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Wildflower Walk at Ferry Hill
Tuesday, April 22 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Enjoy a woodland stroll with us to welcome Spring’s first blooms!
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.
PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible
For just a short time each spring, delicate wildflowers emerge from the forest floor, transforming the woods with their vibrant colors before quickly fading away. These spring ephemerals take advantage of a brief window of sunlight before the trees leaf out, disappearing just as suddenly as they arrived. Their timing is everything—not just for them, but for the pollinators and wildlife that depend on their brief appearance.Join us for a walk through the springtime forest, where we’ll search for these short-lived blooms and take in the beauty of a season that never stands still.
At Ferry Hill, we can hope to see Cutleaf Toothwort, Early Saxifrage, Spring Beauty, Dwarf Larkspur, Squirrel Corn, Wild Ginger, Pink Shooting Stars, and Dutchman’s Breeches.
Thank you for leaving the wildflowers for all to enjoy!
- Walking Distance: Approximately 2 miles or less. An entire walk may take up to two hours, but participants may leave the group and turn back at any time.
- Pace/Activities: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe)
- Exposure: Mostly shaded
- Terrain: Earthen trail with some hilly, rocky sections that could be slippery when wet Steep in some areas.
- Restroom: Restrooms are available for this program.
- Parking/Where to Meet: 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/.
- What to Bring: Bring water and dress for the weather! We strongly recommend that you wear sturdy shoes (with good tread and ideally with ankle support) and bring a walking stick.
Registration will remain open until the start of the program.
About Laurel:
Laurel Schwartz is a PVAS Program Specialist. Since September 2021, she has managed PVAS’s 4th Grade Watershed Program. Additionally, she is the Audubon Discovery Camp Director.
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.
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