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Home , Fort Washington Park, Piscataway Park, The Ellipse

September 26th U.S. Department of the Interior National Capital Region National Day of Service and Celebration Washington, D.C.

Calendar of Events

YOU’RE INVITED TO Make America’s Best Idea Even Better A Day of Service and Celebration

www.nps.gov Service and Celebration On Saturday, September 26, National Public Lands Day, the National Park Service (NPS) and the National Park Foundation (NPF) are inviting everyone to get involved through a day of service and celebration of what historian Wallace Stegner called, “America’s Best Idea” – our National Parks. Visit www.nps.gov/ September 26 to learn more.

Honoring our National Public Lands through Service

The NPS and NPF invite everyone to volunteer in the morning at their favorite national park or discover a new one of the 14 National Parks in the Washington Metropolitan area. And as a way to top-off a great day, the NPS and NPF invite everyone to a special celebration on the Ellipse with 14 greater Washington area National Parks and one very special guest, Honorary NPS Ranger Ken Burns, whose new fi lm, An Americorps student spruces up a fl ower bed “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” will be at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. premiering on PBS nationwide the following evening. Washington, D.C.

Evening Celebrating America’s Best Idea on the Ellipse

To celebrate Washington, D.C.’s part of “America’s Best Idea” and to share our local national parks, the NPS and the NPF are inviting everyone to the Ellipse for an evening of family fun and a fi lm!

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Discover your 14 local national parks featuring special activities and programs. Award-winning director, cinematographer, and – Experience the during special writer, Ken Burns, of the documentary extended hours. Visit www.reservations.nps.gov “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” – Enjoy music and free ice cream (as supplies last).

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Catch a sneak preview with Ken Burns of his new documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” premiering on PBS on September 27th.

Join us in celebrating American’s best idea! www.nps.gov/September26

Antietam Barton’s accomplishments. National Battlefi eld Visitors will be guided through the house by volunteers and 9:00AM-12:00PM park rangers. They will also Park Visitor Center have a chance to learn about Sharpsburg, MD compelling stories and view artifacts/objects that are Join 350 Boy Scouts as they representative of that time participate in service projects maintenance staff period. and volunteers repair historic campgrounds and interpretive programs at for future visitors. Thurmont, MD. the National Battlefi eld. Clear Contact: brush at Miller Farm for native Visitor Center: 301-320-1410 plant habitat restoration, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal www.nps.gov/clba trash clean-up along trails. National Historical Park We’ll show you what to do and provide the necessary 9:00AM-12:00PM equipment. All you need is lots Carderock Recreational Area of energy and enthusiasm. Hagerstown, MD

Contact: Volunteers will work hand- Christie Stanczak in-hand with park rangers 301-432-4567 on various trail improvement Visitor Center 301-432-5124 projects throughout the www.nps.gov/anti Carderock Recreational area. Park rangers and volunteer stand ready to help. Catoctin Contact: Clara Barton House. Cabin John, MD. Mountain Park Danny Filer: 301-714-2218 www.nps.gov/choh 9:00AM-12:00PM Park Visitor Center Thurmont, MD Clara Barton (Unit of National Capital National Historic Site Parks-East) Show your support for our public lands by joining us in an (Unit of 9:00AM-12:00PM exotic plant removal project. Memorial Parkway) Lighthouse We’ll show you what to do Fort Washington, MD and provide the necessary 7:00PM-9:00PM equipment, you’ll just need Clara Barton House The park will host a river to bring lots of energy and Glen Echo, MD clean-up to promote a enthusiasm. If you plan to healthier by bring a group to this event, Park will hold a Fall Lamp removing trash from the shores please contact park staff in Light Open House scheduled of the park. Bags will be advance to make sure there are for Saturday, Sept 26, 2009. provided. plenty of supplies on hand. Volunteers and visitors that attend this event will also have Contact: Contact: an opportunity to preview Barbara Wadding: 301-763-4600 Visitor Center: 301-663-9388 parts of the Ken Burns Film www.nps.gov/fowa www.nps.gov/cato and learn more about Clara

(Unit of -East)

