Spring is well underway and we’re celebrating with a slate of fun events! With Arbor Day and Earth Day around the corner, there are so many ways to get involved this month and the next. Register for one of our Community Tree Plantings or join our partners in removing invasive vines and learning about the wonder of trees.
Also, remember to take the DC 2050 survey! Last month, the DC Office of Planning announced DC 2050, the District’s next comprehensive plan, which will guide how our city grows and develops with a specific focus on land use. Now is your chance to shape the future of the District—and its trees and green spaces—by taking a few minutes to complete the six-question survey.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY TREE PLANTINGS & TREE CARES
Saturday, 4/19 – Hyattsville Arbor Day Celebration and Community Tree Planting: University Hills Duck Pond
We’re teaming up with the City of Hyattsville to celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees at University Hills Duck Pond Park! Join us for a fun day of digging and planting. We will provide all the necessary tools, supplies, and training needed. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will be split up into groups supervised by a trained volunteer Team Leader and begin planting trees throughout the space.
Saturday, 5/10 – Community Tree Planting: Armed Forces Retirement Home
Join Casey Trees for our last community tree planting of the season! We will provide all the necessary tools, supplies, and training. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will be split into groups supervised by a trained volunteer Team Leader and begin planting trees throughout the space. This event is sponsored by Verizon!
Saturday, 5/31 – Community Tree Care: Takoma Recreation Center
Help us care for young trees! The first three years of life are the most important for a tree’s survival. Join us for a fun day of service at Takoma Rec Center as we mulch, weed, and water vulnerable trees. We provide all the necessary tools, supplies, and training. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will split into groups and begin caring for trees throughout the park. This event is sponsored by Accenture!
UPCOMING INVASIVE REMOVALS
Saturday, 4/26 – CCAN Earth Day Bike Ride & Vine Removal at Oxon Run Park
Celebrate Earth Day with CCAN and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association! Get ready for a fun-filled day of outdoor activities. Attendees will be led on an eco-based tour of Oxon Run Trail before tackling some invasive vines.
Friday, 5/2 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal at Dewey Local Park
Help remove invasive vines at Dewey Local Park in Silver Spring, MD with CCAN and Montgomery County Weed Warriors. The first 30 minutes will be spent training on identifying and removing invasive vines, then you’ll spend about 1.5 hours removing vines in the forest. We will focus on non-native invasive vines, including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix).
Saturday, 5/3 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal at Loisdale Park
Help remove invasive vines at Loisdale Park with CCAN and Montgomery County Weed Warriors. The first 30 minutes will be spent training on identifying and removing invasive vines, then you’ll spend about 1.5 hours removing vines in the forest.
Wednesday, 5/7 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal at Catholic University
Help remove invasive vines at Catholic University with CCAN and Montgomery County Weed Warriors. The first 30 minutes will be spent training on identifying and removing invasive vines, then you’ll spend about 1.5 hours removing vines in the forest.
Saturday, 5/10 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal/Canvassing in Springfield
Join CCAN and NoVa Tree Rescuers to canvass and remove Invasive Vines around the Loisdale Park neighborhood in Springfield, VA. This event will be a fun mix of door-to-door canvassing and invasive vine removal. Participants will meet at Loisdale Park and spend the first 30 minutes training on vine removal and canvassing. From there, they will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents.
Wednesday, 5/14 –CCAN Invasive Vine Removal at Sligo Creek
Join CCAN and Friends of Sligo Creek to remove invasive vines along Sligo Creek in Hyattsville, MD. The first 30 minutes will be spent training on identifying and removing invasive vines, then you’ll spend about 1.5 hours removing vines.
Friday, 5/16 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal/Canvassing in Eastland Gardens
Join CCAN to canvass and remove invasive vines around the Eastland Gardens neighborhood in DC. This event will be a fun mix of door-to-door canvassing and invasive vine removal. Participants will meet at the Watts Branch Forest by Lee St. NE and spend 30 minutes training on vine removal and canvassing. From there, they will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents.
