Potomac Valley Audubon Society Events

Wednesday January 21 7:30am - 10:30am EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Bird Walk at Cool Spring Preserve

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join Bill Telfair for a morning bird walk at Cool Spring Preserve!PVAS Host: Bill Telfair This is a free/donation-based program For ages 8 and older. All youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. Join trip leader Bill Telfair for a bird walk at Cool Spring Preserve! Anyone with an interest is welcome to come along, regardless of their birding skills. The trails at Cool Spring Preserve have a lot to offer! From well-maintained footpaths to gorgeous views, the 74 acres of this preserve are home to much wildlife. Click here to see a list of birds seen in past Januarys! (Some places may not have an eBird list for that month, so that is a great opportunity for you to add the birds you see at this bird walk!) Walking Distance: Approximately 1 -2 miles.Pace/Activities: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe)Exposure: Partial shade/winter canopy. Some areas of full sun.Terrain: Hard ground/hiking trail in some areas, mowed grass in other areas. Gentle slopes/rolling hillsRestroom: At the start of the program, Port-a-Pottys will be available. At the end of the program when the Case Nature Center is open, indoor flushing restrooms will be available.Parking/Where to Meet: Participants should meet at the back deck (just down from the parking lot) of the Nature Center.What to Bring: Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, and bring water. If you have them, binoculars and cameras are recommended. You may also want to consider installing free birding apps creating by the Cornell Lab or Ornithology to your mobile device: 1) Merlin (https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/) and 2) eBird (https://ebird.org/about/ebird-mobile/).Register Here!Registration will remain open until the start of the program. Read our pricing structure & policies. About Bill: Bill has been birding since he was 8 years old. He has been on EBird since 2003, with a life list of 1,820 and a US list over 500. He has participated in Christmas Birds counts in both CA and WV, as well as the C&O bird count for 10 years. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Wednesday January 21 9:30am - 3:00pm EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Case Nature Center Open Day

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join us for a day of discovery at Case Nature Center!PVAS Host: PVAS Nature Center Ambassadors Free and open to the public. All ages are welcome, though youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required. Visit ......More

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Thursday January 22 7:30am - 10:30am EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Climate Watch Survey

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join KC and Wil for the winter Climate Watch survey at Cool Spring Preserve!PVAS Host: KC Walters and Wil Hershberger Free and open to the public. For ages 16 and older. Pre-registration is required and limited to 5 participants. PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible The Climate Watch project involves hemisphere-wide surveys to observe how bird populations are responding to climate change. Associate Director of Conservation and Operations, KC Walters and bird expert, Wil Hershberger, will be conducting their annual winter Climate Watch survey of the Cool Spring area. They will show you just how EASY and FUN it is to participate in this important community science research. Walking Distance: ~2-3 milesPace: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe).Exposure: Winter canopy cover.Terrain: Earthen trail with some hilly, rocky sections that could be slippery when wetRestroom: Restrooms are available for this program.Parking/Where to Meet: Parking lot at Cool Spring Preserve.What to Bring: Please wear sturdy walking shoes, bring along drinking water, and dress for the weather. Walking poles are encouraged. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.Register Here!About KC: Katelyn (KC) Walters, a Shepherdstown native, is our Associate Director of Conservation and Operations. KC is a Shepherd alumna, and holds a M.S. in Biology, with a focus in forest ecology, from James Madison University. Her master’s thesis evaluated the long-term effectiveness of treating hemlock trees for hemlock woolly adelgid infestation in Shenandoah National Park. During her college education, she interned with The Conservation Fund: Freshwater Institute and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. After graduation, she worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in southeastern Louisiana where she served as a forestry technician and became a certified Wildland Firefighter. KC then returned home to Shepherdstown and worked with Sustainable Solutions LLC as the Lead Natural Resources and GIS Technician. She joined the PVAS Team in April 2018 as the Land and Conservation Manager. Just shy of five years later, in January 2023, KC was promoted to the Associate Director position she holds today. KC enjoys riding horses, working with her dog, Paisley, on agility training, and stewarding the natural resources on her own property. About Wil: Wil Hershberger has been photographing and recording the natural world for more than a decade and his work has been published in magazines, calendars, and books. His recordings of birds, frogs and insects are archived at the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. His website can be found at natureimagesandsounds.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Thursday January 22 5:30pm - 7:30pm EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Wildflower Programs Working Group Meeting

