A Catalyst For Community Improvement
Driving the resources, conservation and development of projects for Northwestern Pennsylvania since 1964
Serving 8 counties of northwestern Pa: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren.
Who We Are...
Stay up to date with Penn Soil RC&D projects and events. Sign up for our quarterly newsletter on the CONTACT page!
Penn Soil Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council is a registered 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization formed in 1964, serving the residents of eight northwestern Pennsylvania counties. Penn Soil RC&D Council actively seeks and manages grants for projects proposed by local communities and organizations which are consistent with the RC&D mission. Primarily, we provide assistance to community groups or agencies pursuing projects in one of four elements of our Strategic Area Plan: Community Development, Water Management, Land Management, and Land Conservation. Financial and technical assistance provided by Penn Soil RC&D Council may include assisting a group to develop project plans, implement fundraising plans, developing and managing grant proposals, facilitating contractual arrangements, creating an escrow fund to hold and maintain funds raised by partner groups or contributing donors for the purpose of supporting an event or project. We also act as a fiscal agent for groups that do not have a 501(c)3 designation, such as The Toy Shoppe of Warren, The Allegheny Outdoor Club, Northwest Project Grass and most recently the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania - Kinzua Country Service Unit 3628 (Warren Co.), The Kinzua Heritage Festival and the Allegheny Greenhouse senior volunteer group.
Penn Soil RC&D has operated as a true stand-alone charitable organization since losing federal funding through the USDA in 2011. Since that time, Penn Soil has been able to remain afloat without any constant, direct funding sources. Raising money through writing grants for proposed projects and soliciting donations are our main funding sources to currently pay two part-time, Co-Executive Directors (one of whom is getting ready to retire in the next year while training the new, incoming Executive Director) and pay a part-time office assistant AND fund all of the projects that we have made possible in an 8 County region!
Since 2011, Penn Soil has secured over 4.35 million dollars in grants and donations and has leveraged that funding to support projects at a ratio of 10:1 compared to our annual administrative budget! Penn Soil RC&D has had an influx of requests for assistance from many groups and organizations over the last 6 months. We have several new community projects in the works already and are quickly reaching our capacity of how many projects we can plan, write grants for and manage with two part-time Co-Executive Directors during this transition phase, which will soon be down to one part-time Executive Director. We are registered with the IRS, PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations and Guidestar, the national clearinghouse for charitable organizations. You can look us up at www.guidestar.org and view our most recent IRS form 990. You can also keep up with us at http://www.facebook.com/PennSoilRcd.
Some of the dozens of projects that Penn Soil RC&D has been a sponsor or partner of include:
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Two Mile Run Dam project that created Justus Lake in Venango Co.
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Two Mile Run Park Nature Lodge Accessibility project, Venango Co.
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Clarion River Canoe Access project in Forest Co.
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Creating a Value-Added Dairy program offering cheese making classes in several counties
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Tionesta Public Boat Launch in Forest Co.
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The Storywalk Trail at Chapman State Park, Warren Co.
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Akeley Swamp Water Control Structure, Warren Co.
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Allegheny Geo Trail Project in 10 counties in PA
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Amish Gray Water Treatment System Research Project
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180 Rural PA Dry Fire Hydrants installed statewide
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Bollinger Enterprises Concession Stand project at Chapman State Park
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9 years of coordinating the Nature Art Showcase and Sale in Franklin, PA in conjunction with Franklin On Ice, Venango County
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Big Bend Bird Viewing Platform and ADA compliant Big Bend Riverside Watchable Wildlife Trail Paving project, Warren Co.
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Bevington Boat Launch Access Area on Beaver River in Lawrence Co.
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Conewango Creek & Allegheny River Cleanups, Warren Co.
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Sponsoring & winning the Allegheny River as PA River of the Year 2017 designation and providing 13 mini-grants to multiple counties for community projects
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Chandlers Valley Community Assoc. Dam Repair project, Warren Co.
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Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach project, Area Wide
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Energy Harvest Solar Powered Water Pumping project for intensive grazing
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Alternative Energy Education for Erie County Envirothon
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Fuels for Schools Educational Program at Edinboro Energy Fair, Area Wide
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Hosting Geo Woodstock IX Event bringing 5,000 visitors to Northwest PA in 2011
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Tionesta Handicapped Accessible Fishing Pier in Forest Co.
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Tionesta Beach Recreation Area Improvement project, Forest Co.
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Local Agriculture as An Integrating Concept Educational Project, Warren Co.
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Meadville Market House, Crawford Co.
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Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club Trail Grooming Equipment project, Forest & Warren, Co.
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Morrison Trail Improvement Project, Warren Co.
