Friends of Boone County Arboretum established the yearly "Growing Forward" campaign in 2016 to highlight specific needs of the organization or the Arboretum itself, and to provide a way for the surrounding community to help address them.
Growing Forward 2026: Modernizing Our Digital Home
In a world that is increasingly digital, our website is our front door. A vital tool for education, exploration, and connection. But like any living landscape, it needs care, attention, and thoughtful redesign to flourish.
The current website was designed in 2015. For perspective, in this same year:
- Apple released iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (the first with “live photos”) and the first generation Apple Watch.
- Samsung released the Galaxy S6.
- Microsoft released Windows 10.
- Internet use was still mostly done on a full-size desktop or laptop.
- Cloud computing (such as Online Office 356, Google Docs, etc.) was just becoming mainstream.
- People argued whether “The dress” was blue and black or white and gold.
Technology has changed a lot in the past 10 years, but the Arboretum website hasn’t.
Although there have been security updates, the design and functionality is still largely based on what was available 10 years ago. (While you’re here now, browse through a few other pages and experience how old and clunky it feels!)
We are preparing to launch a much-needed redesign of our website, but making it as inspiring and accessible as the Arboretum itself will be a big lift, and we need your help.
Example botanical garden website mockup on multiple devices.
Goals For The Website Redesign:
- Inspire Visitors with immersive photos, virtual tours, and interactive maps
- Expand Learning with a searchable plant database, seasonal highlights, and downloadable guides
- Engage Families and Educators with digital activities, field trip planning tools, and kid-friendly resources
- Improve Accessibility a place where everyone, regardless of ability, can engage with our mission
- Boost Participation a modern site will extend our message far beyond community, inspiring new partners
- Increase Support through better storytelling and seamless donation tools
How You Can Help
With your support, we can open the door to more learning, sharing and connection. Your generosity will help cultivate our digital home to reflect the Arboretum’s beauty and purpose. We know there are many worthy causes in our region, and we appreciate your consideration as we continue Growing Forward.
To bring this vision to life, we are seeking to raise $60,000 in funding that will go directly toward the virtual home of the Boone County Arboretum. Every dollar makes a difference in this transformation. Here some suggested giving levels and examples of improvements they could help bring to reality:
- $50 -- Accessibility improvements (screen reader friendly)
- $100 -- Mobile-ready design
- $250 -- Storytelling visuals + photography
- $500 -- Seamless giving platform
If you would like to support our website redesign and are prepared to send a gift now, click the relevant link below:
Give Online Now Checks & Pledges
To learn more about this project or help in other ways to move it forward, please contact Amanda Rehkamp, our Director of Development.
Previous Campaign Years
You can see descriptions of previous "Growing Forward" campaign projects here.