The Morton Arboretum, a leading nonprofit botanical museum and outdoor living tree laboratory in Illinois, adapted rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic to introduce digital programming and remote engagement for its visitors and members. As in-person programming has resumed, the Arboretum is evaluating how to strategically integrate, scale, or sunset its digital offerings. The challenge lies in understanding the evolving landscape of digital engagement across museums, cultural institutions, and environmental organizations—and how The Morton Arboretum can leverage these tools to further its mission, enhance educational access, and build resilient audience engagement strategies.

This project invites a student team to benchmark digital programs from peer institutions, assess visitor engagement and demand, and provide strategic recommendations for how The Morton Arboretum can best integrate digital experiences into its future programming portfolio.