Self-Guided Visits Education-focused visits for groups or schools (students age 15 and under)
The perfect educational solution for schools or scouting groups who want to explore the Arboretum at-your-own-pace! Extend the learning of an Arboretum field trip by adding a self-guided tour, or plan a self-guided tour of the Arboretum for your school/education group.
All groups, self-guided or otherwise, must reserve self-guided visits in advance.
See below for lots of fun and educational ideas for your group! Pick up your self-guided info like maps, chaperone guides, and seasonal exhibit information at the front gate or at the Visitor Center.
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Self-Guided visits for educational groups are available Monday - Friday. To request an Educational Self-Guided Visit outside of the above days contact the Learning Center Office at 612-301-1210 to discuss your request.
Chaperones:
- Chaperones are free up to 1 adult per 5 students (chaperone count includes teachers, but not Paras and nurses accompanying special needs students)
- Adults in addition to the 1:5 ratio pay $15 per person.
- Minimum suggested adult:student ratio is 1 adult per 10 students.
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Price
$7.50 registration fee for the entire group Please pay with credit card at time of booking
$15/Additional adult Adults in excess of the 1:5 chaperone:student ratio (or pay at the Gatehouse upon arrival)
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To Schedule your Visit - Online Registration
Step 1 |
Login or Create a Profile Returning Users login on left side of page New Users create profile on right side of page |
Step 2 |
Browse availability calendar Browse available dates and book your group's visit
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Step 3 |
Book your date and time Your user log-in info from STEP 1 will auto-fill on the registration form. Remember to add extra chaperones, if applicable |
Step 4 |
Review Chaperone Guide, Meeting Location, and Arrival information below |
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Questions
To contact a Learning Center Registrar or to register by phone/email
Arbtrips@umn.edu 612-301-1210
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Download the Chaperone Guide
Chaperone Guide
A guide to the top 7 Arboretum spots for teachers, educators, and parents to bring kids for sensory, STEM-inspired learning! Download and print the Chaperone Guide
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Select Group Meeting Location
The Arboretum is a BIG place to explore! Decide on your group's meeting location and share that information with members of your group who may be arriving separately, such as parents. Suggested meeting locations include the Snyder Building, Oswald Visitor Center, or Ordway Picnic Shelter view Arboretum map
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Arrival
As you drive in to the Arboretum, check in at the Arboretum Gatehouse* and identify the name of your group. * If you have reserved a GreenTime Backpack (see Visit Add-Ons below), you will pick it up at the Gatehouse.
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Self-Guided Visit Suggested Enhancements |
Green-Time Backpack Preschool - Grade 1 $30 per backpack rental + $7.50 registration fee
The Green-time Backpack has stories, props and everything you need to lead a "discovery + fun" visit for a curious group of young learners. One Backpack serves up to 30 students. Pre-reserving your backpack(s) ensures that your packs will be at the front gate ready for you to pick-up on the day of your visit.
TO RESERVE Arbtrips@umn.edu 612-301-1210 Download the Leader's Guide
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Top Ten Places to Visit with Kids Free
1. Maze Garden Will you lose yourself? Or find your way through Try both mazes! 2. Weekend Family Fun Experience "hands-on plants" for all ages, Saturdays & Sundays, 12-4pm year-round; theme changes monthly. 3. Green Play Yard It's natural fun especially designed for ages 5 and under. 4. Bog Walk on Green Heron Trail Take the boardwalk across Green Heron Pond; look for herons, dragonflies, orchids and tamaracks. 5. Japanese Garden Sit in the Garden House, listen to the rushing waterfall, count the koi. 6. Shade Tree Exhibit Meet some trees that could live in your yard, and check out the little playhouses. 7. Fruit and Vegetable Garden Do a walkabout and see what homegrown crops are ripening today. 8. Under The Oak Build your own stick fort and crawl through the Twigloo. 9. Weeping Trees How do some of them grow to look like green elephants? 10. Herb Gardens The "scratch-and-sniff" idea started with herbs; rub their leaves gently and try a few!
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Your Bog Adventure Free
Use this guide to find your way to more nature and more discoveries as you take the half-mile Green Heron Trail loop around Green Heron Pond. "Your Bog Adventure" includes 5 activities to do with children ages 5-11. You can print your own copy at home to bring, or pick up a free copy at the Oswald Visitor Center when you arrive. Allow 30-45 minutes. Are you ready to explore?
Print Bog Adventure Page 1 Print Bog Adventure Page 2
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Your Garden Fun Finder Free
Sprout some green curiosity as you explore the glorious display gardens near the Oswald Visitor Center. "Your Garden Fun Finder" offers 8 activities to do with children ages 5-11. You can print your own copy at home to bring, download it to your mobile device (e.g. iPad, Kindle, phone), or purchase a copy at the Arboretum Gift Store when you arrive. Allow 30-45 minutes. Print Garden Fun Finder Download to your mobile device
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Also check out:
School Fieldtrips Weekend Family Fun
Classes Catalog
View online
Request a catalog in the mail
Email Subscriptions
- Subscribe here to opt-in to your choice of Arboretum Education email alerts. You'll only receive emails on the topics you select, so you can keep your inbox interesting and relevant to you! (Every email contains easy instructions for opting out at any time.)
Questions?
Arboretum Education Office Hours Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat - Sun, noon - 4 p.m. Email Arboretum Education at arbedu@umn.edu Call Arboretum Education at 612-301-1210
Member Perk!
Arboretum Members may invite non-members to attend a class with them at the discounted member rate! Simply register for all participants at the same time in the same order and select the "member" rate for each person at checkout.
Cancellation Policy
Prior to registering, please review the cancellation policy
Waitlist
The best chance of being enrolled in a sold out class is to add your name to the waitlist. Click the orange "waitlist" button and complete the steps, or call 612-301-1210. There is no obligation to register if a spot opens. If the waitlist shows enough demand, additional class sessions may be added.
Program Quick Links
FREE & LOW COST PlantMaker Studio NaturePlay for Wee Ones Garden Fun Stops 1-Hour Tram Tour Guided Walking Tours StoryTime Q&A at the Yard & Garden Desk
YOUTH & FAMILIES Youth+Adult Together Programs Ages 3-5 with adult Ages 5-12 with adult Homeschool Days
ADULTS Gardening & Horticulture Classes Gardening - General Houseplants Edible Gardening Landscape & Design Floral & Botanical Crafts Seasonal Holiday Pollinators Pollinators - Misc Special Access Experiences Fine Art & Crafts Classes Painting & Drawing Mixed Media Floral & Botanical Crafts Jewelry & Wearable Art Fiber Arts Stone Balancing & Sculpture Open Art Studio Seasonal Holiday Photography Classes Photography Special Access Experiences Food & Wine Classes Dine with a Chef Cooking Classes Wine Books Book Club Nature Appreciation Birds Trees Signature Guided Walks Shinrin-yoku Nature-Based Therapeutics Shinrin-yoku
Bios Instructors Arboretum Staff Education Department Statistics
Share your feedback
Your opinions are important! The Arboretum strives to create classes that are relevant, useful and provide value. Use this form to share anonymous feedback about educational programming with the Arboretum Education Team.
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