Education

Student Field Trips

Self-Guided Field Trips
Activity Backpacks

registration

Self-guided field trips allow your students to explore while you lead them through the Garden. Science, language arts, literature, history, geography, art, and other subjects can be explored throughout the different gardens.

Field trips are scheduled Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are available year-round for students and groups of all ages.

Fee: $30 per each classroom or group consisting of up to 30 people.

Register in advance and Garden staff will be happy to discuss areas of the Garden that would be especially well suited to your curricular topic. Enjoy these other benefits of preregistration:

Parking fees included in the registration fee
Access to public picnic area
Greeting and brief orientation by staff

Gardens especially well suited for self-guided exploration are highlighted below. Please note the approximate walking distances to each garden, starting from the Children’s Learning Center. All groups will be greeted at the Children’s Learning Center.

Native Habitats
McDonald Woods: 1 mile
Dixon Prairie: 2 miles

Main Island Formal Gardens
Malott Japanese Garden: 1.4 miles
Sensory Garden: 1.5 miles
Fruit & Vegetable Garden: 1.4 miles

Enhance your students’ experience with Garden Bingo.

Self-Guided Field Trip Activity Backpacks

Self-guided Activity Backpacks allow you to lead your students through two hands-on activities in a Garden area. Each backpack includes all supplies for the activities and can be checked out for either the morning (9 a.m. to noon) or the afternoon (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.).
$10 fee, Available year-round, Monday through Friday.

	Sensory Garden (K – 2) Two backpacks available per time slot—morning or afternoon. A feast for the senses! Encourage students to explore plants by using senses other than sight in the first activity, “Leading the Blindfolded.” The second activity has students actively looking for nature’s true colors. Please allow at least one hour to complete both activities.
	Malott Japanese Garden (K – 5) Two backpacks available per time slot—morning or afternoon. Japanese gardens are designed to be enjoyed year-round. The “From Far and Near” activity encourages students to observe and compare the Japanese Garden islands as they approach and then again up-close. Looking for “Designs In the Garden” has students learning and interpreting rock placement in dry gardens. Please allow at least one hour to complete both activities.
	McDonald Woods (3 – 5) Two backpacks available per time slot—morning or afternoon. Experience the wonders of the woodlands! The “Woodland Explorations” activity focuses on temperature, sunlight, soil moisture, and food chains. The second activity has students “Listening Above the Quiet” to hear what the woods are all about. Please allow at least one hour to complete both activities.

Food Consumption and Storage

Those groups registering for Self-Guided Field Trips and/or Walking Tours have access to the public outdoor Picnic Glen, located between parking lots 1 and 2 and to the public outdoor picnic area adjacent to the Children’s Learning Center. Due to space restrictions, groups are not permitted in the Garden Café. Individuals may carry their lunches in backpacks or store lunches on the bus. In the event of rain, we suggest that groups eat on the bus. Help preserve the Garden’s serene atmosphere and maintain its unique and beautiful collections by keeping all food out of the gardens and trails.

Visiting the Garden

Come prepared for your learning experience in the Garden. Download these quick self-guided field trip activity ideas.

Explore the Garden online before your visit.