Purpose for creating an Arboretum
There are several motivations for the establishment of an arboretumthat ultimately will benefit the Frost campus and the Kawartha Lakes community and fits within the objectives of the Frost Campus Master Plan. First, the arboretum can be used as an outdoor classroom by various programs including, but not limited to, Ecosystem Management, Forestry, Fish & Wildlife, Arboriculture, Urban Forestry and Outdoor and Adventure Education. Having a greater variety of trees on campus and increasing our overall canopy cover allows us to maximize the environmental services that urban forests provide, including improved air, soil and water quality, reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations, stormwater runoff abatement, wildlife habitat creation, increased biodiversity. Secondly, the creation of an Arboretum createsa new green space for members of the public to visit and utilize, further enhancing their appreciation of nature all the while improving their physical and mental well-being. Additionally, given that 2017 marks our 50th anniversary as a post-secondary institution, the creation of an arboretum would be a fitting tribute recognizing the good work that Fleming College has done in the communities in which it operates and will serve as a lasting legacy to usher in the next 50 years of Fleming College.