Fall 2023 Field Trips at the Arboretum

To schedule a self-guided visit, please contact us at groups@ncarboretum.org.

The Outdoors is Our Classroom!

Academic field trip programs blend the benefits of outdoor education and inquiry-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education while meeting North Carolina Essential Standards.

Time spent with Arboretum educators is time on task. Lessons incorporate curriculum goals and integrate hands-on field experiences. All programs serve as an excellent means to introduce and reinforce topics in a dynamic and enriching way.

Fall Registration will open on 9/5 at 11am.

A link to request a field trip through a Google Form will be posted below at that time.

Request a Field Trip

Tuesday – Thursday (from September 21 – December 7, 2023):

Group Size Limit: Groups are limited to 120* participants maximum for Tuesday – Thursday field trips. Students will be in smaller learning groups of 20 students maximum, a parent chaperone(s) and a teacher, and 1-2 Arboretum Staff Members.

*If a group of 61-120 attends in a single day, their programming options will only be 1 guided program and self-guided time, then switching after lunch.

*Due to amount of materials, we can only schedule a maximum of 80 participants for a Geocaching and Team Building field trip per day.  This will consist of 2 groups in the morning, and 2 in the afternoon.

Groups of 15-60 can schedule two guided programs in a day.

Program Times: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Please review our Safety Guidelines.

Programs at the Arboretum

Program Title Grade Level
K 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Amazing Arthropods X X X X
Down and Dirty with Soil X X
Geocaching & Team Building X X X
Wet and Wild X
Wildlife Adventures X X X
Wonders of Weather X

Cost

Chaperones may incur additional fees**

Students Visit Fee Lunch Location Fee Program Fee Total Cost Total Cost/ Person
10-20 $65.00 $20.00 $105.00 $190.00 $19.00 – $9.50
21-40 $65.00 $20.00 $210.00 $295.00 $14.05- $7.38
41-60 $95.00 $20.00 $315.00 $430.00 $10.49- $7.17
61-80 $95.00 $20.00 $420.00 $535.00 $8.77- $6.69
81-100 $150.00 $20.00 $525.00 $695.00 $8.58- $6.95
101-120 $150.00 $20.00 $630.00 $800.00 $7.92- $6.67

**We recommend approximately 2 chaperones per group of 20 students.  Any chaperone over 5 per group of 20 will be charged an extra $10 each.  We’ve found that when groups of 20 have over 5 chaperones, this detracts from the learning experience of the students. 

Safety Guidelines for Gathering in Groups: 
The Arboretum’s COVID-19 safety precautions are in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, the Buncombe County Department of Health, and the City of Asheville.
Here are some ways we encourage participants to take precautions:
  • Consider testing yourself and child at home before programming at the Arboretum, regardless of how you feel.
  • Proactively monitor yourself and child and have them stay home if you or anyone in your family are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 or any illness or if you have been notified of possible exposure.
  • Although mask wearing is currently not mandated indoors or outdoors, masks will be available to use according to your preference.

Please email youtheducation@ncarboretum.org with any questions.  You can also call Rich Preyer at (828) 412-8558 for questions about programming, or Katie Gorman at 828-567-3165 for help with registration.  

 

To schedule a self-guided visit, please contact us at groups@ncarboretum.org.