The Washington Park Arboretum is a welcome oasis on the shores of Lake Washington. Jointly managed with the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the City of Seattle, its 230 acres contain a dynamic assortment of plants, some found nowhere else in the Northwest. The Arboretum has been a particularly treasured resource for the community during the pandemic, drawing visitors from across the region. The Arboretum Foundation, a non-profit membership organization, has provided stewardship for the Arboretum since 1935. The Foundation manages the Park’s membership and volunteer programs, raises necessary funds, and advocates for the Arboretum within the community. Essential Arboretum operations and activities funded include arboriculture, garden maintenance, volunteer management and environmental education programs, with a focus on expanding community access. In 2016, the Foundation expanded its role to include programming for the Seattle Japanese Garden, another recognized community gem. As a well-known leader in environmental education and stewardship, our current priorities are based on the Arboretum’s Earth Day 2020 platform: modeling sustainability; building climate resilience and cultivating a new generation of environmental stewards. The Foundation was recently selected to participate in the prestigious Central Parks Conservancy Partnerships Lab to help fulfill our potential as a steward of a leading 21st century botanical garden. The Arboretum Foundation values diversity in all forms and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
