Presenters: Laurie Potteiger and Anne Baker

PVMN Re-Cert Eligible

Spearheaded by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Wild East is a public awareness initiative that unites people across the country in protecting the largest, contiguous open space in the eastern United States. The backbone of Wild East is the Appalachian Trail, which is more than a footpath in the woods. With scenic views, native plants and wildlife, American history, and unique communities, the Wild East landscape is a destination that should be recognized worldwide.

Meeting attendees will learn about the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s efforts to protect the Appalachian Trail and its landscape; why this landscape should be valued (spoiler: birds are a large part of the picture!); and what collaborative conservation means in a rapidly changing world.

Laurie Potteiger is the Information Services Manager for the ATC.
Laurie develops and manages resources to help people learn to enjoy and appreciate the Appalachian Trail in sustainable ways. She especially enjoys educating people about Leave No Trace, the Appalachian Trail 14 State Challenge, and flip flop thru-hikes.

Laurie fell in love with the A.T. and the Wild East when she hiked from Georgia to Maine in 1987. Afterwards she found both her calling and her husband at the ATC. In her off time you might find her admiring wildflowers, clearing trees with her chainsaw, or learning birdsongs somewhere along the Appalachian Trail.

Anne Baker is the Landscape Partnership Manager for the ATC.
Anne hiked more than 1,300 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 2017 alongside her father (they go by Shivers and Shivers’ Dad) during a flip-flop thru-hike attempt. She’s a boomerang employee for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, returning to the organization after her hike to assist with the ATC’s landscape conservation program.

Although Anne currently lives in Martinsburg, she grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and developed a strong appreciation of the outdoors from a young age. She loves sharing that passion with others and believes we all can benefit from more time in nature.

This program is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

Directions:

Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430

GPS location is Shop and Save, 50 Coast Guard Drive, Kearneysville

www.hospiceotp.org

From WV Route 9, take the Short Road exit. If traveling east, take a left off the exit. If traveling west, take a right off the exit. Follow to the stop light at Sheetz. Turn right. Take the next left across from the old Shop-n-Save onto Hospice Lane. Follow the road back.

The Education Center will be on your left (the inpatient facility will be on your right). The door to enter for the PVAS Program is to the right of the main office door. Look for the yellow Audubon signs.

Please contact Krista Hawley at adultprograms@potomacaudubon.org or 681-252-1387 with any questions you may have.