Sarah

WETA Hometown Hero June 2006. Sarah is a volunteer for Bull Run Mountains Conservancy (BRMC) and a student in the Prince William County public school system

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Sarah, a volunteer for Bull Run Mountains Conservancy (BRMC) and a student in the Prince William County public school system, is the focus of a month-long WETA Hometown Heroes profile airing in June.

WETA selected Sarah for the critical role she plays in preserving the Bull Run mountain range through her volunteer work at the BRMC.

At the age of 13, Sarah, a young fundraiser and entrepreneur, approached BRMC. She and her younger sister Rachel ran Naturally Good, a small business in which they made baked goods and sold them at the Archwood Barns Farmers Market in The Plains, Virginia.

Each year, the young women donated their profits to a charity. In 2003 they chose the Conservancy and raised $500 for the organization. In the fall, Sarah began volunteering at BRMC. Since then, Sarah has initiated partnerships with schools; volunteered at the BRMC’s Halloween Safari and summer camp; and helped raise awareness of the organization’s programs in the community.

“Sarah exhibits all of the traits one hopes for from a volunteer,” said Michael Kieffer, executive director of BRMC. “She is passionate about protecting the environment, reliable, self-motivated, and willing to do the most menial task with a smile.”

Located in Broad Run, Virginia, BRMC protects the Bull Run Mountains through education, research and stewardship. The organization manages access to 800 acres of the Bull Run Mountains State Natural Area Preserve. Educational outreach includes programs and field trips on environmental, historical and cultural topics. Research is another key component of the Conservancy’s mission. It closely records observations of plant and animal life, from the quality of stream water to rattlesnake populations.

Volunteers such as Sarah help the organization run programs year round, as well as start new ones. Sarah initiated a partnership between BRMC and Wakefield Middle School that resulted in a bat house workshop and a year-round, on-campus nature camp, among other programs. Currently, Sarah and a fellow student Lyndsay Gay are analyzing the impact golf courses and development have on a perennial stream.

Sarah has also continued to help fund BRMC programs. She recently competed with volunteers around the country for a Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) Stewards for the Environment Award. She was one of six winners to receive an award that included a $20,000 donation from REI to the Conservancy.

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