Join us to help shape this year’s wildflower programs and get involved in the season ahead!PVAS Host: Sonja Melander Free and open to the public. This program is for adults. Registration is not required, but appreciated for planning purposes. Join us on Thursday, January 22, from 5:30–7:30 PM for our annual Wildflower Programs Working Group Meeting—an open, collaborative space for anyone interested in helping plan this year’s wildflower programs. You’re welcome to attend in person at the Case Nature Center at Cool Spring Preserve or online via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88684543231). Whether you’re a seasoned botanical enthusiast or simply curious and looking to get involved, all are welcome. We’ll share ideas, outline goals for the upcoming season, and discuss opportunities for new volunteers. This year, we’re especially excited to train new wildflower walk leaders, with chances to shadow experienced hosts before leading walks independently. Light refreshments will be provided. We hope you’ll join us and be part of the team that brings these wildflower experiences to life! Walking Distance: Little to no walking.Restroom: Indoor, flushing restrooms are available.Parking/Where to Meet: Meet inside the Case Nature Center or on the Zoom link above.What to Bring: Paper and something to write with to take notes.Register now!Registration will remain open until the start of the program. Read our pricing structure & policies. About our Host: Sonja joined the PVAS team in Spring 2023. Sonja began her career in environmental education during her time as a camp counselor during summers in college in western Pennsylvania. In 2008, Sonja earned her B.S. in physics and geology from the University of Pittsburgh and physics and her M.S. in geology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Since then, Sonja has worked in informal education at Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, and Mount St. Helens Institute. Sonja enjoys gardening, crafting (especially crocheting), reading/learning about new topics, riding her bicycle, and spending time with her dog and other loved ones

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Saturday January 24 8:00am - 12:00pm EST

Lock 38, 117844 Canal Road, Sharpsburg, MD, United States

C&O Canal Winter Bird Survey

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join Bill Telfair for this bird survey walk along a 3-mile stretch of the canal towpath (MP 70 – 73)!PVAS Host: Bill Telfair Free/donation-based program. Anyone with an interest is welcome to participate. This is a good walk for those still working on their bird identification skills, but intermediate/advanced birders are also encouraged to help. Pre-registration is required. For over 20 years, birds along the entire 185 miles of the C&O Canal have been counted. This survey is designed to provide a snapshot count of birds present on the C&O Canal. The count will take place regardless of the weather (only a very severe storm will alter scheduled survey) so please dress appropriately and wear comfortable footwear to walk the full three-mile route. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bill Telfair at [email protected] or 408-966-8895. Walking Distance: 3 milesPace/Activities: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe).Terrain: Asphalt and gravel. The route is generally flat.Restroom: There are restrooms (non-flushing) available towards the start of the walk at Antietam Creek.Parking/Where to Meet: Participants should gather across the Potomac River from Shepherdstown at the large National Park Service parking area on Canal Road (past the railroad bridge) at 8:00 am SHARP. For those that are comfortable, carpooling will be arranged down to Antietam Creek (MP 70). However, if you prefer not to carpool, you can team up with a family member or friend and leave one car at the large parking area and drive the other car down to Antietam Creek parking. The group will carpool or drive down to Antietam Creek (MP 70) and walk back toward the Rumsey Bridge (MP 73).What to Bring: Please wear sturdy walking shoes, bring along drinking water, and dress for the weather. Please bring binoculars if you have them.Register Here!About Bill: Bill has been birding since he was 8 years old. He has been on EBird since 2003, with a life list of 1,820 and a US list over 500. He has participated in Christmas Birds counts in both CA and WV, as well as the C&O bird count for 10 years.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Lock 38, 117844 Canal Road, Sharpsburg, MD, United States

Saturday January 24 9:00am - 12:00pm EST

Sunny Meadows Garden Center, 7437 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713

44th Annual Birdseed Sale

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Potomac Valley Audubon Society’s 44th Annual Birdseed Sale!Fill your feeders with high-quality seed and suet to feed our ‘wild’ friends all winter long! Proceeds from this sale support PVAS’s educational programs, conservation ......More

Sunny Meadows Garden Center, 7437 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713

