Growing Native Kiosks
Potomac Conservancy Project
Potomac Conservancy is working to increase the awareness of the Growing Native project throughout the Potomac River watershed by employing kiosks throughout the region. Growing Native kiosks are full service stations with interpretive signs that educate the public about the importance of trees and encourage people to engage in seed collecting.

Growing Native is the signature project of the Potomac Watershed Partnership that replenishes the supply of native seedling stock at state nurseries within the nearly 15,000-square-mile Potomac River watershed. Since the program’s inception in 2001, over 30,000 volunteers have mobilized to collect more than 94,000 pounds of acorns, walnuts, and other native hardwood tree seeds. Donated to state nurseries, these seeds have generated nearly 6 million seedlings that are crucial in the restoration of our native species to as many as 54,000 acres of sensitive streamside land.

The kiosk serves two purposes: it is a station for volunteers to drop off the seeds they collected so that foresters can easily pick them up and take them to the state nursery. It also serves as an educational piece with panels on the side of the structure that displays information on the Potomac River watershed, the importance of trees, how to properly collect seeds, and what the Growing Native program is all about.

The structure is 7.5 ft. high, with two side panels that extend out 5 ft in a 90 degree angle.
The kiosk will include an enclosed 45 gallon box where volunteers can deliver their seeds.
There will also be a section on one of the side panels to post local information.
The kiosk will be a temporary structure that will be set up the beginning of August and taken down the end of November.