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Welcome to the SWCS National Capital Chapter website!

The National Capital Chapter of SWCS is a non-profit, educational and scientific organization dedicated to foster the art and science of natural resource management for sustainability. The first Chapter By-Laws were adopted on March 5, 1947. We pursue our mission through a combination of research, education, and advocacy. Our ongoing activities and special projects are designed to

  • Improve the practice of conservation by fostering the development of state-of-the-art conservation practices and systems.
  • Improve conservation policy by bringing science and professional judgment to bear in shaping local, state, provincial, and federal policy.
  • Enhance the capabilities of conservationists through training and professional development.
  • Sustain the ethic and spirit of professionalism among conservationists through networking and mutual support.

The metropolitan area of Washington, DC, constitutes the area of the National Capital Chapter. Most members reside or work in the District of Columbia or in the surrounding communities of Virginia and Maryland. Most members have national responsibilities in the profession of soil and water conservation and environmental protection. The Chapter has a history of collaborating with a number of conservation partners including the Washington Academy of Science, federal, state, and local agencies; private industry; and other professional societies.

Chapter officers have a teleconference from noon to 1:00 pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month and all SWCS members are welcome to participate. The annual plan, updated in February of each year, lists the plan for events and activities throughout the year, which include social and educational events.  The award program includes the Chapter's annual Norman A. Berg Conservation Legacy Award and participation in all of the SWCS international awards.

For more information about the National Capital Chapter and the Soil and Water Conservation Society contact:

Shelby Callaway, President, shelby.callaway@usda.gov