Volunteers Needed for Reforestation

Date: February 15, 2011

Antietam National Battlefield is looking for volunteers and school groups to help with several environmental and historic restoration projects this spring and summer. Antietam invites volunteers to help plant trees to reforest the historic East Woods and to restore a vegetated riparian buffer along the Antietam Creek and freshwater springs throughout the park. Volunteers are welcome to come Mondays through Saturdays from March 12 – May 14, depending on weather conditions.

East Woods Reforestation.Since 2009, over 1300 volunteers have helped the park plant over 3500 trees in the East Woods, which was a mature woodlot during the Civil War. With almost 7 acres replanted with seedlings, Antietam hopes to finish reforesting the final 3 acres of the East Woods in time for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam in 2012. Help restore this historic landscape and better the environment by planting oak trees, walnuts, and many more species at Antietam this spring.

Riparian Buffer Restoration. Native vegetation along streams and springs in the area helps reduce pollution, provides habitat for many animal species, and aids in the healthy recovery of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Antietam National Battlefield has been working to restore sensitive riparian corridors for several years, and is now looking for volunteers to help plant seedlings and wildflowers and to remove weedy plants from along the streams and springs that run through the park.

For more information on these projects or to set up a day to volunteer at Antietam, please contact Andrew Landsman at 301-432-2243 or e-mail him. Thank you for your interest in Antietam National Battlefield, and we look forward to working with you.