Book a field trip to NBG!

Schedule your class, daycare, or summer camp to complete a self-guided or guided learning adventure during your next visit to Norfolk Botanical Garden! All of our activities are Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) aligned, and are a great way to introduce students in grades Pre-K – 12 to nature.

These programs are also great resources for homeschool families! Please note, a minimum of 5 students must attend to complete a guided tour. Small families and individuals are encouraged to complete self-guided tours of the Garden.

To schedule a field trip, please email the following information to youthed@nbgs.org:
  • Your name and the name of your organization/school.
  • Your organization/school information – address, phone number, email.
  • Reservation date and time preferences.
  • The name of the program you would like to complete (see programs below).
  • The number of students, teachers, and chaperones planning to attend (see pricing below).

Note: All field trips must be scheduled at least two weeks before the intended visit date. Pre-registration is required. Walk-up registration is not permitted.

Guided Field Trip Pricing:

  • WITHOUT TRAM RIDE: $15/student.
  • WITH TRAM RIDE: $16/student.
  • $14/Adult Chaperone and Sibling Tag-Alongs. This is a reduced rate from regular Garden admission.
  • Free – School/Organization staff and teachers.
  • NBG Members may use their Garden membership to chaperone field trip programs.
  • A minimum of 5 students must attend to complete a guided field trip.
  • Contact us for additional information on our Title I Student pricing and scholarship opportunities.

Self-Guided Field Trip Pricing:

  • $13/student. Includes access to the public tram.
  • $14/Adult Chaperone and Sibling Tag-Alongs. This is a reduced rate from regular Garden admission.
  • Free – School/Organization staff and teachers.
  • NBG Members may use their Garden membership to chaperone field trip programs.

Specialized Field Trip Pricing:

Interested in hosting a more “specialized” program with the Garden as your classroom? With topic approval, NBG Youth Educators will design a 1-hour guided tour to cover content outside of the regularly offered field trip topics. Specialized tour must be booked at least 30 days before their intended completion date.

  • $18/student. Includes access to the public tram.
  • $14/Adult Chaperone and Sibling Tag-Alongs. This is a reduced rate from regular Garden admission.
  • Free – School/Organization staff and teachers.
  • NBG Members may use their Garden membership to chaperone field trip programs.

Guided Field Trip Program Descriptions

WOW ABCs

Take a sensory tour of the WOW Children’s Garden, practice your map skills, and then plant sunflower seeds to take home. Recommended for Grades Pre-K-1.

Flowers & Friends

Review the lifecycles of frogs, flowers, and butterflies! Recommended for Grades 1-2.

Plants & People

Learn about the historic and contemporary indigenous communities in the Powhatan, Lakota, and Pueblo Tribes by exploring their traditional tools, food sources, and housing structures, and the plants and animals found in each indigenous region. Recommended for Grades 2-3.

Nature in Action

Review plant and animal adaptations, the anatomy of a flower, photosynthesis, and then play our interactive food web game. Recommended for Grades 3-4.

Botany 101

Review plant adaptations, the anatomy of a flower, photosynthesis, pollination, and then practice using a dichotomous key. Great review for the 5th grade science SOL!

WETLANDS & WATERSHEDS

Students will review the water cycle and learn about the importance of watersheds and coastal areas by using an Enviroscape. Recommended for Grades 3-12. Program includes content relating to climate change and human impact on the environment for Grades 6-12.

Self-Guided Field Trip Upgrades

For an additional $1/student, we will include activity booklets and materials for the students to complete as part of their self-guided learning experience.

Plant & Insect Pals

Review the parts of a plant and lifecycle of a butterfly, and then plant seeds to start your own garden. Recommended for Grades K-2.

Weather Watchers & Plant Pals

Review concepts relating to weather, seasonal changes, and plants as natural resources. Recommended for Grades 1-3. A variation of this program is available for Grades 4-5 with topics relating to weather, climate, and cloud identification.

Nature in Action

Visit the Tropical Display House to learn about plant adaptations, and review the classifications of animals in the Garden. Recommended for Grades 3-5. 

ADDITIONAL BOOKING INFORMATION

  • Participants are asked to pay by check, credit card, or cash upon arrival at the Garden. Checks should be made payable to Norfolk Botanical Garden. If paying with cash, please have exact change. Refunds are not available in the event a school overpays for the actual number of attending students.
  • Upon arrival, a staff member will greet you in the main lot and assist with submitting payment.
  • All activities are outdoors. Please remember to wear appropriate clothing for walking and weather conditions. In extreme weather conditions, outdoor programs can be rescheduled.
  • All visits must be pre-scheduled before visiting the Garden. Please provide the Garden with 24 hour notice of cancellations.
  • Picnics are permitted in the Garden. We recommend you plan for a “picnic-blanket” style lunch on any grassy area.
  • Adult chaperones are responsible for students’ behavior, any disciplinary actions, and/or first aid required during their visit.