Springing into New Programs!

Springing into New Programs

As Reflection Park approaches 5 months since opening our gates as Montgomery County’s first (modern) completely natural burial ground, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all who have supported our mission. Whether you have attended an open house, entrusted us with pre-need or at-need arrangements, heard us speak, or simply stopped by on your own time to visit and walk the grounds, we hope this place has felt as meaningful to you as it does for us. We invite you to begin, or deepen, your connection to Reflection Park by joining us for any of our three upcoming programs.

Read below to learn more or check out the Events page on our website. We look forward to sharing these experiences with you!

EVENTS PAGE

A Wind Phone stands among trees in the forest.

Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 2pm-3:30pm

Reflection Park's "Caring for Caregivers" series is dedicated to honoring and supporting the incredible individuals who provide compassionate care to those who are nearing the end of life. If you are a death doula, hospice care worker, chaplain, family caregiver, or anyone else committed to accompanying and caring for others during their last days, this program is for you.

We’ll join together in a communal walk through the woods on Reflection Park's natural surface hiking trail. At the memorial picnic bench where two streams converge, musician Jabari Exum will offer rhythms from the djembe, often called the "peace drum." The djembe's name comes from the Bamana phrase "Anke djé, anke bé," which means "everyone gather together in peace." Traditionally used in West Africa, the djembe’s resonance is said to ignite our internal systems and bring them into balance.

Together, we’ll embrace the beauty of nature in community with fellow caregivers who understand the demands of our roles.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE

A New and Ongoing Volunteer Series!

Happy Native Plant Month! Two weeks ago, the US Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution designating April 2026 as National Native Plant Month! The timing is fortuitous, as Reflection Park is kicking off a new volunteer program series dedicated to land stewardship that we call Common Ground (which can also acknowledge the Senate’s bipartisan effort!)

In May, we will offer two opportunities in this series, one devoted to removing invasive species and another to native plantings.

Anyone interested in spending time in nature is welcome; no experience is necessary. Join us in this important mission to preserve our natural environment and care for a portion of Reflection Park’s precious land!

Reflection Park is registered with the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, allowing us to approve Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Encourage your teens to take part in this opportunity to learn and serve! Students under 18 are welcome with a parent or guardian.

Common Ground Series:

Planting Natives

Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 9am-12pm

A core principle of Reflection Park’s mission is harmony with the environment and with the natural cycles of life, death, and renewal. One of the best things that we can do to support harmony with our ecosystem is to plant native species. Native plants support local butterflies, moths, and other insects that, in turn, support birds, bats, and other parts of the food web.

During this event, we’ll work on two projects: preparing an area toward the rear of the property and seeding it with meadow grass, and then planting native flower plugs close to the entrance to start Reflection Park’s flower-cutting garden. As these native species grow, they’ll both enrich the natural landscape at Reflection Park and provide nectar and pollen sources, allowing native wildlife to thrive.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE

Common Ground Series:

Tackling Invasives

Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 1pm-4pm

Reflection Park’s mission reflects a value for harmony with the natural world. Our one-mile natural surface trail through the forest offers a peaceful respite from the noise of everyday life. However, the native species living there face a quieter kind of disruption as they endure competition from invasive plants that threaten their natural abundance. Invasive Bittersweet is one of those species, introduced to this country from Eastern Asia as an ornamental plant. It grows rapidly, jeopardizing the health and survival of other plants as it winds around them.

We’ll start with a short primer on recognizing Bittersweet and other common invasives in our area before we get to the physical work of vine-clearing – and, in the process, head-clearing! Removal is surprisingly satisfying, and every invasive plant we eliminate helps protect another tree or understory plant. Come ready to cut, pull, and clear to make space for these plants – and leave the forest a little more native than you found it!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE

Let’s Be Social!

We love to see you in person here at Reflection Park, but we recognize that the virtual world can also help us stay connected sometimes. If you don’t already follow us on Facebook and Instagram, now is the time to start! We are ramping up our social media offerings, including information about our programs, the grounds, and the importance of natural burial. Please follow us and share our posts with your networks!

Reflection Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We are grateful for every dollar contributed in support of our mission to create a sacred place that celebrates the cycle of life, death, and renewal.

More information about specific giving opportunities can be found on our donation page.

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