Let us take your students on an adventure!
The Huntsville Botanical Garden is the place to be to make science come alive for your students. By providing learning experiences that are an extension of your classroom and in line with National and Alabama Science Standards, your students will discover the amazing world around them in our action-packed field trip adventures.
Dates book quickly! Please complete the On-Site Field Trip Request Form to make your reservation today.
For additional information, email education@hsvbg.org or call 256-830-4447, ext. 253.
Field Trip Fees and Policies:
Title 1 discount of $1 per student is available upon request.
Students
– Self-Guided: $9.00 per student with the exception of Garden members. Garden members will be asked to show their Garden membership card for free admission.
– Docent Guided: $10.00 per student
– Instructor-Led: $10.00 per student
Teachers
All teachers, bus drivers, and school support staff traveling with the students, such as a school nurse or administrator, will receive free admission.
Parents/ChaperonesThe Garden does not accept payments from parents/guardians on site. Schools will be required to pay for all adult attendees in advance or include them in the requested invoice. A link can be provided for parents to pay online as well. Non-member adults will receive the field trip group rate of $12 each. All Garden members will receive free admission by checking in at the front desk.
Please Note:
- Wear comfortable shoes – open-toed shoes are not recommended.
- You may be walking one mile or more.
- Please leave the Garden as you found it or better.
- Think of the Nature Center as a museum, please look with your eyes, not your hands.
- The animals are not pets; they do not like to be picked up.
- Sorry, siblings are not allowed on guided field trips.
Lunch Accommodations
The Garden offers lunch areas upon request. All lunch locations are outdoors. Please make sure all lunches are in a cooler or wagon for easier transport to lunch locations inside the Garden. Put your school’s name on any coolers or boxes prior to arrival.
Guided Field Trip Program Options
All of the Huntsville Botanical Garden educational programs are in line with National and State Science Standards. Groups are welcome to stay after their program is completed and tour the Garden on their own. Please inform us when you make your reservation if you wish to stay longer. Fees are per student. Please note that group rates are for 10 or more. All programs require advanced registration.
Fantastic Foliage
K-2nd grades
2-hour program
Offered September – December
$10.00 per student
Discover the beauty of Fall as a guide takes you through an autumn adventure. Your students will investigate why leaves don’t absorb water. They’ll discover why leaves change color and find out how herbs spice the foods we eat. Each student will make a colorful leaf rubbing to take home.
AL Science Standards: K.6.3, 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.8.4, 2.5.1, 2.5.2, photosynthesis
Downloads: Pre-visit activities / Post-visit activities
Seeds Everywhere
K-3rd grades
90-minute program
$10.00 per student
Exploding seedpods, rolling gumballs and whirly-twirly helicopters! Bet your students didn’t realize that engineering started with Mother Nature. Sign your class up to discover the physics behind seeds and nuts; they’ll have a blast! Students will even plant a seed to take home and grow!
AL Science Standards: K.6, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4.2, 2.4, 3.7.1, 3.7.3
Pollinators!
K-4th grades
Two-Hour program through first week in October
$10.00 per student
Spring dates available!
Plants and pollinators go hand-in-hand. Students will discover the lifecycle of plants and pollinators and how they work together to survive. Explore the elements of a habitat and parts of flowers with hands-on activities throughout the Garden.
AL Science Standards: K.6, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 2.6.2, 3.7.1, 4.5.1, 4.5.2
Downloads: Pre-visit activities / Post-visit activities
Habitats
K-3rd grades
Two-hour program in Fall and Spring
$10.00 per student
Students will learn about what plants and animals need for survival and how they interact with each other. Students will engage in all that Tweetsville has to offer by experimenting with bird beaks and nests. We will take a look at lakes, forests, and even down in the soil as we explore the various habitats throughout the garden with this hands-on educational adventure
AL Science Standards: K.3, 1.5, 2.7, 3.11
Branching Out
2nd-4th grades
Two-hour program
$10.00 per student
Trees are what it’s all about in this program that gets your students investigating these important resources. We’ll teach your children how to classify different trees, explain the different parts of a tree and how they all work together, the interdependence of trees and animals, and look for the different ways that trees can be damaged.
AL. Science Standards: 2.5, 3.3, 3.7.1, 3.7.3, 3.7.4, 3.7.5, 3.7.7, 4.5
Downloads: Pre-visit activities / Post-visit activities
Sensational
PreK-K
90-minute program
$10.00 per student
Come experience nature by using all your senses. What will we taste? Smell? Hear? Your students will explore the Garden using all five senses and leave with a newfound sense of wonder for nature. This field trip experience includes tasting vegetables. Please note any food allergies that may be of concern when booking this trip.
AL Science Standards: SEK1a, SEK1e, SC15.K.7
Conservation
4th-6th
2-hour program
$10.00 per student
A healthy ecosystem is critical not only to the plants and animals that live there but to people everywhere. Students will learn about the delicate balance in nature and what they can do as conservationists to make a difference in how we treat our planet. They will explore reducing waste, caring for endangered plants, sustainable gardening practices, and more!
AL Science Standards: SC15.4.5, SC15.4.2b, SC15.5.10, SC15.5.11, and SC15.5.16
Garden Walk-Throughs
All ages, minimum 10 children
Bring your group for a self-guided walk-through of the Garden. Take your time and explore the Nature Trail, Children’s Garden, Nature Center (in season), wherever you wish to wander.
Self-Guided $9.00 per student
Docent Guided $10.00 per student
All Programs
- Groups are welcome to stay after their program is completed and tour the garden on their own. Please inform us when you make your reservation if you wish to stay longer.
- Groups must have a minimum of 10 children.
- Areas available for picnic lunch upon request.
- For more information, contact education@hsvbg.org, or call 256-830-4447 ext. 253.