The North Carolina Arboretum provides children with the opportunity to enjoy a variety of unique experiences while they discover the wonders of nature in a safe, high-quality and enriching environment. Whether it’s hiking along Bent Creek or geocaching through the woods, the Arboretum offers an array of fun, educational and kid-friendly activities.
ecoEXPLORE
An adventure awaits young naturalists at the Arboretum! While your child enjoys the gardens and trails of the Arboretum they can also join our crew of ecoEXPLORERS, young citizen scientists who help professional scientists study the plants and animals that call North Carolina home. Begin your journey at the Arboretum, and then continue the adventure in your own neighborhood by sharing photo observations of butterflies, lizards, wildflowers and more! To register for free visit www.ecoEXPLORE.net.
TRACK Trail
Families can pick up a TRACK Trail guide at the kiosk behind the Baker Exhibit Center and write down their encounters as they walk along the Arboretum’s Natural Garden Tail. Current options include “What’s at Willow Pond” and “Let’s EXPLORE!”, an introduction to ecoEXPLORE. Families can log their hike online to earn free prizes via the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Kids in Parks program.
