The following is the tentative schedule and topics for the Laurel Highlands Summit set for April 4 at the Fred Rogers Center of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.  Breakout tracks will include Conservation Coalition topics, trail-development and building capacity. The breakout times will likely flow in the order of A, B and C, but may need to be juggled to accommodate panelists, who will be identified soon.  Click here to register on-line or click here to print out and mail in your registration (March 25 registration deadline, please). 

Approximate Schedule:

            8:30-9: registration
            9:00-9:30: welcome, conference overview
            9:30-10:30: Featured speakers: Cindy Dunn, Acting Secretary of DCNR, and Congressman Mark Critz
            10:45-11:45 1st concurrent breakout sessions
            12:00-1:30: lunch, Featured speaker state Sen. Kim Ward, and Keynote Speaker, Todd Poole, land-use economist
            1:45-2:45: 2nd concurrent breakout sessions (then 15-minute break)
            3:00-4:00: 3rd concurrent breakout sessions

Keynote Speaker

Todd Poole, president and managing principal of 4ward Planning, is a land-use economist specializing in quantifying impacts of land-use policies.  His areas of practice have covered a broad range of land-use assignments, including residential, retail, industrial and mixed-use analysis; highest and best use studies; fiscal and economic impact analyses; and economic value and revenue generation for parks, trails and open space.

Todd’s presentation will identify current and future trends which bode favorably for trail patronage – and associated economic opportunity – and best case examples, regionally and nationally, from which local conferees might benefit.  Todd’s presentations are lively and designed to promote out of the box thinking about how best to reap the economic benefit from trail and open space preservation. 

Happen' in the Hall

Information will be provided and feedback accepted all day on three things in the hall:

• Greenway and Trails Plans that include proposed “conservation corridors” were developed by all 4 counties; maps and the reports will be displayed to identify priorities.
• DCNR will be looking to update and add GIS and other information on all trails and promote its Outdoor Recreation Plan; make sure all the Laurel Highlands trails are included in the inventory. 
• Economic Impact studies will be displayed and summaries available.

Breakouts (Click here for details and speakers)

Track 1: Trails 101

• 1A:  Getting Started – for those relatively new to trail development.
• 1B:  Community-Based Trail Planning – how communities can use trails as a catalyst for development.
• 1C: What's Your Asset's Story – identifying historic, geologic, natural and scenic features to promote.

 Track 2: Capacity and Tools

• 2A: Social Networking Tools – Facebook, Twitter, smart-phone apps….
• 2B: Funding Opportunities – money's the biggest tool, so what's the latest on Renew Growing Greener and other funding opportunities.
• 2C: Capacity and Tools – Bayer Center for NonProfit Management and the Conservation Toolbox developed by the Pennsylvania Association of Land Trusts.

 Track 3: Conservation

• 3A. Marcellus – Pennsylvania’s top environmental issue of the day.
• 3B. Farmland preservation, sustainable agriculture and buy local.
• 3C. Landscape-level biodiversity – what’s at stake?

Click below to:

•  Register on-line. (registration deadline at noon March 25, please.)
•  Print out and mail in your registration. noon, March 25 registration deadline please.)
• See and distribute our News Release.
• See and distribute our Flyer.
• Return to the Summit overview.