The Technician Development Program (TDP), introduced in February of 2003, provides consistent and detailed training/classification for newly hired SWCD & NRCS technicians.
The TDP consists of 5 progressive levels of classes, beginning with fundamental subjects and moving towards detailed conservation practices, each being one to three days in length. Classes are highly participatory and will include field and sample exercises - not just classroom lectures. In addition to learning design and construction procedures, you will have an opportunity to find out how other districts are handling similar types of work. You will network and learn more about your role as a conservation technician and develop skills that will help strengthen your district's technical assistance program.
All newly hired, as well as veteran, SWCD and NRCS technicians are strongly encouraged to fully enroll in this training/classification program, however you may choose to attend any individual class offered.
For further information or questions you may have pertaining to this program, feel free to contact Justin Reinhart (614-265-6691, justin.reinhart@dnr.state.oh.us).
Training Calendar
Level 1 Registration Form
Level 1 and 2 Class Descriptions
Level 2 Registration Form
Level 3, 4 and 5 Class Descriptions
Level 3, 4, and 5 Registration Form
Level 3, 4 and 5 Certificate Request
A natural resource-based outdoor competition for high school students, the Envirothon offers a fun, interesting, team-based, hands-on approach to learning more about our environment and conservation. And Ohio has one of the biggest and best Envirothon programs in North America!
Find information here about the Ohio Envirothon.
Find 2007 Ohio Envirothon results information here;
A new network of Source Water Environmental Education Teams (SWEETs) is providing Ohioans with source water education and guidance about protecting their sources of drinking water. In 2005, staff from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil and Water Conservation and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Drinking and Ground Waters partnered to establish this network, which currently includes 41 teams serving 47 counties.
Each team is organized by county soil and water conservation district educator staff and consists of several local water resource partners. Teams are equipped with a user-friendly ground water simulator, drinking water source assessment reports, and protection area maps. To learn more about SWEETs, check out their Web pages at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/ddagw/SWEET/index.html .