2025 New England Leadership Meeting – Rye, NH

Welcome to the return of the New England Leadership Meeting! The New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts and the New Hampshire State Conservation Committee are excited to restart this important gathering.

This will be the first NELM meeting since 2019 and represents a great opportunity to connect with partners across New England. This year’s meeting will be held on Thursday, March 20th, and Friday, March 21st, 2025 at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH.

This fantastic location is at Odiorne Point State Park, at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. This strong tidal river drains most of the New Hampshire seacoast and western York County, Maine. The Park has numerous walking trails, historical sites, and views of the Isle of Shoals and Atlantic Ocean.

For questions and additional information, please contact Ian Hanley, NH State Conservation Committee at ian.p.hanley@agr.nh.gov or call 603-848-4648.

Hotel Accommodation

A hotel block has been reserved at the Sheraton Harborside-Portsmouth. The link to their website can be found here: Book your group rate for NE LEADERSHIP MEETING MARCH 2025

Schedule

The NELM Steering Committee (with representatives from each state) have been working hard to develop a quality program for the event. This year’s schedule includes highlighting state climate programs and forest and water quality conservation. Registration includes Thursday and Friday lunch and both conservation tours.

Draft Schedule (as of 1/1/25, schedule may change prior to event)

Thursday 3/20/25

10:00a-Registration opens

11:00a-Conservation Tour #1

12:30p-Welcome and Official Opening of NELM meeting

12:45p-Federal updates

1:30p-State Spotlight: New Hampshire and the Climate Resilience Grant Program

2:00p-break

2:15p-Panel Discussion-Equipment Rental Programs

3:00p-State Spotlight: Connecticut

3:30p-break

3:45-NACD Update

4:15p-State Spotlight: Maine

4:45p-Cocktail Hour

Friday 3/21/25

8:00a-State Spotlight: Massachusetts

8:30a-Firest & Water Quality Partnerships with Karl Honkinen (USFS)

9:00a-State Spotlight: Rhode Island

9:30a-break

9:45a-Panel Discussion: Local Working Groups Improvement Through Facilitated Discussion Model

10:30a-State Spotlight: Vermont

11:00a-break

11:15a-Regional Priorities Discussion

12:00p-Lunch available

12:30p-Conservation Tour #2