Events Calendar

Upcoming events

  • Bird walk at the Harpers Ferry National Park's Murphy's Farm

    • Wednesday, May 23, 2012
    • 7:30 AM
    • Harpers Ferry, WV

    This trip will involve about 2 miles of moderate hiking, mostly through fields. Species likely to be sighted include various flycatchers, vireos and warblers; Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Meadowlark, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Mockingbird; and perhaps such raptors as Bald Eagles, Red-tailed, Red-Shouldered or Broad-winged Hawks.

    Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park main Visitor Center off Route 340.

    The trip is free but the Park Service will charge a fee of $6 per vehicle to enter the Park unless you have an annual Park passes or a NPS Golden Eagle pass.

    No pre-registration is required. Anyone with an interest is welcome to come along, regardless of their birding skills. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

    For more info contact trip leader Deb Hale at debhale72@gmail.com or 304-535-1528.

    Participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and bug spray.

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  • Birding trip to Canaan Valley

    • Saturday, May 26, 2012
    • 6:00 AM
    • Canaan Valley, WV
    • 3
    Register

    Join veteran birder Matt Orsie for a trip that will involve a wonderful 10-mile drive through elevations ranging between 2,500 and 4,000 feet and focus on birds breeding at these different ranges. Likely sightings include 15-18 species of warblers, as well as other species. Some hiking on hilly terrain may be attempted but the distances will be short.

    Participants should plan to travel on their own to the area on Friday, May 25, and meet the other members of the trip group at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26 in the lobby of the Canaan Valley State Park Resort lodge. The group will spend the rest of the day birding and then return home Saturday evening.

    Free and open to anyone with an interest, regardless of their birding skills. But participation will be limited to just eight people and pre-registration is essential. Register online here or contact Matt at 304-261-5602 or wvbirder@comcast.net. The registration deadline is May 15.

    Once registered, participants must make and pay for their own room reservations the night of May 25 at the Resort or some other area location (Blackwater Falls State Park and the town of Davis are nearby).

    The trip will be held rain or shine. Participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and insect repellent.

    Canaan Valley is the highest valley of its size east of the Rocky Mountains. Its climate and habitats are typical of areas much further north, and its plants and animals are unusual for the latitude, with many of them at or near the southernmost edge of their ranges. The Valley includes the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1994 to preserve the area's unique wetlands and uplands. Currently, the refuge consists of 15,245 acres.

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  • Preschool Audubon Discovery Camp: Out of the Nest (Yankauer)

    • Tuesday, May 29, 2012
    • Friday, June 01, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 3
    Register

    Price: $50 per camper/adult team;  $10 additional for second child

    When: Tuesday May 29-June 1, 2012  (4 days)
    Time:     9:00 - 11:30 am
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Ages: 3-4 (with parent/adult attending)

    Explore the natural world together with your child  through circle time, short hikes, hands-on nature exploration, and stories.  Each day is a different nature theme!  Camp hours are 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Birding trip to Shannondale Springs Wildlife Management Area

    • Wednesday, May 30, 2012
    • 7:00 AM
    • Jefferson County, WV

    The 1,361-acre Shannondale Springs property is managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; it includes a mixture of forest, brush land and open fields covering rolling hills.

    The trip will involve walking about two miles over mostly level ground, although some hilly, uneven terrain will be encountered.

    This trip will be during the height of the spring migration, with opportunities to see several warbler species including Yellow-breasted Chats, Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts and other.  The Indigo Buntings are certain to be singing their hearts out from the tops of trees.

    Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the parking area by the WMA's boat launch site. Directions to the meeting place can be found on the Birding Trail Map on the "Birding" section of this website. Or contact Sandy Sagalkin at 240-291-6465 or monsansagalkin@myactv.net.

    Free and no pre-registration is required. Anyone with an interest is welcome to come along, regardless of their birding skills. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

    Participants should wear sturdy walking shoes or boots, dress appropriately prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and bug spray.

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  • Bird walk at the National Conservation Training Center

    • Saturday, June 02, 2012
    • 7:00 AM
    • Shepherdstown, WV
    • 14
    Register

    The Center's 538-acre campus is not normally open to the public, so this is a good opportunity to visit. The campus contains a mix of fields and forestland, and provides good habitat for a rich variety of bird species.  Species likely to be sighted on this walk include Baltimore and Orchard Orioles; Eastern Bluebirds; Bald Eagles; Re-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks; Great Blue Herons; and several species of swallows, flycatchers, vireos and warblers.

