My experience of FONA has and continues to be phenomenal and fulfilling to my self-care needs. I have appreciated the create ways that FONA staff and members have created and facilitated recreational events to include forest bathing -- even bringing back a magical night of full moon forest bathing and full moon night hikes. What a beautiful reconnection with nature!
FONA is an excellent steward of the Arboretum’s mission and a vital way of broadening knowledge about and access to the Arboretum! I grew up on R Street, NE a block from one of the Arboretum’s main entrances. I currently serve on the Board of FONA and I am inspired by the diversity of people who appreciate the natural and community resource in the Arboretum and how many ways we use our skills to make sure as many people as possible can enjoy it for years to come.
My experience has been exceptional. The board is diverse and very well informed about the history, plans, processes and procedures of FONA. We listen and respect each other as we walk through objectives and ideas for the Arboretum. We also have a strong collaborative relationship with the FONA staff and the National Arboretum Head and staff--we meet regularly to discuss issues and go on field trips to other Arboretums to see leading practices that might be helpful to the National Arboretum. The board is also extraordinarily committed to the success of the National Arboretum through the support of FONA in order to improve the visitor experience, grounds, tree canopy, and many other needed refinements for the National Arboretum. In addition, the board is strategic and thinking through FONA's future. The staff of FONA are involved, engaged and busy supporting the many events that are promoted and led by FONA such as 5Ks, educational walks, the Youth Garden, forest bathing, herb education, plant and tree sales, and the annual fundraiser to list a few. The staff head is professional and a leader, contributing to the positive culture of FONA. To reiterate, my experience has been exceptional.
Our National Arboretum in and of itself is a treasure. However, as if that weren’t enough, the Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) have added dimensions. Through their numerous, inclusive, diverse programs, FONA engages locals and international visitors alike. The brightest star is the Youth Garden, which is a magical, living learning environment that establishes the inks between pollinators, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Unlike life cycles depicted in text books, young learners can see, touch, smell and taste these cycles. Likewise, being a part of the growing cycle amplifies these connections.
FONA provides something for everyone which makes the National Arboretum relevant beyond the magnificent grounds and living collections.
Their youth garden is a magical place--and not just for kids. A cross between kitchen garden, teaching garden, and urban farm, it's an inspiration for gardeners from all walks of life. The staff do an amazing job supporting school gardens and using garden science to enrich the lives of young people. It's also a great place to volunteer.
Loved the concert we saw a while ago, the grounds were beautiful, weather was perfect, it’s just such a great spot for a date or to take your dogs for a stroll
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The events planned by FONA are top notch. Every one I’ve been to has run smoothly and been a lot of fun. The last one I attended was an outdoor movie on the arboretum grounds and I’m looking forward to doing it again! We need an organization like this where I live.
The Arboretum is a national treasure and FONA helps make these resources more available and accessible and engaging for all. Love their outreach! All the various programs like Washington Youth Garden, School Garden Support Program, Green Ambassador Program, and Visitor & Volunteer Engagement Program bring the community in and keep support vibrant.
I’ve partnered with FONA for several years helping to put on their Christmas tree sale fundraiser and they’ve been an absolute delight to work with. The staff/volunteers are all very capable and hard working and they know how to execute a fundraising event efficiently, effectively and successfully. I love their passion for the organization and I couldn’t be happier with our collaboration. It’s a real pleasure supporting a great cause with great people!
I have been a member of FONA for most of the past 10 years because FONA is an organization that accomplishes a great deal on a shoestring budget. Some of my favorite activities over the years include the 5k runs, the spring plant sale, full moon hikes, summer concerts, beers in the herb garden, bonsai classes, and many more. FONA staff are always cheerful and work so hard to make the National Arboretum a special and welcoming place to all who visit. And the Washington Youth Garden is magical in its own right. I look forward to continuing to support the National Arboretum and volunteering with them when opportunities arise.
