The Nature Conservancy of Maryland/District of Columbia

Outdoor Work Party Schedule

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OUTDOOR PROJECTS:

Photo by David Harp

Don’t be intimidated by our rough-and-ready descriptions! Unless otherwise noted, anyone in good condition can pitch in.
If you have no tools, don’t worry; we have extras.
We can help arrange carpooling on request.
Workdays include an educational/fun walk to show how your work helps the site.
Don’t despair if you can’t make a weekday project. Most of our projects are on weekends, so check back later.
If signup is low, we cancel or postpone. We usually make this decision 48 hours before the project, so if you are interested in a date, please sign up BEFORE the last minute!
Map numbers correspond to our online preserve map.
Unless otherwise indicated, sign up at volunteermd@tnc.org . Please specify the date of the project that interests you. We'll send directions & details.

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NATIONAL INVASIVE WEEDS AWARENESS WEEK, Feb 27-Mar 4

See work projects below

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Invasives Control on Cabin John Island

WHERE: C&O Canal National Historic Park, Maryland (1/2 hour outside DC)

WHEN: Thursday, March 3, 10 am-3pm

MAP LOCATION: Downstream of #13

PROJECT: WEED BUSTER WORKDAY. Come help out during National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week on the floodplain forests of Cabin John Island. This island is home to rare plant communities and rare plant species, which are threatened by competing exotic invasive plants, many that were likely to have been deposited by floods. We will remove honeysuckle, bittersweet vines, and garlic mustard pulling plants, and cutting them with loppers and handsaws. A great place to experience a unique riparian floodplain in the Gorge! We will work in a area with few trails, and views across the Potomac River make it seem like we are far from a big city.

To sign up, please contact Mary Travaglini, Potomac Gorge Habitat Restoration Manager, at 301-897-8570, or send your name and phone number to PotomacGorgeVol@tnc.org

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Invasives Control at Great Falls Park

WHERE: Great Falls Park, Virginia (3/4 hour outside DC)

WHEN: Wednesday, March 9, 1-4pm

MAP LOCATION: Across the river from #13

PROJECT: WEED BUSTER WORKDAY. Join us during National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week to celebrate the lengthening days and help control weeds in Great Falls Park. Were you aware that we have some old growth forest right here in the Potomac Gorge? Come out to learn more and cut bittersweet and wisteria vines and pull garlic mustard. We will cut vines with loppers and handsaws. A great opportunity to work in a unique area!

To sign up, please contact Mary Travaglini, Potomac Gorge Habitat Restoration Manager, at 301-897-8570, or send your name and phone number to PotomacGorgeVol@tnc.org

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Invasives Control at Carderock with the AMC

WHERE: C&O Canal National Historic Park, Maryland (1/2 hour outside DC)

WHEN: Thursday, March 10, 2005, 9am-1pm

MAP LOCATION: Downstream of #13

PROJECT: WEED BUSTER WORKDAY. Come help and join members of the Appalachian Mountain Club to control invasive plants near the Carderock picnic and climbing areas. This area is home to rare plant communities and rare plant species, which are threatened by competing exotic invasive plants. We will remove honeysuckle, bittersweet vines, and other invasive plants by cutting them with loppers and handsaws. A great place to work with views across the Potomac River that make it seem like we are far from a big city. Option to hike the Billy Goat B or C trails afterwards. We will meet at the north parking lot at Carderock off the Clara Barton Parkway.

To sign up, please contact Mary Travaglini, Potomac Gorge Habitat Restoration Manager, at 301-897-8570, or send your name and phone number to PotomacGorgeVol@tnc.org

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Western Maryland Tree Planting

WHERE: MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST, WV AND CRANESVILLE SWAMP, Garrett County

WHEN: Friday/Saturday, April 29-30. Come for one or both days.... we’ll send info on local places to stay!

PROJECT: WESTERN MARYLAND TREE PLANTING WEEKEND.

Day 1: Friday, April 29, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST, WV (4.5 hours from DC/Balto)

PROJECT: RED SPRUCE RESCUE. Red spruce (Picea rubens) once covered thousands of acres in western Maryland before logging and burning early in the 1900's drastically reduced its range. Join us as we collect seedlings from a similar habitat in West Virginia to transplant to our Cranesville Swamp Preserve.

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Day 2: Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

CRANESVILLE SWAMP PRESERVE, Garrett County (3.5 hours from DC/Balto; 1.5 hours from Cumberland; 1 hour from Monongahela NF)

PROJECT: RED SPRUCE PLANTING. This replanting, Year 4 of a five-year effort, will accelerate restoration of forest cover and regeneration of red spruce. It will improve habitat quality for rare plants and animals by restoring natural vegetation and ecological processes, and improve hydrology and local climate by reducing erosion and increasing percolation of water into the underlying bedrock. Pretty good payoff for a spring day spent in a beautiful place! Bring shovels, digging bars, work gloves, rain gear.

Leaves

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Contact the names below for scheduling a workday for your group this coming spring and summer! We can accomodate your personal, professional, corporate, or school group on projects throughout our preserves in Maryland. Please also let us know if you would like to receive emails about our workdays.

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For information about workdays in the Potomac Gorge:

Contact Mary Travaglini, Potomac Gorge Habitat Restoration Manager, at 301-897-8570, or send your name and phone number to PotomacGorgeVol@tnc.org

For workdays on all of our other Maryland preserves:

volunteermd@tnc.org