By Megan Singleton I began at Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in January 2020, fresh out of college and eager to learn as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Little did I know, things would change drastically for the world in a matter of two short months. When the world shut down in March, so too did my...
By Megan Singleton Every year the ponds at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens flood with fragrant blooms of towering lotus and delicate water lilies in the summer and every year we see a pilgrimage of Asian and Asian American friends at the park to enjoy the flowers so sacred in their cultures. The lotus has many symbolic...
We are excited to announce that Shannah Cumberbatch, our Volunteer & Program Manager, will take up the mantle as Interim Executive Director. Shannah is eager to take the helm and lead FoKAG into a fun-filled summer as we search for a new ED. Shannah has a clear goal to increase interaction with community members,...
Meet Ranger Stephanie! Stephanie is part of the amazing team of rangers at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens who keep this beloved park well-maintained and offer their vast knowledge to all who visit. In recognition of Women’s History Month, we spoke with Stephanie about her experience as a woman in the National Park Service. Stephanie is extremely...
More than ten years ago, when I walked down the gravel path into Kenilworth Aquatic Garden as the first paid staff member for Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (FoKAG), I was overcome with a sense of peace and possibility. I was where I belonged. You know the feeling: the moment when the daily hustle and...
We say goodbye to five fantastic board members this year and welcome four new ones in their place. Please join me in celebrating the time of Charles Taylor, Kamaile Turcan, Elizabeth Curwen, Chanda Washington and Irfana Jetha Noorani as they step down from the board of directors for Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Then join...
Written by Tina O’Connell This year the annual National Park Friends Alliance Meeting convened in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a town nestled at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Friends of the Smokies hosted the conference in partnership with the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation and the Steering Committee of the...
Written by Shannah Cumberbatch The Anacostia Community Museum is working on an oral history project where eight high school students living in the Anacostia Park community were invited to explore the power of documenting their communities’ history through the lens of Anacostia Park and the Anacostia River. The students have been meeting with and interviewing...
Sunday Funday Recap – Sunday, 6 Nov 2022 Written by Shannah Cumberbatch Sunday Funday was our last event of the year on November 6th, but it won’t be the last Funday! The Gardens are a beautiful park to enjoy year-round, and we want folks to know and enjoy it outside peak season. This event brought...
Closing out the Volunteer Season By Shannah Cumberbatch Our volunteers are our most valuable team players. From helping out in the ponds to greeting visitors, leading bird walks, and helping to set up for special events, our volunteers do it all! They are the reason we have such a robust program, one where folks opt...
