Wesleyan Arboretum

NOT ONLY IS THE ARBORETUM AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY AREA, WILDLIFE REFUGE, IT'S ALSO A GREAT PLACE TO HIKE. Accredited by the Morton Registry of Arboreta in 2013, the arboretum comprises 100 acres of mixed pine and hardwood forest and lies within the boundaries of Wesleyan’s suburban Rivoli campus. More than 100 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines provide habitat for a diverse assortment of salamanders, snakes, lizards, and mammals, as well as more than 150 species of resident and migratory birds. The five-acre Foster Lake, three streams, and seasonal rain pools are home to nine species of turtles, fourteen species of frogs, and both native and game fish. The Dice Anderson Cabin, built in 1938, restored in 1990, and renovated in 2011, and the Ellen Ann Edenfield Pavilion, built in 2011, serve as rustic focal points for classes, meetings, and special events. More than three miles of trails interlace the forest and provide year-round opportunities for strolling, hiking, and cross-country running. Download the Arboretum map. The area is a remarkable resource not only for recreation and reflection, but also for use as an outdoor learning laboratory that will promote a nature-smart curriculum for Wesleyan faculty and students as well as local teachers and school children, youth organizations, researchers, and residents. Wesleyan is cooperating with 100+ schools across the United States forming the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). Maintaining a healthy, diverse, and well-managed forest is integral to the President’s Climate Commitment, a project directed at energy conservation, as well as reducing Wesleyan’s environmental impact and “carbon footprint.”