    This trip will involve walking about two miles over moderate terrain.

    Free and open to anyone with an interest, regardless of their birding skills. Children will be welcome.

    Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the visitor's parking lot in front of the Center's main building. But please note that because the Center is a federal facility, pre-registration is essential to enter the grounds. Pre-register online here or contact trip leader Sandy Sagalkin no later than May 28 at monsansagalkin@myactv.net or 240-291-6465. Questions? Contact Sandy.

    Participants should wear sturdy walking shoes or boots, dress appropriately prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and bug spray. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

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  • Birding trip to Altona Marsh

    • Wednesday, June 06, 2012
    • 7:00 AM
    • Jefferson County, just west of Charles Town
    The Marsh is a rare, 70-acre marl wetland protected by a Nature Conservancy easement. It is a good site for birding, not only because it harbors a rich variety of species but also because the terrain offers easy viewing. Likely sightings in early June include Baltimore and Orchard Orioles; warblers; Red-winged Blackbirds; Willow Flycatchers; Virginia Rail; Great Blue Herons; and other species.

     Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the following location: from Charles Town, take Route 51 west about a mile and turn right onto Piedmont Lane; park by the old church ruins or on the side of the lane.

    Getting to the Marsh from there and back involves about two miles of level walking, some along a railroad track.

    Free and open to anyone with an interest but pre-registration is required and participants must sign a waiver. To pre-register, contact trip leader Sandy Sagalkin at monsansagalkin@myactv.net or 240-291-6465.

    Participants should wear sturdy walking shoes or boots, dress appropriately prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and bug spray. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

    Children ages 12 and up will be welcome but they must be accompanied by an adult.

     

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  • Mountain Laurel walk at the Eidolon Nature Preserve in Morgan County

    • Saturday, June 09, 2012
    • 10:00 AM
    • Eidolon Nature Preserve in Morgan County

    The Eidolon Nature Preserve's Lady Slipper Trail is surrounded by a large and impressive stand of Mountain Laurel shrubs, which bloom spectacularly at this time of year.

    Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the preserve to join naturalist Joe Gentile on a walk to visit this area of the 354-acre Eidolon property.

    Anyone with an interest is welcome to participate. There will be no fee and no pre-registration is required.

    Depending on the exact route chosen, the walk may cover some fairly rough, hilly terrain. Participants should wear sturdy footwear and bring bug spray and water.

    Directions to the Preserve are on the PVAS website.


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  • PVAS Annual Meeting and Picnic

    • Saturday, June 09, 2012
    • 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve

    All PVAS members and friends are invited to attend this potluck supper, meeting, and volunteer recognition.  Children are welcome!  Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. Those whose last names begin with the letters A-H are asked to bring vegetables or fruit; I-L a dessert; M-R a protein dish; and S-Z a starch dish.  

    Everyone is asked to bring their own dishes, flatware, cups, napkins, and the like.  PVAS will provide water and lemonade.  You may also wish to bring lawn chairs. 

    After the potluck meal, the annual meeting will include highlights of the past year's activities and recognize our volunteers.

    For more information, contact Ellen Murphy at 304-676-8739 or pvasprograms@gmail.com. 









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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Nature Detectives (Yankauer)

    • Monday, June 11, 2012
    • Friday, June 15, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 4
    Register

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     June 11 – 15, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Has it ever rained frogs? Can you get warts from a toad? Who left those tracks? How do snakes slither? Look for clues in the woods and discover the crazy and weird world of nature through games, crafts and hands-on investigations.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!

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  • Audubon Discovery Camp for Teens: Wild Wings (Yankauer)

    • Monday, June 11, 2012
    • Friday, June 15, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Price: $200 per camper
    When:     June 11 – 15, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Ages: 10-13

    How can bats hunt in the dark? Can dragonflies go backwards? How do bees fly? Learn their secrets of gliding, flapping, and soaring; build a bat house, capture butterflies, practice your bird calls-- then go see bats up close—an afternoon of caving is included in this session! 

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!