I attended FONA's Summer Institute in July 2022 and had an amazing experience. The institute was very planned and had lots of resources for outdoor learning. The BEST professional development opportunity for teachers , I really appreciate each and every little details planned for each day. We got to meet teachers from various schools and also got an opportunity to visit their beautiful gardens. Hands on learning was also so encouraging where teachers from past Summer Institute shared their creative ideas. Overall the Summer Institute was very inspiring and has encouraged me to bring the joy of outdoor learning to my little scholars at Brightwood School. Thank you FONA for motivating teachers and spreading the joy of learning.
I have enjoyed the U.S. National Arboretum for many years and have also volunteered there for more than 10years. I have been a member of the Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) for more than 25 years. I have enjoyed their collections in every season.
FONA is a wonderful organization that has offered many exciting and educational programs and events that have succeeded in successfully engaging the folks in the Washington, Maryland, and Virginia metropolitan areas with the Arboretum.
FONA's programs also help to promote the importance of plants and the environment in our daily lives. One program, the Washington Youth Garden, helps to introduce to and promote school age children in the enjoyment of planting,raising, and harvesting food for under served neighborhoods
FONA supports the National Arboretum, a treasure within the District of Columbia, in so many ways, and does them well. From the Washington Youth Garden to specialized collection tours and plant sales, FONA accomplishes wonderful things to assist the Arboretum stay focused on the community and on its scientific mission. It's a great organization with opportunities galore to enjoy the beauty abd tranquility of the Arboretum.
As a Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, there are many aspects that I need to consider when guiding forest bathing walks. Everything from weather to the accessibility of location/trails, to partnerships and reciprocity. I feel that the National Arboretum ticks off several of these boxes and the Friends of the National Arboretum check off many more.
The accessibility of this gem in our nation's capital invites guests that are local, domestic, and even international, to enjoy the beauty of a diverse landscape that is both aesthetically pleasing and educationally enlightening.
The Friends of the National Arboretum have partnered with several Nature and Forest Therapy Guides over the years, helping foster a space that is sacred and safe to immerse oneself in the healing and therapeutic aspects of what nature has to provide. This could not have been further emphasized than during the Covid pandemic. Once mandates were lifted, participants began to trickle in, and then soon enough waitlists began to fill.
Folks have come to these walks offering their innermost thoughts and feelings, opening up to their vulnerabilities, fears, hopes, and dreams. Sharing their personal journeys and connections with nature, whether that connection was on the walk or within the greenspaces near their homes. And to be honest, it helped me as well. It was a place for me to ground myself, reconnect to nature, find peace and solace, and for me to sharpen my craft of holding "a space" in an imbalanced & chaotic world. In the various Collections spread across 446 acres, there was always a space, whether it was by myself or guiding a group in person or virtually, where lost, confused, tired or even content souls found respite.
FONA has helped nurture not only the flora and fauna found on their grounds but also the community. Most importantly, when the community and the world needed it most.
I am a teacher at a public charter school in D.C that has worked with Friends of the National Arboretum for over a year. During our work together, they have been able to enhance the learning of my students by engaging them in the garden and the outdoors. The students have enjoyed getting to know the FONA crew through attending field trips, co-teaching, and food demos. They have also been a great resource for myself in curriculum building and improving our garden. I have loved this partnership and look forward to it continuing to grow.
I have been involved with the FONA organization for many, probably 30, years. Primarily involved with the spring Garden Fair Plant Sale either as a salesperson or with plant procurement for the sale. Plant procurement involves both selection and securing plants from the annual MANTS event in Baltimore or purchasing of plants from nurseries.
The Friends of the National Arboretum has performed an outstanding task of funding
many of the Arboretum's functions, personnel and projects over it's partnership with
this great horticultural asset for the the nation and, especially for the local D.C. Metro
communities. FONA continues to expand it's fund raising capabilities to many new and
interesting events.
Beside being a real support arm to the USDA workers who run the arboretum, FONA runs many programs and events at the arboretum – flower shows, plant sales, musical programs, and many other events. I have enjoyed several of their free Spring and Summer concerts sitting on the grass listening to all types of musical programs while eating dinner.
I am a FONA member and have attended many of their events (plant sales, full moon hikes, “Digging In” virtual events). FONA creates interesting and unique programming for a wide range of interests, including gardening, food production, horticulture, personal wellness, and simply enjoying nature. Thank you, FONA!!
