About Us

History & Milestones of Manchester Parks Foundation

Manchester Parks Foundation, located in Manchester, Maryland was founded in 1995 to protect and preserve the natural resources of Pine Valley Park and its surrounding area. The Foundation's most precious initiative, Charlotte's Quest Nature Center, is named in honor of Charlotte Collett, a local environmentalist known for her dedication to conservation and education.

Initially established as a non-profit organization, Charlotte's Quest Nature Center focused on activities aimed at safeguarding water quality, conserving woodlands, wetlands and grasslands, and sustaining local wildlife habitats. The organization also aimed to provide opportunities for environmental education to the community.

Over the years, Charlotte's Quest Nature Center (or CQ) has become a hub for environmental education and outdoor recreation in the Manchester area. CQ offers a wide range of programs and activities designed to engage visitors of all ages with the natural world. These programs include guided nature hikes, wildlife observation, educational workshops and community events.

One of the key milestones of CQ's evolution was constructing the nature center building on land initially purchased by the Town of Manchester's Water Department. This building serves as a hub for educational activities and community engagement.

The nature center's success can be attributed to the dedication and hard work of its Board members, staff and volunteers. The Board, comprised of individuals from local schools, the community, and the Town Council plays a crucial role in guiding the organization and ensuring it stays aligned with its mission and goals.

Furthermore, the nature center's engagement with the broader community has been instrumental in its growth and impact. By establishing strong partnerships with local agencies, organizations and contributors Charlotte's Quest Nature Center has been able to expand its reach and offer a diverse range of programs and resources.

Today, CQ is a testament to the power of community driven environmental initiatives. Through its educational programs, conservation efforts and community engagement, CQ continues to inspire and educate individuals about the importance of environmental stewardship and the beauty of the natural world.

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Meet the Board

Randy Miller- Chair of the Board

Started regularly volunteering in July 2020. Serving on the Board since January 2021. Also serves on the Stewardship, Citizen Science, and Volunteer Committees. He has a background in Art, Music, animal rescue, civil rights advocacy, general interest in science/ nature. And more interests include community outreach, animal rights, human rights, and astronomy.

While volunteering at CQ he would like to engage in more community involvement and awareness in our Park and Nature Center. In a couple of years, I would like to introduce/ install, and maintain a small teaching apiary at the park to encourage Honey Bee conservation and education.

Korin Watson-Vice Chair

Board Chair- Korin is a nature lover, communications enthusiast, flower farmer-florist, and mom of three. Volunteering has been part of her life since grade school, so when a friend introduced her to CQ in 2017, the stars aligned to create the best possible way for me to put my combination of skills and interests to good use. She is proud to lead the team at Manchester Parks Foundation and loves to see individual skills and talents come together to move our community forward.

Lauren Bumstead-Treasurer

Lauren Bumstead started on the Board of Directors in the Fall of 2020. She served on the Events Committee starting in 2019 which she currently chairs. Lauren is married and the mother of 2 girls who are often seen volunteering with her or tagging along at events. She is also a local REALTOR® and Chair of the Community Outreach Committee at Carroll County REALTORS®. She is passionate about her family, helping people, and finding little ways in everyday life to appreciate nature and minimize waste. Her vision for Charolotte's Quest is to see it grow to it's full potential in the community by continuously finding ways to improve the experience of members and visitors, and to increase membership and fundraising so to protect the future of the park.

Donna Davis-Board Member

Board member since 2001.

Her interests include land stewardship and conservation education.

Her vision for the par is to provide visitors with educational opportunities and a place to see on the ground examples of conservation efforts, land stewardship and sustainable management. A long-term vision is to build a visitor center that is green building certified.

Becky Strong-Board Member

Becky is that typical “tree hugger” who loves to be outside and at times finds better company with the trees, mountains, and wildlife. She is a full-time Speech-Language Pathologist by trade and works with deaf individuals but aspires to learn as much as possible about the natural world, environmental conservation, and supporting sustainable nature education. So, what better way to foster all of this than by becoming a member of the CQ Board of Directors and heading up the Stewardship Committee? All her children attended Manchester Elementary School, which fostered their career choices through their frequent visits to the park. Once they grew up, she decided it was her turn to explore nature and the rest is history! Oh, and by the way, if you see her at the park, she often has her trusty canine companions!

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Vicky Crouthamel-Board Member

Volunteering at CQ since 2019. Local teacher with a background in Art Education. Local Girl Scout Leader since 2017. Master Naturalist, Weed Warrior, Volunteer Committee. Loves connecting with the community through conservation, education, discovery...and digging in the dirt!

See you at the park!

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