8:45AM-12:00PM Sweetgum Picnic Area Greenbelt, MD

The park will be conducting, in partnerships with REI and other partners, a watershed clean-up, trail work and Team work helps to get the work done at Glen invasive plant removal within Echo Park. Cabin John, MD. the Still Creek watershed. Gloves and hip-waders will be Harpers Ferry provided. The park will also National Historical Park feature a children’s nature walk A tree planting entralls a youngster. Glen Echo led by a park ranger. 9:00AM-3:00PM Park. Cabin John, MD. Lower Town District 9:00 a.m. Still Creek Watershed Harpers Ferry, WV Great Falls Park 10:00 a.m. Invasive Plant Volunteers will work hand- Removal in-hand with park rangers (Unit of George Washington on a trail clean-up project or Memorial Parkway) 10:30 a.m. Children’s Nature boundary marking project. Walk Get out on our area trails, 9:00AM-2:00PM see breath taking vistas while Park Visitor Center Take exit 24/Kenilworth helping to keep the trails McClean, VA Avenue to Route 193 clean and pristine. Sponsored (Greenbelt Road) and turn left by park partners: Harpers Volunteers will work hand-in- on Greenbelt Road and turn Ferry Town Foundation, hand with Park rangers picking right into park. The National Trust for up trash, removing invasive Historic Preservation, the plants and working on small Contact: Appalachian National Scenic trail projects. REI Volunteer Line: Trail, the 301-982-9681 Conservancy, etc. Guided Great Falls is located 4 miles Visitor Center: 301-344-3944 hikes rated easy to challenging west of the Capital Beltway. www.nps.gov/gree will be off ered to Virginius Use exit #44 and follow Route Island, Jeff erson’s Rock, C&O 193 West. Turn right onto Old Canal, and for the hearty-- Dominion Road and follow to the Heights Naval park entrance. Battery.

Contact: Contact: Aaron LaRocca: 703-285-2965 Jessica Liptak: 304-535-5017 www.nps.gov/grfa www.nps.gov/hafe www.nps.gov/September26

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

(Unit of National Capital Parks-East)

9:00AM-12:00PM Maintenance Yard Washington, D.C.

The park will be having a garden clean-up. Come prepared to weed, clean ponds, clear trails, and general garden work. Good for all ages. A budding artist, and volunteer, sketches the water lillies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Take I-295 in N.E. Washington Washington, D.C. to Dean Avenue, N.E. Follow signs to park entrance. Monocacy National Battlefi eld Contact: Doug Rowley: 202 426-6905 9:00AM-12:00PM www.nps.gov/keaq Park Visitor Center Frederick, MD Manassas National Battlefi eld Park Volunteers will work hand- Contact: in-hand with park rangers to Brett Spaulding: 301-662-3515 9:00AM-12:00PM assist with a cleanup along www.nps.gov/mono Park Visitor Center the Monocacy River, which Manassas, VA will primarily consist of trash and tire removal. Visitors are Volunteers will work hand- asked to bring their own work in-hand with park rangers gloves and to wear appropriate on various trail maintenance clothes for the river clean-up. projects. Other activities include invasive plant removal, trash pickup and fence construction. Please be aware that each time you dig into the earth some artifact from war battles could surface. Necessary tools provided.

Contact: Bud Cunnally: 703-393-9808 Hank Elliott: 703-361-1339 www.nps.gov/mana and Memorial Parks

9:00AM-12:00PM Food Kiosk, Henry Bacon Drive, at Washington, D.C.

Come and assist park rangers and maintenance staff create a signifi cant impact on one of our Capital’s historical structures, the Watergate Steps. The Watergate Steps were designed to be part of one of the ceremonial gateways to the memorial core and are located just west of the Lincoln Memorial along Ohio Drive. Assist park staff in The Washington, D.C. skyline showing the Potomac River, Memorial Bridge, U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument and the Watergate Steps at the Lincoln Memorial. National Mall pruning, removing invasive and Memorial Parks. Washington, D.C. plants, pulling weeds, resetting Belgium blocks, and picking- The watergate steps up debris. Park rangers will need a volunteer’s also be presenting a history steady hand to program to you on the remove weeds. National Mall & Memorial Bridge, including Memorial Parks. the interesting past of the Washington, D.C. “Arts of War” Statues and the Watergate Steps. All volunteers are required to wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, and no open-toe shoes.

Contact:

Rebbecca Steketee (202)359- 7080 or rebbecca_steketee@ nps.gov

All volunteers should register for this event. www.nps.gov/nama www.nps.gov/September26

9:00AM-12:00PM Food Kiosk, Henry Bacon Drive, at Lincoln Memorial Washington, D.C.

