As this year ends, the Arboretum’s Education Department is celebrating a season filled with curiosity, connection, and countless moments of discovery. Our trails, classrooms, and gardens have been alive with the energy of young learners, from preschoolers getting their hands dirty to middle schoolers digging deeper into forest ecology.
This year, we continued to welcome children from across the community to field trips, summer camps, and school-based programs. Whether a child was visiting the Arboretum for the first time or returning for another season of hands-on learning, each day brought its own sense of wonder. We watched students build shelters in the pines, test soil pH in the vegetable garden, observe pollinators up close, and learn how water flows through systems. These experiences created lasting connections to the natural world that we continue to build upon each year.
One of the most exciting developments we made was expanding our reach into both middle school and preschool classrooms. Bringing Arboretum designed curriculum to older students allowed us to explore more complex concepts like forest systems, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Meanwhile, our work with preschoolers introduced even our youngest scientists to nature-based learning in joyful, sensory-rich ways. Seeing three- and four-year-olds comparing squirrel pencils or proudly using new vocabulary like “habitat” reminded us why early exposure to nature matters so much.
Summer, as always, brought its own kind of magic thanks to our EcoExplorer Camps and the passionate young adults who led them. Our summer camp educators and NAU practicum students who trained alongside them, created an environment where children could explore, ask big questions, and try new things. We also continued offering camp scholarships, ensuring that cost was not a barrier to outdoor learning.
Throughout the year, one theme remained constant: when children are invited to explore outside, they thrive. Their curiosity sharpens, their confidence grows, and their sense of connection to the world and people around them deepens.
As we look ahead, we’re energized by the growth, partnerships, and joyful learning that shaped this year. Thank you for being part of our students’ journeys at the Arboretum and for believing in the power of nature to inspire the next generation.
Helena Murray is the Educational Manager of The Arboretum at Flagstaff.