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  • Harpers Ferry bird walk

    • Wednesday, June 13, 2012
    • 7:00 AM
    • Harpers Ferry

    This walk will focus on the Virginius Island area of Harpers Ferry, in the areas of the Shenandoah River shore line and the old Shenandoah Canal. It will involve about three miles of level walking.

    Likely species to be sighted include Orioles, various types of vireos and flycatchers, herons, ducks, raptors, and perhaps a few types of warblers.

    Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the parking area on Shenandoah Street just below the intersection with Route 340. 

    Free and open to anyone with an interest. No pre-registration required. For more info contact Deb Hale at 304-535-1528 or debhale72@gmail.com.

    Children will be welcome.

    Participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and bug spray.

    Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

     

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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: The Simple Life (Peter Burr Farm)

    • Monday, June 18, 2012
    • Friday, June 22, 2012
    • Peter Burr Farm
    • 3
    Register

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     June 18-22, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Peter Burr Farm

    Explore life before electronics on an historic farm!  Bake your own bread topped with butter you made, make a dipped candle and natural dyes. Explore the pioneer garden and make a weaving on your lap loom.

     T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!

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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Camp Survivor (Yankauer)

    • Monday, June 18, 2012
    • Friday, June 22, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     June 18 – 22, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Have plenty of fun "way out in the wood" building a fort, checking and forecasting the weather, tracking wildlife, practicing campcraft activities, playing challenge games, and learning survival skills.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp for Teens: Adventure Challenge (FLOC)

    • Monday, June 18, 2012
    • Friday, June 22, 2012
    • FLOC Outdoor Education Center
    • 5
    Register

    Price: $250 per camper
    When:     June 18 – 22, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     For Love of Children (FLOC) Outdoor Education Center

    Ages: 11-14

    Challenge yourself with rock climbing, low and high ropes, and some serious hiking, first at Yankauer, then at FLOC.  Price includes all challenge activities AND transportation to FLOC from Charles Town/Ranson on 3 days.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp for Teens: Life On The Frontier (Peter Burr Farm)

    • Monday, June 18, 2012
    • Friday, June 22, 2012
    • Peter Burr Farm
    • 4
    Register

    Price: $185 per camper
    When:     June 18-22, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Peter Burr Farm

    Ages: 10-13

    Explore life before electronics on an historic farm!  Bake your own bread topped with butter you made, make a dipped candle and natural dyes. Explore the pioneer garden and make a weaving on your lap loom.

     T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!

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  • Trip to Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal VA

    • Friday, June 22, 2012
    • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • CRC in Front Royal
    • 17
    Register

    Join us on Friday, June 22 for a special tour of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), previously known as the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center, near Front Royal, VA.

    This will be a great opportunity to see this world-renowned zoological research facility (which is not regularly open to the public) in an up-close and personal way. 

    The tour will be held starting at 1:00 p.m. It will be guided by trained docents and last about 2 hours. Because of this tour's length, the Center does not recommend bringing children below the age of 12.

    The Institute will charge a fee of $10 per person, and it is asking PVAS to collect this fee on its behalf. You may pay with a credit card on this website, or you may bring cash or a check payable to PVAS on the day of the tour.

    Tour participants will be expected to arrange their own transportation to the Center, which is about an hour and a quarter's drive from the Charles Town area.  The address is 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA.  More specific directions to get into the facility will be available on this site closer to the tour date.  Once there, the tour group will be transported around the Center's expansive campus in vans.  Participants should wear sturdy footwear and dress appropriately for prevailing weather conditions.

    Anyone is welcome to join the tour but space is limited.  Participation will be capped at 26 people and pre-registration is required. Register online here or contact Kelly Wolf at kheldreth@hotmail.com or 304-229-6229. Questions? Contact Kelly.

    The Center encompasses 3,200 acres in the Blue Ridge foothills, and houses between 30 and 40 endangered species at any given time.

    Its scientists are in the forefront of efforts to preserve threatened and endangered animal species, protect habitats, and restore species to the wild.

    Species currently on hand at the facility include South American maned wolves, cheetahs, cranes, and Przewalski's horses.

    The tour group will have the opportunity to see several of these animals. Participants will also learn about endangered-species research being conducted at the Center, at the National Zoo, and around the world.

    To learn more about the Center, visit its website at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI.



