Join Master Naturalist Andrea Diggs for a walk full of wings and wonder, exploring butterflies at Cool Spring Preserve!

PVAS Host: Andrea Diggs

This is a free/donation-based program. All ages are welcome, though youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. This program has a minimum of 2 participants.

PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible

Join us for a Butterfly Walk at Cool Spring Preserve, where we’ll explore the diverse habitats that make this area a haven for butterflies—including the marsh, meadow, and woodlands’ edge. As we move from one scenic spot to another, we’ll discuss the fascinating world of butterflies, including their behavioral patterns, migration habits, and the important role of both food sources and host plants. Along the way, you’ll learn how to distinguish between different butterfly families such as sulfurs, skippers, and swallowtails, with plenty of time for observation, conversation, and discovery.

• Walking Distance: 1-1.5 miles
• Pace/Activities: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe) to Moderate (steady but able to maintain a conversation)
• Exposure: Partial shade. Some areas of full sun.
• Terrain: Hard ground/hiking trail in some areas, mowed grass in other areas. Gentle slopes/rolling hills. Slopes can be slippery when wet.
• Restroom: Indoor, flushing restrooms will be available at the start and the end of the program.
• Parking/Where to Meet: Participants should meet at the back deck (just down from the parking lot) of the Nature Center.
• What to Bring: Dress for the weather (including sturdy shoes) and bring water. Be sure to wear sunscreen! We recommend bringing a sketchpad for drawing and/or bringing a camera!

Register Here!

Registration will remain open until the start of the program.

If the required minimum # of people do not register by 4 pm the evening prior, the program will be cancelled.

Read our pricing structure & policies.

About Andrea: Andrea Diggs is a long-time lover and learner of nature, having grown up running around in the woods and mountains of Appalachia in Western VA and Southern WV. Her fascination with butterflies intensified when she became the steward of three acres of land in Jefferson County, WV in 2007 and sought to return the old farmland to Mother Nature’s care. That goal is still in process, but in 2021 she registered her garden with the state as “Symphonic Garden” and specializes in making bouquets inspired by music, donating them to non-profit organizations or just giving them to friends (after quickly learning she preferred this over selling them). With each year, she increases the amount of native plants to mix in with non-invasive flowers for these bouquets – all grown without fertilizers, tilling, or any kind of chemicals. She selects her plants and flowers based on the needs of the butterflies and other beneficial insects and then will wander the garden for hours at a time observing the results and studying her butterfly books. As of 2023, Symphonic Garden is a Certified Wildlife Habitat and Butterfly Garden, and in 2024 she successfully completed all requirements to become a West Virginia Master Naturalist. When not in the garden, Andrea is dedicated to her music profession as a performer and teacher. She is the adjunct flute professor at Shepherd University and a member of several instrumental and vocal ensembles in the region.