Did you know that cleaning your kayak after a jaunt on the water helps protect the environment? Or that removing an invasive shrub like burning bush from your yard and replacing it with a native species can attract birds to your landscape? These are just some things you’ll learn from Amy Jewitt, WPC’s Pennsylvania iMapInvasives program coordinator.

Since 2013, Amy has worked with WPC in the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, inviting people to recognize invasive species such as hydrilla, lesser celandine and round goby, and to care about how these and other invaders negatively affect our ecosystems.

As administrator of the PA iMapInvasives Program and as a WPC representative on the Pennsylvania Governor’s Invasive Species Council, Amy has made it her mission to help people understand invasive species in a relatable way.

Although most people understand the impact of media-popular invasive species (such as spotted lanternfly), Amy says, “many do not have a sense of the breadth of invasive species present in Pennsylvania (estimated at 400+) and how they impact our daily life. “My deep desire,” she continues, “is for the issue of invasive species to be more relatable to people so they can see and ‘feel’ it in a way that compels them to be part of the solution.”

Her arsenal includes newsletters, ArcGIS StoryMaps, documentaries and an annual invasive species scavenger hunt where people can upload information to iMapInvasives …all projects that engage, educate and excite people to take action.

“When my colleague Mary Walsh and I worked with Great Lakes Media & Film on the award-winning film ‘Seeing The Unseen: Aquatic Invaders & What’s at Stake,’ we limited the featured people, places and topics so the overall message was not diluted. We gave viewers hand-picked messages and specific invasive species to remember.”

Growing up as a farmer’s daughter created in Amy a deep love of the land, which compliments her work of protecting Pennsylvania’s natural heritage. She earned a Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Science from Penn State University with minors in Horticulture, International Agriculture and Leadership Development. Now a parent herself, Amy strives to take her three young daughters outside often.

Adorning Amy’s desk is a quote from Maya Angelou that illustrates her passion for helping people make emotional connections to their environment: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Amy was a guest on the PEC’s Pennsylvania Legacies podcast in February 2025. Listen in!

Donal Donavan, a member of our Emerging Leaders Advisory Committee, is a mental health advocate, fitness professional and community leader. We asked them about how environmental conservation connects to mental health, how lived experience informs leadership, and what conversations they want to see more of at the intersection of wellness and equity.

What role does outdoor and environmental conservation play in overall well-being? How do you see it connecting to the work you do in mental health and fitness?

Environmental issues must be recognized as a stress that impacts our mental health in addition to our physical bodies. Living in Pittsburgh has its challenges but having WPC protecting our lands, waterways and creating green spaces is crucial for mental health. I enjoy sharing the activities, events and trails with my clients so they can engage in an active way with the Conservancy.

Knowing that we have such an amazing organization that cares for our environment gives me such peace at mind. WPC connects to communities, uplifting and educating people on the work they do while offering incredible volunteer opportunities.

What conversations do you wish were happening more often at the intersection of mental health, fitness, and environmental equity?

Access is sometimes only for certain groups or people. We need to talk about the injustices and provide access from that point. Wellness is a right and not a privilege. Unfortunately, people who have access to wellness also often have a higher income, more time and the resources to experience these services.

I am currently in school for a Master’s in Public Health from Yale University and these topics are what I would like to study. The U.S. has a shorter lifespan yet spends the most on health care compared to other countries. We need to prioritize health and wellness, including our environmental impact within our world.

With the exception of those who work outdoors for a living, few people would name “humidity” as the number one challenge in their profession. But as collections manager and archivist at Fallingwater since October 2023, Hannah Ciocco confronts the problem constantly. “With no air conditioning or humidity regulation at Fallingwater,” she says, “it is a constant challenge to eliminate the agents of deterioration.”

