Friends of the National Arboretum

Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) is a nonprofit membership organization working to preserve and enhance the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) in Washington D.C. and bring this remarkable resource to life as an important part of the city and region.

The primary program of FONA is the Washington Youth Garden. Founded in 1971, the Washington Youth Garden provides unique environmental science and nutrition education programming for youth and families.The mission of the Washington Youth Garden is to nurture curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other.

Our small program team is a little community in itself, mixed with different personalities, cultures, gifts and talents. Everything from mushroom cultivation to bread making. There’s always something to learn from everyone. We enjoy lending each other a hand on projects and listening to each other for feedback and suggestions. 

Friends of the National Arboretum is an equal opportunity employer. We believe participation across a broad-spectrum of human experiences and backgrounds is necessary. We value different skills, identities, education levels, and generations on our team, and are committed to creating a just and inclusive environment for all.