University of Miami

The goal of this project is to enhance the educational experience of visitors to the tropical families collection, the native collection and the microbiome of the John C. Gifford Arboretum at the University of Miami. The proposed work very clearly fits into the "supporting lifelong learning" goal of the Museums for America Program. The project addresses several acute needs that were created by the 2005 hurricane season. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma wreaked havoc on our living collections. These storms killed many (> 40%) of our specimens and the post-storm clean-up further disrupted the terrain and accessibility of the remaining specimens to visitors. The project focuses on three main activities (1) re-designing and re-establishing the beds, walkways and exhibits to improve the educational value of the collections, (2) developing and implementing interpretive signage and a series of hands-on programs for the exhibits, and (3) publishing a Spring 2007 Checklist of Plants, including maps and a guide to the exhibits. A carefully thought out and professionally designed plan is a significant legacy to the long-term infrastructure of the Arboretum The plan will be developed by a landscape architect in consultation with faculty, students, staff and volunteers of the Arboretum and representatives of our neighboring gardens. A graduate student with considerable experience will develop educational materials for the exhibits and implement a series of hands-on programs. He will seek input from faculty of all departments that currently use the collections, which include, Art, Architecture, Geology and Environmental Science in addition to Biology, the departmental "home" of the Arboretum. He will also seek input from community members. Ongoing program evaluation will be an integral part of the implementation process. The program materials will be passed on and utilized in the future, so that they too become part of the legacy.