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Kellettville Re-Route of the North Country Trail project in Forest Co.
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Lowlands Trail North County Trail Connector project, Chapman State Park, Warren, Co.
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Northwest PA Nutrient Reduction Demonstration project, Area Wide
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PA Wilds Trail Conference, Area wide
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Kinzua Beach Pathways project on the Allegheny Reservoir, Warren Co.
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Northwest PA Project Grass initiative and field days, Area Wide
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5-year research project with the USDA and Michigan State University's Forest Carbon and Climate Program team to analyze ecosystem services management options as it pertains to carbon sequestration and climate change
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Tri-State Poultry Assoc. Exhibit, NWPA, NEOH, & WNY
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Upper Shenango River Water Trail Project, Mercer Co.
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On-Farm trials of Warm Season Grass Varieties, Area Wide
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Numerous projects at the PA Fish and Boat Tionesta Fish Hatchery, Forest Co.
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Erie Bluffs State Park Trail Improvement project, Erie Co.
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Pennsylvania Crude, Boomtowns and Oil Barons Book publishing
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Hatch Run Conservation Demonstration Area improvements, Warren Co.
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New and Beginning Farmer's and Women in Agriculture project working in conjunction with multiple county NRCS and Conservation District offices and staff
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Outdoor & Water Safety Day program to rotate around at least 9 Northwest PA counties
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Many years of organizing Warren Co. Winterfest at Chapman State Park, Warren Co.
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DRINC - an EPA grant project to address water treatment concerns in Fryburg, Pa, Clarion Co.
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Adding value to local switch grass production technology project, Area Wide
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and many, many, MANY more!!
Annual Nature Art Showcase & Sale
Penn Soil RC&D once again partnered with the Council on Greenways & Trails to plan and co-host the ninth annual Nature Art Showcase and Sale held February 7-8, 2025 at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin, PA. This is a free event for the public which showcases local artist's artwork that must represent scenes from nature within the 8 northwest PA counties Penn Soil serves.
Attendees to the show were asked to fill out ballots for their favorite piece of artwork in the 2-D, 3-D and Pollinator categories.
2025 Winners :
Jerry Jones - 2-D winner with his painting of "Beach 10, Presue Isle"
Sharaya Vivian - 3-D winner with a mixed media piece "Peeking"
Frank Bouch - Pollinator winner with "Life of a Bee"
Growing Your Community Connections Newsletter Vol. 2
The 2nd volume of our new newsletter has been emailed to those already signed up to receive it electronically to their inbox. This expanded holiday volume is available here for a short time. You can receive future quarterly newsletters by calling the office at 814-726-1441, by sending us an email at pennsoilrcd@wcconservation.net or through Facebook messenger. Don't miss out on what's new or upcoming at Penn Soil RC&D.
Select the link below for the 2nd volume of Growing Your Community Connections
Eagle Watch 2025
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 was the Eagle Watch Day on Kinzua Dam at the Big Bend Visitor's Center and the wildlife viewing platform. The Tamarack Wildlife Center was at the Visitor's Center presenting a program and outreach with several "ambassadors" - live birds - as features of the program. This was a free event for the public!
When most of the other local bodies of water freeze over, the Allegheny River below Kinzua Dam remains free flowing. This results in a dramatic increase in eagle activity as eagles search for food sources.
UPDATE:
We regret to announce that the new and beginning farmer, women in forestry and women in agriculture workshops that had previously been planned and advertised, have been cancelled, at least for now. Grant funding that was secured in the summer of 2024 has been terminated under the new administration and our partners who were to present information can no longer participate. We are hoping to secure funding to host these workshops at a later date. Thank you for your understanding!
Outdoor & Water Safety Days are being planned for the summer of 2025!
Several dates and locations in Erie, Forest & Elk Counties are in the works for this summer. Each event will be different and worth the drive. Stay tuned for updates!
The Toy Shoppe of Warren, PA celebrates
it's 25th Anniversary!
In addition to building a spectacular train engine float for the 2024 Fourth of July Parade in Warren County, the Toy Shoppe hosted an open house at the wood shop on Friday, October 11 . Many people from the community attended to tour the facility, learn about the history of the group and see some of the toys that the volunteers create. Also in attendance were Senator Scott Hutchinson and PA Representative Kathy Rapp, each of whom presented the volunteers with 25-year Achievement Certificates. Over the past 25 years, more than 85 volunteers have built, painted and distributed over 30,000 free toys to under privileged children throughout Warren County working with at least 23 nonprofit organizations! Penn Soil RC&D has served as the fiscal agent for the Toy Shoppe of Warren for many years, securing over $75,000 in grants and donations!
Home of the St. Louis Arch - Warren, Pa
