EVENTS & PROGRAMS
FEATURED EVENTS
4th Fridays Summer Evening Hours
Friday, June 28th: 5 PM – 8 PM
Friday, July 26th: 5 PM – 8 PM
Friday, August 23rd: 5 PM – 8 PM
Enjoy extended evening hours at the National Arboretum this summer! The Arboretum will stay open to the public until 8 PM on the 4th Friday of June, July, and August.
This is free for all to enjoy! No registration is required. These extended hours are made possible by Friends of the National Arboretum and the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.
Community Fishing
Saturday, August 24th: 9 AM – 12 PM
Enjoy a morning fishing along the banks of the Anacostia River at the Arboretum. No experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome. All supplies and fishing instruction are provided for this free event.
This event is co-hosted by FONA and the Anacostia Riverkeeper. Save the date — registration is required and will open soon.
Fall 5K
Sunday, November 10th: 8:30 AM
Enjoy stunning fall colors as you run or walk the course around the National Arboretum. All roads are closed to cars during this race so you can safely enjoy the race. Bring the whole family — strollers and dogs are welcome, and kids under 13 years old race for free! Thanks to Abbott Klar Real Estate Group for sponsoring this event.
For the first time ever, we’re offering free registration for the first 50 veterans who sign up. Thanks to support from the National Environmental Education Foundation for making this possible. PLUS all active and reserve military members, as well as FONA members, all can receive 20% off their race registration. Email info@fona.org for the discount codes.
WASHINGTON YOUTH GARDEN
Washington Youth Garden (WYG) is a one-acre education garden at the National Arboretum and is a destination for garden-based education and nature play. It was originally established in 1971 to teach local elementary students horticulture and life skills.
Today, Washington Youth Garden is a welcoming and inviting place for the DC community to learn and grow together. WYG’s sensory garden, innovative growing techniques, and nature-explore classroom encourage visitors of all ages to engage with agriculture, farming, and environmental education. Thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in WYG each year, all of which are distributed to students and families in the DC community to fight food insecurity.
Visit the Garden
The garden is open to all Arboretum visitors and has parking nearby. Please follow our three garden agreements during your visit:
- Stay on the path
- Pick with permission
- Respect all living things
Garden Events
We host many events open to the public throughout the year, such as School Garden Maintenance mornings, weekend Family Days, and our fall Garlic Planting Party. See our calendar for upcoming events in Washington Youth Garden.
Get Involved
Individual, group, and youth volunteers provide crucial help with gardening tasks such as weeding, planting, mulching, and pest control from April through mid-November. You don’t need prior experience, but you must be willing to make friends with the soil and the bugs! See our garden page to learn more.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
With a focus on serving under-resourced communities, FONA nurtures curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other. Our youth education programs take place at Washington Youth Garden on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum and in partner schools across Washington, DC.
school garden teams from D.C. Title I schools received technical assistance & training
D.C. high school Green Ambassadors honed skills & explored potential career paths
students visited the Washington Youth Garden on a field trip
students served across all Educator Coaching Program partner schools
School Garden Support Program
The School Garden Support Program works with educators across DC to build strong, sustainable school garden programs. Our program empowers teachers to connect students to garden-based education through field trips in Washington Youth Garden, virtual classroom support, and professional development opportunities for DC educators.
Our field trips take place in Washington Youth Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum. Field trips are 90 minutes long and explore the garden and Nature Explore Classroom.
Bring garden science into your classroom or home with our Grow@Home activity kit, Virtual Farm Field Trips, and curated online learning resources.
Our professional development opportunities train teachers and school staff to make garden-based education a part of daily life in schools.
Green Ambassador Program
The Green Ambassador Program (GAP) provides year-round employment and development opportunities for DC high school students. Youth enter the program in the Farm Crew and progress to become Crew Leaders, staff, and alumni.
Participants begin GAP in the Farm Crew, a six-week paid summer internship where they learn hands-on skills such as gardening, cooking, and carpentry as well as interpersonal skills like communication and collaboration.
After participating in the Farm Crew, Green Ambassador alumni are invited to mentor incoming Farm Crew participants, deepen their knowledge through garden internships, and broaden connections through an alumni network.
RECREATION PROGRAMS & PUBLIC EVENTS
We host recreation programs and public events that encourage a connection to nature, science, health, and wellness. Check out our calendar below to see what’s available.
Forest Bathing
Connect with nature while exploring the grounds. During this two-hour program, our certified nature and forest therapy guide will invite you to reflect on the world around you and guide you through focused meditations. See calendar below for dates and times, or buy a forest bathing gift card for someone else.
Photography Workshops
Hone your nighttime photography skills by learning through sunset and sunrise photo workshops at the National Arboretum. Learn from the experts and register for a class with Capital Photography Center.
Fitness Activities
Stay active at the Arboretum through summer yoga classes and the spring Flowering 5K and Fall 5K running races.
Interested in becoming a 5K sponsor? Check out our race sponsorship package to learn more!
Garden Fair & Plant Sale
The spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale takes place every year on the last weekend of April. Shop from thousands of plants and over 25 local gardening, lifestyle, and food vendors. You can also get advice from our expert gardeners and enjoy free family activities.
Fall Festival & Bulb Sale
The annual Fall Festival & Bulb Sale takes place in late September or early October. Visitors can stock up garden bulbs, shop at local vendors, and have fun with the family through free nature-based activities.
Winter Festival & Christmas Tree Sale
Join us for the annual Winter Festival & Christmas Tree Sale in early December. Visitors can buy Christmas trees and other holiday greenery, shop from over 25 local vendors, and enjoy free family activities.
DINNER UNDER THE STARS
Join us Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM for our 28th annual Dinner Under the Stars. Enjoy cocktails in the National Herb Garden and a tented dinner in view of the Capitol Columns. Spend a wonderful fall evening with colleagues, business leaders, and government representatives. The Dinner is a fantastic way to mix and mingle — senior staff and officials from Capitol Hill and the Administration will be invited, however attendance cannot be guaranteed.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
In our Digging In virtual event series, we host experts to discuss exciting topics pertaining to the National Arboretum’s mission. As a FONA member, you can attend the events live and dig in with the experts.
‘Ironing’ Out Phosphorus — Helping Nursery Plants Hold Their P
Delayed Value of Plant Introductions
Bald Eagles and the Anacostia Watershed
Connecting through Cocoa & Coffee
Understanding Organic Lawn Care
Want to watch “Digging In” live?
CALENDAR
July
August
September
October
November
December
Use the filter function (above) marked with this icon to narrow down the list of events. Items in black do not have links yet.