Tuesday January 27 5:30pm - 7:00pm EST

Shepherdstown Public Library, 145 Higbee Lane, Shepherdstown, WV, 25443, United States

Birding Programs Working Group Meeting

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Share your thoughts and ideas on all things PVAS birding for 2026!PVAS Host: Sonja Melander and KC Walters Free and open to the public. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult participant. Registration is not ......More

Shepherdstown Public Library, 145 Higbee Lane, Shepherdstown, WV, 25443, United States

Wednesday January 28 9:30am - 3:00pm EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Case Nature Center Open Day

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Saturday January 31 10:00am - 1:00pm EST

WVU Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research and Education Center, 67 Apple Harvest Ln, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, United States

PVMN Annual Meeting

Join fellow Master Naturalists for a day of connection, celebration, and learning at our Annual Meeting! Enjoy a potluck meal, bid in the silent auction, and honor our dedicated members. This event is for Potomac Valley Master Naturalists. Registration is not required P......More

WVU Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research and Education Center, 67 Apple Harvest Ln, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, United States

Sunday February 1 6:00pm - 7:30pm EST

Yankauer Nature Preserve, 438 Whitings Neck Road, Martinsburg, WV, 25404, United States

Full Moon Walk at Yankauer Nature Preserve

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join Sonja for an evening stroll to explore the sights and sounds of the nocturnal world under the full moon!PVAS Host: Sonja Melander This is a free/donation-based program. All ages are welcome, though youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. If the sky is clear, we will hike by the light of the full moon along the trails at Yankauer Nature Preserve. If the evening is cloudy, we will still enjoy an evening stroll as a group. Regardless of the weather, we will enjoy the unique sights, sounds and smells of the nocturnal world together! Please note that Yankauer Nature Preserve is normally open only from dawn to dusk, but is accessible at night through special nighttime events like these. We hope you join us! Walking Distance: 1-1.5 milesPace/Activities: Moderate – steady but able to maintain a conversation. The group will make several stops along the way to regroup and to discuss interesting things we are noticing or thinking about! This hike typically involves a longer stop at the Potomac River overlook to pause and enjoy the nighttime environment.Exposure: Forested/dense canopy coverTerrain:Hard ground/hiking trail. Gentle slopes/rolling hills. The paths at Yankauer have a lot of roots and rocks and can be slippery when wet.Restroom: There are 2 composting toilets at Yankauer near the meeting location.Parking/Where to Meet: Yankauer Nature Preserve has about 20 parking spaces. The group will assemble by the kiosk/sign near the composting toilets.What to Bring: Sturdy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and a flashlight! When the ground is wet, the trail can be slippery, so you may want to consider bringing a walking stick.Register Here!Registration will remain open until the start of the program. If the required minimum # of people do not register by 4 pm the evening prior, the program will be cancelled. Read our pricing structure & policies. About Sonja: Sonja is the Associate Director of Education for the Potomac Valley Audubon Society. She has been leading guided group nature walks for over a decade. She loves exploring different habitats under all sorts of weather conditions, by both daylight and moonlight and – when needed – flashlight! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Yankauer Nature Preserve, 438 Whitings Neck Road, Martinsburg, WV, 25404, United States

Sunday February 1 6:00pm - 7:30pm EST

Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve, 4069 Back Creek Valley Rd., Hedgesville, WV, 25427, United States

Full Moon Walk at Stauffer's Marsh Preserve

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join Master Naturalist Allen Miller for an evening stroll to explore the sights and sounds of the nocturnal world by the light of the full moon at Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve!PVAS Host: Allen Miller This is a free/donation-......More

Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve, 4069 Back Creek Valley Rd., Hedgesville, WV, 25427, United States

Tuesday February 3 10:00am - 12:00pm EST

Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve, 4069 Back Creek Valley Rd., Hedgesville, WV, 25427, United States

