Independent Garden Exploration

We will begin booking school field trips for 2026-2027 the first week of August!

Please check the website beginning in July for updated information on program offerings, pricing, and visiting the Butterflies Bloom exhibit as part of your trip. We kindly ask that you review this information before reaching out with questions. Please note that we are not offering programming for homeschool groups at this time.

Pricing

  • The cost is $12 per student; payment is due on the day of your visit.
  • One adult per five students is admitted free to ensure adequate supervision during the exploration. Exceptions will be made for students who require additional support.
  • The cost for additional adult chaperones is $15 per person.

Program Details

  • Pre-registered groups can bring lunch and eat in our outdoor picnic area.
  • There are no indoor classrooms available. Please have everyone dress for the weather. Layers are recommended for days that start cool and heat up.
  • We reserve the right to cancel programming when weather conditions prove unsafe or detrimental to a positive experience for your students (such as in the event of heavy rains or poor air quality). While we do everything possible to reschedule visits canceled due to inclement weather, nature is unpredictable and we cannot make any guarantees.

Availability

  • Arrival times offered are Monday-Friday at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Scheduled for 2 hours, however, you are welcome to stay for as long as you would like. Please plan to arrive no more than 15 minutes before or after your scheduled arrival time. If a garden staff member is not present at the time of arrival, please wait on the bus until one arrives.
  • Only available for High School groups during the school year.

Butterflies Bloom

  • Timed tickets are required to enter the butterfly exhibit. Please refer to your reservation proposal document for your scheduled time(s). It is critical that you follow your scheduled itinerary for Butterflies Bloom to ensure all members of your group get to experience the exhibit.
  • If you miss your scheduled entry time, we are unable to reschedule or otherwise guarantee entry to Butterflies Bloom.

Garden Guidelines

  • Waterway: The splash pad operates from 9:30 – 4:00 when temperatures are above 70°. Thunder will close the Waterway for 30 minutes.
  • Picnic Area: If you plan to bring lunch to eat at the Garden, your lunches will be loaded onto carts upon arrival and transported to the picnic area. On busy days, multiple groups may be eating in this space. Please try to minimize your footprint and use the smallest number of tables possible.
  • Wayfinding: A map appears on page 2 of this document. Pick up and drop off locations, picnic area, restrooms, and major garden attractions are all marked on this map. If you push your lunch cart up the hill before your departure time, please park it where you found it on arrival (labeled on map). Do not bring carts into the Conservatory.
  • Garden Rules:
    • Look with your eyes; do not pick flowers or pull leaves off plants.
    • Keep your feet on pathways and lawn areas; do not step in planting beds.
    • Use walking feet; do not run.
    • Speak in a quiet voice; do not yell.

Summer Registration

We will begin booking school field trips for 2026-2027 the first week of August!

Please check the website beginning in July for updated information on program offerings, pricing, and visiting the Butterflies Bloom exhibit as part of your trip.

To register, contact our Youth Program Logistics Coordinator, Laura Lee Folman, at [email protected] with the following:

  • Your name, email address, and phone number, contact person’s information (if it is someone other than yourself) .
  • Your organization’s name and mailing address.
  • The number of classes you would like to bring, with the number of students per class.
  • The total number of students who will attend.
  • Your top three choices of program dates, in order of preference, and program times. (Please check your counties/cities school calendar, as it will be difficult to reschedule as we book up, and ensure you are able to arrive no more than 15 minutes before or after your scheduled program time.)
  • Please have patience as we accept reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis. Allow at least a week to receive a response. If all of the above information is not received, response time will be delayed.