Join us for an evening touring the USFWS Conservation History Museum and Archives at the National Conservation Training Center!

PVAS Host: Mark Madison, Ellen Murphy

Free and open to the public. This program is for adults. Registration is required and limited to 20 participants.

PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible

Discover the fascinating history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and its role in protecting wildlife and natural habitats. The USFWS Museum and Archives at NCTC houses nearly 500,000 items that tell the story of American conservation and the agency’s efforts over the years.

The evening begins with a tour of the Archives, where USFWS Historian Mark Madison will share highlights from the collection. Items include Rachel Carson artifacts, the first Duck Stamp and engraving plate, Bureau of Fisheries railroad china, confiscated items, and other fascinating items!

The evening continues with a tour of the museum, led by Master Naturalist and Friends of NCTC Chair Ellen Murphy. Learn about the agency’s history and its impact on the preservation of our natural world.

The tour is scheduled for an hour, with the option to extend depending on group interest. Afterward, guests are welcome to enjoy dinner in the cafeteria (highly recommended!) and visit the gift shop, both open until 7:30 PM.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the legacy of conservation with the USFWS.

• Walking Distance: Less than 1/2 mile.
• Pace/Activities: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe)
• Exposure: This is an indoor program.
• Restroom: Indoor, flushing restrooms are available.
• Parking/Where to Meet: Upon arriving at NCTC, you will go through a gate with a security guard. You will need to share your name and show your ID. They will likely instruct you to park in the Blue Lot the group will assemble on the ground level of the Entry Building. Walking from the parking lot to the building often takes several minutes, so please plan for the time needed for all of these steps.
• What to Bring: Bring a photo ID for the gate entry. If you are staying for dinner in the cafeteria or would like to visit the gift shop, please bring a method of payment.

Register Here!

Registration is scheduled to open on Wednesday 12/18 at 7 pm.

About Mark: Mark Madison was the first FWS Historian hired by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999. Madison helps coordinate all national heritage outreach in the FWS and also helps run the NCTC Museum/Archives on site in Shepherdstown, WV. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in History and Biology and a Ph.D. in the History of Science from Harvard University. Prior to working for the FWS Madison spent 3 years doing tropical reforestation in the Philippines for the U.S. Peace Corps and was junior faculty at Harvard University and the University of Melbourne (Australia).

About Ellen: Ellen is retired from PVAS (and a former National Park Ranger and Girl Scout Camp Director). With PVAS, she taught the Watershed Program, taught general environmental education for PK-5th grades, and directed Audubon Discovery Camp for 11 years. She has been a Master Naturalist since 2007. She is also currently the chair of Friends of NCTC! Her favorite word is “Look” and my favorite place is Yankauer Nature Preserve. She and her husband Kevin have been married for 40 years, residents of WV for almost 30 years, and “parents” to a series of pound puppies (currently #8 and 9).