Walk with PVAS Naturalist, Laurel Schwartz, through Shepherdstown to discover insects and animals in the urban environment.

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 12 participants.

PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible

Many Shepherdstown homeowners and business owners have created thoughtful street and backyard habitats for our native pollinators. We hope to encounter monarch butterflies or chrysalis. You’ll learn how you can create native pollinator habitat at your home – no matter how small or urban your space may be!

• Walking Distance: 0.5 – 1 mile
• Pace: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe)
• Terrain: Solid pavement/sidewalk/flooring
• Restroom: Yes, if local businesses allow.
• Parking/Where to Meet: Meet at the train station in Shepherdstown.
• What to Bring: Dress for the weather and bring water. Identification guides are also encouraged, if you have them.

Register Here!

About Laurel: 

Laurel Schwartz is our Watershed Program Coordinator and has been working in this role with PVAS since September 2021. She serves as Site Director at Yankauer for Summer Camp.

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.

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.