Friends of the National Arboretum

Washington Youth Garden: The Washington Youth Garden serves as the hub for FONAs youth and school outreach programs, targeting Title 1 schools in Wards 5, 7, and 8 of Washington, DC. The mission of our youth programs is to nurture curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other. The WYG uniquely combines efficient food production, produce distribution, a welcoming visitor experience focused on children, youth education programs, teacher professional development, and support for school gardens at Title 1 schools. We intentionally orient our education programs and produce distribution to Black, low-income children and youth because of the documented disparities in access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables in the DC region, the location of the garden, and the historic purpose for the space. Over 156 different crops are grown at the WYG. In 2023, we grew and distributed over 8,000 pounds of produce to school families and hunger relief organizations.

Annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale Event: The Garden Fair is held in early spring and typically attracts 10,000 people to the grounds of the Arboretum. Traditionally, the National Arboretum curators serve as plant experts providing advice for novice as well as experienced gardeners.

Projects and activities: FONA holds numerous temporary and permanently restricted funds given for various purposes to benefit the U.S. National Arboretum. Every year, in consultation with the Arboretum leadership and staff, FONA releases funds from these restricted assets or general operating funds to the Arboretum to achieve a designatedpurpose. FONA then works with the Arboretum staff, often over a multi-year period, to ensure that the donors objective for each project or activity is fulfilled in a timely and cost-effective manner. For example, in recent years, FONA has collaborated with the Arboretum on the following projects and activities:-Updating the Arboretums Master Plan and identifying follow-on campaigns and related activities.-Cleanup and restoration as well as ongoing monitoring of Springhouse Run along with monitoring of Hickey Run, two crucial watercourses that traverse the Arboretum, emptying into the Anacostia River and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay.-Completion of the Flowering Tree Walk, a universal access walkway providing magnificent views of the Arboretums great meadow and Capitol Columns.-Preservation and maintenance of the Arboretums heritage collections, which include the azalea, boxwood, and associated collections; and for general support of all the Arboretum gardens and collections, including funding for interpretive signage. -Funding support for many internships, including: those working in the azalea, boxwood, Asia valley, introduction garden, and other heritage collections and on research.-Luncheon and plant sales as well as promotional support for the annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium.-Curators wish list, to raise funds and procure plant material specifically selected by the curators of the Arboretums collections. Evaluating opportunities to support repair of the Capitol Columns and fund their care in perpetuity.

Membership and outreach: FONA runs an active outreach program designed to broaden and expand the visibility of, and to provide public support for, the Arboretum locally, nationally, and internationally, as well as to increase the Arboretums visitor base. For example, FONA hosts numerous public programs such as forest bathing, yoga classes, family programs, and community events. FONA also partners with other Arboretum stakeholders, interest groups, and community organizations for the betterment of the Arboretum. FONA staff and board members continually reach out to the media, government officials, community leaders, and industry associations, and maintain ongoing relationshipswith these and other key decision-makers and influential organizations and citizens. FONA also maintains an active public presence via its website and through social media such as Facebook and Instagram. In addition, FONA runs a membership program to recruit and serve 1,000+ members and supporters each year with member events and activities, volunteer opportunities, a quarterly printed newsletter and weekly enewsletter with updates on Arboretum News, and other member benefits.