I love working with the FONA and Washington Youth Garden team! They are incredibly welcoming of volunteers from a variety of skill and ability levels, and always take extra time to coordinate engagement opportunities requested by volunteers. This is an amazingly dedicated group and you couldn't ask for a more beautiful and enriching environment in which to volunteer!
I have worked closely with Friends of the National Arboretum since 2010 and have been on the board since 2015. During this time I’ve seen a lot of change, trending toward a more transparent and more financially successful organization dedicated to supporting the mission of the U.S.National Arboretum. In particular, Craven Rand’s leadership of FONA over the last 18 months has been essential to the many successes FONA and the Washington Youth Garden have enjoyed. In addition, the FONA and WYG staff have been extremely loyal and dedicated to the organization through difficult times. Currently, FONA and in particular, the WYG has been recognized with accolades and awards, and has been dedicated to serving the community in response to the COVD19 pandemic through donation of its garden produce to neighborhood and central food banks. FONA has more than met it 2020 budget, and is entering 2021 in a strong financial position, with the anticipation of starting a number of new initiatives which will build and maintain its financial stability for the future.
The Washington Youth Garden is a national treasure and belongs on your list. I have been working with them in a variety of capacities for over 10 years - as a volunteer, a donor, and Board member and Chair of the Friends of the National Arboretum, of which the WYG is a program. I have participated in Elementary school field trips in the garden, and watched the superb young staff awaken their interest in the art and science of growing plants, harvesting their bounty, and making and enjoying food fresh from the garden. The wonder of a city child coming face to face with these experiences is a powerful foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating and environmental stewardship, amply supported by the the fun and adventure created by the staff as well as the gorgeous open environment of the National Arboretum. This has grown in this past year to include a teacher summer enrichment program to support year round learning about gardening, food and the natural world. I have interviewed high school students from inner city schools eager to participate in the WYG green ambassador intern program and participated with garden staff in evaluations leading to s program has grown from summer only to school year after school, including water sampling of a major stream restoration project, designed to monitor and measure water quality improvement. All of these programs are models of how much can can be achieved through thoughtful, careful, well planned and executed strategies married with highly focused enthusiasm. The WYG is a great nonprofit by any standard.
FONA offers the "best spring plant sale" in the DC area. This annual festival is my "go to" source for rare and quality material at a fair price. It is curated by knowledgeable buyers and staffed with experienced and helpful sales staff. On top of that, its profits support our national arboretum, DC's most rewarding, free green space to visit.
I lived in the Washington, DC area for many years and became devoted to the National Arboretum. I got involved with the Friends of the National Arboretum and have been ever since. The Friends is absolutely essential to the Arboretum. They are a great organization and provide exceptional value.
I was a volunteer at the national Arboretum and then invited to join the board about six years ago. I was immediately impressed with the commitment of board members to make the mission of a nonprofit a success. We had a board meeting today (coincidence) and we got extremely excellent reports and information from our executive director and his staff. My board colleagues I’ll step up to help in every way they can to support the mission. During this pandemic, the entire organization pivoted to make things happen, help the nearby residential community population, and keep the operation of our nonprofit moving forward.
FONA is comprised of dedicated and committed individuals who care about maintaining the 464 acres of green space in Washington, DC., 2 miles from the Capitol. FONA is a public-private enterprise supporting a national treasure where parking is free! The grounds are cultivated with world-class collections of trees and bushes. People from all over the country and world are welcome to stroll the property, seeing eagles soar and magnificent trees in bloom. For years, we have enjoyed music concerts on the grass, a ballet performance in the Herb Garden, dinners under the evening sky, 5k races passing by the Capitol Columns, years of garden fairs and sales, and visits to the Youth Garden where school children are taught nutrition and grow vegetables. These FONA-sponsored activities have something for everyone. Don't miss out! Join FONA today and help us to preserve this treasure for posterity.
Friends of the National Arboretum is a great organization with a staff that is very dedicated, passionate and reliable. I have an opportunity to work with members of the FONA team daily in my work as a Special Events Coordinator for the US National Arboretum and it is truly an honor to be aligned with people who truly love what they do and go above and beyond to share such dynamic and engaging experiences with Arboretum visitors.
