The Arboretum and Public Garden is one of 11 campus collections participating in UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. This year, we invite you to experience the best of both worlds: spend your morning exploring the fascinating indoor museums, then head outdoors in the afternoon to enjoy the Arboretum and Public Garden’s vibrant, nature-filled exhibits. 

Starting at 12 p.m. in the UC Davis Arboretum’s Environmental GATEway (near the Arboretum Teaching Nursery and behind Scrubs Café), join staff and students in their innovative environmental leadership program, Learning by Leading™ for guided walking tours, interactive games, and activities designed to inspire and connect you with the beauty of water, wildlife, and sustainable gardening.

See an interactive map with station locations. 

Interactive Exhibits and Games

• Duckweed Chase: Race to "eat" duckweed or dodge hungry "ducks" in this wildlife-inspired game!
• Species Sweep & Sort: Protect native species in this fast-paced sorting game that teaches ecological balance.
• Nature Watercoloring: Relax and paint your own masterpiece surrounded by the Arboretum's serene beauty.
• Test pH levels in our Acid-Base Indicator Experiment and learn how water quality impacts ecosystems.
• Make your own wildlife mask and explore trail camera photos from the Arboretum Waterway.
• Design a climate-ready garden and discover plants that save water and support biodiversity.
• Take the Garden Neighbor Quiz to learn which Arboretum creatures share your personality traits. Receive a sticker of your new nature soulmate and wear it with pride!
• Plant a Poppy: Propagate poppy seeds to take home!
• Explore birds of the Arboretum and learn to identify them in their natural habitats.
• Visit our Climate Adaption Living Lab, a new research garden centered on the effects of climate change on plants and herbivore interaction.

Tours

• Aqua-Free Garden: Explore climate-resilient plants that flourish with little irrigation and learn sustainable gardening tips to conserve water while supporting local biodiversity. Led by Ryan Deering, GATEways Horticulturist. 
• Arboretum Teaching Nursery (30  to 40 minutes): Tour the nursery to learn more about our Future Favorites plants — plants hand-chosen for their ability to withstand our changing climate — and rain garden plants. Led by Abbey Hart, nursery manager.
• Water & Wildlife: (30  minutes): Follow the path of water through the Arboretum’s habitat gardens in a guided tour, discovering the diverse range of flora and fauna that depend on the Arboretum watershed. Led by Gemma Ahern, co-coordinator of the Learning by Leading Habitat Horticulture team.
• Waterway Enhancement Project: (30 to 40 minutes): Take a walk around the reimagined Arboretum Waterway to learn about new infrastructure to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Led by Nina Suzuki, waterway steward.