     

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  • Antietam Battlefield birding trip

    • Saturday, June 23, 2012
    • 7:00 AM
    • Sharpsburg, MD

    Trip is being sponsored jointly by PVAS and the Washington County Bird Club.

    Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Burnside Bridge parking area. The trip route will include Snavely's Ford, parts of the Final Attack Trail, and other stops. In all, it will involve about two miles of easy walking.

    Species likely to be sighted include Cliff Swallows, Eastern Meadowlarks, Grass Sparrows, Warbling and other vireos, orioles; some warbler species, Eastern Bluebirds, and others.

    Free and open to anyone with an interest. Children will be welcome. No pre-registration required. For more info, contact Sandy Sagalkin at 240-291-6465 or monsansagalkin@myactv.net.

    Participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and bug spray. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

     

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  • Natural History Workshop: American Beaver in West Virginia

    • Saturday, June 23, 2012
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Bolivar Community Center, Bolivar WV
    • 8
    Register
    Price: $10 for Certified Potomac Valley Master Naturalists and Current Course Students. 
                  $15 for General Public
    When:  Saturday, June 23, 2012
    Time:  10:00 a.m.-12 noon
    Where:  Bolivar Community Center

    WV Master Naturalist Laura Clark will share information on the natural history of beavers as well as information about her beaver research done at Canaan Valley as a Master Naturalist volunteer.  After the presentation, those interested in going to an inactive beaver site in Harpers Ferry with Laura are welcome to do so.  If you plan to go to the site, wear appropriate clothing and footwear. 

    Pre-registration is required.     Refunds are possible only if the class is cancelled.
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp for Teens: Into The Wild (FLOC)

    • Monday, June 25, 2012
    • Friday, June 29, 2012
    • FLOC Outdoor Education Center
    • 2
    Register

    Price: $300 per camper
    When:     June 25 – 29, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     For Love of Children (FLOC) Outdoor Education Center

    Ages: 11-14

    Spend a day at Yankauer Preserve getting to know your companions, the head to FLOC for 2 days learning backpacking basics and full days hiking up and down FLOC’s hills.  Finally, head out for an overnight on the Appalachian Trail (7-10 miles)!  Price includes transportation every day from Charles Town/Ranson, sleeping bag, backpack, food for overnight, trained staff, and all equipment except boots.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Hop, Slither, Sneak! (Yankauer)

    • Monday, June 25, 2012
    • Friday, June 29, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 6
    Register

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     June 25 – 29, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Worms, bugs, spiders, insects, snakes, salamanders, and more slithery, slimy things!  Have ant races, move like a snake, hunt for salamanders, and spend your day in the woods looking for bugs! 

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Nature Detectives (Peter Burr Farm)

    • Monday, June 25, 2012
    • Friday, June 29, 2012
    • Peter Burr Farm
    • 6
    Register

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     June 25-29, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Peter Burr Farm

    Can you get warts from a toad?  Has it ever rained frogs? How do snakes slither?  Explore a wetland and discover the crazy and weird world of nature through games, crafts and hands-on investigations.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!

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  • Birding trip to Shannondale Springs Wildlife Management Area

    • Wednesday, June 27, 2012
    • 7:00 AM
    • Shannondale area of Jefferson County
    The 1,361-acre Shannondale Springs property provides access to a mixture of habitats, including the Shenandoah River shore. This trip will follow a river trail and involve about two miles of level walking. Possible species include Bald Eagles; Great Blue and Green Herons; Great Egrets; Spotted Sandpipers; Baltimore and Orchard Orioles; and several species of warblers, vireos, swallows and sparrows.

    Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the parking area by the WMA's boat launch site. Directions to the meeting place can be found on the Birding Trail Map on the PVAS website.

    Free and open to anyone with an interest. Children will be welcome. No pre-registration required. For more info, contact Sandy Sagalkin at 240-291-6465 or monsansagalkin@myactv.net.

    Participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and bug spray. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Mystery Week (4 days, Yankauer)

    • Monday, July 02, 2012
    • Friday, July 06, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 5
    Register

    Price: $120 per camper
    When:     July 2, 3, 5, 6, 2012 (4 days)
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    We’d like to tell you about this camp, but…it’s a surprise and we’re not spilling the beans!  There’ll be some of the normal camp fun (like building forts), but also some “secret” things that won’t happen the rest of the summer!

    (Camp will not be held on Wednesday, July 4. The reduced fee reflects the short week.)

