This project was very loose in the beginning. Initially there were two broad goals: “make the Arboretum sustainable” and “help the Arboretum host Zero Waste Weddings”. With an immense amount of trial and error, unforeseen setbacks, and meetings addressing miscommunications, this project eventually molded into specific goals. These specific goals focused on: office habits, educational outreach and accessibility, creating a composting program, and zero waste feasibility research.

Goal 1:
Increase office sustainability habits through 2-3 educational materials. Achieve Green Office Certification: Tier 1 (30-40%) by the UCSC Green Office Certification Program.

Objectives:
- Assess what is getting thrown into the recycle bin
- Make a sign that addresses not to throw these commonly misplaced items in the recycle
- Assess biggest energy saving habits using the UC Cool Campus Challenge data. Make reminders based on these habits
- Contact the Green Office Certification Program
- Create an Office Green Team
- Organize office facilitate subsequent staff meetings around program
- Achieve Certification
- Maintain contact with Green Office Certification program for re-certification in the future

Goal 2:
Increase sustainability engagement and collaboration between the Arboretum, UCSC students and the local community through 2-4 outreach events.

Objectives:
- Look into events held on campus that allow tabling
- Request table permission by contacting event hosts
- Look into tabling in the Quarry and fill out necessary paperwork
- Organize supplies and or contact event hosts/ venue hosts for supplies
- Create sustainability tips for tabling
- Outreach to student organizations that are invested in sustainability to table at Hummingbird Days at the Arboretum
- Maintain contact with orgs selected and provide necessary information about educational activity requirement and other information for the event day
- Outreach and maintain contact with PICA Composting Coordinator about collaborative composting project

Goal 3:
Create a composting pilot program at the Arboretum that functions on three levels: diverting organics from the office waste steam, creating an educational & marketable composting program, and allowing PICA the chance to compost again avoiding purchasing fertilizers for their garden.

Objectives:
- Compile composting information for composting report
- Include: how to build & maintain compost pile, estimated build cost, estimated labor, and value to the Arboretum
- Host Green Team meeting to get feedback before taking it to the Arboretum Director
- Develop pilot program details with Mentor and PICA Composting coordinator
- Host meeting for approval of pilot program with Mentor and Arboretum Director
- Begin acquiring supplies
- Set Build Date
- Build compost structure
- Include any supplemental material like signage and aesthetic detail

Goal 4:
Research the feasibility and necessary steps to host Zero Waste events at the Arboretum. In tandem, create a Zero Waste Wedding Guide to be supplied and marketed to Arboretum wedding venue clients by Summer 2016.

Objectives:
- Research Zero Waste Ideology
- Research zero waste events globally, nationally, and locally
- Synthesis information into a small event guide for Weddings
- Edit guide and seek feedback
- Compile edits into professionalized word template
- Make template available to interested wedding venue clients at the Arboretum