Ms. Liz McDowell

Environmental and Interpretive Specialist, Elk Ridge NatureWorks, LLC

Liz McDowell was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by steel and concrete. She found "green space" at the neighborhood parks and through reading National Geographic magazines. She moved to the mountains of west Maryland to earn a MS in wildlife management at UMD's Appalachian Environmental Lab at Frostburg State University. She has worked as a naturalist and field biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, as an environmental specialist for the Maryland Department of Environment National Wetlands Program, and as a high school science instructor. She finally figured "what she wanted to do when she grew up." She and her husband, Ron Boyer, started their own nature company in 2002. They share nature with others through their interpretive programs, and encourage the creation of backyard habitats using native wildflowers and habitat boxes for various species.