The mission of the Hope College Arboretum is to provide a place of recreation, education, and beauty.  The Arboretum serves as a living laboratory to prepare students as Christian stewards and responsible global citizens. By cultivating a diverse urban forest, they seek to mitigate climate change, provide ecosystem services, and offer a place of beauty and recreation that connects the Hope and greater Holland community with the wonder of Creation.

At the heart of this plan is the concept of Creation Care. They recognize the natural world not just as a resource, but as a gift to be tended.

• Stewardship: To manage their canopy in a way that promotes biodiversity and ecological health.

• Education: To prepare students as Christian stewards and responsible global citizens by using the arboretum as a living laboratory for teaching, research, and community service.

• Restoration & Well-being: To provide a sanctuary for relaxation, mental health, and recreation, recognizing that a thriving canopy supports the emotional and spiritual flourishing of their students and the Holland community.

• Witness: To act as a visible sign of the college’s commitment to sustainability and the flourishing of all life.

By transforming their campus into a living laboratory, they honor their stewardship responsibilities while providing a sanctuary for learning.

Hope College has over 2,000 trees across the campus representing over 100 different species. Thanks to support from the departments of biology, computer science, sustainability, and grounds they have inventoried nearly 1,700 trees.