The UCF Arboretum Learning by Leading™ (LxL) Program
The Arboretum launched its Learning by LeadingTM (LxL) program in Fall semester 2019. This innovative student leadership development program was developed by the University of California Davis Arboretum, and is being implemented by other university arboretum and public garden programs in the US and Canada. The motivation for the program is “to inspire human potential and to help people and environments thrive.” The program is based on the notion that students learn best by leading, and it includes a stepped leadership progression that moves students from participants to active leaders and co-creators of Arboretum programs. Under the guidance of a staff mentor, co-coordinator teams manage student interns and volunteers to execute program initiatives and signature projects. Interns can enroll for 0-3 credit hours in March for the following fall and spring semesters. Interested students can find applications on Handshake when they open in March. Contact us through our email at arboretum@ucf.edu with any questions.
LxL mentors
Amanda Lindsay
Manager, Stormwater Compliance
Mentors the Utilities and Engineering Services (UES) Stormwater teams:
- Stormwater Compliance
- Stormwater Maintenance
Courtney Bowles
Coordinator, Design and Licensing (Business Operations)
Mentors the Business Operations (BO) Communications teams:
- Social Media & Video Production
- Graphic Design
Jennifer Elliott
Director, Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives
Mentors the Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives (ASI) Communications teams:
- Social Media & Video Production
- Website & Microsoft Teams Management
- Education and Outreach
- Event Management
John Guziejka
Manager, Natural Resources Programs
Mentors the Natural Resources teams:
- Urban Forestry
- Land Management
Kelsie Johnson
Coordinator, Arboretum Programs
Mentors the Arboretum Operations teams:
- Plant Production
- Public Garden Management
- Urban Agriculture
Michelle Laxer
Manager, Facilities and Business Operations
Mentors the Facilities and Business Operations team:
- Facilities and Business Operations Communications
Ryan Chabot
Coordinator, Sustainability Programs
Mentors the Sustainability Initiatives team:
- Sustainability Initiatives
Amanda Craig
Junior Mentor, Beekeeper
Mentors the Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives (ASI) Communications team:
- Website and App Development
Lxl Teams
Business Operations Communications
The Business Operations Communications LxL team specializes in crafting custom graphics and communications tailored to the unique needs of units under Business Operations. These units include Business Services, Parking and Transportation Services, the SPOT, Card Services, UCF Print Shop, and external university partners such as Barnes & Noble, Aramark, Canteen, Fairwinds Credit Union, and Coca-Cola. The team contributes to the creation of marketing materials and social media content, copy writing, content engagement, photography, and video production. On-campus marketing is also an area of focus with the team participating in events and on-site activations. Team members leverage their creative talents and serve as ambassadors for the units. The goal is to strike a balance between educational and entertaining! The BO Communications team plays an indispensable role in elevating the visibility and success of the units and partners they serve.
Facilities and Business Operations Communications
The FBO Communications team creates materials that support the internal communications program for Facilities and Business Operations. Materials are distributed to the 900-plus employees of the division via electronic newsletters, a monthly magazine, digital signage, an internal Teams channel and email. This team also manages the Instagram account for @ucffacilities, which strives to educate, inform and highlight the crucial work that is done by our Facilities units.
Natural Resources
The Natural Resources LxL team focuses on managing our 800 plus acres of campus natural lands. This team supports our Land Manager by assisting with projects that maintain the existing campus natural habitats for ecological health and educational purposes. Ongoing projects include issuing site use permits, invasive species removal and mitigation, ecological monitoring, trail maintenance, wildlife camera tracking, prescribed fire program support, and ecological education programming. Additionally, this team assists Landscape Operations in campus arboricultural practices to ensure a safe, aesthetically pleasing, economically efficient, and environmentally sound tree canopy. Since 2012, we have been recognized as an award-winning program through the National Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus Higher Education program. In urban areas, trees increase numerous ecosystem services such as improving air quality, promoting energy conservation, CO2 sequestration, reducing erosion, providing habitat for wildlife, and slowing storm water runoff.
