Loudoun Wildlife’s Peterson Young Naturalist Program Awards Celebration

Children spend just 4-7 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play compared to more than seven hours in front of screens, according to the National Recreation and Park Association. The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is working to reverse that trend in Loudoun County through its Peterson Young Naturalist Program, and on Sunday, May 31, the community is invited to celebrate the students and teachers leading the way.

The Peterson Young Naturalist Program Awards Celebration will take place from 2-4 p.m. at Cardinal Ridge Elementary School in Centreville, Va. The event is open to the public, with advance registration requested at: loudounwildlife.org/event/peterson-young-nat-awards/.

Loudoun Wildlife’s Peterson Young Naturalist Program is a partnership with Loudoun County Public Schools that trains K-12 educators to incorporate nature-based learning and nature journaling into their classroom curriculum.

Peterson lessons are aligned with state Standards of Learning and help students learn science, math, English, and other skills through outdoor-based lessons and activities. Throughout the year, students also document their observations and reflections in personal nature journals. Standout journals are selected for recognition across grade levels, and those winners (and their teachers) will be honored at the Peterson Awards Celebration.

“This program is about helping students connect to the natural world beyond their screens,” said Tom Kercheval, executive director of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. “When we can get students outside, they slow down, focus, and truly observe; it changes how they think, how they learn, and how they see their role in the world around them.”

Developed by former Loudoun County teacher Miriam Westervelt, the program is named for Westervelt’s stepfather, renowned ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson. Peterson’s groundbreaking “field mark” system revolutionized how people identify birds and engage with nature.

“Our awards event is such a feel-good celebration of K-12 students and teachers using Loudoun County school grounds to learn about nature,” Westervelt said. “Having equipped them in our trainings to reap the benefits of learning outdoors, we are excited to give them the opportunity to share their success. Everyone who loves nature and children is invited and will be happy they came!”

This year marks the first time the awards have been celebrated as a standalone event, reflecting the program’s rapid growth and impact. Since its launch in 2010, the Peterson Young Naturalist Program has expanded significantly, including the hiring last year of Tracey Baroody, Loudoun Wildlife’s first-ever director of education, a position made possible through county grant funding. This year alone, the program has reached nearly 10,000 Loudoun County students, including participants from 13 Title I schools.

“The Peterson Program nurtures a child’s inherent love of nature and creates social and emotional benefits that last a lifetime,” said Baroody. “For example, our teachers are often happily surprised that their most reticent writers become the most prolific!”

The May 31 celebration will feature a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, beginning with a half-hour social time where attendees can explore student nature journals and interactive demonstrations from some of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s community science programs. The event will also include a keynote presentation by Dr. Mojisola Adejumo, principal of Cardinal Ridge Elementary School. Cardinal Ridge is the first school in Loudoun County to fully integrate the Peterson Program across all grade levels.

Additional highlights include a live presentation from NOVA Parks Roving Naturalist Matt Felperin, who will introduce attendees to a variety of wildlife ambassadors, including Smoke the Screech Owl, a local favorite.

Students recognized at the event will receive cash awards, while their teachers will be provided with classroom supplies to support continued nature-based learning.

As screen time continues to dominate daily life, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy hopes the Peterson Young Naturalist Program—and celebrations like this one—will inspire more families, schools, and communities to embrace the program’s guiding message: More Green, Less Screen.

The community is invited to attend to celebrate and encourage the achievements of Loudoun County’s young naturalists and their instructors. Registration is requested at: loudounwildlife.org/event/peterson-young-nat-awards/.

Learn more about the Peterson Young Naturalist Program at loudounwildlifelearning.org.