The Penn State Abington Arboretum was established as a result of a project launched during the 2023 fall semester. After Penn State Abington became a founding member of the Commonwealth Arboreta Network, the Environmental Science class used the Global Learning and Observation Benefits the Environment (GLOBE) citizen science application as a platform for submitting information about the trees growing on campus. Students learned the importance of tree height and diameter for estimating carbon uptake and other ecosystem service values while using their personal devices as hypsometers to measure hundreds of trees outside their classroom.

In 2024, Bartlett Tree Experts conducted a comprehensive tree inventory while the Issues in Sustainability and Environmental Science classes joined forces to plant 20 native shrubs and saplings in observance of Arbor Day and Penn State Global Sustainable Action Day, the Science & Sustainability class designed a permaculture based botanical garden exhibit, and the Arboretum project received the Undergraduate Community Engagement Research Award (UCERA) from the office of Penn State President Bendapudi.