Join KC and Wil for the winter Climate Watch survey at Cool Spring Preserve!

PVAS Host: KC Walters and Wil Hershberger

Free and open to the public. For ages 16 and older. Registration is required and limited to 5 participants.

PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible

The Climate Watch project involves hemisphere-wide surveys to observe how bird populations are responding to climate change. Associate Director of Conservation and Operations, KC Walters and bird expert, Wil Hershberger, will be conducting their annual winter Climate Watch survey of the Cool Spring area. They will show you just how EASY and FUN it is to participate in this important community science research.

• Walking Distance: ~2-3 miles
• Pace: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe).
• Exposure: Winter canopy cover.
• Terrain: Earthen trail with some hilly, rocky sections that could be slippery when wet
• Restroom: Restrooms are available for this program.
• Parking/Where to Meet: Parking lot at Cool Spring Preserve.
• What to Bring: Please wear sturdy walking shoes, bring along drinking water, and dress for the weather. Walking poles are encouraged. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

Please register to participate. Snow date is 1/31/25.

Register Here!

About KC: Katelyn (KC) Walters, a Shepherdstown native, is our Associate Director of Conservation and Operations. KC is a Shepherd alumna, and holds a M.S. in Biology, with a focus in forest ecology, from James Madison University. Her master’s thesis evaluated the long-term effectiveness of treating hemlock trees for hemlock woolly adelgid infestation in Shenandoah National Park. During her college education, she interned with The Conservation Fund: Freshwater Institute and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. After graduation, she worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in southeastern Louisiana where she served as a forestry technician and became a certified Wildland Firefighter. KC then returned home to Shepherdstown and worked with Sustainable Solutions LLC as the Lead Natural Resources and GIS Technician.  She joined the PVAS Team in April 2018 as the Land and Conservation Manager.  Just shy of five years later, in January 2023, KC was promoted to the Associate Director position she holds today. KC enjoys riding horses, working with her dog, Paisley, on agility training, and stewarding the natural resources on her own property.

About Wil: Wil Hershberger has been photographing and recording the natural world for more than a decade and his work has been published in magazines, calendars, and books. His recordings of birds, frogs and insects are archived at the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. His website can be found at natureimagesandsounds.com