Student Leadership

A wide-angle outdoor view of the Waterway Education Pavilion near Putah Creek Lodge at UC Davis. The small open-air structure has a wooden pergola-style roof casting striped shadows on the ground. A wall of educational signs is visible inside, along with built-in wooden benches. The structure is surrounded by native vegetation, with a wood fence and nature trail nearby.

The Boathouse Is Back—with a New Mission

by Katie Ferguson Hetrick
Fri, June 27, 2025

Located near Putah Creek Lodge and overlooking the newly enhanced Arboretum Waterway, a once-forgotten boathouse is making waves again—but this time, not with canoes.

Three interns pose with certificates next to Bret Hewitt

Four Interns Named 2025 Pinkerton Prize Winners

Fri, May 30, 2025

Student Leadership

Four Learning by Leading™ students were awarded the Pinkerton Prize for Outstanding Student Contributions for going above and beyond in their roles as interns to support the Arboretum and Public Garden.

Group of six accreditation team members standing outdoors near a building, with two students, Dyanna Perez and Amelia Swanson, explaining something to the group in front of a modern, green-accented building.

Landscape Architecture Accreditation Team Visits UC Davis

by Chiara Zavala
Tue, April 22, 2025

On April 15, the UC Davis Department of Human Ecology hosted a site visit from the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board as part of the re-accreditation process for the university’s Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture program. While accreditation visits are a formal step in maintaining program standards, this one also served as a celebration of student creativity, collaboration, and sustainability in action.

Image of four young women behind a newly planted tree. All are wearing UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden t-shirts and stand in front of a backdrop that includes Lake Spafford and a lush landscape.

From Roots to Ripples: How Community Donations Transform the Arboretum and Public Garden

by Katie Ferguson Hetrick
Mon, March 31, 2025

Thanks to generous donations, dedicated volunteers, and passionate student leaders, we have made remarkable strides in planting new trees, enhancing campus landscapes, and creating opportunities for hands-on learning.

Visitors gather around the interactive "Build Your Own Climate-Ready Garden" activity at Biodiversity Museum Day

Join Biodiversity Museum Day 2025

Tue, January 21, 2025

The Arboretum and Public Garden is one of ten campus collections participating in UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. This year, we invite you to experience the best of both worlds: spend your morning exploring the fascinating indoor museums, then head outdoors in the afternoon to enjoy the Arboretum and Public Garden’s vibrant, nature-filled exhibits.

A group of four people dig holes into the grass

UC Davis’ Tree Planting Efforts

Fri, January 17, 2025

Student Leadership

UC Davis’ vibrant tree canopy is more than a hallmark of its picturesque campus—it’s a testament to the university’s commitment to sustainability.

Miles DePrato and Mara Feldman working in the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

Support for Learning by Leading Ecological Land Management Team

Wed, December 11, 2024

Student Leadership

Mara Feldman, an environmental science and management major, joined the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Learning by Leading™ internship program to further her plant knowledge and gain hands-on experience. Along the way, she developed valuable leadership skills.