DESTINATIONS

School

Educators at Cornell Botanic Gardens lead fun garden-themed programs for K-8th grade school groups. Programs focus on plant science and history. Students will learn about the plants that feed the world through a common grocery item matching activity, make rope or cloth using plant fibers, visit the Native American bed and Three Sisters demonstration garden to learn about the Iroquois tribe, peruse the Pounder Heritage Vegetable Garden to explore the history of vegetable growing in the northeastern U.S., and more. Field trips must be reserved at least a month in advance. Inquire about field trip scholarships to cover program fees and transportation.

supports classroom learning in:
Science.

topics covered:
Environmental studies, social studies, Native Americans, history, living environment, horticulture, botany, ecology, life cycles, woodland habitats, vegetables, leaves, stems, roots, plant adaptations, fibers, tree identification.

contact info
Name: Raylene Ludgate, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 607-255-2407
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School Group Size: 8 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 1 hour. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Online, Phone, Email. Food Options: Available for purchase, Bring your own, Outdoor seating Cost: Fee, Free, Title I, Financial Support Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

Cornell Botanic Gardens

Formerly Cornell Plantation, this mature botanical garden, arboretum, and network of nature preserves provide an ideal spot for enjoying nature while learning more about plants, horticulture, and the important connections between people and the natural world. Scheduled tours of Cornell Botanic Gardens take groups on a personalized, up-close look at 25 acres of verdant plant life. Students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers can explore gardens on the campus, tour the arboretum, view artwork in the Nevin Welcome Center, hike the trails within Cornell Botanic Gardens, and participate in educational programs. Group tours by bus or on foot are offered from May through October.

contact info

Hrs: Daily Sunrise- Sunset.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by FieldTripDirectory.com

Botanical Garden Lesson Plan

FUN FACTS

The diverse world of plants is perhaps the weirdest, and most fascinating, of all living things. Bamboo can grow over three feet in one day (you can literally watch it grow). There are 600 species of carnivorous plants, which trap and digest insects, frogs, or small birds (if a vegetarian eats this plant, are they still a vegetarian?). The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia, can grow up to three feet in diameter (how big would a bouquet be…). Do a little digging on your next trip to a botanical garden (not literally!), and see what interesting plant facts you can find. 

View Lesson Plan>>

Scouts

Scout groups can work on Nature, Birding, and Hiking badge requirements during visits to Cornell Botanic Gardens. Garden programs aim to teach scouts about the history of vegetable growing in the northeastern U.S., the vegetables that feed the world, adaptations of native wildflowers, tree identification, and more. Scouts are welcome to tour the gardens in search of the many birds that can be found on the campus using the book An Annotated Checklist For Birds Of Cornell Plantations, which is available in the gift shop. Several areas within the gardens provide many opportunities for scouts to take nature hikes. Field trips must be booked at least a month in ahead.

supports scout badges in:
Science.

topics covered:
Nature, environmental science, social studies, birding, Native Americans, history, living environment, horticulture, botany, ecology, life cycles, woodland habitats, vegetables, leaves, stems, roots, plant adaptations, fibers, tree identification, hiking, physical education.

contact info
Name: Raylene Ludgate, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 607-255-2407
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School Group Size: 8 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 1 hour. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Online, Phone, Email. Food Options: Available for purchase, Bring your own, Outdoor seating . Cost: Fee, Free Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

Cornell Botanic Gardens

Formerly Cornell Plantation, this mature botanical garden, arboretum, and network of nature preserves provide an ideal spot for enjoying nature while learning more about plants, horticulture, and the important connections between people and the natural world. Scheduled tours of Cornell Botanic Gardens take groups on a personalized, up-close look at 25 acres of verdant plant life. Students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers can explore gardens on the campus, tour the arboretum, view artwork in the Nevin Welcome Center, hike the trails within Cornell Botanic Gardens, and participate in educational programs. Group tours by bus or on foot are offered from May through October.

contact info

Hrs: Daily Sunrise- Sunset.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by FieldTripDirectory.com

Botanical Garden Lesson Plan

FUN FACTS

The diverse world of plants is perhaps the weirdest, and most fascinating, of all living things. Bamboo can grow over three feet in one day (you can literally watch it grow). There are 600 species of carnivorous plants, which trap and digest insects, frogs, or small birds (if a vegetarian eats this plant, are they still a vegetarian?). The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia, can grow up to three feet in diameter (how big would a bouquet be…). Do a little digging on your next trip to a botanical garden (not literally!), and see what interesting plant facts you can find. 

