Book a Girl Scout Troop visit to Norfolk Botanical Garden! Complete the requirements of a badge or patch of your choosing, then spend the rest of your time in the Garden exploring our 175-acre campus. To book a Girl Scout program, or for more information on options for your Scout or Troop, call (757) 441-5830 ext.463 or email youthed@nbgs.org.

Guided Program Pricing:

  • $22/Girl Scout. Guided programs include program materials, the program badge or patch, and Garden admission.
  • $18/Troop Leaders and Adult Chaperones. NBG Members are able to use their Memberships to cover Troop Leader and Adult Chaperone fees.
  • $18/Sibling Tag-Alongs. Sibling tag-alongs will be charged as participants if attending a guided program – sibling tag-alongs will receive the program materials but will not receive the program badge or patch.

Self-Guided Program Pricing:

  • Only the Explore Norfolk Botanical Garden Patch is offered as a self-guided program.
  • $17/Girl Scout. Guided programs include program materials, the program badge or patch, and Garden admission.
  • $18/Troop Leaders and Adult Chaperones. NBG Members are able to use their Memberships to cover Troop Leader and Adult Chaperone fees.
  • $17/Sibling Tag-Alongs. Sibling tag-alongs will be charged as participants if attending a self-guided program – sibling tag-alongs will receive the program materials but will not receive the program badge or patch.

Program Options:

  • Explore Norfolk Botanical Garden Patch (GSCCC Partner Patch)
  • Daisy Animal Observer Badge
  • Brownie Bug Badge
  • Junior Flower Badge
  • Cadette Night Owl Badge
  • Cadette Trees Badge
  • Shapes in Nature Badges
  • Outdoor Art Badges

Additional Information:

  • All Girl Scout programs require a $50 deposit at the time of booking.
  • Program times are available at any point during the week.
  • Self-guided visits must be booked at least a week in advance, with guided visits require booking at least three weeks in advance of the intended visit date.
  • All program rates include Garden admission.
  • Girl Scouts will not be permitted to receive the group rate or program materials without a scheduled reservation.
  • Scouts will be provided their work materials and a badge or patch upon check in. At that time, they will be able to explore the Garden and complete the required activities.
  • If a guided program is booked, a Youth Educator will lead the group on an approximately hour and a half tour.
  • Sibling tag-alongs are strongly discouraged from attending Scout programs. If they attend, they will be charged to participate in the guided or self-guided program activities. 

Bridging Ceremony

Schedule your group to complete our Explore NBG Patch requirements, choose one of our many garden bridges for your Scouts to complete their bridging ceremony, then round out your event with a private rental in a WOW Children’s Garden classroom to celebrate!

Pricing for Full Bridging Ceremony Package: Pricing starts at $300 for up to 25 total attendants (includes Scouts, all adult attendants, and any sibling tag-alongs). Price includes Garden admission for all attendants, and a one-hour classroom rental in the WOW Children’s Garden. Pricing for the Explore NBG Patch self-guided activities is an additional $5/Scout. Add up to 10 additional guests or Scouts to your rental (35 total attendants) for $75. Add an additional 30 minutes to your rental for $50.

Don’t want to include a classroom rental as part of your celebration? No problem! Girl Scout troops can book the guided or self-guided Explore NBG Patch program (patch included), then complete their bridging ceremony as part of the program requirements. 

Upcoming Events

Book an NBG outreach program for your Girl Scout Camp this summer! For more information on our outreach offerings, email us at youthed@nbgs.org.

Explore NBG Patch – Take Action Activities

While our Girl Scout Explore NBG Patch program must be completed “in house”, there are still program requirements that Scouts have to complete at home. Review the patch requirements HERE, and then review the list of Take Action activities below. At least one Take Action activity must be completed to earn the Explore NBG Patch, but we encourage Scouts to give them all a try! Once you are able to visit the Garden with your troop or as an individual, you can complete the remaining needed Discover and Connect requirements to earn the patch.

Take Action Activities:

  • Research “green jobs” in wildlife, horticulture, or environmental science that can be found in Virginia (Wildlife Biologist, Gardener, Botanist, etc.). Choose your favorite career, and investigate the education and training needed to achieve this position. Share this information with your Troop.
  • Review the information below at a Troop Meeting to remind each Scout of easy ways to be green at home to reduce their carbon footprint. After reviewing the ways in which to reduce our carbon footprint, have the Scouts put together a home action plan of ways they plan to commit to and implement more green practices at home. Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere as a result of your everyday activities. Include the following simple practices in your daily routine to help to reduce your carbon footprint.
    • Turn off lights when leaving a room, or when no one is in the room.
    • Use a refillable bottle to replace water bottles and other drinks that come in plastic bottles or cans.
    • Turn on a ceiling fan to cool down in the summer.
    • Reduce the number of times you and your family go out to eat.
    • Turn off the TV and computer, and unplug phone chargers when not using them.
    • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
    • Try to eat less meat, and more fruits and veggies.
    • Recycle magazines, newspaper, plastic, glass, and cans.

The WOW Splash Fountains will be closed for repair starting July 30 and will remain off until further notice. We appreciate your patience and understanding.