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Hop, Slither, Sneak! (Yankauer)

    • Monday, July 09, 2012
    • Friday, July 13, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 7
    Register

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     July 9 – 13, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Worms, bugs, spiders, insects, snakes, salamanders, and more slithery, slimy things!  Have ant races, move like a snake, hunt for salamanders, and spend your day in the woods looking for bugs! 

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Camp Survivor, Part Deux (Yankauer)

    • Monday, July 09, 2012
    • Friday, July 13, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 9
    Register

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     July 9 – 13, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Ages: 9-13

    Can you build a waterproof shelter?  How do you protect your food from animals?  Are you sure you know how to find your way back to base camp?  Challenge yourself on a new level and spend most of the week out in the woods learning more about survival.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp: Camp Survivor (Yankauer)

    • Monday, July 16, 2012
    • Friday, July 20, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Price: $150 per camper
    When:     July 16 – 20, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Have plenty of fun "way out in the wood" building a fort, checking and forecasting the weather, tracking wildlife, practicing campcraft activities, playing challenge games, and learning survival skills.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Audubon Discovery Camp WAITING LIST: Camp Survivor (Yankauer)

    • Monday, July 16, 2012
    • Friday, July 20, 2012
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 17
    Register

    Waiting List ONLY

    Price: No Fee
    When:     July 16 – 20, 2012
    Time:     9:00am–3:00pm
    Where:     Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Although this session is currently full, we maintain a waiting list so that campers can be contacted when openings occur.  No money is required to be on the waiting list.  Campers are contacted in the order they register for the waiting list.

    T-shirt must be ordered by May 15 to ensure delivery at camp!
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  • Nature Photography Workshop

    • Friday, August 10, 2012
    • 5:30 PM
    • Sunday, August 12, 2012
    • 12:00 PM
    • NCTC
    • 14
    Register

    This weekend workshop is tailored for the beginner that has used a camera at least a few times, but it is also useful for more experienced shooters.  While we will be focusing on 35 mm format (film and digital) equipment and techniques, point-and-shoot photographers are also encouraged to participate. We will cover all aspects of nature photography with classroom and outdoor field sessions.  Topics of discussion will include light, composition, equipment, workflow, and how to find images.  The course will be taught by Wil and Donna Hershberger who are both accomplished nature photographers.

    The weekend will begin on Friday night (6:30-9:00 p.m.), continue on Saturday (6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.), and conclude on Sunday (6:30 a.m.-Noon).  Classroom sessions will be held at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Conservation Training Center just north of Shepherdstown.

    Everyone should bring a camera to the course and lenses, tripod and flash (if you have them).  
     

    Class size will be limited to 15 participants. The course is open to people of all ages but children younger than 15 must be accompanied by an adult. 

    Cancellations      Once your place in the workshop has been confirmed, $25 of the total fee is non-refundable. If a participant is forced to leave the workshop due to injury or illness, a prorated refund of the registration fee (up to 50%) will be given. To be eligible for a refund (minus the deposit), cancellations must be made at least two weeks prior to the start of the workshop. We do reserve the right to cancel the workshop due to low enrollment. There would be a full refund in this situation.  No refunds are allowed for no-shows or after the workshop has begun. 
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  • Natural History Workshop: Mushroom Hunters

    • Saturday, September 08, 2012
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Yankauer Nature Preserve
    • 1
    Register
    Price: $10 for Certified Potomac Valley Master Naturalists and Current Course Students. 
                  $15 for General Public
    When:  September 8, 2012
    Time:  10:00 a.m.-12 noon
    Where:  Yankauer Nature Preserve

    Have you wondered what all those different mushrooms are on your walks in the woods?  Are any of  them edible?  In this session, Dr. Alan Biggs will help you learn to identify specific species of mushrooms  and learn more  about their specific habitats, methods of reproduction, and identification techniques.  Dress for outdoor field work and some walking on and off Yankauer’s trails.

    This session is currently full.  To be placed on a waiting list, contact Ellen Murphy at Ellen@PotomacAudubon.org or 304-676-8739.

    Pre-registration is required.     Refunds are possible only if the class is cancelled.
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  • Fifth Annual Berkeley Springs Fall Birding Festival

    • Friday, September 21, 2012
    • Sunday, September 23, 2012
    • Berkeley Springs, WV

    Sponsored by PVAS. Events will include walks, workshops and evening presentations for beginning and intermediate birders and families with children. Full details will be announced later. 

