Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only national park devoted to cultivated water-loving plants. This unique habitat, featuring exotic water lilies and lotus, is an oasis for nature lovers, a haven for walkers, hikers, photographers and birdwatchers and a living laboratory for students.

The major activities of the Friends Group are “work days” on the fourth Saturday of most months from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We put on our gloves, pull on our boots, grab our tools and roll up our sleeves to beautify the park.  We haul trash, clear invasive plants, muck out the fall detritus from the ponds and generally have a good time.  In addition, we help the park by organizing major volunteer events for Earth Day, the Lily Festival and National Public Lands Day.  Our volunteers come from throughout the Washington metro area including community service organizations, high school service clubs, university environmental organizations, local scout troops, church groups and alumni associations. 

We are a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization working in partnership with the staff at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a unit of the National Park Service.   Our goal is to ensure that the park’s natural, historical, and recreational potential is fully realized.

Our members believe that we must celebrate and protect this jewel within our city and region. Together we are:

• Encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy and support Kenilworth by volunteering their time in this beautiful setting
• Supporting the National Park Service at Kenilworth with our time, talents and donations
• Developing and delivering high quality educational, interpretive, and volunteer programs
• Building a broad constituency to advocate for the park for years to come

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