Hoyt Arboretum is a living museum, historical landscape, outdoor laboratory, and curated woodland within Portland’s Washington Park. Established in 1928, the Arboretum is home to more than 2,300 tree species from six continents across 189 acres and 12 miles of trails. As a Level 3 Arboretum and one of the top 100 arboreta in the world, Hoyt is both a treasured public park and an important resource for tree conservation, education, and research.
Hoyt Arboretum Friends (HAF) is the nonprofit partner supporting the Arboretum in collaboration with Portland Parks & Recreation. Together, we help care for this special place today while planning for its future – from connecting people with trees and nature to advancing climate-forward planting and conservation efforts.
Leadership volunteers help make that work possible.
Board of Directors
Hoyt Arboretum Friends is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of people with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, skills, and connections to the Arboretum and the broader Portland community.
Our Board provides organizational leadership and stewardship, helping HAF stay focused on its mission and plan for the future of Hoyt Arboretum. Board members work together to support the organization’s strategy, strengthen community relationships, guide fundraising and organizational development, and help ensure HAF is well positioned to meet the evolving needs of the Arboretum.
Interested in learning more about how HAF is planning for the future? Read our Strategic Plan.
See our current Board of Directors, listed on the Our Team page.
Emerging Leaders Cohort
In 2026, Hoyt Arboretum Friends is piloting a new Emerging Leaders Cohort, a non-governing group of volunteers who are just beginning to explore these types of roles in our community. Participants in this group are generally between the ages of 25 and 40 who are interested in building their leadership experience while supporting Hoyt Arboretum.
Cohort members work together to advocate for Hoyt Arboretum and introduce the park to new audiences by planning and carrying out a flagship project or event to support Hoyt Arboretum Friends’ outreach efforts.
Interested in future opportunities?
At this time, Hoyt Arboretum Friends is not accepting applications for our Board of Directors or Emerging Leaders Cohort. However, we’d love to hear from people who are interested in getting involved with our organization and learning more about future opportunities. Please feel free to reach out and introduce yourself; we’re always happy to connect and keep you in mind as opportunities arise.
Contact
Kate Nootenboom (she, her)
Membership & Administrative Coordinator, Hoyt Arboretum Friends
[email protected] | 503.489.9830
Other Ways to Get Involved
- Sign up for our newsletters and connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
- Sign up for other volunteer opportunities at Hoyt Arboretum
- Attend a seasonal tour, workshop, or youth & family program
- Become a member by making a donation of $35 a year or more