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N° 141 — March 15, 2023

Enjoy regular updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and our award-winning Washington Youth Garden.

FONA Volunteer Guide

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.

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.

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 >

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 >

Photo by Kelsey Cochran

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 >

Photo by Matthew Rakola

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 >

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 >

Arboretum Activities

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 >

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 >

Become a 5K Sponsor

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 >

Upcoming Events

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 >

Volunteer Open House

April 8, 9 AM - 12:30 PM

In Washington Youth Garden


Garden Fair & Plant Sale

April 29, 9 AM - 4 PM

Plants, vendors, & activities

Details & Registration >


Music in the Meadow

May 13, 6:30 PM - 9 PM

Evening concert in the meadow

Details & Registration >


Springhouse Run Volunteer Days

Various dates and times

Keep the restored stream healthy

Upcoming Dates & Registration >

The Arboretum is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM except December 25th.

Check Our Website for Full Details >

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Friends of the National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.544.8733
FONA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization with the mission to preserve and enhance a vibrant public space and support experiential programming that instills a love of plants, nature and the outdoors in all who visit, while promoting the overarching research and education mission of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Since its inception, FONA has helped support the Washington Youth Garden, Capitol Columns, Flowering Tree Walk, horticultural and research internships, restoration of Springhouse Run, and much more.

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