Step into the enchanting world of the forest with our immersive storytime adventure!

PVAS Host: Amy Thomas

Free and open to the public. This program is intended for families with children. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required

Step into the enchanting world of the forest with our immersive storytime adventure! Each month, we’ll gather in the woods, where a PVAS environmental educator will guide us through a captivating tale that brings the wonders of nature to life. This will be followed by an engaging nature activity that will deepen our connection to the themes presented in the stories. As the seasons change, so will our stories, unveiling the mysteries of the world around us. Come along for an unforgettable experience filled with discovery, imagination, and the thrill of exploring the great outdoors. Let’s learn, explore, and let our curiosity soar together!

• Walking Distance: Little to no walking, though we encourage participants after the program to enjoy all that Yankauer Nature Preserve has to offer, including Trail Trekkers, our new program for small-group nature exploration with one of our educators, beginning at 11 am!
• Exposure: This event may take place under the pavilion at Yankauer, or in an open-air clearing in the woods, weather-dependent.
• Terrain: Hard ground/hiking trail. Gentle slopes/rolling hills
• Restroom: There are 2 composting toilets at Yankauer near the start of the trail
• Parking/Where to Meet: The group will meet at the pavilion near the start of the trail.
• What to Bring: Dress for the weather, bring water, and wear sturdy shoes! You may also want to consider bringing a packed lunch – for the Yankauer pavilion or elsewhere! Please be sure to pack out your waste.

About Amy:

Amy is our Lead Teacher and Naturalist. She first worked for PVAS starting in 2012 as a camp counselor for three summers and then as camp director in 2015.

While studying at Towson University, Amy interned with the National Aquarium and Irvine Nature Center and worked for the University’s Office of Sustainability as a Compost Educator. Amy was also very involved in her university’s Outdoor Adventure program where she worked as an Outdoor Trip Leader, Kayak Clinic Instructor, Challenge Course Facilitator and Climbing Gym Supervisor. After earning her BA in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Informal Environmental Education in 2015, she served as a Chesapeake Conservation Corps member, working as a naturalist at Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville, Maryland. Most recently, Amy worked as a field instructor at the Mountain Institute at Spruce Knob, West Virginia, where she led students on backpacking trips and taught Watershed Education programs.

In her free time, Amy enjoys backpacking, biking, rock climbing, kayaking and cross-country skiing.