Give Day 2021 - Arboretum

What makes UC Davis a great university? It’s the work we do every day to improve people’s lives here at home and around the world.

At the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, we see our highest purpose as inspiring human potential to help people and environments thrive. With this goal in mind, we developed our signature initiative, our Learning by Leading™ internship program, to immerse students in progressive environmental leadership experiences. Through collaboration and adaptive problem-solving, our interns tackle real-world issues related to pressing environmental challenges: climate change, food security, biodiversity and habitat loss, sustainable horticulture, waterway stewardship, environmental literacy and more.

This spring, our Learning by Leading™ students’ plans were upended by the COVID-19 crisis and the closure of campus to in-person learning. With great resilience, they have pivoted to face this challenge head-on, joining together for remote collaboration with our staff mentors to convert the Learning by Leading™ program into a virtual leadership program.

To support our community during the crisis, they are focusing on sharing the health benefits of nature through virtual engagement with our larger community, including other students, volunteers, members, and the public. Their key message: Everyone can lean into nature as a source of hope, comfort, healing and well being during these stressful times.

Click on a fund below and your gift will be counted. We are greater together, thanks to your support.