Field Trips

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The West Virginia Democratic Youth Leadership Academy will be held this year on the campus of Fairmont University, Fairmont, W.Va., the week of July 26-30. The academy is for West Virginia high school students who are interested in civic responsibility, politics and government. Attendees can participate in such activities as mock elections, field trips to the capital and workshops with the goal of becoming more involved in their communities when they return home.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is accepting applications for its 2013 "Birding 101" course for beginning birders. The course will focus on bird species found in the Eastern Panhandle area. The classroom sessions will start Thursday, April 4, and continue April 11, 18 and 25. All of these sessions will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Conservation Training Center north of Shepherdstown. The field trips will be at various locations around the Panhandle on Saturdays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, from roughly 7 a.m. to noon.

An Autism Resource Fair will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Potomac Center, Activity Room, 1370 Marshall St., Hagerstown. There will be vendor displays, demonstrations, door prizes and games for children. Students who have Autism Spectrum Disorder will describe their experiences in the classroom and society. Crafts made by students in the Autism classes will be for sale. Light snacks, water and fruit will be available. Bring coins for children to play the games.

scottb@herald-mail.com A South Hagerstown High School teacher with a class that plays an adapted version of Monopoly using accounting software to track transactions is being honored by the Maryland Bankers Association. This is the fourth year that Sharon Hogan has been the lead instructor and coordinator of the Washington County Board of Education's Academy of Finance program at South Hagerstown High School. About 20 students are in the academy. The 120-member Maryland Bankers Association has named Hogan its Financial Teacher of the Year.

Program teams honor students, special needs students By TARA REILLY tarar@herald-mail.com A group of friends sit together in the Rebel Cafe at South Hagerstown High School, coloring signs for a weekend fund-raiser. Several times a school year, the 20 special needs and honor students can also be found together, sometimes working on projects or pairing up for day trips to museums, zoos and plays. The students say they're learning from each other and enjoy spending time together.

High school students with an interest in natural resources are encouraged to apply now for the July 20-26 Natural Resources Careers Conference at the Hickory Environmental Center in Garrett County. The Washington County Forestry Board encourages any local high school student with an interest in natural resources to apply. Each county is able to sponsor as many as two students with a scholarship to attend the conference at no cost. Student spaces are limited, and the deadline for applications is near.

High school students with an interest in natural resources are encouraged to apply now for the July 20-26 Natural Resources Careers Conference at the Hickory Environmental Center in Garrett County. The Washington County Forestry Board encourages any local high school student with an interest in natural resources to apply. Each county is able to sponsor as many as two students with a scholarship to attend the conference at no cost. Student spaces are limited, and the deadline for applications is near.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Two Martinsburg City Police officers got the blessing of the Martinsburg City Council to start a new Police Explorer Post through the department. Patrolmen Erick Heavener and Dave Stevens told the council Thursday night that they were in the early stages of starting an Explorer Post for young people with an interest in law enforcement. They said they wanted to get the council's permission and pledge of support. The Explorer Post program is an upper-level program within the Boy Scouts of America for both sexes ages 14 to 20. Between 95 and 100 local young people have expressed interest in participating, they said.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is offering a new Master Birder program. The program is intended for experienced birders who want to take their knowledge and skills to a higher level. Instruction will be provided through workshops that include both classroom time and field experiences, with the emphasis on the latter. Each workshop will focus on a specific group of birds or a topic that cuts across groups, such as bird song. Applicants must be graduates of PVAS's "Birding 101" course or have commensurate experience (3 or more years of birding)

Name of business: Pump It Up, The Inflatable Party Zone Owners: Kim and Kevin Cunha Address: 10310 Governor Land Blvd., Suite 6015, Williamsport MD 21795 Opening date: April 2009 Products and services: Private parties for children ages 2 to 17 years old; field trips; team parties; and youth group outings. Parties are two hours in length and include 90 minutes in the inflatables play area and 30 minutes in the party room for food and cake. Inflatables area includes four oversized inflatables, two slide/obstacle course combinations and a moonbounce.