DESTINATIONS

School

Schedule a hands-on program at the garden for your students to learn about ecology, weather, trees, and botany concepts in the garden. Students will dig through soil while learning about composting, dissect flowers to explore their structures, study the water quality in Bent Creek, and collect live arthropod specimens. Students can also participate in a geocaching team building activity. School groups can choose to enjoy a self-guided garden visit on Mondays and Tuesdays from September through May only. Space to enjoy a school group lunch is available. Reserving your field trip several months ahead is recommended, as spots fill up quickly.

supports classroom learning in:
STEM.

topics covered:
Environmental studies, plant science, arthropods, biology, botany, soil, habitats, adaptations, ecosystems, food chain, ecology, meteorology, math, team building.

contact info
Name: Michelle Pearce, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 828-665-2492 ext. 624
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School Group Size: 10 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities, Self-Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 1.5-2 hours. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Phone, Email. Food Options: Bring Your Own, Outdoor Seating. Cost: Fee Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

North Carolina Arboretum

At the 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum, groups can view botanical exhibits, artwork, and a wide range of flower types. Permanent garden exhibits include bonsai specimens, rhododendrons, hollies, azaleas, medicinal plants, and many others. Art exhibits, located in the Baker Exhibit Center and on the second floor gallery of The Education Center, have featured fiber art, garden scale model trains, and more. The North Carolina Arboretum hosts a variety of educational programs for students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers with the aim of encouraging outdoor exploration and environmental awareness.

contact info

Hrs: Vary by season.

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

Scouts can work on several badges on field trips to the North Carolina Arboretum, including Geocacher and Hiker, Bugs, Environmental Science, Weather, and more. The garden’s scout programs utilize hiking trails and other areas for a fun outdoor badge-earning experience. The garden also has its own badge, the Citizen Science Badge, available for Juniors and Cadettes. Scouts are also welcome to explore the arboretum in November in December for Winter Lights with holiday music, holiday-inspired hot cocoa, and more.

supports scout badges in:
Science.

topics covered:
Environmental science, hiking, nature, insects, animal habitats, weather, wilderness survival, tree identification, team building.

contact info
Name: Michelle Pearce, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 828-665-2492 ext. 624
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: All Grades Group Size: 10 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 6 hours. 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: Bring Your Own, Outdoor Seating. Cost: Fee Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

North Carolina Arboretum

At the 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum, groups can view botanical exhibits, artwork, and a wide range of flower types. Permanent garden exhibits include bonsai specimens, rhododendrons, hollies, azaleas, medicinal plants, and many others. Art exhibits, located in the Baker Exhibit Center and on the second floor gallery of The Education Center, have featured fiber art, garden scale model trains, and more. The North Carolina Arboretum hosts a variety of educational programs for students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers with the aim of encouraging outdoor exploration and environmental awareness.

contact info

Hrs: Vary by season.

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 explore the North Carolina Arboretum on a guided or self-guided visit. Guided tour options allow campers to see the garden’s bonsai collection, learn about plant production in the greenhouse, encounter wildlife and various plants on a walk along the trail, experience history in the Heritage Garden’s and more. Self-guided tours are permitted on weekdays in June, July, and August. Bring lunches to have a summer picnic at the garden with your campers after your visit! Reservations are required for guided and self-guided tours.

contact info
Name: Michelle Pearce, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 828-665-2492 ext. 624
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: All Grades Group Size: Varies. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities, Self-Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 1-2 hours. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Phone, Email. Food Options: Bring Your Own, Outdoor Seating. Cost: Fee Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

North Carolina Arboretum

At the 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum, groups can view botanical exhibits, artwork, and a wide range of flower types. Permanent garden exhibits include bonsai specimens, rhododendrons, hollies, azaleas, medicinal plants, and many others. Art exhibits, located in the Baker Exhibit Center and on the second floor gallery of The Education Center, have featured fiber art, garden scale model trains, and more. The North Carolina Arboretum hosts a variety of educational programs for students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers with the aim of encouraging outdoor exploration and environmental awareness.

contact info

Hrs: Vary by season.

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 students can experience the arboretum’s programs during the monthly Tree House Series. The series runs monthly, focusing on different topics throughout the year. Past topics have included arthropods, botany, freshwater ecology, and others. Homeschoolers are also welcome to take self-guided tours of the arboretum on Mondays and Tuesdays from September through May only. Space is available at the garden to have a homeschool group lunch.

topics covered:
Environmental studies, plant science, arthropods, biology, botany, soil, habitats, adaptations, ecosystems, food chain, ecology, meteorology, math.

contact info
Name: Michelle Pearce, Youth Education Coordinator
Phone: 828-665-2492 ext. 624
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Elementary School Group Size: 20 maximum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities, Self-Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 1.5 hours. 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: Bring Your Own, Outdoor Seating. Cost: Fee Accessible To: PD.

ABOUT

North Carolina Arboretum

At the 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum, groups can view botanical exhibits, artwork, and a wide range of flower types. Permanent garden exhibits include bonsai specimens, rhododendrons, hollies, azaleas, medicinal plants, and many others. Art exhibits, located in the Baker Exhibit Center and on the second floor gallery of The Education Center, have featured fiber art, garden scale model trains, and more. The North Carolina Arboretum hosts a variety of educational programs for students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers with the aim of encouraging outdoor exploration and environmental awareness.

contact info

Hrs: Vary by season.

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>>