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EnglishWhat Is the ClearWater Compass and How Is ClearWater Conservancy Governed?
Updated
The ClearWater Compass is ClearWater Conservancy's long-term strategic vision, built around four pillars—connect, protect, restore, and steward—that guide the organization's conservation work in central Pennsylvania. Governance is handled through a board of directors and staff, with partners in conservation supporting the work. The organization describes itself as a locally formed, nationally accredited land trust founded in 1980.
What the ClearWater Compass Is
ClearWater Conservancy presents the ClearWater Compass as its long-term strategic vision. The four pillars it organizes around are:
- Connect — connecting people to nature through education, outdoor experiences, and collaboration to grow a community of conservation stewards.
- Protect — protecting priority lands and waterways for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient landscapes.
- Restore — restoring streams and streamside forests, including partnering with farmers on best management practices.
- Steward — actively managing and monitoring conserved lands through sustainable practices and hands-on community engagement.
The Compass is framed as the forward-looking strategy that ties these pillars together, rather than a single program. The site also lists a Vision & Strategy page alongside the Compass as part of how the organization describes its direction.
How ClearWater Conservancy Is Governed
The site's navigation and about section point to the following structural elements:
| Element | Role as presented on the site |
|---|---|
| Board of Directors | Governance leadership listed under the About section |
| Staff | Day-to-day organizational team listed under About |
| Partners in Conservation | External collaborators listed under About |
| Vision & Strategy | The planning framework that includes the ClearWater Compass |
The organization describes itself as "locally formed" and "nationally accredited," and states that it works through "collaboration, education, and science-based action." Beyond these descriptions, the site does not publish detailed governance policies, board terms, or decision-making procedures.
How the Strategy Connects to the Work
The Compass is meant to be visible in the organization's programs. The site's "Our Work in Action" section maps each pillar to a concrete area: education and outdoor experiences (Connect), land and water protection (Protect), stream and streamside forest restoration with farmers (Restore), and monitoring of conserved lands (Steward). Events and engagement programs—such as the Watershed Cleanup Day, the annual meeting, and Centred Outdoors outings—are listed as ways the public participates in that vision.
Where to Verify Details
For current board members, staff roles, and the full strategic vision, use the About section's Vision & Strategy, Board of Directors, and Staff pages on clearwaterconservancy.org. These are the authoritative sources; the homepage only summarizes them.