Youth Conservation Club
Junior Naturalist Club
Inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards ready with the knowledge and passion to protect our changing world.
Become a Junior Naturalist
Are you a 7th – 12th grader interested in nature, science, and giving back to the community? Read more about how you can venture outdoors with other kids, meet scientists and conservationists, participate in community science, and give back to our natural world.
Who?
Pickering Creek’s Junior Naturalist Club is for 7th-12th graders who have an interest in nature and the outdoors, gaining a deeper understanding about our environment, meeting science and environmental professionals and a desire to become leaders.
What?
Junior Naturalists stay connected to nature throughout the year, and meet 1-2 times a month after school during the school year for professionally-led expeditions at Pickering Creek. Junior Naturalists learn and practice outdoor skills like wildlife tracking, plant identification, nature observation, canoeing, fire-building and more. The teen program includes occasional off-site field trips and service-learning opportunities.
In the summer months, Junior Naturalists become a key part of our Summer EcoCamp program as student leaders, practicing skills in leadership, mentoring, and problem-solving – all while mentoring and playing with younger children while also earning service-learning hours!
SIGN UP TODAY!
Junior Naturalists commit to:
Attending
3-10 after school/weekend club programs during the school year (See 2025-26 schedule below)
Volunteering
for at least one Pickering Creek volunteer event during the school year (families are encouraged to join in)
Serving*
as a Junior Camp Counselor for 1-3 weeks during summer (including 2 required training dates on May 26 and June 15)
* NOTE: To serve as a Junior Naturalist at EcoCamp, you must be entering 8th grade the following Sept, after having attended at least 3 JN meetings and 1 volunteer event. This means, that JNs are eligible to join the JN program as 7th graders, but will not serve at EcoCamp until they have completed 7th grade.
See Schedule Below
ATTEND After-School/Weekend Programs (attend 3 or more)
Friday, September 26, 7:30- 10:30PM Welcome new members/Welcome back! + black light night hike *Bring a new friend to try it out!*
CALL 410-822-4903 to register for this introductory evening program.
Tuesday, October 14, 4:00 – 7:00PM Fall foliage canoeing on Pickering Creek
Saturday, October 18, 7:00AM – 3:00PM Weekend field trip to Calvert Cliffs State Park (PAYMENT LINK)
Tuesday, November 18, 4:00 – 7:00PM Orienteering and navigation
Tuesday, December 9, 4:00 – 7:00PM Fire-building and outdoor cooking *Bring a new friend to try it out!*
Tuesday, February 3, 4:00- 6:00PM Tracking wildlife in winter
Saturday, February 7, 10:00AM-7:00PM Weekend field trip to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (PAYMENT LINK)
Friday, March 6, 6:00 – 8:00PM Nocturnal vernal pooling *Bring a new friend to try it out!*
Saturday, April 18, 8:00-10:00AM Spring migration hike
Tuesday, May 5, 4:00- 7:00PM Diurnal wetlands exploration
VOLUNTEER Programs (participate in at least 1)
Saturday, September 20, 9:30AM-11:30AM
Saturday, October, 18, 9:30AM-11:30AM
Saturday, November 15, 9:30AM-11:30AM
**Additional opportunities to volunteer for Schools’ Out Camp Day programs at Pickering Creek and “Meet the Reptiles” programs at the Talbot County Free Library will be announced in September
**Winter and spring 2026 volunteer opportunities will be announced in January
SERVE as a Junior Camp Counselor (attend 2 trainings)
Attend two required training dates: Tuesday, May 26, 4:00PM-8:00PM (dinner included) + Sunday, June 14, 10:00AM-4:00PM
*Date will move to Saturday, June 13 pending predicted weather.
Sign up for 1-3 weeks of EcoCamp. Sign ups will open in April. Camp weeks are between June 15 and Aug 7.
Save the date for the end of summer celebration, Wednesday, August 12, 2026!4
Why Become a Junior Naturalist?
It’s a good Resume Builder – for your part-time jobs and college application
Earn Service Learning Hours – collect hours for high school graduation and scholarships
Gain Leadership Skills – become a leader by gaining confidence through public speaking
Learn more about possible careers – learn about STEM careers & opportunities
Meet people with similar interests in nature and the outdoors
and
It’s Fun!! – spend time doing outdoor activities you like, and learn new ones
How to apply:
Fill in the Junior Naturalist Application
SHARE THIS FLIER with your friends and family in case they want to join you!
Print out, sign, and email the Release of Liability & Use of Image to Jessica at jelliott@pickeringcreek.org
After we have received your completed application and liability form, we will email with the schedule of upcoming programs and registration links for programs.
QUESTIONS? Contact Jessica Elliott at jelliott@pickeringcreek.org