This weekend, give back to the national park in our backyard

You can help keep Forest Hills and surrounding neighborhoods leafy by volunteering for one or more of the Rock Creek Park cleanup events during the upcoming holiday weekend. Rock Creek Conservancy is seeking volunteers of all ages to help attach invasive species and pick up trash in the park.

The events in bold below are right here in the neighborhood: Melvin Hazen East and West, Peirce Mill, Soapstone and Broad Branch. And little ones are welcome at all but a few. Here’s more information from Rock Creek Conservancy:

Rock Creek Conservancy is celebrating the MLK National Day of Service with events during the weekend of Saturday, January 17 through Tuesday, January 20 at 18 locations throughout Rock Creek. As part of the 125th anniversary of Rock Creek Park, Rock Creek Conservancy is celebrating with an entire weekend of volunteer service opportunities.

Volunteer activities include (1) cutting invasive English ivy from trees as part of the Conservancy’s initiative to protect the Rock Creek tree canopy; (2) cutting invasive vines such as Porcelain berry and Oriental Bittersweet so natives can grow in the park, and (3) cleaning up trash that has accumulated along streams. For more information, visit rockcreekconservancy.org.

WHEN: Saturday, January 17^th through Tuesday, January 20^th.

WHERE: Events will occur at 18 locations along Rock Creek in Washington, DC, and Montgomery County, MD.

Saturday, January 17^th
Melvin Hazen West: 9:00-11:00, Invasive Removal (kid friendly)
Fenwick Branch: 10:00-12:00, Invasive Removal and Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)
Soapstone Branch: 10:00-12:00, Invasive Removal and Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)
Broad Branch: 12:00-2:00, Invasive Removal and Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)
Turkey Branch South: 12:00-2:00, Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)
Pinehurst Tributary: 1:00-4:00, Invasive Removal

Sunday, January 18^th
Beret Park: 12:00-2:00, Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)
North Chevy Chase Christian Church: 1:00-3:00, Invasive Removal

Monday, January 19^th

Melvin Hazen East: 10:00-12:00, Invasive Removal
Peirce Mill: 10:00-12:00, Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)
Piney Branch South: 10:00-1:00, Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)
Dumbarton Oaks Park: 10:00-1:00, Invasive Removal
Normanstone Park: 10:00-1:00, Invasive Removal
Waterside Drive: 10:00-1:00, Invasive Removal
Exercise Course/Zoo Tunnel: 2:00-4:00, Invasive Removal

Tuesday, January 20^th

Meadowbrook Local Park: 12:00-2:00, Trash Cleanup (kid friendly)

WHY: As part of the 125^th Anniversary of Rock Creek Park, Rock Creek Conservancy is celebrating with an entire weekend of volunteer service opportunities. Combating English ivy, an aggressive non-native invasive vine that weakens and kills trees, helps protect Rock Creek’s tree canopy. Removing invasive vines such as Porcelain berry and Oriental Bittersweet all for native flowers and trees to grow. Picking up trash makes our parks more healthy and beautiful.

WHO: Rock Creek Conservancy is a local nonprofit organization working to protect the lands and waters of Rock Creek and revitalize Rock CreekPark for people to treasure and enjoy. The Conservancy is partnering on these events with the National Park Service, Montgomery Parks, Dumbarton Oaks Parks Conservancy, Blue Planet Scuba, and North Chevy Chase Christian Church.