FONA and the Washington Youth Garden continue to do amazing work during this pandemic with fantastic distance learning resources for teachers, students and families and by growing and donating more than 3,000 pounds of delicious garden grown-food to families in need, while helping to keep the Arboretum open and safe for visits, nature hikes and even forest bathing!
We have had the honor of working with the FONA group as a catering partner for a couple of years now & have with out a doubt had a wonderful experience with there team. It takes a lot of logistics, client facing, & attention to detail to service social & corporate event at FONA with there many different areas to host stunning events. The FONA team does a great job of keeping the vendor team informed on any changes, and acting as a great source to make sure we continuously do a great job not only for the events but also to protect the grounds!
We look forward to the continuing yours to work with the FONA group!
I have worked with FONA for years now as a vendor for their private and public facing events. As a caterer bringing in food, equipment, staff, etc.; there are a lot of rules to make sure the grounds are protected from damage. While they protect the grounds - they also let us do our job to make sure that the clients paying for the space enjoy the property. They are always kind, courteous, and thoughtful.
When working with FONA for their internal events - we love supporting such an important organization or non profit! They are wonderful to work with and treat all their vendors with respect!
Our experience has been nothing but amazing and we will continue to keep supporting such a great cause.
Thank you!
I work with Friends of the National Arboretum a lot as I work for a catering company who caters many beautiful weddings at the Arboretum. They are an absolutely wonderful non-profit that goes above and beyond for the community. Every single person who I have had an opportunity to cross paths with has been nothing but nice and amazing to work with. I would recommend that people who are not familiar with this nonprofit, take a moment out of their day to go their research and talk a walk at the Arboretum, you won't regret it!
FONA is passionate and cares about the community & neighborhood of the U.S. National Arboretum. FONA works to keep this needed green space accessible to the public, an event space for weddings and events, and a beautiful resource to feed and teach kids about garden sustainability and health. As a nonprofit they exceed and meet expectations.
FONA faces the challenge of involving potential donors whose normal routines bring them nowhere near FONA’s beneficiary. It succeeds by regular and enticing communications about its excellent programs. Volunteers and supporters from a far flung area join in support efforts to involve and educate the underprivileged in growing food and improving nutrition, while expanding a love and respect for nature and its preservation among all of us, including those at the seat of power.
I've had years of association with FONA events & staff. •• As a garden school coordinator with DC Public Schools, watching & learning from FONA led educators/gardeners who had great rapport with teachers & kids alike. ••Then, working with the DC Beekeepers Alliance on the two Youth Garden's beehives on an ad hoc basis & mentoring a staff member now & again. •• And again, working with about 15+ teens in their Youth Garden summer camp, tasked with a hands-on honey harvest (from the comb), which was an absolute blast: the kids were the real treat but the interaction with the Youth Garden counseling staff was magic as was the leadership & team skills of the kids - that was rewarding! •• I've volunteered before, during & after the Annual Garden Fair - directing vendors & cars, helping set up tents & tables, posting signs, clean-up, etc. - nothing too taxing or rigorous but very satisfying. Refreshments for an enormous volunteer staff always provided. • • Now & again I've gotten to do minor volunteer tasks, met some staff. •• I love the place, the people and the purpose.
The Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) mobilizes resources to permit the National Arboretum to come alive with children's programs, festivals, plant sales, and educational programs. When the National Arboretum announced it was going to trash its azalea and boxwood collections because of a reduction in funding, FONA stepped in and has raised over a million dollars to save the azalea and boxwood collections. The story is not over. The campaign is still ongoing. See what happened at http://savetheazaleas.org
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On November 9, 2010, Scott Aker of the US National Arboretum announced the Arboretum would destroy "National Boxwood Collection and the co-located Perennial Collections as well as the Glenn Dale Hillside portion of the Azalea Collection."
The independent website http://savetheazaleas.org was created to inform the public of this decision.
By February, 14, 2011, FONA had secured a $1 million donation and organized a campaign to raise a second million to save the azaleas and the boxwood. They rallied the major horticultural, plant, and garden societies to give their input and support this drive.
GREAT JOB!