Join us for a walk to see and enjoy the spring ephemeral wildflowers at Ferry Hill Ridge Trail!

PVAS Host: Laurel Schwartz

Free and open to the public. All ages are welcome, though youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and limited to 10 participants.

Join these wildflower enthusiasts for a spring ephemeral wildflower walk at the Ferry Hill Ridge Trail. We will have coloring sheets and other kid-friendly activities available!

Participants will meet at the Ferry Hill Mansion parking area at the top of the hill just over the bridge across from Shepherdstown. Directions and more information about Ferry Hill Plantation can be found here: https://www.canaltrust.org/pyv/ferry-hill-plantation/.

This walk is scheduled to coincide with peak wildflower season, so participants can hope to see Cutleaf Toothwort, Early Saxifrage, Spring Beauty, Dwarf Larkspur, Squirrel Corn, Wild Ginger, Pink Shooting Stars, and Dutchman’s Breeches.

The trails around Ferry Hill can be steep and primitive, so wear sturdy shoes. Children are welcome with adult accompaniment. An entire walk may take up to two hours, but participants may leave the group and turn back at any time. Please leave pets at home. And thank you for leaving the wildflowers for all to enjoy! We recommend bringing a hiking stick/trekking pole.

Register Here!

About Laurel:

Laurel Schwartz is our Watershed Program Coordinator and has been working in this role with PVAS since September 2021.

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. She also was excited to be asked to serve as Site Director for Yankauer Summer Camps for the 2021 camp season. She will also serve in this position for the 2024 camp season as well.

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.