FOSC Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are FOSC! Your energy, enthusiasm & skills accomplish FOSC’s many goals.

Together, you have taken out hundreds of pounds of trash from the creek and surrounding parkland in the past year during the twice yearly Sweep the Creek events. You’ve removed hundreds of bags of invasive vines and other plants – saving trees and allowing native plants to come up and spring ephemerals to bloom. You’ve reported pollution to the FOSC Water WatchDog program right when it happens to limit the damage. Your efforts have a huge impact on Sligo Creek and Park.

A single Venus looking glass flower stem with purple flowers at the top amid a field of other native perennials at the powerline meadow to the east of Sligo Creek in Sligo Creek Section 1,

If you want to volunteer at an event: look at the full calendar of events page for walks, talks and other chances to volunteer. More in-person events are planned for outdoors as weather permits.

To indicate your ongoing interest in an activity or to indicate other interests or expertise: please email the relevant committee’s chairperson to offer your help. There is something for everyone.

As you walk the creek paths and trails, you can collect and remove litter and recyclables. Bring a trash bag and gloves and make a difference to the Creek!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

  • Weed Warriors

    FOSC holds small group Weed Warrior events to pull invasive plants, mostly Wed. and Friday mornings, and some Saturdays and Sundays. These events are open to non-Weed Warriors. Events are posted Calendar of Events page.

  • Sweep the Creek – a twice-yearly event in the spring and fall

    Join more than 300 neighbors and other volunteers at Sweep the Creek. FOSC Stewards will be giving out gloves, trash and recycling bags donated by the Parks Department. The locations and schedule is posted on the Sweep the Creek page. No pre-registration required! Students seeking SSL hours should bring their forms with them to the Sweep.

    Less litter means fewer pollutants such as microplastics entering the Anacostia River and the Chesapeake Bay, and healthier wildlife and people.

  • Litter Hotspot Cleanups

    Throughout the year we hold Litter Hotspot cleanups at local parks along Sligo and Long Branch, and at the Wheaton Branch stormwater ponds. Check out the Calendar page for the next event. If you join FOSC, you will receive the newsletter in your inbox (see below).

     

  • Join FOSC

    To learn about more volunteer opportunities, FOSC programs, and events, join FOSC! As a member, you will receive the FOSC newsletter with news, updates, upcoming events, and nature sightings.

A Dad and two kids sweeping the creek of litter.

Sweeping the Creek            Photo © Julius Kassovic