JAMES G. MARCELINE ARBORETUM AT ISLAND POND CEMETERY AWARDED LEVEL 1 ACCREDITATION

JAMES G. MARCELINE ARBORETUM AT ISLAND POND CEMETERY AWARDED LEVEL 1 ACCREDITATION BY ARBNET ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
Harwich, Massachusetts

(22 February 2021) – Marceline Arboretum at Island Pond in Harwich has been awarded a Level 1 Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta at various levels of development, capacity, and professionalism.
The James G. Marceline Arboretum is also now recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants. Tucked among the many areas of natural beauty in Harwich, MA, sits Island Pond Cemetery. It is a public garden and historic site established in 1872. Its wooded and rolling hills are home to burial sites of the earliest residents back to 1770. Here the town’s history here is surrounded by a variety of trees and shrubs.
This cemetery along with 7 acres of conservation property is the Marceline Arboretum at Island Pond.  The mission of the James G. Marceline Arboretum at Island Pond is to engage, educate, and enrich the lives of our constituents in order to enable them to become better stewards of our local history and environment. The Cemetery Commission is working in collaboration with the Conservation Administrator, Town Administrator, Board of Selectmen, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Horticultural Students, Monomoy Regional Schools, Bird Watchers of Harwich, Harwich Garden Club, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, AmeriCorps of Cape Cod and Local Historian.  James G. Marceline Arboretum at Island Pond is comprised of 25 acres located in the Harwich Center area of Harwich, Massachusetts off US -6 E/Mid-Cape Highway to Exit 10, Route 134/Pleasant Lake Ave to Main Street to 15 Island Pond Road.
The Arboretum will encompass 18 acres of the Island Pond Cemetery and over 7 acres of the Harwich Conservation land with walking trails. The Cemetery and Conservation land are located in Harwich Center and are connected to Cape Cod Bike Rail Trail.
 The Arboretum is home to over 50 species of trees and or woody plants. These plants are identified by common name, scientific name, description and will have picture of leaf.
 To provide a place where people from the community may enjoy passive recreation and where they may come to learn, reflect, and renew themselves through contact with the natural world. With unique elements of the Marceline Arboretum will enhance the quality of life for both Cape Cod and the residents of the Harwich community.
 The Arboretum was certified as a Wildlife Habitat in 2019 by the National Wildlife Federation.
 The Arboretum will provide exceptional opportunities for teaching, research, and outreach. It will be a destination for learning in institutes across Cape Cod. The Arboretum will cultivate residents and students who value our natural resources. They will learn how to recognize their impact on the world around them and equip them with the skill, knowledge and ability to achieve in the fields of sustainability, conservation and environmental sciences. Hands on, outdoor learning experiences, particularly in science and mathematics, are greatly augmented by providing accessibility and immersion in the environment. These real-world opportunities for discovery excite and motivate our students’ interest in 21st century careers in science, technology, reading, engineering, art and mathematics.
 Through a unique partnership with the Monomoy School System the Arboretum will facilitate development of engaging, challenging and interdisciplinary opportunities for the students fostering research, data gathering, analyzing, synthesizing information and evidence gathering. The Arboretum will fill a need in the Monomoy schools by allowing for the further development of interdisciplinary learning experiences for all students, specifically (preK-7.) Arboretum curriculum will be developed in accordance with the horizontal and vertical guidelines and frameworks that integrate science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math (STREAM).

These lessons will highlight and support the Monomoy vision by leveraging the unique history and environment of our community. “Through the partnerships created by the Marceline Arboretum the Town of Harwich will be able to create exciting experiences that are both educational and historical.” Robbin Kelley About Town of Harwich The Town of Harwich is a quiet resort and agricultural community located on the south side of the Cape peninsula, with an extensive shoreline on Nantucket Sound. The year-round population is approximately 12,677 with a seasonal increase to 37,000.

About ArbNet: ArbNet is an interactive, collaborative, international community of arboreta. ArbNet facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience, and other resources to help arboreta meet their institutional goals and works to raise professional standards through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program.
The accreditation program, sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois in cooperation with American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International, is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards.
The program offers four levels of accreditation, recognizing arboreta of various degrees of development, capacity and professionalism. Standards include planning, governance, public access, programming and tree science, planting and conservation.
More information is available at www.arbnet.org.

Robbin Marie Kelley
Cemetery Administrator
Town of Harwich
Office: 100 Oak Street
Mailing: 732 Main Street Harwich, MA 02645
Phone 508-430-7549