Education

Affiliated with Harvard University and deeply committed to enhancing our understanding of the plant kingdom, the Arnold Arboretum conducts educational programs for multiple audiences as a key component of its mission. Graduate and undergraduate students from Harvard University use the Arboretum landscape and collections for curricula ranging from introductory botany to urban ecology.

The Arboretum’s adult education program offers one-day and multisession classes in horticulture, botany, and landscape-related fields to the public, focusing in particular on programs that leverage the Arboretum’s rich collections and expert staff.

Since the 1980s, Arboretum educators and volunteers have provided nature and introductory plant science instruction to Boston Area school children through instruction in the landscape and in the classroom. As a visitor destination, the Arboretum also offers numerous informal education opportunities—including tours, family activities, and exhibitions—both in the landscape and in the Hunnewell Visitor Center.