Our Work
Volunteer community, maintenance programs, and enhancement projects
The Foundation preserves and enhances the Washington Park Arboretum through a variety of dynamic programs and projects. We recruit and manage a vibrant volunteer community that supports every facet of Arboretum operations—from grounds maintenance to fundraising events. We help fund the salaries of UW Botanic Gardens arborists, gardeners, and environmental educators working in the Arboretum. We fund revitalization projects, such as the restoration of historic Rhododendron Glen, and the creation of new horticultural displays, such as the Pacific Connections Garden. We are also the support organization for the Seattle Japanese Garden in the Arboretum.
Become a volunteer and enjoy everything the Arboretum community offers. Meet great people and like-minded spirits.
Caring for the Arboretum’s plant collection, and ensuring the health and safety of the trees, is a major expense and our biggest pride and joy.
We are funding the restoration of Rhododendron Glen, Lake Washington Boulevard, and other beloved spaces in the Arboretum.
We’re helping children and adults learn about the vital role plants, forests, and wetlands play in the urban environment.
We are the support partner for the Japanese Garden at the Arboretum, managing public programs and volunteers, and raising vital funds.
We fund and support Master Plan improvement projects, including the Pacific Connections Garden and the Arboretum Loop Trail.
News Articles
Landscape Architecture Students Renovate a Water Channel in the Arboretum
AFTER: The Woodland Garden drainage pipe and water channel following the renovation.In early March 2023, students from the University of Washington Landscape Architecture Department completed a winter-quarter design-build project renovating the Woodland Garden pond...
Get to Know the Arboretum: 5 Projects, 5 Programs, and 5 Plans for the Future
Storytime at the Fiddleheads Forest School in the Arboretum. (Photo by UW Botanic Gardens)The Arboretum Foundation works in close partnership with UW Botanic Gardens and Seattle Parks and Recreation to support, manage, and advocate for the incredible green spaces at...
Restoring the Hydrology of Arboretum Creek
Local non-profit the Friends of Arboretum Creek is working with King County and the Arboretum partners to improve the ecology of the creek and watershed in and around the park. A key initiative is the Headwaters Project, which will help restore year-round waterflow to...