Habitat Advocate: Native Plant Interpretive Hike

For habitat advocates, nature is our inspiration. Before we design native gardens in our home landscapes, we first must observe the natural spaces that inspire us to action. Nature knows best!

In this class we will learn how to mimic the natural growing patterns of native Carex (sedges) and other species found along Climber’s Run hiking trails, the beauty of planting in odd numbers, and identification of various botanical species that call Climber’s Run home.

Leave fueled to build back biodiversity in your home landscape, inspired by the native plants that we met on our gentle hiking adventure.

Your Presenters

Elyse Jurgen, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co., is a community collaborator working to rebuild ecological literacy and biodiversity through hands-on ecological gardening experiences in South Central PA. She is certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and Ecological/Permaculture Designer, along with earning an Ecological Gardening Certification from Mt. Cuba Center. She has a master’s degree in Environmental Education, 7-12 Biology Teaching Certification, and participated in Cornell University’s Civic Ecology program.

Elyse works alongside homeowners in a participatory approach to their gardening for wildlife needs, infusing educational opportunities during the design, installation, and stewarding process. She invites homeowners to deeply engage with their land to maximize its potential in enhancing human well-being and supporting dwindling wildlife populations.

Linda Ferich retired from a career in emergency and occupational health nursing in 2013 and became a Pa Master Naturalist. She coordinates the Lancaster Conservancy’s Community Wildlife Habitat program, a partnership with National Wildlife Federation. Through this program, Lancaster County has become the first county in PA to become a certified NWF Community Wildlife Habitat.

Linda enjoys doing property assessments to teach how to develop habitat and control stormwater. Linda studies native plants and designs ecological gardens as a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and student of Mt Cuba Center’s Ecological Gardening program. She and a few conservation-minded friends formed the Lancaster Native Plant Alliance, a chapter of Pa Native Plant Society. The alliance promotes the use of native plants in all landscape settings through collaboration, education, and advocacy.

Keith Williams is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Lancaster Conservancy.

Keith is an environmental educator, naturalist, writer and photographer. He has a BS in Environmental Biology from Kutztown University and MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning from the Lesley University Audubon Expedition Institute. Keith was the founding Director of Education and is the past Executive Director of the NorthBay Education Foundation, one of the largest outdoor education programs in the US. He has served on the National Social Emotional Learning in Environmental Education Working Group, was appointed to the Maryland Governors Environmental Literacy Committee, and served on the Board of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education for 12 years.

About Registration Options

The Conservancy does not want financial barriers to keep our community from being able to expand their knowledge about native plants and ecological gardening. People registering for the class can choose between three ticket options, “Reduced Cost”, “At Cost”, and “Pay It Forward” (which helps cover the cost of those looking to attend the program at the “Reduced Cost”). If the “Reduced Cost” ticket rate still presents a barrier to attending these classes or completing the certificate program, please reach out to Keith Williams at KWilliams@lancasterconservancy.org to discuss options.

About this Class

Note, you must have taken the prerequisite “Habitat Advocates: Building Biodiversity in our Community” prior to taking this course. This prerequisite is offered monthly as part of the Habitat Advocate Class Series. Learn more about Habitat Advocate Classes and Certification.

Attendees ages 16 and over are invited but must be accompanied by an adult if younger than 18.

This class will be held rain or shine, with cancellations for severe inclement weather being made onsite.

This project was made possible by the Lancaster Clean Water Partners and the Lancaster County Community Foundation through the Lancaster Clean Water Fund.

Photo: Elyse Jurgen