View Lesson Plan>>

Camp

Summer camp groups will enjoy a guided or self-guided tour of Cornell Botanic Gardens. In the gardens surrounding the Nevin Welcome Center, campers will see herbs, rock garden plants, ornamental grasses, rhododendrons, and more. The F.R. Newman Arboretum features crabapples, oaks, maples, shrubs, nut trees, urban trees for campers explore. Educational programs that focus on edible plants, the history of vegetable growing in the northeastern U.S. an other topics are also available. Bring along bagged lunches or purchase food from the welcome center to enjoy a group lunch with your campers on one of the picnic areas on the campus.

contact info
Name: Raylene Ludgate, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 607-255-2407
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School Group Size: 8 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 1 hour. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Online, Phone, Email. Food Options: Available for purchase, Bring your own, Outdoor seating. Cost: Fee, Free Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

Cornell Botanic Gardens

Formerly Cornell Plantation, this mature botanical garden, arboretum, and network of nature preserves provide an ideal spot for enjoying nature while learning more about plants, horticulture, and the important connections between people and the natural world. Scheduled tours of Cornell Botanic Gardens take groups on a personalized, up-close look at 25 acres of verdant plant life. Students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers can explore gardens on the campus, tour the arboretum, view artwork in the Nevin Welcome Center, hike the trails within Cornell Botanic Gardens, and participate in educational programs. Group tours by bus or on foot are offered from May through October.

contact info

Hrs: Daily Sunrise- Sunset.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by FieldTripDirectory.com

Botanical Garden Lesson Plan

FUN FACTS

The diverse world of plants is perhaps the weirdest, and most fascinating, of all living things. Bamboo can grow over three feet in one day (you can literally watch it grow). There are 600 species of carnivorous plants, which trap and digest insects, frogs, or small birds (if a vegetarian eats this plant, are they still a vegetarian?). The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia, can grow up to three feet in diameter (how big would a bouquet be…). Do a little digging on your next trip to a botanical garden (not literally!), and see what interesting plant facts you can find. 

View Lesson Plan>>

Homeschool

Homeschool groups will connect with plants through a variety of hands-on programs at Cornell Botanic Gardens. Homeschoolers will learn about the plants that feed the world through a common grocery item matching activity, make rope or cloth out of plant fibers, tour the Native American bed and Three Sisters demonstration garden to learn about the Iroquois tribe, visit the Pounder Heritage Vegetable Garden to explore the history of vegetable growing in the northeastern U.S., examine trees, and more. Reservations must be made at least four weeks ahead of your desired visit.

topics covered:
Plant science, environmental studies, social studies, Native Americans, history, living environment, horticulture, botany, ecology, life cycles, woodland habitats, vegetables, leaves, stems, roots, plant adaptations, fibers, tree identification.

contact info
Name: Raylene Ludgate, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 607-255-2407
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School Group Size: 8 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 1 hour. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Online, Phone, Email. Food Options: Available for purchase, Bring your own, Outdoor seating. Cost: Fee, Free Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

Cornell Botanic Gardens

Formerly Cornell Plantation, this mature botanical garden, arboretum, and network of nature preserves provide an ideal spot for enjoying nature while learning more about plants, horticulture, and the important connections between people and the natural world. Scheduled tours of Cornell Botanic Gardens take groups on a personalized, up-close look at 25 acres of verdant plant life. Students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers can explore gardens on the campus, tour the arboretum, view artwork in the Nevin Welcome Center, hike the trails within Cornell Botanic Gardens, and participate in educational programs. Group tours by bus or on foot are offered from May through October.

contact info

Hrs: Daily Sunrise- Sunset.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by FieldTripDirectory.com

Botanical Garden Lesson Plan

FUN FACTS

The diverse world of plants is perhaps the weirdest, and most fascinating, of all living things. Bamboo can grow over three feet in one day (you can literally watch it grow). There are 600 species of carnivorous plants, which trap and digest insects, frogs, or small birds (if a vegetarian eats this plant, are they still a vegetarian?). The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia, can grow up to three feet in diameter (how big would a bouquet be…). Do a little digging on your next trip to a botanical garden (not literally!), and see what interesting plant facts you can find. 

View Lesson Plan>>