     

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  • Natural History Workshop: Natural History of Dolly Sods

    • Saturday, September 22, 2012
    • 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    • Dolly Sods
    • 4
    Register
    Price: $10 for Certified Potomac Valley Master Naturalists and Current Course Students. 
                  $15 for General Public
    When:  September 22, 2012
    Time:  7:00 am-7:00 pm
    Where: Dolly Sods Natural Area

    Dolly Sods is a rocky, high-altitude plateau in Grant/Pendleton counties that features life forms normally found much farther north in Canada.  The distinctive landscape of “the Sods” is characterized by stunted trees, wind-carved boulders, heath barrens, grassy meadows, and sphagnum bogs that are much older.  While we can’t cover everything about the area, Bob Dean will give an introductions to the special West Virginia location.  Dress for rapidly changing weather, outdoor field work, and walking/hiking over uneven terrain.  Carpooling is encouraged. 

    To carpool: Meet at Mountain State University parking area (across from Shoney's in Martinsburg) at 6:30 a.m.  We will leave promptly at 7 a.m.  (Please be prepared to drive if needed.)

    Driving Yourself: Plan to meet the group at Dolly Sods at 9 a.m.

     This is an all day trip.  If you do not plan to stay the entire time, please drive yourself.  Bring lunch and adequate water.

    Pre-registration is required.     Refunds are possible only if the class is cancelled.
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  • Natural History Workshop: Fall Edible Wild Plants

    • Saturday, September 29, 2012
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • CraftWorks at Cool Spring Farm
    • 4
    Register
    Price: $10 for Certified Potomac Valley Master Naturalists and Current Course Students. 
                  $15 for General Public
    When:  Saturday September 29, 2012
    Time:  9:00 a.m.-12 noon
    Where:  CraftWorks at Cool Spring Farm

    As Fall approaches, there are plenty of things to eat in the wild!  Learn some of the secrets of edible plants that grow in your own neighborhood and actually try out some samples!   Instructor Phil King will lead us on an exploration and gathering expedition, then we’ll get down to work trying out nature’s remedies.  Dress for outdoor field work and some walking on uneven ground at CraftWorks.

    Pre-registration is required.     Refunds are possible only if the class is cancelled.

    Directions to CraftWorks:  Follow Route 9 toward Charles Town.  From the intersection of Route 340 and Route 9 in Charles Town, continue south on 340 toward Berryville (about 6 miles). (Route 9 will exit toward Leesburg, but you stay on 340).   The 4-lane highway ends and it becomes a two lane road. Soon you’ll pass a diner on the right, a produce stand on the left and you’ll make a right hand turn immediately after the diner onto Wheatland Road (WVA Rd 340/2).  Continue down Wheatland Rd about 2 miles.  The road will end at Lloyd Rd.  Directly across from you is the CraftWorks building with parking.


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  • Cape May Hawk-watch Trip

    • Saturday, October 13, 2012
    • Sunday, October 14, 2012
    • Cape May, New Jersey

    PVAS will sponsor a hawk-watching trip to Cape May, NJ the weekend of October 13-14.

    Anyone with an interest is welcome to participate and there will be no fee. But participants will be expected furnish their own transportation and arrange for their own accommodations.

    Hotel and motel reservations should be made early, because Cape May is a very popular destination in October.

    The trip will be led by local birder Sandy Sagalkin, and it will focus on several hawk-watching sites in the Cape May area. It will offer good opportunities to see Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, American Kestrals, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers and other species of hawks. 

    Those who participate will also be able to take advantage of a variety of free educational opportunities offered by the Cape May Bird Observatory and the New Jersey Audubon Society. Their offerings include such events as a Mini-Hawk ID workshop for beginners, a Hawk-banding demonstration, a Monarch tagging demonstration and bird walks that are open to the public.

    The Cape May Bird Observatory website (www.birdcapemay.org) contains a list of Cape May hotels and motels which offer discounts to birders who are members of the Observatory. The savings can be significant enough that trip participants who are not already members may wish to join; this can be done easily online.

    For those on a very tight budget, the most affordable accommodations may be available at nearby Wildwood, NJ.

