Chicago Botanic Garden

School Field Trips

PHOTO: Kids in Fruit & Vegetable Garden

Explorations Field Trips Scholarship Program

Funding for Explorations Filed Trips Scholarship Program has recently been exhausted. If you wish to be placed on a waiting list in the event that funds become available, please submit an application. Wait-listed applications are not guaranteed a scholarship. Those wishing to apply for the 2009-2010 school year must reapply in fall 2009.

 Apply online

 Download printable registration form

Enrich your curriculum and share the beauty of nature with your students at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Enhance and focus studies with our guided or self-guided field trips. All programs support Illinois learning standards in science, language arts, math, health, and social studies and use active garden experiences to engage students in cross-curricular investigations.

Scholarships are available to cover the cost of a field trip for one class, which includes busing to and from the Garden. Multiple classes from one school are welcome, and should apply separately.

Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to qualified schools within Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake or McHenry counties. Schools must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • At least 90% of school's student population qualify for free or reduced lunch
  • At least 25% of school's student population are of special needs

Applications must be received a minimum of four/five weeks before the planned field trip date. If you receive funding, a letter of acceptance will be sent to the contact person listed on the application with detailed instructions for field trip registration and bus payment. Do not consider your field trip booked with the letter of acceptance. Once your class/group has been accepted, it is your responsibility to make or cancel reservations for busing and the field trip. Field trip registrations must be received by the Chicago Botanic Garden registrar’s office a minimum of two weeks in advance. Please fill out a registration form for each participating class/group. A confirmation packet including directions and program logistics will be mailed to you.