Wednesday, 5/21 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal at Colmar Manor Park
Join CCAN and PG County Parks to remove invasive vines at Colmar Manor Community Park in Colmar Manor, MD. Participants will meet at the soccer field behind the community center at 10am and work until about 1pm.
Saturday, 5/24 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal/Canvassing in Riverdale Park
Join CCAN and the Riverdale Park Green Team to canvass and remove Invasive Vines around the Riverdale Park neighborhood. This event will be a fun mix of door-to-door canvassing and invasive vine removal. Participants will meet at Riverside Drive Park and spend 30 minutes doing training on vine removal and canvassing. From there, they will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents.
Wednesday, 5/28 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal at Woodlawn Cemetery
Join CCAN to remove Invasive Vines at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery in Washington, DC. Participants will spend the first 30 minutes on a brief training on invasive vines and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing vines from the trees.
Saturday, 5/31 – CCAN Invasive Vine Removal at Cottage City Park
Help remove invasive vines at Cottage City Park in Cottage City, MD with CCAN. Participants will meet at the park entrance in front of Bunker Hill Rd. at 10am. They will spend the first 30 minutes on introductions and training, then remove vines until about 1pm.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, 4/14-Sunday, 4/18 – NatureFest Spring Break Camp with Friends of Anacostia Park
NatureFest is a week-long event during DCPS spring break, providing a safe space for youth ages 5 – 12 and their families to connect with nature and build lasting memories. Each day offers a variety of activities, including boat rides on the Anacostia River, scavenger hunts, arts & crafts, live animals, skating, and more! Register here. Families, youth day camps, and recreation centers are welcome. Youth must be joined by a chaperone throughout the duration of the event. There will be a free Shuttle from Anacostia Metro (parking garage side).
Friday, 4/25 – 4/28 – City Nature Challenge DC Metro Area
The City Nature Challenge is an adventure in metropolitan areas worldwide to discover and identify wildlife. We’ll be looking for signs of life in parks, neighborhoods, and backyards to see what plants and animals share our environment. Join the City Nature Challenge and become a citizen scientist!
Monday, 4/28 – 5/2 – DC Climate Week
DC Climate Week (DCCW) will establish Washington, DC, as the nation’s center of climate innovation by providing opportunities to engage with policymakers, fund climate solutions, and showcase cutting-edge technologies. On Friday, May 2, Casey Trees is excited to participate in a panel at 3 PM called Case Studies From the Frontlines of Urban Development in DC. Join us!
Wednesday, 5/7 – i-Tree Open Academy Spring 2025
Every Wednesday from May 7 to June 11, the i-Tree Open Academy virtual learning series includes everything you need to explore the latest in tree benefits through the i-Tree tools. Whether your work with trees involves planting, managing, funding, educating, or beyond, i-Tree can help you better understand the benefits of trees, where those benefits impact, and how to apply that science to your project goals.
Saturday, 5/10 – Healthy Homes Fair
The Healthy Homes Fair is the country’s biggest consumer-facing home electrification event. It is a free expo and interactive experience for homeowners, renters, home renovation professionals, and career seekers to learn about the technologies, products, services, and incentives available to improve our health, increase comfort, and reduce emissions from the homes of the DC region.
Now through May 30 – Wonders of DC Trees Exhibit at MLK Library
The exhibition of original artwork not only takes the tree as a starting point, but also repurposes arboreal remains like bark, twigs, driftwood, lumber, or tree pulp as the medium. Subjects vary widely. These canvases will spark awareness of the many roles trees play in building a greener and more climate-resilient city for future generations. Attention is given to street beautification, park greenspace, and the selection of different species to best complement the architectural scale and character of distinctive settings.
Upcoming – Join National Capital Parks-East’s Weed Warrior Volunteer Program
National Capital Parks — East has launched a new volunteer program that connects passionate individuals with crucial conservation efforts. As a Weed Warrior, you’ll roll up your sleeves to tackle the invasive plants threatening the natural ecosystems in national parks within the portfolio of National Capital Parks — East. Volunteers will remove invasive plants and overall help conserve the natural resources found throughout the parks.
