Mission Statement

The Connecticut College Arboretum is owned by Connecticut College and operated for the benefit of the college and the community. The Arboretum functions in support of the college's mission by helping to prepare men and women for a lifetime of learning about and interacting with the natural world. The mission of the Arboretum is:

Teaching

To provide an outdoor laboratory for use by faculty and students in Botany, Zoology, Biology, Environmental Studies, and other departments. In both teaching and research the Arboretum is a unique and valuable academic resource and support facility.

Research

To support and conduct research in a broad range of subjects including ecology, field biology, conservation, and natural history. Arboretum research has and continues to emphasize useful long-term studies.

Conservation

To provide stewardship of the College lands by protecting, sustaining, and enhancing biological diversity by means of large tracts of open-space. The Arboretum also provides leadership statewide and beyond in conservation matters.

 

Recreation

To provide a place where people from the College and the community may enjoy passive recreation and where they may come to learn, reflect, and renew themselves through contact with the natural world. By all the elements of the Arboretum's mission, the Arboretum enhances the quality of life both for the College and the citizens of southeastern Connecticut.

Public Education

To provide programs and publications about conservation, horticulture, gardening, botany, and natural history which work to enhance public understanding of the natural world and foster an appreciation of the Arboretum's mission.