Meet our new Executive Director Natalie Lopes Ms. Lopes has an extensive professional background of nonprofit management experience spanning over 20 years. She has led organizations and launched several new initiatives resulting in remarkable growth, most recently being responsible for the development of community education programs for the American Diabetes Association's national office. Ms. Lopes served for 11 years as Executive Director of The Family School, a multi-service, community-based nonprofit organization in San Francisco with programs in employment training, childcare and youth development. Natalie is excited to begin her position at Cylburn Arboretum Association. Jeff Buchheit, President of the Association's Board of Directors, said "we are absolutely delighted that Natalie has joined us. Her qualifications, experience, enthusiasm and managerial skills will help us transform the organization. She will provide much needed full time professional management, especially as we grow and expand. She is the perfect person at the perfect time, and we welcome her." Bill Vondrasek, Chief Horticulturist, Department of Recreation and Parks for Baltimore City, whose offices are co-located in the Cylburn Mansion with the Association said, "Natalie seems to have hit the ground running. I'm sure she will draw people to the Arboretum and its programs, and I look forward to working closely with her." About the Cylburn Arboretum Association Cylburn Arboretum Association is located in an historic 1870's mansion on the grounds of the Arboretum, which also has a Carriage House, a Nature Museum, extensive public gardens and tree collections. Since 1954, the Cylburn Arboretum Association has been working to protect the Arboretum as a place of open space, beauty, and learning in Baltimore. The Arboretum is in the midst of a major expansion, with construction of a new Orientation and Education Center with significant "green" features, a new access road, lighted parking areas and major infrastructure improvements. Cylburn Arboretum was named Baltimore Magazine's 'Best Place to Commune with Mother Nature' in 2004 and is open to the public daily, dawn to dusk, free of charge. Take an opportunity to discover Cylburn Mansion's 19th century history and charm. Then, stroll through any of the 3.5 miles of scenic woodland trails and wander through Cylburn Arboretum's more then 30 acres of cultivated landscape and gardens. The Association publishes a quarterly Newsletter for its membership. It also hosts horticultural lectures and demonstrations as well as guided tours of the gardens led by trained Garden Guides. It sponsors such Baltimore events as Market Day, Chamber Music Series, and the December Holiday Tea in the decorated Mansion. The Association has its office on the second floor of Cylburn Mansion . From there, it coordinates volunteer activities in the gardens, on the trails and in the Library, Museums and Herbarium. The spacious rooms on the first floor are available for reservation by garden clubs and other groups for meetings, receptions, retreats, flower shows, lectures and workshops. The Mansion and its grounds make lovely settings for weddings and other celebrations. All reservations are handled by the City of Baltimore Department of Recreations and Parks-Horticultural Division on the second floor of the Mansion. 410-396-0180    7:30AM-3:30 PM