Strategic Plan 2021–2025
Our Unique Position
Adkins Arboretum is one of the few botanical institutions focused on conserving and promoting the flora of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. The Arboretum's collection comprises 400 acres of native plant communities in cultivated gardens and successional patterns of meadows, old fields, pine plantations, young hardwood forests, mature bottomland forests, and wetlands.
As a significant natural, educational, and cultural resource, the Arboretum is a model for preserving and restoring indigenous plant communities and habitats and promoting the appreciation and use of native plants. By viewing the roles native plants play through the lens of natural history, ecology, and art, Adkins Arboretum seeks to engage a broad audience interested in many aspects of the environment-from habitat for wildlife to ecosystem processes that help to clean air and water, to human uses of natural resources. The Arboretum offers the opportunity to be at ease in a wild place and feel a part of it rather than merely a visitor.
Values
Stewardship: We preserve and nurture the native landscapes that display a diverse and dynamic indigenous living collection that is authentic and engaging. In addition, we are committed to managing living collections and engaging the public in a financially and environmentally sustainable manner.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility: We engage a diverse audience with relevant programming, targeted marketing, thoughtful staff, volunteers, and board recruitment. We seek to ensure fair treatment of everyone in our community and are committed to creating and sustaining a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, appreciated, and welcome. We share our work and venue in new ways to make them accessible to everyone. To do all this well, we are committed to cultivating and fostering diversity within our community.
Excellence: We offer transformative engagement with nature, do everything we do exceptionally well, stay nimble, and exceed the expectations of our guests, employees, volunteers, partners, and donors.
Strategic Priorities
Adkins Arboretum seeks to reach out to broad audiences, encourage creative solutions to land stewardship issues, provide a healthy and stimulating work environment, and foster love and appreciation of the natural world.
BUILD REPUTATION as a Regional Destination w/National Recognition
Serve as a WELCOMING gathering place for a broad, diverse audience, providing a venue for education, research, conservation dialogue, the arts, and opportunities for visitors to socialize with each other, commune, connect with nature, and become
informed and inspired.
BROADEN ENGAGEMENT
Engage visitors virtually and onsite through an expanded catalog of appealing and accessible programming. Seek new partnerships and opportunities to reach beyond our current constituency.
RESEARCH
Support and encourage research projects central to the Arboretum's goals of conserving, restoring, and promoting the mid-Atlantic flora.
SUSTAINABILITY
Seek and promote sustainable practices in all activities and physical spaces: financial, community, natural resources, and facilities. Maintain RESILIENCE and BALANCE.
