A chat with Mike and Laura Jackson

This afternoon, while we were sitting at the table, we saw a bear sitting behind our fence in the shade. It was sniffing the sweet smells of sunflower seeds and fresh suet,” Laura said. “Once we discovered that bears are active in the area, we started bringing in the bird feeders at night. It’s illegal to feed bears, so we can’t put out bird feeders if bears are regularly visiting. We leave out oranges for orioles and chipmunks. When the orioles return from their diet in Central America in the spring, they enjoy the orange halves in our backyard.”

Haley: Our biology class visited Mike and Laura Jackson’s Black Valley Property in high school. It was like a candy lover visiting Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory! I relished the sense of adventure as I explored the mysteries of the natural world, immersing myself in the flourishing and untouched habitats of native plants, animals, and wildlife in our region.

Fifteen years later, visiting their property elicited the same emotion. Mike and Laura Jackson have become well-known figures in the field of Science Education in Bedford County. Mike initiated the Envirothon program at the Everett Area School District, while Laura did the same at the Bedford Area School District. This exciting academic competition challenges high school students to think critically about the natural world and how they can positively impact it. Combining classroom learning with hands-on outdoor experiences allows students to delve deeply into aquatic ecology, forestry, soil and land use, wildlife, and current environmental issues.

Q: What groups are you involved in?

Laura: “We founded the Bedford County Bird and Nature Club with Janet Shaffer in 1989. We conducted many bird surveys for the Pennsylvania Atlas Program to determine the distribution of breeding birds in Pennsylvania. We meet monthly from September through June and sponsor the Christmas Bird Count each December. This data represents Bedford County in the Audobon Society. Mike, a former member of the Keystone Reptile Association, holds a venomous snake permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This permit allows him to handle snakes and report his observations annually to the commission. He also volunteers with CoCoRaHS, Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network, a non-profit, community-based network of volunteers to measure and map precipitation.”

Q: Where did you grow up, and what brought you to the Southern Alleghenies?

Mike Jackson grew up on a 50-acre farm in Danville, PA, and studied Elementry Education at Shippensburg University.

Haley: Laura grew up in Everett on her 600-acre dairy farm with five sisters and one brother. “It was wonderful; I loved growing up on a farm,” Laura said. “Mike and I are both farming kids.” Laura attended Juniata College, earning a bachelor’s in Biology and a master’s in Science Education from the University of Georgia. She taught in Georgia and came home to Pennsylvania over Christmas in 1980. While there, she read about a travel study program in the Pennsylvania Game News Magazine. The program involved a six-week camping trip. She signed up for courses in photography and ornithology (the study of birds), which happened to be the same courses that Mike signed up for.

They hit it off, and in 1981 they got married. Mike and Laura celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary in July. After 12 years in York, PA, the Jacksons took a six-month sabbatical and camped around the United States, eventually settling in Everett. Laura’s family offered her acreage on the family farm, and they chose her favorite parcel that borders state game lands and a forest. The inherited property has been in and out of the family since 1811. Mike retired from the Everett Area School District after teaching fifth grade for 16 years. Laura retired as the advanced biology and environmental science teacher at the Bedford Area School District.

Q: Where is your favorite place to spend time outdoors locally?

A: Laura: “Our property! We have a conservation easement, meaning we still own the property but have donated the development rights. As a child, I loved exploring our lakes and creeks and chose the lot because of the mountain fields and woods.”

Haley: Their property includes five shallow ponds known as vernal pools and a small wildlife pond. They have also created a 27-acre area for young forest, a smaller section of evergreen trees providing thermal cover for wildlife in winter, 3 acres of wildflower meadows, and have planted numerous native trees and shrubs. Additionally, they have constructed trails and conducted significant work to manage invasive species.

Q: What micro adventure would you recommend locally?

A: “The Allegheny Front Hawk Watch, maintained by the Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society. The Hawk Watch is famous for golden eagles that fly by in the fall and spring. It is located on the western edge of Bedford County. We suggest visiting during migration season (February- March & August- December). Volunteers are on-site as official counters and submit daily data to the Hawk Migration of North America.”

Q: What prep should one consider if it is their first visit?

A: “Check the weather forecast—it is always cold and windy in the fall and spring. Dress appropriately. Take along a comfortable chair and something warm to drink. There are picnic tables and a Jiffy John. You do not have to know any birds; they have volunteers available if you ask, and they will identify them.’

Q: What item do you always have on hand before you head outdoors?

Mike: “ I always have my cellphone, the camera is so good nowadays. Laura always has her binoculars and cellphone to use the iNaturalist app.”

Haley: The iNaturalist app is a fantastic tool for identifying local plants and animals while contributing to science and conservation efforts. The app aims to create a “living record of life on Earth” accessible to everyone. The Jacksons have logged over a thousand entries. Their notebooks once meticulously kept, still line their home’s entryway as a testament to their dedication to wildlife observation.

The Bedford County Bird and Nature Club has a Facebook group. The Allegheny Front Watch borders Bedford and Somerset counties, and you can find more information on its website: https://www.alleghenyplateauaudubon.org. Pennsylvania Game News Magazine is a monthly publication focusing on hunting and wildlife in Pennsylvania.

Hikes with Haley, hosted by Bedford native and entrepreneur Haley Feaster, are monthly conversations featuring local voices to highlight the outdoor gems in Bedford, Pennsylvania (PA) and the greater surrounding region of the Southern Alleghenies. For trail recommendations and more guides, check out @hikeswithhaley on Instagram.