Join Laurel for a morning training to learn how to volunteer at PVAS’s 4th Grade Watershed Program field trips!
PVAS Host: Laurel Schwartz
This is a free/donation-based program. This program is for adults. Pre-registration is required and limited to 25 participants.
PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible
Are you interested in volunteering with PVAS’s youth programs and helping local students connect with nature? Join us for our Watershed Education Program Volunteer Training, led by Watershed Program Coordinator Laurel Schwartz. During this engaging session, you’ll learn about our 4th Grade Watershed Program and the hands-on activities we use during field trips to teach students about water, wildlife, and conservation. This training qualifies for PVMN Continuing Education credit, and volunteers can earn volunteer hours by assisting with field trips. If you’ve attended this training before, you are not required to repeat it—though you are welcome to join us again for a refresher or to connect with other volunteers. Please note that PVAS education staff are also developing a new online introductory training for all Youth Program Assistants, which will cover volunteer guidelines and tips for working with students. Attendees will receive access when it is available and must complete it before their first volunteer shift. Questions? Contact Laurel at Laurel@potomacaudubon.org
- Walking Distance: 1 mile or less
- Pace/Activities: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe)
- Exposure: Partial shade. Some areas of full sun.
- Terrain: Hard ground/hiking trail – some grass/brush/off-trail
- Restroom: Indoor, flushing restrooms are available.
- Parking/Where to Meet: Lower parking lot (closest to the train tracks)
- What to Bring: Dress for the weather and bring water!
Registration will remain open until the start of the program.
Read our pricing structure & policies.
About Laurel:
Laurel Schwartz is a PVAS Program Specialist. Since September 2021, she has managed PVAS’s 4th Grade Watershed Program. Additionally, she is the Audubon Discovery Camp Director.
Laurel is a lifelong Jefferson County resident and Shepherd University graduate. She graduated from Shepherd University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Sustainable Resource Management. During the summers between the school year, she worked as a seasonal Park Ranger for both the National Park Service, at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and the Army Corps of Engineers, at Loyalhanna Lake Recreation Area. After graduation, Laurel served an AmeriCorps year (2019-2020) with us as an Environmental Educator. Through this role, she fell in love with youth education and nature interpretation. After her AmeriCorps year, Laurel worked for Virginia Tech as a Soil Science Research Associate and a Jefferson County Substitute Teacher.
In her free time, Laurel can be found hiking, spending time with her dogs, relaxing in a hammock, or in the kitchen trying out new recipes.