Institution profile

Established in 1927 by an Act of Congress, the U.S. National Arboretum is located in Northeast Washington, D.C., and administered by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 446-acre Arboretum features 9.5 miles of winding roadways and multiple collections of woody and herbaceous plants and is the site of wide-ranging developmental and applied research on trees, shrubs, turf, and floral plants. ( For more information about the Arboretum, visit the National Arboretum website.)

The Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) is the Arboretum’s primary nonprofit partner. FONA compliments the Arboretum by ensuring that its research and gardens are a resource for D.C. residents and tourists from around the world. It also connects people with nature at the Arboretum through education programs, recreation, and special events.  (For more information, visit the Friends of the National Arboretum website.)

Students learning about Kale on a SPROUTS field trip in Washington Youth Garden. Courtesy of Friends of the National Arboretum.

Program description

For 50 years, Washington Youth Garden (WYG), the youth outreach and education branch of FONA, has provided hands-on education to connect youth to food, the land, and each other. Originally established in 1971 on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum to teach local elementary students horticultural and life skills, WYG has grown into an award-winning education program supporting thousands of under-resourced students all over Washington, D.C. Washington Youth Garden supports three main initiatives:

• • The WYG one-acre education garden at the National Arboretum is a destination for garden-based education and nature play. WYG’s sensory garden, innovative growing techniques, and nature-exploration classroom encourage visitors of all ages to engage with agriculture, farming, and environmental education. Thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in Washington Youth Garden each year, all of which are distributed to students and families in the D.C. community to fight food insecurity.
  • The School Garden Support Program works with educators across D.C. through two professional development components to build strong, sustainable school garden programs. The Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching trains teams of D.C. teachers in school garden coordination and maintenance, curriculum integration, outdoor teaching strategies, and resource development. The Educator Coaching Program provides additional hands-on technical assistance, coaching, and direct education for Summer Institute alumni from Title 1 schools to help them meet their school garden goals.
  • The Garden Ambassador Program provides year-round employment and development opportunities for high school students. Participants begin the program in the Farm Crew, a six-week paid summer internship where they learn hands-on skills such as gardening, cooking, and carpentry as well as interpersonal skills like communication and collaboration. Participants can then continue the program through the Guild, a paid internship during the academic year. They apply skills learned during the Farm Crew to implement community action projects that address food insecurity. After participating in the Farm Crew and Guild internships, Green Ambassadors are invited to mentor incoming Farm Crew participants, deepen their knowledge through garden internships, and broaden connections through an alumni network.

Green Ambassador harvesting salad greens. Courtesy of Friends of the National Arboretum.

Program impact

Through its programs, WYG has provided opportunities for thousands of D.C. youth over half a century to learn about the science and pleasure of growing plants, improve their self-confidence, and develop stronger inquiry and team building skills.

Future plans

As Washington Youth Garden celebrates its 50th anniversary, FONA is adapting its education programs to support the community’s current needs and elevate WYG as a premier destination for garden-based education and nature play for the next half century.

Washington Youth Garden in Summer. Courtesy of Friends of the National Arboretum.

Takeaways for other public gardens

So many programs start with great fanfare, but due to lack of financial or community support, fizzle out after only a few years. WYG has demonstrated that a well-conceived program that truly meets the needs of its community can survive and grow for over a half-century.

Green Ambassadors showing off their summer harvest. Courtesy of Friends of the National Arboretum.