About Charlotte's Quest

A community-driven space for nature, learning, and connection.

Our Story

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.

Charlotte's Quest Nature Center was created as a place for the community to explore, learn, and connect with the natural world. What began as a vision to preserve and share outdoor space has grown into a community-supported park offering trails, programs, and opportunities for engagement.

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.

Today, Charlotte's Quest continues to evolve through the efforts of volunteers, partners, and supporters who are committed to maintaining and expanding access to nature for all.

Our Impact

Charlotte's Quest serves the community by providing:

Access to outdoor space for exploration and recreation
Educational opportunities for schools, families, and groups
Volunteer and service opportunities that support environmental stewardship
Community events that bring people together in nature

Meet the Board

Korin Watson-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.

Becky Strong-Vice Chair

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. 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!

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 Charlotte'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.

Vicky Crouthamel-Secretary

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!

Jon Moore-Board Member

Board member since 2025.

Sarah Salter-Board Member

Board member since 2026.

Ben Hamilton-Board Member

Board member since 2026.