About Us – Potomac Valley Audubon Society

Mission Statement: We are people dedicated to preserving, restoring and enjoying the natural world through education and action.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society (PVAS) was organized in 1982 as a local chapter of the National Audubon Society. We serve Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan counties in West Virginia and Washington County, Maryland. PVAS offers a wide variety of educational programs for children, adults, and families. Our goal is to get people of all ages outside to explore and learn about the natural world! In addition, PVAS manages nearly 600 acres at four nature preserves in the Eastern Panhandle that include trails open to the public.

Bird watching, wildflower festival, hiking in Eidolon

We value biodiversity in nature, and we recognize the importance of diversity across our organization. Diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential to our community and to our mission to preserve and enjoy the natural world through education and action.

PVAS is committed to:

Grow our membership to reflect the diversity of our community
Offer an array of programs and activities that engage all members of our community
Advocate for issues of environmental justice
Engage in internal reflection and training for staff and board members
Continue on a path to improve issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity in all areas of the organization.

To help accomplish this goal, PVAS manages four nature preserves in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, featuring a variety of habitats to hike and explore. The variety of activities and programs we offer is extensive. Check out the calendar section of our website.

Want to know about upcoming events and stay up to date with what is happening at PVAS? Subscribe to our e-newsletter, “Heads Up!”. This e-newsletter is sent out on the first and third Wednesday of every month.

Click Here to Subscribe!

Jean Neely- Founder of PVAS

Retired after a career in the U.S. Navy, Jean and her husband moved to Shepherdstown in 1979. She was the founding president of PVAS in 1982 and remained active in the chapter, holding a variety of offices. She was an avid birder and travelled to many areas of the Western Hemisphere in pursuit of her hobby. Jean was concerned about the alarming decline of many species of birds, and supported programs such as habitat preservation and pollution abatement aimed at protecting those birds we have left. She received the Spirit of the Panhandle Award from the Eastern WV Community Foundation in 2005 and was named a Woman of Distinction in 2013 by the Girl Scouts. She was an emeritus member of the PVAS board from 2006 until her death in December 2025.