N° 141 — March 15, 2023
Enjoy regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.
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There are many ways to volunteer with FONA throughout the year and support our work at the National Arboretum. There's something for everyone, from gardening, to event support, to environmental restoration!
Sign up to learn more about the specific opportunities below. Or visit our Volunteer Open House on Saturday, April 8th from 9 AM to 12:30 PM in Washington Youth Garden.
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GARDEN VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering at FONA’s Washington Youth Garden might be the perfect fit for you if you want to spend time outside, get your hands dirty, and connect with nature! Volunteers provide crucial help with gardening tasks such as weeding, planting, mulching, and more. There are opportunities for individuals, groups, and youth volunteers, and no prior gardening experience is required.
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INDIVIDUALS
Join regularly-scheduled volunteer hours in the garden on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from April through mid-November. We welcome any and all volunteers, but greatly appreciate volunteers who can regularly commit to helping throughout the growing season.
Individual Volunteer Interest Form >
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GROUPS
We work with groups (10-30 people) to plan private volunteer days on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from April through mid-November. We can plan multiple volunteer days if needed for larger groups.
Group Volunteer Interest Form >
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YOUTH
Looking to complete community service hours for school? Join us for monthly Youth Volunteer Days, starting this spring on April 15th and May 20th. All participants younger than 18 must have a parent or guardian complete the permission slip in the sign-up form. Any volunteers under the age of 14 must attend with a parent or guardian.
Youth Volunteer Sign-Up & Permission Form >
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EVENT VOLUNTEERING
Help at FONA's public events throughout the year. Spend a day enjoying plants and people by volunteering at our annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale, or help with other seasonal festivals, concerts, 5K races, and more. No experience is required. We value any help you can provide, whether you volunteer for one or multiple events.
Event Volunteer Interest Form >
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SPRINGHOUSE RUN VOLUNTEERING
Help keep the restored Springhouse Run stream healthy by pulling invasive vines and weeds or planting along the bank. No experience needed! We will provide supplies and guidance. See the Eventbrite calendar for upcoming dates and times.
Springhouse Run Calendar & Registration >
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Don’t miss your chance to learn about flowering cherry trees and native plants from the experts! Sign up for the National Arboretum’s upcoming spring programs:
Connecting Cultures: Japanese Flowering Cherries in America
Saturday, March 18 | 1 PM - 4:30 PM
Join the National Arboretum for a half-day program all about Japanese cherry trees. Registration is required and costs $20 ($16 for FONA members).
Details & Registration >
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36th Annual Lahr Native Plants Symposium
Saturday, March 25 | 8:15 AM - 2 PM
Learn from native plant professionals about efforts to reestablish beautiful and unusual habitats and how we can successfully manage and design our cultivated landscapes. Registration is required and costs $100 ($80 for FONA members). When registering for the Symposium, please select which concurrent session you would like to attend.
Details & Registration >
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Businesses can now sponsor one or both of FONA's 2023 5K races. In 2022, over 1,000 people registered for our Summer and Fall 5K races. Put your business and brand in front of race participants while supporting FONA's work!
There are three sponsorship levels available with varying benefits:
- Entry — $500
- Basic — $3,000
- Premium — $5,000
See Sponsorship Package Information >
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Connecting Cultures: Japanese Flowering Cherries in America
March 18, 1 PM - 4:30 PM
Cherry tree symposium hosted by the National Arboretum
Details & Registration >
36th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium
March 25, 9:30 AM - 3:45 PM
Native plant symposium hosted by the National Arboretum
Details & Registration >
Native Plant Sale
March 25, 8:15 AM - 2 PM
Local native plant vendors
Details & Registration >
Spring into School Gardening
March 25, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Free resources for educators in WYG
Details & Registration >
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