2017 Annual Report Potomac Valley Audubon Society is MISSION people dedicated to preserving, restoring, STATEMENT and enjoying the natural world through education and action. P.O. Box 578, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 www.potomacaudubon.org | 304-676-3397 2017 OVERVIEW year for the next five years helps us sustain our growth. It has been another These two generous donations extraordinary year for PVAS demonstrate confidence in with a new home, new staff, the execution of our work and new partners. initiatives. We’ve been in our new “home” at Cool Spring Preserve for a full year and served more than 1,000 people through programs there in the last 12 months. It is a joy to have a place to greet visitors and provide staff, volunteers, and community groups a place to plan and collaborate on Our educational programs programs and projects. reached well over 8,000 people in 2017 – about 300 more than This year we invited a team last year. from the Association of Nature Center Administrators to take a After such a positive careful look at our organization experience with our amazing and provide advice as we took on AmeriCorps volunteer, Alison Cool Spring and new staff. They Zak, PVAS decided to take on found PVAS to be a strong, two AmeriCorps volunteers valued, and well-respected in September to reach even organization poised for growth. more youth. We’ve also The resulting report provided hired a program director to specific recommendations on oversee all of our educational improving communications, programs across youth and adult changing our staff structure, audiences. engaging in a formal strategic planning process, and cross- PVAS continues to be promotion of programs. We took committed to transparency and their recommendations to heart adherence to best–practices for and have already taken concrete non-profit organizations. All steps to initiate changes. policies, tax information, and other pertinent documents are PVAS finances and mission posted on our website. were strengthened by two major donations. An anonymous Our 2017 audit gave us a clean donation of $85,000 to start an bill of health and found all Environment and Conservation documents and management Support Fund brings energy practices in order. Staff members and strength to our mission. continue to attend conferences The commitment by long-time and trainings to keep up to date supporters Mina Goodrich and on educational standards and Larry Dean donating $25,000/ non-profit management. 1 | www.potomacaudubon.org LOOKING AHEAD preach, and to use our new solar capabilities as an educational The foundation we’ve built in tool for children and adults. recent years will allow us to We will also put a conservation advance our programs in the easement on our Cool Spring year ahead by: Preserve property with the West Virginia Land Trust. At Cool • Improving cross-promotion between our adult and youth Spring and Stauffer’s Marsh, programs. monarch meadows will be established to improve habitat. • Providing additional art workshops through a new program series called “Art, Inspired by Nature.” • Broadening program offerings in Washington County. • Expanding Audubon We can accomplish all this and Discovery Camp with more thanks to our members, simultaneous sessions at friends, volunteers, donors Cool Spring Preserve and the and partners. Erin Shaw, our Yankauer Preserve. VISTA volunteer, is constantly researching and writing grants to • Presenting opportunities for support growth. our members to get involved with advocacy if they choose. We have a dedicated and talented Board and staff. Read Our new Program Director, on to see examples of the Kimberly Baldwin, has a strong amazing things this community science and teaching background of people enables PVAS to that will enrich and further accomplish. strengthen PVAS programs. Her job will be to think “big CHILDREN AND FAMILY picture” for PVAS to make sure PROGRAMS our youth and adult programs and educational efforts are Over 6,000 kids and family aligned with our mission and members were reached by organizational goals, as well as PVAS through school programs, to promote and grow PVAS’s summer camp, events, and varied program offerings. partnerships with libraries. Donations and grants continue We’ll install solar panels at to help us provide programs Cool Spring thanks to a recent to low-income families so grant from the Appalachian all can participate. The goal Stewardship Foundation. of these programs is to help Bringing solar to Cool Spring connect participants with provides us with a wonderful nature and develop a sense of opportunity to practice what we environmental stewardship. www.potomacaudubon.org | 2 School programs are provided at Preserves under Amy Moore’s schools and natural areas. In all, direction. These informal 24 schools were served in five outdoor experiences help kids counties. Most of our programs improve problem-solving, critical help kids connect to nature, thinking, and focus. They also whether in wetlands, forests, get lots of exercise in a healthy fields, playgrounds, or urban outdoor setting with hiking, fort settings. building, stream exploration, and nature games. Our very popular Watershed Education program was taught in 67 fourth grade classrooms at 14 different schools in 2017. Three of these schools had never participated in the program before, and were able to do so thanks to an agreement with Safe Waters Jefferson, a program Camp scholarships, funded of the West Virginia Rivers by our birdseed sale and other Coalition. donations, provided 26 children with a variety of enriching PVAS is doing more and more experiences at overnight and day year-long programs for local camps that focus on the natural schools, where we see students world. several times through the year. This allows us to develop Family programs increased relationships with children and this year as well. We expanded to teach environmental concepts our Wee Naturalist preschool in greater depth, increasing our program and home school impact. One of these programs programs significantly this year is our sustainable energy with the addition of Cool Spring program, developed in 2016 Preserve. This is definitely an by Program Specialist Ellen area of growth for us. Our Murphy, which some schools Fireflies, Fiddles and Frogs have chosen to continue even family picnic attendance nearly without grant funding. doubled this year, with over 400 participants enjoying outdoor PVAS programs continue to activity stations provided by be popular with local schools volunteers. thanks to their reputation for affordable, quality programs In November we held an Open with trained instructors and age- appropriate, hands-on activities House & One Year Anniversary based on state and national Celebration at the Cool Spring curriculum-standards. Preserve with family activities, campfire, guided walks, and Audubon Discovery Camp snacks. This year we also started provided 12 different sessions at hosting birthday parties at Cool both Yankauer and Cool Spring Spring with varying themes. 3 | www.potomacaudubon.org ADULT PROGRAMS owl banding to winter tree Our programs geared for adults identification, these trips provide reached over 1,700 people a wide variety of opportunities this year. Field trips to natural to learn about and experience areas, birding workshops and the natural world. excursions, monthly programs, natural history workshops, and the Master Naturalist Program all help local audiences learn more about the natural world and become better stewards. Our programs provide solid, scientific information in a Photo by Laura Frazier relaxed and enjoyable way, and have grown under Krista Eleven special birding events Hawley’s care. were scheduled this year in honor of International Migratory Our Potomac Valley Master Naturalist program continues to Bird Day. Ten locations in our provide natural history training four county service area hosted to participants who, in turn, bird walks, including our own provide volunteer service to the nature preserves. community such as educational Natural History Workshops programs for youth and adults, provide in-depth learning contributions to research, or opportunities for participants other activities. on a variety of natural history topics. This year we offered Monthly meetings provide opportunities for members and eight workshops including the public to learn about and Sketching Live Raptors and be inspired by conservation Planting a Butterfly Garden. topics. Topics included everything from “The Impact CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES of Climate Change on Public PVAS continues to be engaged Health” to “Functionality of with a variety of conservation Plants in a Garden.” Hospice initiatives and projects of the Panhandle continues to through its own endeavors generously host these meetings as well as partnership with in their central location. We other organizations. We also scheduled quarterly provide consultation on presentations in Morgan County wildlife problems or concerns, to better serve our members contribute to citizen science there. like bird counts, promote Our field trips, including tree plantings for watershed dozens of bird walks, continue and other organizations, and to be very popular, and are promote land management entirely led by volunteers. practices compatible with From witnessing Saw-whet birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. www.potomacaudubon.org | 4 A significant project in 2017 thanks to wonderful vendors, included partnering with volunteers, and the community. Shepherd University on a Native