Pitching In for Boxerwood

Earlier this spring, a bounty of youthful volunteers got to know Boxerwood from the ground up—literally. In mid-March, nearly 80 middle schoolers from both the LDMS and MRMS National Junior Honor Societies joined forces to plant almost 100 pine trees along Boxerwood’s golf course boundary. In response to changes in that property, these new plantings help protect natural ecosystems. Once grown, this strengthened buffer will help slow stormwater runoff from the uphill landscape, create valuable edge habitat, and provide future shelter for birds and other wildlife. 

As part of their Earth-care action, students also created small mammal habitat—affectionately known as “rabbitat”—using fallen sticks and branches gathered from paths and open areas. This simple act not only provides winter shelter for wildlife but also helps prepare the gardens for the mowing season. In well-traveled areas, other youths sowed grass seed to stabilize soil and restore worn paths. All this enthusiasm, especially as spring began to emerge, has been a powerful reminder of Boxerwood’s mission: to educate and inspire people of all ages to become environmentally responsible stewards of the Earth.

A few weeks later, a group of ten VMI cadets also gave their best to Boxerwood. The cadets removed old wood and rebar along one of our main woodland pathways. They then installed new water breaks—wood placed strategically across the path—to slow stormwater as it flows toward the wetland pond. These improvements reduce erosion in areas where a lack of vegetation struggles to hold soil in place. To further protect the ground, the cadets spread wood chips along the path, helping minimize soil compaction and improve resilience.

For many of the cadets, this was their first visit to Boxerwood. After their hard work, they enjoyed a tour of the gardens and learned about its history. The PlayTrail, Fairy Forest, and giant chair in the field quickly became favorites—sparking smiles and even a few comments about wishing they had grown up with a place like Boxerwood.

In a time when schedules are full and commitments pull us in many directions, these acts of service offer a meaningful reminder: we are stronger when we work together. Like the roots of trees in a forest that intertwine and support one another, shared Earth stewardship connects people in ways that create resilience and lasting impact. Each tree planted, each path restored, and each habitat created strengthens not only Boxerwood's gardens, but also the caring bonds within our community. Thank you, young Earth Stewards!