By SCA Community Engagement Fellow Hayden Sloan
Kingman and Heritage Islands Park is a sudden breath of fresh wilderness at the edge of the city on the Anacostia River. Bisected by East Capitol Street, the northern and southern sides of the Kingman Island park are equal parts woodsy and picturesque picnic areas. The northern tip of the island past Benning Road boasts a golf course.
Entering the park from the near-abandoned RFK lot feels a bit like passing through the legendary closet into Narnia. A short path takes you from crumbling pavement to a scenic bridge and the islands just beyond.
Kingman Island and Heritage Island are man-made islands built from material that was dredged from the Anacostia River in the early 20th century. They now provide important wetland habitat for many native species.
The land is maintained by Living Classrooms, a non-profit educational organization, leading in experiential learning. The organization was founded in Baltimore in 1985 based on the idea that struggling students respond to learning in real-world environments more readily than they do in traditional classrooms.
Nestlé employees will join SCA volunteers to preserve this beloved green space for future generations to enjoy, allowing Living Classrooms to continue their work with youth in Eastern DC and beyond.
Nestlé in the U.S. is hosting #NestleCares, a national day of volunteering across Nestlé’s 120 U.S. hometowns. SCA is proud to facilitate opportunities for Nestlé in the U.S. employees, families, and friends to engage in team-based service projects in 9 different cities across the country.
The projects on Thursday, August 10th will include restoring wetlands along the Anacostia River, invasive species removal, clearing picnic areas for community use, and sowing wildflowers in a new meadow to promote pollinator habitat and native plants.
The preservation of biodiversity within DC is an important project. That, plus open community areas make Kingman Island a perfect space for nature-human interaction, for amateur naturalists, students, and families.
Click here to learn more about the #NestléCares events
