On the headwaters of the Big Sac River in the Missouri Ozarks, celebrating Ozark forests and riparian corridors. The arboretum acts as a living laboratory for conservation and climate resilience.

• Endangered Species: Sourcing and preserving species native but functionally extinct in the Ozarks, such as the Ozark Chinkapin and American Chestnut.
• Climate & Trial Species: Studying southern climate trees for suitability in a warming Ozark climate, and trialing riparian species as alternatives to lost native Ash trees.
• Historical Baseline Forest: Preserving a section untouched by human activity (except scheduled burns) to experience a pre-European forest ecosystem.
• Bank-Stabilizing Research: Conducting long-term research on bank-stabilizing species like native Missouri river cane, nine bark, willow, and bald cypress.