Wellness Walk at Stauffer's Marsh Nature Preserve

” Let’s get outside and enjoy the trails together!PVAS Host: Ellen Murphy This is a free/donation-based program. All ages are welcome, though youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. This program has a minimum of 5 participants. This February, we’re celebrating World Wetlands Day with a visit to one of PVAS’s wetland habitats — Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve, a 46-acre sanctuary tucked into Back Creek Valley. Once a stretch of farmland, this landscape was restored through the USDA’s first Wetland Reserve Program project in West Virginia, transforming it into the thriving marshwe know today. With more than 160 bird species recorded here, the preserve has become an essential habitat for ducks, geese, and many other wildlife that depend on wetlands. As we wander the trail, we’ll take in the wide-open views, pause to watch waterfowl moving through the marsh (if they are out and about), and enjoy the calm that settles over the landscape in winter. Feel free to bring binoculars if you’d like to add a bit of birdwatching to the outing. After our walk, we may warm up with hot chocolate. Dress for the season, bring your curiosity, and join us for a peaceful winter walk through this remarkable wetland preserve. Walking Distance: Approximately 2 miles or less.Pace/Activities: Moderate (steady but able to maintain a conversation)Exposure: Lots of open sky. Some areas of canopy cover in the woods.Terrain: Mowed grass/earthen trail The route is generally flat.Restroom: Restrooms are available for this program.Parking/Where to Meet: Ellen will send a detailed email to registered participants.What to Bring: Dress for the weather, bring water, and wear sturdy shoes!Register Here!Registration will remain open until the start of the program. If the required minimum # of people do not register by 4 pm the evening prior, the program will be cancelled. Read our pricing structure & policies. About our Host: 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. Her favorite word is “Look” and my favorite place is Yankauer Nature Preserve. She and her husband Kevin have been married for 39 years, residents of WV for almost 30 years, and “parents” to a series of pound puppies (currently #8 and 9).

Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve, 4069 Back Creek Valley Rd., Hedgesville, WV, 25427, United States

Tuesday February 3 5:30pm - 7:00pm EST

Virtual

EcoCraft and Foraging Programs Working Group Meeting

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Are you passionate about nature crafts or foraging? Do you want to share your interests with others and help bring creative, nature-inspired programs to life? We need your help!PVAS Host: Sonja Melander Free and open to the publ......More

Virtual

Wednesday February 4 9:30am - 3:00pm EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Case Nature Center Open Day

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Wednesday February 4 10:00am - 11:00am EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Turtle Time at Cool Spring Preserve

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join us for a turtle-filled morning at the Case Nature Center!PVAS Host: Amy Thomas Free and open to the public. While this is a free program, we encourage you to consider donating to our “Critter Care” fund to contribute to the......More

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Wednesday February 4 6:00pm - 8:00pm EST

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

Nature's Palette Watercolor Workshop: Bald eagle

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Join us for a monthly celebration of nature, creativity, and curiosity! This month’s subject is the Bald eagle.$15/person (PVAS members receive a 10% discount). For ages 12 and older. All youth must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. This program has a minimum of 4 participants. PVMN Continuing Education Credit Eligible Join us each month as we explore a new corner of the natural world through watercolor. We’ll begin by getting to know the month’s theme—whether it’s a bird, plant, or seasonal scene—through a short, engaging lesson. Then we’ll guide you step-by-step through creating a watercolor painting inspired by that subject, using reference photos we provide. The process is great for beginners—no experience is necessary! Along the way, we’ll chat about fun facts, artistic details we notice, and whatever else comes up in good company. You’ll head home with a beautiful watercolor creation: maybe a 5×7” greeting card or a piece worthy of your fridge or a frame. Come ready to learn, create, and enjoy the process—together. Walking Distance: Little to no walkingRestroom: Indoor, flushing restrooms are available in the Case Nature Center.Parking/Where to Meet: Meet upstairs, inside the Case Nature Center.What to Bring: Supplies will be provided, but we welcome you to bring any favorite supplies of yours that you would like to use!Register Here!Registration will remain open until the start of the program. If the required minimum # of people do not register by 4 pm the evening prior, the program will be cancelled. Read our pricing structure & policies. About our instructor, Lindsay Chase: Lindsay has always loved all things nature, from birds to bugs to wildflowers and everything in between. After moving to West Virginia in 2024, she fell even more in love with all the wild and wonderful beauty of the region. Her joy and sense of place has only grown through her involvement with PVAS and completing the 2025 Master Naturalist program. Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her passion for nature, creativity, and connection with her community. Photo credit: Ana Bowers/Audubon Photography Awards[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Cool Spring Preserve, 1469 Lloyd Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414, United States

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Case Nature Center Open Day

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Case Nature Center Open Day

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Full Moon Walk at Yankauer Nature Preserve

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