It’s a rather specific concern, but one she must take seriously to maintain the collection’s quality. In addition to routinely assessing temperature, relative humidity and light levels and the condition of collection items, just a few of Hannah’s extensive responsibilities include recommending and implementing collections and archives policies and procedures, cataloguing material, overseeing object movement, supervising housekeeping and much, much more. (Hannah discusses her job in this clip from our webinar, “Five Women Discuss Careers in Conservation and Preservation.)

The objects and art she protects aren’t just pretty things on a shelf. Fallingwater is a “connection to and representation of the Kaufmann family,” Hannah explains. “Decorated with objects from around the world, countless textiles, and a variety of art that was hand-selected by all of the members of the Kaufmann family, the collection offers a real glimpse into the taste and interests of Liliane, Edgar Sr. and Edgar jr.” The objects, in essence, help to tell the story of Fallingwater.

An avid reader who loves to travel, Hannah earned a Master’s of Museum Studies with a certificate in Digital Curation at Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of History with minors in Art History and Religious Studies at Elizabethtown College. For someone considering a career in collections or archival work, she offers this advice: “Get as much hands-on experience as possible! Volunteer, intern, etc.!”

Preserving the collection and archive so future generations may be educated and inspired motivates Hannah. No item is too insignificant for her attention, and she approaches the care of each piece with a simple philosophy: “Treat every item as of equal value and importance.”

French Creek and its diversity of wildlife hold a special place in the hearts of a couple that now lives six hours away from this northwestern Pennsylvania waterway. On a trip “home” years ago, Conservancy members Joyce and Larry DeYoung found an abundance of softshell turtles in French Creek, once a rare sighting. They attribute the species’ resurgence to WPC’s conservation of this part of the region.

An Erie County native, Joyce spent her childhood frequenting Presque Isle’s beaches, lagoons and hiking trails and enjoyed visiting relatives in Warren County, where she explored the hills and streams.

Now residents of Chester County in Eastern Pennsylvania, the DeYoungs still enjoy hiking and being outdoors. Conservancy members since 1985, they love that WPC conserves and protects land and water in the region Joyce calls home, and are delighted to join the Conservancy in protecting the region’s magnificent landscape.

Joyce and Larry are proud members of the Conservancy’s Heritage Circle planned giving society by remembering WPC in their will. Their commitment to protecting Western Pennsylvania’s spectacular natural places in their estate ensure that future generations will experience nature, just as Joyce did as a child.

As members of the Conservancy for nearly 40 years, Leslie and Walt Krater truly understand every person’s important role in caring for the natural environment. For nearly 25 years, the active couple has enjoyed spending time with other WPC volunteers and staff stewarding some of our 45 preserves.

How did you become involved with WPC?

First we were land stewards for Bear Run Nature Reserve, but have volunteered for work days from Crawford County to Bedford County.

How long have you been a volunteer with us and what motivates you to stay involved at WPC?

A trip to Fallingwater at Bear Run Nature Reserve in the 1990s inspired Richard and Marie Ulsh to support the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Their passion for science and education led them to become volunteer land stewards of a 2,600-acre eased property in Cambria County.  Before retiring, Richard, a professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and advisor to the Chemical Society, engaged more than 60 students and community members in stewarding WPC’s Sideling Hill Creek land — the first college group to actively steward a WPC property. For some students, this was their first time in the woods.

Richard and Marie enjoy competitive rowing, scuba diving, flying small aircraft and other activities that our region’s natural areas afford. Because of their involvement as land stewards and the strides WPC has made in conserving Western Pennsylvania’s land and water, Richard and Marie felt it was only natural to build their philanthropic legacy with the Conservancy.

They named WPC the beneficiary of their charitable remainder trust, thereby becoming Heritage Circle members. The Ulshes “trust the Conservancy’s leadership to achieve the greatest impact possible” with their unrestricted support. We’re grateful for the Ulshes’ inclusion of the Conservancy in their future legacy.

Sorors have a tight bond, but not many are as close-knit as the sorority sisters of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Kym Simmons, Helen Bowers, Alyssa Lyon are just some of the many dedicated and passionate volunteers who plant, care for and sponsor the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Community Garden at Frankstown Ave. and Bennett St. in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood. They have been volunteering at and sponsoring this garden, which welcomes pollinators and people alike, since 2015.

