FIELD TRIPS

Thank you for your interest in visiting The Water Conservation Garden! Our spring field trip schedule is now full, and we are no longer accepting new inquiries at this time. Please reach out again when our Fall field trip schedule opens.

The Nature Explorer Program is an engaging, hands-on field trip experience designed for young adventurers to discover the wonders of gardening, ecology, and outdoor exploration in our Garden.

Through interactive activities, students will learn about planting, pollinators, composting, plant life cycles, water conservation, and the mission of The Water Conservation Garden. Our program encourages curiosity, teamwork, and environmental stewardship as children dig in, explore, and connect with the natural world.

LESSONS TOPICS:

• Kindergarten-Parts of a Plant

• 1st/2nd grade-Seed Dispersal

• 3rd/4th grade-Plant Adaptations

• 5th/6th grade-Water Capture and Conservation

• 7th-12th grade-contact education@thegarden.org for specialized tours

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Garden map/scavenger hunt  for exploring The Garden’s exhibits and trails

• Sensory exploration in the Compost Area, Veggie Garden, and Children’s Trail

• Seasonal animal encounters

• Outdoor picnic area for relaxation and group gatherings

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

School field trips begin at 9:30 AM and last approximately 2.5 hours in our spacious amphitheater. Students will enjoy a 20-minute presentation by a Garden Educator, followed by a self-guided tour led by their teachers and chaperones. Each student will receive a Garden map and scavenger hunt to explore along the way.

Educators are stationed throughout the Garden to support learning, or schools may request a guided tour with their group.

This program is designed for grades K–6 and aligns with California State Standards, NGSS, and Common Core.

COST

Field Trip Pricing & Policies

• Students: $10 per student

• Chaperones: Teachers and up to 10 chaperones are free! Additional chaperones are just $5 each. (Changes coming for FY26-27 pricing)

• Group Minimum: Field trips require at least 20 students, or a flat rate of $200 per group.

• Group Maximum: We can welcome up to 60 students per trip.

Bring your class to the Garden for a fun and educational experience!

Seasonal Offers:

• Tortoise Enclosure Season: March–November (Closed during winter for brumation, as our desert tortoises rest.)

• Butterfly Pavilion Season: Opens on May 3rd, coinciding with our Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Our field trip programs are available for students in grades TK–6. For 7th grade and above, please contact our Community Programs Coordinator to arrange a customized field trip. We welcome students from all educational backgrounds.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
HOMESCHOOLS
NATURE SCHOOLS
CLUBS
……………EVERYONE!

Do you run a homeschool meetup group? We’d love to have you! Just reach out to our Community Programs Coordinator to chat about your specific booking needs.  Fees may apply.

HOW TO SCHEDULE:

All education programs must be approved by our Community Programs Coordinator in advance. No drop in classes please. Email Community Programs Coordinator, Yaily Gonzalez at education@thegarden.org  for availability.

Cancellation Policy: If you cannot attend the class, and would like to reschedule, notify us within 72 hours of the scheduled class. For a full refund, you must notify us within 5 days of the scheduled class given staff time needed to purchase and prep class supplies. Please refer to our FAQ sheet.

Parts of a Plant Lesson
(Grades TK-K)

• Being a Seed   (Mr. R.’s Songs for Teaching)
• Tree Song  (Mr. R.’s Songs for Teaching)
• Roots garden observation activities, sprouting a sweet potato (Scott’s Miracle-Gro)
• From Shoots to Roots: The Purpose of Plant Parts  free sample lesson plans (Life Lab)

Seed Dispersal Lesson
(Grades 1-2)

• The Carrot Seed Video of the book by Ruth Krauss (Story Time with Shayne)
• Mighty Migration: How Seeds and Pollen Travel free sample lesson plans (Life Lab)

Plant Adaptations Lesson
(Grades 3–4)

• Photosynthesis Song (Mr. R.’s Songs for Teaching)
• Vegetable Revival: Bring food scraps back to life Grow kitchen scraps to learn about Meristematic cells & photosynthesis (San Francisco Exploratorium)