Friends of PA Bats- Conservation and Management Workshop / Bat Working Group, April 1-3

The Friends of PA Bats Conservation and Management Workshop is an effort to bring together agencies, organizations and individuals passionate about bat research, conservation and management from across Pennsylvania and adjoining states. 

The mission is to facilitate communication between all responsible individuals, agencies, interest groups, and businesses who will work cooperatively for bat conservation. We are providing a mechanism by which current information regarding local bat ecology, distribution, and research can be readily accessed. This is a forum in which conservation strategies can be driven, technical assistance provided, and education programs encouraged.

GOALS

1. to increase efficiency of bat management and conservation by facilitating better communication among responsible and interested parties;

2. to encourage continuity and standardization in survey techniques, data collection and storage, monitoring, and State permit requirements;

3. to encourage management and research efficiency by recommending effective techniques, encouraging new methods, and minimizing duplicate efforts;

4. to encourage land management practices that benefit bat populations, support practices that minimize unavoidable impacts, and recommend mitigation as needed;

5. to facilitate the inventory, monitoring, and assessment of bat species and their habitats;

6. to facilitate the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of conservation strategies for individual species or groups of species;

7. to encourage and/or assist in providing training concerning bat inventory, monitoring, and research techniques which emphasize bat welfare and human safety;

8. to encourage community based education programs that support bat conservation; and

9. to provide support, comments, and/or technical assistance as requested to facilitate goal implementation.

GENERAL AGENDA:

Optional Wednesday Night April 1 Evening Social: Early bird pre-meeting social campfire at BCM's Bat Bunker; 5 PM-??? Contact John Chenger for location/details. 220 Old Stone House Road North, Carlisle. BYOB, bringing a snack encouraged, meet some of PA bat biologist legends in a very informal get-together. Please indicate attendance on the registration page.

Thursday April 2 Conference : 10:30 AM Introductions & sessions at Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle. Snacks and coffee provided. Dinner on-your-own. After meeting-meeting at local eatery TBA. Parking: 42 W Pomfret Street parking garage, $5.65/day cash at the garage, and passes can be purchased at the Comfort Suites. High clearance vehicles may prefer the 67 W Pomfret St lot. Street parking is free one block outside of town square and off the main streets.

April 3: 9:00 AM sessions, lunch on-your-own, 3:00 PM optional field trip to Black Coffey (Baker) Caverns near Greencastle, PA 6242 Warmspring Road, Greencastle, PA

CONFERENCE FORMAT:

Introductions: participants should summarize work they do; recent projects, personal goals, and what they perceive as greatest needs in PA bat conservation are.

Keynote: History of PA Bat Work & Future Perspective

Organization Update Session; including but not limited to: Summer Surveys, Winter Surveys, Hibernacula restoration/enhancement, Appalachian Bat Count, MYLE Summer Roosts, National Speleological region or chapters, bats in bridges, DCNR Forestry, PA State Parks, PA Army National Guard, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, PA Turnpike, wildlife rehabilitation, USFWS, and others.

Form a Team; bats are more complicated than a typical meeting can address. Therefore we provide a framework for like-minded individuals to collaborate. Introduce a topic and open discussion briefly highlights issues at hand, needs, possible outcomes, finished product, goals, and milestones. Participants are encouraged to sign up/lead teams ultimately coordinating among themselves with designated virtual progress meetings 2-3 times a year.

Information exchange sessions: general and invited themed 15- minute summaries of recent projects/research. Lightning Talks/Announcements: Up to 5 minutes per topic, slides optional. Great to introduce project needs or ideas, tools, questions, summary of small conservation projects, successes or failures. 

After Meeting-Meetings: A major request has been to provide ample networking opportunities. Early arrivals April 1 will appreciate an informal pre-meeting get together. A later morning start allows many to save on travel expense. The schedule provides 30 minute breaks between sessions. Thursday night is the traditional networking opportunity at a local pub to digest the day's info. Friday afternoon linger after sessions close, or join one of several field trip opportunities TBD.

CALL FOR PAPERS:

Have a topic you'd like to talk about, relevant research to present, success stories to brag about, or disasters that are teachable moments? CLICK HERE to send in your presentation summary/reserve a speaking slot!

Overnighting suggestion: the venue hotel is the Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle. We recommend this since this is where sessions are located, a coffee shop is across the street, and restaurants are a short walk (including one on site). Numerous hotel options are at any of the exits off I-81, as well as a few in-town.

Fees: In order to make this event as accessible as possible to everyone, there is no registration fee. A small number of volunteers are footing the bill for origination, limited food, & beverage during the meeting and pre-meeting event. Donations on site are accepted. Travel expense and meals are on-your-own.  

Sponsors: contact Lori Chenger if you would like to donate to help cover some costs. This event is privately funded.