“Wolf Trap has a destiny. It reaches out for people asking that they restore their spirits at its theater, on its hillsides, in the woods, or by the stream.”
– Mrs. Catherine Filene Shouse
Friends of Wolf Trap (FOWT) is a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization committed to supporting activities and efforts to enhance the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts’ greater potential for the study and preservation of natural resources, local history, and outdoor recreational uses not directly related to performance.
Our Mission:
- To support and advance the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts’ vision of promoting its natural and historical resources.
- To share the benefits of outdoor recreation at Wolf Trap through greater awareness, education, community involvement, projects and programs which will enhance visitors’ experience.
- To assist the National Park Service by stimulating interest in the natural resources of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.
History:
The National Park Service/Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and the Friends of Wolf Trap (FOWT), entered into a formal partnership in 2014 to further the vision of Catherine Filene Shouse.
As urban development in Northern Virginia continues to accelerate, the management of open spaces becomes more important than ever. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts contains important natural, recreational and historical resources for the community. As a not-for-profit organization, FOWT contributes to community awareness, assist with educational programs, recreation, and preservation through centralized volunteer and directed fundraising efforts.
Some of the FOWT Activities & Programs:
- Watershed clean-up
- Supervised maintenance and planting in the native gardens and select projects
- Scientific study
- Trail building and maintenance
- Various service projects
- First Time Campers for Fairfax County 5th & 6th graders
- Garden projects — Woodland Shade Garden, Meadow garden, Native Garden, Donor Garden, Monarch Butterfly Garden
Volunteer Groups:
Who have all given time and resources to support Friends of Wolf Trap and the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.
- Green Springs Master Gardeners
- Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC)
- Apple Computers (local employee volunteer groups)
- Area Corporations
- Volunteer Fairfax
- Boy & Girl Scout troops
- Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
- Potomac Conservancy
- Neighboring home owner associations
Volunteer & How to Get Involved:
- Hiking Trail Guide
- Native Planting Project
- Interpretive Signage
- Historic Preservation
- Citizen Scientist Program
- Vegetable Gardening Program
FOWT Partnerships & Collaborators:
- Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
- Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
- Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
- Green Spring Master Gardeners
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
- Fairfax Master Naturalists
- Shouse Village Community Association
- Northern Virginia Hiking Club
- First Time Campers
- Plant NOVA Natives
- Wolf Trap and Colvin Run Elementary Schools
- Girl and Boy Scouts of America
While You Visit Wolf Trap, Enjoy:
- Hiking Trails
- Bird Watching
- Theatre in the Woods
- Monthly Guided Walks
- The Gardens of Wolf Trap National Park
- Fishing at the Pond
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