the PA Solar Center, Monica Carey, Pennsylvania Program Director, Solar United Neighbors, Jim Brown, Audubon Mid-Atlantic 

• 4:30-5:30 - Pennsylvania Environmental Advocacy: Where Policy Meets Conservation  

Evan Endres, Pennsylvania Director of Government Relations and Policy, The Nature Conservancy, Stephanie Wein, Water and Conservation Advocate, PennEnvironment 

Andy Loza, Executive Director of We Conserve PA, Leadership from Conservation Voters of PA  

• 5:30 - Wrap-up and Debrief for the day 

Jim Brown and Tess Wilson  

• 7:00 - Keynote and Dinner at Penn Stater   

Sean Murphy, State Ornithologist, PA Game Commission   

• 8:00 - Socializing and Networking 

Saturday October 25  

• 8:00-12:00 - Audubon Chapter and Community Building Updates 

Kim Brand, Managing Director for Community Building, National Audubon Society 

Chapter Leadership and Pennsylvania Audubon Council  

• 12:00-1:00 - Lunch and Networking over Final Thoughts and Next Steps 

• 2:00-5:00 - Optional Self-Guided Field Trip – PSU Arboretum or Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center 

The registration fee for both days is $125 and includes all conference sessions, the Friday field trip, a group dinner on Friday, Saturday breakfast and lunch, as well as coffee and snacks on both days. (There are limited discounted hotel rooms still available – be sure to use the link that you receive after registration.) Scholarships are available for students and young birders—reach out to tess.wilson@audubon.org for more information!