Plant Production
The Plant Production Learning by Leading (LxL) team focus on teaching others the basics of plant care. This includes a variety of topics such as different growing techniques, the use of appropriate tools, and how to choose the right resources for different plants. Most of this work takes place inside the Arboretum’s greenhouse, which contains the hundreds of plants that will eventually be distributed throughout the community in various ways. Our team also collaborates with other LxL teams, such as assisting in starting vegetable crops for the Urban Agriculture team. To engage with the UCF community, the greenhouse hosts monthly plant sales, volunteer opportunities, and workshops on a range of topics. Our team’s mission is to foster a passion for plants and help others develop their skills through hands-on leadership and experience in the greenhouse.
Public Garden Management
The Public Garden Management LxL team focuses on the maintenance and development of the 8-acre parcel where the Arboretum office is located, the Arboretum Park. The Park, as we often call it, is at the heart of our program. We aim to keep this park beautiful and inviting for students to enjoy and for events to take place. We design, install, and maintain gardens that honor the past, present, and future of UCF and the Arboretum program. Of these gardens we have 3 pollinator specific gardens on site. Pollinators are vital to ecological biodiversity, health, human health and crop consumption. Parks and gardens are a great way to help, encourage, and support native diversity in urban areas and can create an oasis in otherwise busy and bustling areas.
Social Media and Video Production
The Social Media and Video Production LxL team aims to create content for our various social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Our team photographs and films our other LxL teams working in their various gardens, recording and creating educational and informative long and short form videos about our program. We promote Arboretum events and other green initiatives on campus. We strive to capture the most important aspects of the Arboretum Program to share with our social media followers to educate those interested in the Arboretum and what we do.
Sustainability Initiatives
The Sustainability Initiatives team is the driving force behind the university’s Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Our primary goal in completing this report is to assess the sustainability at UCF and how we can improve on it. We collaborate with local organizations, university departments, and others while working on projects we are passionate about. The global sustainability challenges of today are very complex and incorporate the environment, economy, and society. This is why the individuals on this team are all unique, with their own specialties, background, and interests. Our vision is for UCF to continue to pursue and accomplish sustainability goals in all aspects of campus life, while promoting the environment and community around it.
UES Stormwater
The UES Stormwater LxL team works with UCF’s Utilities and Engineering Services to maintain, regulate, expand, and protect the stormwater system on campus. UCF has a multitude of pipes, drains, and curb inlets that all drain into the canal. This canal leads to the Econlockhatchee River and eventually to the ocean. Our team works to support and regulate the stormwater systems on campus to avoid pollution in nearby ecosystems. Our team’s responsibilities include managing the Adopt-a-Program, tracking and reporting compliance goals and tasks, inspecting pumps, curb inlets, and dumpsters, researching ways to combat pollution within our stormwater on campus, and more. We strive to protect, upkeep, and educate on the runoff on our campus to keep it free from pollution.
Urban Agriculture
The Urban Agriculture LxL team operates an organic community garden dedicated to sustainability and food security. Featuring 16 garden beds, each modeled after one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the garden serves as a living classroom and a source of fresh produce. The 17th bed is a unique communal space outside the farm, open to the entire community for tending and harvesting. The team’s success hinges on the generous support of volunteers, who contribute thousands of hours annually to maintain the garden. All the produce grown is donated to the Knights Helping Knights Pantry, ensuring that UCF students have free access to fresh, nutritious food. Through this work, the team cultivates both crops and a stronger, more sustainable community.
Website and App Development
The Website and App Development LxL team works with other LxL teams, program area coordinators, and staff to promote ASI programs, events, and initiatives across campus and to outside communities. We oversee the official ASI website, internal Microsoft Teams communications, and Arboretum email account. We edit current and develop new content for the ASI website and manage all Microsoft Teams communication including the development of custom apps for internal program support such as intern timekeeping and event scheduling.