    Those who wish to participate should pre-register by contacting trip leader Sandy Sagalkin by phone at 240-291-6465. For more information, contact him by email at monsansagalkin@myactv.net.

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Past events

Saturday, May 12, 2012 Third Annual Ruth Anne Dean Memorial Birdathon
Thursday, May 10, 2012 Bird Walk at Flowing Springs Park
Wednesday, May 09, 2012 PVAS Program at the National Conservation Training Center
Tuesday, May 08, 2012 Bird walk at Stauffer's Marsh
Sunday, May 06, 2012 Trillium Walk
Sunday, May 06, 2012 C&O Canal bird walk
Saturday, May 05, 2012 Bald Eagle watch for parents and children - CLOSED TO NEW REGISTRATION
Saturday, May 05, 2012 Garlic Mustard Pull
Saturday, May 05, 2012 Birding Through History at the Antietam National Battlefield
Saturday, May 05, 2012 "Introduction to Birding"
Wednesday, May 02, 2012 Special evening program at the National Conservation Training Center
Sunday, April 29, 2012 Bird walk at the Eidolon Nature Preserve
Saturday, April 28, 2012 Winston Gardens Native Plant Nursery Spring Open House Plant Sale
Saturday, April 28, 2012 Bird walk at the National Conservation Training Center
Thursday, April 26, 2012 Wee Naturalist Registration
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Wee Naturalist Registration
Saturday, April 21, 2012 11th Annual Race for the Birds
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Birding trip to Altona Marsh
Saturday, April 14, 2012 Wildflower Festival
Saturday, April 14, 2012 Birding trip to the Shannondale Springs Wildlife Management Area
Saturday, April 14, 2012 Landscape Gardening Conference at Shenandoah University
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 PVAS Program at the National Conservtion Training Center
Thursday, April 05, 2012 Birding 101
Wednesday, April 04, 2012 Bird walk on the C&O Canal near Harpers Ferry
Sunday, April 01, 2012 Spring Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 31, 2012 Natural History Workshop: Edible Wild Plants
Saturday, March 31, 2012 Bird walk at the National Conservation Training Center
Friday, March 30, 2012 Potomac Valley Nature Photographers Meeting at NCTC
Sunday, March 25, 2012 Hike to Jefferson Rock at Harpers Ferry
Thursday, March 22, 2012 Wee Naturalist Registration
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Wee Naturalist Registration
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Birding trip along the Shenandoah River in Jefferson County
Saturday, March 17, 2012 Wildlife Signs walk at Cacapon State Park
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 PVAS Program at National Conservation Training Center
Sunday, March 11, 2012 Bird walk at Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve in Berkeley County
Friday, March 09, 2012 Evening trip to observe the flight of the American Woodcock
Wednesday, March 07, 2012 Bird Walk at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park's Murphy Farm
Saturday, March 03, 2012 Winter tree identification field trip at Cacapon State Park
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 C&O Canal Bird Walk at Harpers Ferry
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Birding Trip Along Shenandoah River
Saturday, February 18, 2012 Winter tree identification field trip along the C&O Canal
Saturday, February 18, 2012 Birding trip to the Eastern Shore - Canceled!!!
Wednesday, February 08, 2012 PVAS Program at NCTC
Wednesday, February 08, 2012 Birding Trip Along Shenandoah River
Saturday, February 04, 2012 Birding Trip at NCTC
Saturday, January 21, 2012 C&O canal bird walk
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 PVAS Program
Saturday, December 31, 2011 Inwood Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, September 17, 2011 Master Naturalist Workshop
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 Wee Naturalist
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Music in the Cedars
Saturday, August 20, 2011 Master Naturalist Workshop—Monarch Watch
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 Music in the Cedars
Sunday, August 14, 2011 Tour of Redbud Organic Farm
Tuesday, August 09, 2011 Music in the Cedars
Friday, July 29, 2011 Birding Trip to the Delaware Shore
Friday, June 01, 1990 1990 Annual Meeting
 

                                             © 2012 PVAS // P.O. Box 578, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 • Phone: 304-676-3397 •
                                           Executive Director, Kristin Alexander / 304-676-3397 kristin@potomacaudubon.org •
                                          Youth Education Director, Ellen Murphy / 304-676-8739 ellen@potomacaudubon.org •