Our Partners



About Us

The Lillian Anderson Arboretum is a private facility, owned by Kalamazoo College. It is managed and maintained by the Larry J. Bell ’80 Environmental Stewardship Center, who partner with many people who share our commitment to uphold the missions of conservation and recreation.

Interested in being involved? Follow us on Instagram @kzooarb for seasonal updates, volunteer days, and more! To contact us directly, you can email arboretum@kzoo.edu.

Crucial in carrying out countless projects is our student trail crew, who maintain the trails during Fall and Spring Terms, as well as in the summer. You may cross paths with them walking around in tan-colored trail crew shirts – if you see them, tell them hello!

The trail crew helps maintains the Arboretum for its visitors through invasive species control, erosion control, and general clean up.

Group of students in the woods while wearing Lillian Anderson Arboretum work shirts

Kalamazoo College Contributors

The Environmental Stewardship Center manages the Arboretum and collaborates with all its partners. This includes hiring student trail crews, maintaining safe walking trails, and removing invasive species.

As part of the Kalamazoo College campus, the physical property of Arboretum is cared for by the Facilities Management team. They help with downed trees, land management, and more!

The Biology Department, and by association, the Environmental Studies Concentration, often use the Arboretum as a living lab. They share ongoing research findings that helps to inform management decisions.

Kalamazoo Community Contributors

We work specifically with the Ecological Services Center at the Nature Center. Some ongoing projects are invasive species management and writing a land management plan. They also put in the new Batt’s Pond bridge in April 2024.

The Arboretum and Oshtemo Park share much more than our border! Collaboration between the spaces includes coordinating efforts for trail maintenance, land management, and community-based efforts. strategy for land use

The sheep at Tending Tilth help us with ongoing prescribed grazing research on the Powerline Trail! This project, beginning in 2023 and continuing for the coming years, also employs and mentors Kalamazoo College student interns in the summer.