The Lillian Anderson Arboretum is a natural preserve managed by Kalamazoo College’s Larry J. Bell ’80 Environmental Stewardship Center (ESC). The arboretum encompasses 140 acres of pines, marshes, meadows, and second-growth deciduous forests.
It serves as a valued resource for over 20,000 visitors each year who come to study, recreate, reflect, and learn, acting as a bridge between Kalamazoo College and the wider Kalamazoo community. The ESC staff, alongside a dedicated student trail crew, maintains the trails throughout the preserve. If that sounds like your ideal job, consider applying for the Arb Trail Crew next application cycle!
If Arb Trail Crew isn’t your thing, you could instead visit the Arb for P.E. credit! We encourage students to consider taking the Arboretum Stewardship course, which will be offered in Fall 2026 (transportation provided!). Through this course, students have the opportunity to learn about invasive plant management, practice the basics of trail maintenance, learn to use trail tools, and enjoy time outdoors!
With warmer weather on the horizons, now is the perfect time to visit the arboretum! The birds are coming out, flowers are blooming, and the trails have never looked as gorgeous as they do in spring. There’s never been a better time to head out and see what the arboretum has to offer – especially if you haven’t had the chance to visit yet. In fact, the ESC is happy to host any clubs or classes that need transportation. For example, the ESC is taking the Composting P.E. class to arboretum during 9th Week, and the ESC has shuttled students in the past. There are more opportunities to get to the arboretum outside of just the ESC, however. The Kalamazoo College Birdwatching Club (@birdingatk) regularly visits in order to identify and observe different bird species as a group while many of the Biology Department’s spring courses make an effort to visit the arboretum at least once during a lab session.
Additionally, if you prefer to go alone but don’t have access to a vehicle, there’s the option of taking the bus. Hop on the Route 14 bus at West Main and Catherine (Stop 605) or West Main & Monroe (Stop 603) and ride until the Oshtemo Library (Stop 1221). Enter the Oshtemo park and from there you can walk to the Arb! The Route 14 bus operates from 9:30am to 5:30pm on weekdays with services swinging by every hour.
Experiential education is core pillar of the ESC’s values. If you’re eager to have a class outdoors at the arboretum, ask your professors! Encourage them to get the class outside and connect their lessons to the broader outdoors. The ESC provides resources for this exact reason, and we want everyone who wants to get outdoors to GET OUTDOORS!
Environmental Stewardship Center
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