Discovery Programs

We are accepting reservations for guided programs for the 2024-25 school year. Please allow us anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks as a response time. We are having a very high volume reservation period at this time. Thank you!

Please note, the Garden will NOT have Butterflies LIVE! in 2024 or 2025. This is due to the Garden’s THRIVE: Growing the Garden’s Future Expansion of the Conservatory and grounds, which will result in a year-round butterfly house and additional displays and gardens. We look forward to bringing you these wonderful improvements.

Pricing

  • The cost is $12 per student; the minimum group charge is $120.
  • One adult per five students is admitted free to ensure adequate supervision during the program. Exceptions will be made for students who require additional support.
  • The cost for additional adult chaperones is $15 per person. The limit of adult chaperones that can accompany each guided program is five, including teachers. Additional adults can accompany their child before and after the guided program time.

 
Availability

  • Hour long programs are offered Tuesday-Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
  • Three programs are available during each time slot for up to 25 students per program.
  • Programs take place outdoors, rain or shine. There are no indoor classrooms available. Please have everyone dress for the weather. 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.

Program Offerings

Garden Explorers
K

Availability: Sept. – May

Tree Traits
K - 2nd

Availability: Sept. – May

Small Sprouts to Garden Giants
1st

Availability: Oct. & Mar. – May

Plants, What Good Are They?
2nd

Availability: Oct. & Mar. – May

Go with the Flow
2nd-3rd

Availability: Sept. – May

Inquiry Into Nature
3rd-5th

Availability: Sept. – May

Tallying Up Trees
3rd -5th

Availability: Sept. – Oct. & Mar. – May

Watershed Wonders
4th-5th

Availability: Sept. – May

Independent Garden Exploration
All Grades

Availability: Year Round

Learn More

Registration

We will begin accepting reservations for guided programs for the 2024-25 school year on August 1, 2024. Please do not submit any reservation requests until then. Thank you!

To register, contact our Youth Program Logistics Coordinator, Laura Lee Folman, at [email protected] or 804.262.9887 x322 with the following:

  1. Your name, email address, and phone number, contact person’s information (if it is someone other than yourself).
  2. Your organization’s name and mailing address.
  3. Which program topic you would like.
  4. The number of classes you would like to bring.
  5. The total number of students who will attend.
  6. Your top three choices of program dates in order of preference (please include the program time(s) you prefer as well).

Can't Visit Us in Person? Take a Free Virtual Field Trip!

Learn More