Although community service is a requirement of Delta Sigma Theta membership, their work in the community at this garden shows their commitment to nature and making the community a better place.  Started in January 1971, the Pittsburgh alumnae chapter currently has more than 300 members who are dedicated to sisterhood, scholarship, service and social action.

“We feel that it’s our responsibility to enjoy and care for nature right in our own backyards. It’s such a good feeling when we are planting and people in the community wave, honk, and say thanks. We are planting, caring and beautifying this land for them as much as we’re doing it for ourselves, and nature as a whole,” says Helen Bowers, former vice president of the sorority.

The current president of the sorority chapter, Doris Smith, leads the chapter by providing the overall vision for service and sisterhood, and plans to continue their longstanding commitment to beautifying the community via helping this lovely community garden thrive!

The Pittsburgh Chinese Association Youth Center, an organization that provides extracurricular and volunteer activities for Chinese American youth and their parents, discovered the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy during fall 2021.

What are your volunteer activities at WPC?

We participated in two tree planting events as a group of 20-30 people in fall 2021 at the Carnegie Science Center and Station Square.

How did you become involved with WPC?

We were looking for local volunteering opportunities for kids in our organization and found Western Pennsylvania Conservancy on the Internet.

How long have you been a volunteer with us and what motivates you to stay involved at WPC?

We started to volunteer with WPC in fall 2021. We had great experiences volunteering at WPC, so we will continue to participate in tree plantings and will start volunteering in community gardens in 2022.

Tell us about your favorite volunteer experience at WPC.

We gained useful knowledge about trees and gardening skills from volunteering in the tree plantings. We all had a sense of accomplishment after planting many trees, and we look forward to seeing them grow.

What has surprised you most about working with WPC?

We were pleasantly surprised that the volunteer events were so well organized. We received tools and detailed instructions before starting, and the people at WPC were all very helpful.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

We are a youth group in the Pittsburgh area, mostly with Chinese American kids and their parents. Besides volunteering, we organize extracurricular activities for kids, such as talks, games, workshops and shows. To learn more about us please visit our website at pcayouthcenter.org.

As someone who has kept a personal journal for half a century, and often lifts entries to share with his memoir writing group, Rod Cross is no stranger to storytelling.

That skill, combined with his naturally curious nature and love for meeting people from around the globe, enhances his role of educator at Fallingwater, where he has lead visitor tours since 2019. Educators should “Be and stay curious,” Rod says. “Love people, and make sure you love what you do.”

During his workday, which includes providing two one-hour guided tours of the house and a one-and-one-half hour In-Depth Tour in the morning or evening, Rod says he tries to present an “interesting, engaging tour that stimulates questions and discussions about the Kaufmann family, the architect and his concept of Organic Architecture.” He explains, “Every tour is a chance to try to do better, to try to connect with a group whose only common interest that day is to experience Fallingwater.”

Anyone who has presented a PowerPoint at work, taught a lesson in school or given a speech on stage understands that task can be challenging. However, Rod and other Fallingwater educators are creative and have flexibility. “Our tours are not scripted,” he says. “Through training and study, we can present information any way we see fit to make sure that visitors have a positive learning experience.”

A former Boy Scout, Rod keeps an orienteering compass from the days of his youth in his home office. “It reminds me to plot and stay on course, and to keep a moral compass.” As a fly fisher and member of Trout Unlimited who supports the mission of coldwater conservation, he has a philosophical connection to the Kaufmanns, who were avid conservationists who enjoyed fishing at Bear Run.

To Rod, going to work every day at Fallingwater isn’t a grind but a gift. “Motivation,” he says, “is when your dreams put on work clothes.”

Hampton Township municipal manager Ryan Jeroski co-chairs WPC’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Committee. Ryan brings both professional insight and personal passion to his conservation work.

