Explore Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden with your group to experience 30 acres of spectacular gardens and living ecosystems, including the Lost Hollow Kimbrell Children’s Garden, a tropical plant conservatory, a dry Piedmont Prairie, annual and perennial displays and more. From field trips covering insects to forest habitats to plant life to custom programs designed for your learning standards, field trips at DSBG fully immerse students in the beautiful, wild world around us.

To design a custom field trip to meet specific learning standards and supplement classroom learning, please reach out to Education Manager Jennings Storie.

Program requests must be received no later than four weeks before the requested program date. This does not guarantee the requested date’s availability.

Payment is due 3 weeks prior to program. Please contact Education Manager Jennings Storie with any questions.

Come prepared for weather with appropriate clothing, sunscreen, bug spray and a water bottle for each participant. Programs take place rain or shine.

Upon arrival, gather your class on the grass in front of the Visitor Pavilion. Garden staff will meet you there to coordinate admission.

Adults with your group are responsible for monitoring student safety, managing group behavior and supporting program activities.

Be mindful of Garden guests. The Garden will be open to the public during your visit.

Be careful to not damage plants or Garden property.

Groups are welcome to bring lunch for a picnic after your program!

Self-Guided Field Trip (for groups of 15+)

Students – $6.95

Teachers – Free*

Chaperones – $11.95

Educational Program & Admission

Students – $15

Teachers – Free*

Chaperones – $11.95

Add-On Program

$30 a class

Current Field Trip Offerings

Inch By Inch 

Join us for a multi-disciplinary adventure as students explore math in the Garden with Inchworm and his friends. Students will listen to a story about Inchworm and then use him along with other non-standard units of measure to compare sizes and shapes in the Garden.

Grades Pre-K-2 | 45 – 60 minutes

Key Concepts: measurements, observations, reading comprehension, investigation, linking literature to science

Eggs, Tadpoles and Frogs…Oh My! 

Journey through the lifecycle of a frog as we discuss their characteristics, what they eat, and their habitats. Students will get the opportunity to search for frogs in various life stages at one of the Garden’s ponds and see what it takes to keep frogs of all ages happy and healthy!

Grades K-8 | 60 – 75 minutes

Key Concepts: animal life cycles, amphibians, adaptations, habitats, characteristics of frogs, pond exploration, anatomy of frogs

Insect Investigation 

Get your magnifying glasses ready! Students will learn all about insect characteristics, complete and incomplete metamorphosis, and beneficial bugs. They will then investigate the Garden in search of beneficial insects while having the opportunity to observe them up close.

Grades 1 – 4 | 60 – 75 minutes

Key Concepts: insect life cycle, metamorphosis, anatomy and characteristics of insects, common insects

Trip to the Tropics 

The warm, wet conditions in tropical ecosystems result in amazing plants that represent huge diversity! Learn how plants adapt to thrive in this ecosystem, from drip tips and waxy surfaces to unusual plant parts. We’ll also touch on unique uses of many tropical plants and explore the William H. Williamson Conservatory.

Grades 1-8 | 60 – 75 minutes

Key concepts: ecosystems, plant adaptations, use of plants, rainforest, habitats

Habitat Hike 

Explore habitats on a hike through the forest. Students dig into ecosystems, habitats and how plants and animals adapt according to needs for food, water, shelter and space. Throughout the hike, students will also learn how to identify native plants and animals in the Carolinas.

Grades 1-8 | 75 minutes

Key Concepts: habitat, ecosystem, population, adaptations, food web, plant and animal relationships, biodiversity, native species, conservation

Pond Ecology 

Ponds are ideal ecosystems that provide an up-close look at their web of life. At one of the Garden’s ponds, students will embark upon a scientific investigation to learn about organisms that thrive in, on and around the water by collecting pond samples and making detailed observations.

Grades 1-8 | 75 minutes

Key Concepts: research methods, insect lifecycles, plant-animal relationships, adaptation, ecosystems, wetland habitats, water quality, stewardship

Butterfly Bungalow

Discover something new in the Butterfly Bungalow! Watch butterflies emerge from chrysalids, search for hungry caterpillars among the leaves, catch a butterfly on a feeding sponge and more. Please note that this field trip is only available in August and September; contact us to learn more. 

Grades Pre-K-8 | 60 minutes

Key Concepts: metamorphosis, insects, habitats, life cycles

Life Cycle of a Plant 

Let the Garden be your field guide to introduce you to the world of plants! Learn all about the life cycle of plants, different plant parts and why plants are critical to the earth. Students will then explore throughout the Garden to search for and identify plants in their various life stages.

Grades 1-8 | 60 – 75 minutes

Key Concepts: basic needs for plant growth, seed dispersal, life cycles, plant parts and function, reproduction

Guided Garden Tour 

Learn about the history of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and the meaning behind some of the artifacts found within.

Add-Ons

Extend your students’ experience by 30-45 minutes with an additional enrichment activities led by a Garden Educator.

Lost Hollow Experience

Explore Lost Hollow through enchanted activities and a quest to find all of the hidden keyholes in the Garden.

Tropical Conservatory Tour 

Discover characteristics of a tropical ecosystem and the highlights of the William H. Williamson Conservatory on this guided tour.

Guided Trail Excursions

Investigate native woods and meadows on Persimmon Trail or Meadowood Walk while learning about the plants and animals around you.