Volunteers will work alongside rangers and park personnel making improvements and major contributions to the natural and cultural resources of the park. Volunteers to weed and mulch planting areas and trees around the memorials. If you plan to bring a group to this event, please contact us in advance to make sure we have plenty of supplies on hand. All volunteers are required to wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, and no open-toe shoes. (Above) Volunteers help paint Contact: trash containers while other volunteers (right) prepare for Rebbecca Steketee (202)359- a tree planting at the Lincoln 7080 or rebbecca_steketee@ Memorial. National Mall & nps.gov Memorial Parks. Washington, D.C. All volunteers should register for this event. www.nps.gov/nama 10:00AM-3:00PM To register for this event, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson contact Barbara_Brundage@ Memorial, Washington nps.gov or call 202-208-1631 Monument & Sylvan Theater ext. 228. Washington, D.C. Schedule for the Day: Come visit our tents at the park’s major icon memorials to Participants will meet at either record and discover what other 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. at the National Parks you would most Visitor Center like to visit on our National Volunteers help weed at the Korean War located at 1450 Pennsylvania Park Service system maps. Memorial. Washington, D.C. Avenue, N.W. Visitors can test their park President’s Park knowledge with National Park After a short welcome and Service jeopardy, and explore orientation, participants will the fascinating connections be escorted to the Ellipse to between the National Mall 10:00AM-3:00PM take part in park conservation & Memorial Parks and other President’s Park Visitor Center activities. Before going to their National Park sites throughout Washington, D.C. assignments, all participants the country. Families can must present National Park visit the Jr. Ranger area on the At President’s Park pre- Service volunteer agreement Sylvan stage for games, puzzles, registered participants will have forms, available online at www. and activities. Stop by early the opportunity to perform nps.gov/whho. to pick up the National Mall service projects such as helping scavenger hunt and spend park staff assess the conditions All tools and equipment will be the day searching the Park for of monuments and memorials, provided. Rubber gloves, dust answers. At the end of the day, using non-historic window sash masks and eye protectors will meet up with other teams to see to learn how to restore historic be available if needed. who was able to solve the most memorials, and learning how challenges. conservators maintain cultural Contact: resources in our national parks. Visitor Center: 202-208-1631 Contact: www.nps.gov/whho Susan Martin: 202-437-1888 www.nps.gov/nama Volunteers picking up trash on the Ellipse. President’s Park. Washington, D.C.

Volunteers provide visitors with information. www.nps.gov/September26

Prince William Forest Park

9:00AM-12:00PM 9:00AM-12:00PM Historic Cabin Camp 4 Nature Center Triangle, VA Washington, D.C.

Volunteers will work hand-in- Show your support for our hand with park rangers to assist public lands by joining us in an with trail work, cabin restora- exotic plant removal project. tion, painting/staining, and gen- Park staff will show you what to eral site clean-up. The park will do and provide the necessary provide all equipment. Wear equipment. Please bring lots of appropriate clean-up clothing. energy and enthusiasm! A picnic lunch will follow the Volunteers remove exotic plant species from park clean-up. A sneak preview If you plan to bring a group to Rock Creek Park. Washington, D.C. of the Ken Burn’s fi lm will be this event, please contact us in shown. advance to make sure we have

plenty of supplies on hand. Theodore Roosevelt Island Prince William Forest Park is located 35 miles south of Wash- Contact: ington, D.C., off I-95. Nature Center: 202-895-6070 (Unit of George Washington www.nps.gov/rocr Memorial Parkway) Contact: Jenn Kays 703-221-7181 9:00AM-12:00PM www.nps.gov/prwi Park Parking Lot Washington, DC

The park will be hold a river clean-up to promote a healthier Potomac River by removing trash from the shores of the park. Bags will be provided. The public will join various partner groups voluteering which include Marriott, Surfrider Club, The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, the Potomac Conservancy, and The Theodore Roosevelt Association.

Contact: Park HQ: 703-289-2500 www.nps.gov/this Trash brigade on Potomac River Cleanup. . Accokeek, MD. www.nps.gov/gwmp Parks of the National Capital Region

District of Columbia Monocacy National Battlefi eld Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site Frederick, MD 202.426.6924 301.662.6980 www.nps.gov/foth www.nps.gov/mono

National Capital Virginia Parks-East George Washington Memorial Parkway 202.690.5185 McLean, VA www.nps.gov/nace 703.289.2500 www.nps.gov/gwmp National Mall & Memorial Parks 202.245.4660 Manassas National Battlefi eld Park www.nps.gov/nama Manassas, VA 703.754.1861 President’s Park www.nps.gov/mana 202.208.1631 www.nps.gov/whho Prince William Forest Park Rock Creek Park Triangle, VA 202.895.6000 703.221.2366 www.nps.gov/rocr www.nps.gov/prwi

Maryland Wolf Trap National Park for the Antietam National Battlefi eld Performing Arts Sharpsburg, MD Vienna, VA 301.432.7648 703.255.1800 www.nps.gov/anti www.nps.gov/wotr

Catoctin Mountain Park West Virginia Thurmont, MD Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 301.663.9388 Harpers Ferry, WV www.nps.gov/cato 304.535.6224 www.nps.gov/hafe Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Hagerstown, MD Harpers Ferry, WV 301.714.2201 304.535.4014 www.nps.gov/choh www.nps.gov/pohe *also in MMDD anandd VA www.nps.gov/September26 Volunteers assist at Fish Ladder in Rock Creek Park. Washington, D.C. PITCH IN!

Help us celebrate our community and National Public Lands Day, September 26, by volunteering in your Washington Metropolitan Area national parks. We’ll have a handful of project options to suit different

National Park Service interests and abilities, including U.S. Department of the Interior habitat restoration, vegetation

National Capital Region management, and grounds and trail 1100 Ohio Drive, S.W. maintenance. Choose your favorite Washington, DC 20242 activity and bring the whole family and friends – the events are free for EVERYONE. It’s fun, it’s healthy and it makes a difference!

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