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In honor of Arbor Day, participants also planted a White Oak—Maryland's state tree—and a native eastern redbud. It’s the fifth tree-planting ceremony at headquarters in recent years, with more to come. Additionally, a seed planting station allowed attendees to plant Black-eyed Susan flowers to take home, while learning about the benefits of a garden.

Partners in the celebration included the and . The Stormwater Project is a Maryland Department of the Environment initiative aimed at regulating water discharges; it also promotes awareness to reduce pollution. Sustainable Maryland is a free program designed to help communities take action by improving access to resources that help implement positive change.

In addition to observing Earth Day, the celebration was one of several related to as part of National Volunteer Month. Other gatherings in the United States and Asia included  in San Antonio, Texas; Volunteer Day at Greenbelt Park, Maryland; and  in South Korea. 

���Ĵ�ý President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD—in Korea for ���Ĵ�ý’s April 25 commencement in Seoul—helped clean up the park alongside more than 30 ���Ĵ�ý students, faculty, and staff at the plogging event on April 23, 2026. Volunteers were equipped with trash bags and grabber tools, picking up litter as they walked the park’s historic tree-lined paths. 

“One of the things I continue to talk with our team about is … transforming lives and communities,” said Fowler in a speech thanking volunteers. “There are so many ways we can have an impact on people’s lives, and this is one of them.”