How has your role as municipal manager influenced your perspective on local conservation efforts?

Three things that have influenced me are the impacts of poor stormwater management (especially in light of more severe storms in our region), the effect and response to suburban sprawl, and the value residents place on parks and open space.

Often, the first two topics play directly into one another. One of the most consistent complaints municipal managers in Western Pa. get relates to drainage issues. Often this is the result of development of larger tracts of previously undeveloped land, which naturally had infiltrated and properly filtered water.

We see the effects of runoff on our streams and waterways, filling them to the brim with rushing water that degrades stream banks and causes erosion. Conversely, every manager has seen residents enjoy walking on trails and spending time in public spaces that have been preserved for the community to use.

What drew you to get involved with WPC, and what motivated you to step even further into leadership as a co-chair of the ELAC?

I was drawn to WPC because of the breadth of initiatives. WPC has land preservation, watershed restoration, wildlife monitoring, urban forestry, environmental science/research, and community gardens all under one roof, which is truly amazing.

I took the step into ELAC leadership because I wanted to engage each member of the Committee and ensure their interests were heard and considered. And I’m pretty good at building rapport and pushing projects forward.

What opportunities do municipal leaders have to collaborate with environmental organizations like WPC?

If you are in a borough or other community with a central business district or street trees, working with TreeVitalize is a wonderful chance to add to your urban canopy and beautify your community. All communities can benefit from putting in community gardens to reinforce the sense of place and aid pollinators.

Trish volunteers in the land conservation office in Pittsburgh and has also volunteered in the Fallingwater Museum Store. We couldn’t complete the audits or other record-keeping projects without the help of wonderful volunteers like Trish! She’s a treasured volunteer who has donated countless hours to the Conservancy for many years.

What are your volunteer activities at WPC/Fallingwater?

At the Conservancy, I volunteer with the land conservation staff. I review individual land acquisition and easement files for compliance with regulatory agency requirements. At Fallingwater, I have volunteered in the museum store and as an “Ask Me” guide.

How did you become involved with WPC/Fallingwater?

I was retiring and wanted to become more involved with nonprofits that I had been donating to for many years. I first visited Fallingwater about 40 years ago and became a member at the end of the tour. The mission of WPC and Fallingwater is so important to protect and preserve our natural and architectural wonders. When I retired, a member of WPC’s development staff just happened to contact me and convinced me to get more involved. I have not regretted it!

Humans can be … well, not always kind to nature. We dump garbage in ravines, introduce invasive species that compete with native plants and animals, destroy wildlife habitat to put up shopping centers and pollute our water.

Lucky for nature, Tyson Johnston’s got its back. As WPC’s land stewardship manager in northwest Pennsylvania, he manages 21,000 acres across seven counties. Part of his job involves physically caring for WPC’s preserves and educating the public about minimizing their impact on nature.

“Carefully balancing recreational use and conservation on our preserves requires deliberate planning,” says Tyson, who spends three or four days per week during fair-weather months on a WPC preserve or other protected land. He meets with donors to showcase land and works with contractors to plan restoration projects. Some days he blazes trails and marking boundaries with or without a small team of volunteers, and monitoring conservation easements.

No job is all flowers and sunshine, though. Tyson writes management plans, authors grant proposals, corresponds with users of our preserves, designs maps and signage, and budgets and keeps records for multiple projects.

While earning a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies, Tyson wanted to work for an organization like WPC. “My parents are WPC members, so I grew up seeing Conserve magazine and liked what I saw,” he recalls. “I’ve been fortunate to be a WPC employee since graduating from Slippery Rock University in 2010!”

Nature needs proponents like Tyson, whose patience and positive attitude shine when educating people about how to be kinder to the environment. “By maintaining dedicated access points to preserves, participating in the PA Game Commission’s Deer Management Assistance Program and educating the public about ‘Leave No Trace,’” he says, “we can minimize adverse impacts of overuse and enhance the conservation values of our preserves.”