During Earth Month and beyond, it’s important to keep parks, streams, and other natural sites in good shape, whether that involves picking up litter or removing invasive plants. To get involved in the NoVA area, register for these volunteer events and groups where you can help clean up the community.
Earth Day Clean Up
April 22, 1–3 p.m.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host a cleanup of the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge on Paril 22 so volunteers can clean up the area. Supplies like gloves and trash bags will be provided but limited, so it may be helpful to bring your own.
Keep Loudoun Beautiful
Dates vary
With Keep Loudoun Beautiful, there are several ways to clean up the county. There will be neighborhood cleanups of Broad Run Farm on April 20 and 27 and a tree planting event hosted by the Goose Creek Association on April 20.
Keep Prince William Beautiful
Dates vary
This community organization hosts neighborhood cleanups throughout Prince William County, where volunteers can go to pick up trash from the county’s parks and waterways. There are volunteer days scheduled on April 20 and a litter cleanup on April 27. Be sure to check the calendar to see when and where you can volunteer.
District Cleanups
Dates vary
In Washington, DC, District Cleanups works to pick up litter in parks and around the city. The next event is scheduled for April 20 at Garrison Elementary School in Logan Circle to celebrate Earth Day.
Remove Invasive Plants in Arlington
Dates vary
It’s not all about cleaning litter. Invasive plants can cause problems for natural areas by overwhelming native plants. Volunteers with RIP cut back vines and pull up invasive plants at 10 sites throughout Arlington. Upcoming events include a cleanup at Upton Hill Park on April 18 and Tuckahoe Elementary School on April 20.
Natural Resource Management in Fairfax County
Dates vary
Fairfax County hosts several opportunities to volunteer, including sessions where volunteers can manually remove invasive species and plant native species. The events happen regularly across several sites, including Lake Accotink Park, Oakton Community Park, and Blake Lane Park.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Things to Do newsletter.
