Tomatoes growing at the Edible Academy

Class Trips

The New York Botanical Garden becomes a 250-acre classroom for you and your students to explore. Active learning takes place in three unique sites and across Garden grounds. Students become gardeners in the Ruth Rea Howell Vegetable Garden at the Edible Academy; they become naturalists investigating plant and animal life in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden; and at the GreenSchool in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, students become world explorers examining glass-enclosed rain forests and deserts. NYBG’s Class Trips offer something for every age group!

All of NYBG’s programs complement classroom learning and support learning standards prescribed by New York City and New York State, and also align with the national Next Generation Science Standards.

We are an outdoor learning environment, and programs run rain or shine. Be sure to dress for the weather, and read answers to some of our frequently asked questions on our pre-visit page.

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GARDENING WORKSHOPS AT THE EDIBLE ACADEMY

The Edible Academy

  • How Does Your Garden Grow? | Fall, Spring, & Summer

    Explore soil, and plant and water in the garden to discover ways plants grow and change seasonally. Search for plant parts we eat in the garden and pot up edible plants to grow at home.

    September 30–November 14, 2025; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    $175 per class

    March 31–June 5, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    $175 per class

    July 8–August 14, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register

    How Does Your Garden Grow? | Winter

    Explore the garden in winter. Discover ways plants grow and change during cold months in a greenhouse. Pot up indoor plants to grow at home.

    January 6–February 27, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register

    ELA in the Garden | Winter

    Through hands-on, sensory exploration of the winter garden and greenhouse, learn about the power of language. Learners will investigate seed catalogs, contribute to their own “class catalog,” and save seeds to take home.

    January 6–February 27, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register

    Foodways: Crops of the African American Diaspora | Winter

    Explore the cultural narrative of people—and the food they grow and eat now and through history. Learn about the living and preserved garden of the Black American diaspora through hands-on activities and an introduction to culinary traditions.

    January 6–February 27, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register

    Math in the Garden (Grades 3–5) | Winter

    Explore the Edible Academy as a site to spark student curiosity with mathematics applications, from planning a garden plot to crafting a recipe.

    January 6–February 27, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register

  • Visit the Edible Academy to practice organic gardening methods and explore foodways. Consider the implications and applications of the lessons learned at NYBG for your neighborhood. If you are a student or high school teacher, contact our Registration Office to learn more at childed@nybg.org or 718.817.8181.

MULTI-VISIT GARDENING PROGRAM AT THE EDIBLE ACADEMY

  • Groups meet four times over the school year to dig deeper into the topics below. Each session builds on the previous, and the Edible Academy educators share post-session activities with teachers that support student learning between sessions.

    • Session 1: September 30–November 7, 2025; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    • Session 2: November 11–December 19, 2025; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    • Session 3: March 6–April 24, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
    • Session 4: April 28–June 5, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

    $700 (4 Visits) per group

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181.

  • Garden Cycles | Pre-K–K

    Learn about plant life cycles and seasonal change through hands-on gardening and direct observation in the Edible Academy’s dynamic landscape. Explore how gardeners prepare and grow throughout the year.

    Seeds to Fruits | Grade 1

    Through hands-on exploration of the Edible Academy’s vegetable garden, deepen understandings of plant parts, needs, and functions for the food we grow and eat.

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email Childed@nybg.org.

  • Our Garden Community | Grade 2

    Explore the connections between the food plants we grow and eat with our larger garden community of gardeners, pollinators, decomposers, and plants. Deepen understandings of the characters, places, and relationships that compose a community through hands-on exploration and investigation.

    Seed Stories and History | Grade 3

    Through a hands-on exploration of the Edible Academy vegetable garden, explore the history and movement of food crops through the lenses of geography, botany, and culture.

    Native Plants and Peoples | Grade 4

    Using place-based exploration of the Edible Academy site and the larger New York Botanical Garden, build understandings about the environmental knowledge of Indigenous peoples past and present. Investigate native plants and Three Sisters gardening.

    Grow Green | Grade 5

    Discover the sustainable features of the Edible Academy. Explore ideas about renewable energy, water conservation, composting, and urban gardening.

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181.

PLANT AND NATURE EXPLORATIONS AT THE EVERETT CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE GARDEN

The Wetland pavilion with a sweetgum tree branch in the foreground

  • Plant Parade | Grades Pre-K–2

    Compare a variety of plants and discover their parts and functions using all five senses. Pot up seeds to grow at home.

    September 30–November 14, 2025; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    March 24–June 5, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register

    Pumpkins | Grades Pre-K–5

    Investigate gourds and pumpkins to develop understandings about fruit diversity and the pumpkin life cycle. Conduct seed germination experiments to grow at home.

    September 30–October 31, 2025
    10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register

    Seeds on the Move | Grades 1–3

    Explore the essential question: How do seeds move? Search for evidence of how seeds move by observing plants outdoors. Dissect specimens to develop theories. Pot up seeds to grow at home.

    September 30–November 14, 2025
    10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register

    Evergreen Adaptations | Grades Pre-K–5

    Traverse the winter trails and compare and contrast evergreen trees and shrubs to construct understandings about adaptations. Explore our treetop walk to see evergreens from a bird’s-eye view. Take home a fir sachet to keep or give as a gift!

    November 18–January 9, 2025
    10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register

    Winter in the Garden | Grades Pre-K–5

    Explore our winter garden to investigate which plant and animal species are sleeping and which are awake. Even in the winter there is lots to discover, from animal tracks to buds on trees. Set up a plant experiment to watch grow into the springtime.

    January 27–March 13, 2026
    10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register

    Fantastic Flowers | Grades 1–3

    Examine a variety of flowers to construct an understanding about the role of pollination in a plant life cycle. Pot up seeds to grow at home.

    March 24–June 5, 2026
    10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register

    Wetland Ecology | Grades 3–5

    Collect a site sample of a native wetland and investigate the indicators of a healthy ecosystem.

    September 30–November 14, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    March 24–June 5, 2026;10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register

New! HANDS-ON MULTI-VISIT SCIENCE PROGRAM AT THE EVERETT CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE GARDEN

The Wetland pavilion with a sweetgum tree branch in the foreground

  • Groups meet three times over the school year using the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden landscape and classrooms as their own science lab. Each session builds on the previous, and Everett Children’s Adventure Garden educators share post-session activities with teachers that support student learning between sessions.

    • Session 1: September 30–November 14, 2025
    • Session 2: January 27–March 13, 2026
    • Session 3: March 24–June 5; 2026

    Times: 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45–1 p.m.

    Cost: $500 (3 visits)

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email Childed@nybg.org.

  • Why Wetlands? (Grade 4)

    Why wetlands? Wetlands are amazing habitats that are key to our climate resiliency! Explore the unique plants and animal life that inhabit our NYC pond and bog. Observe the adaptations that allow these organisms to live and thrive in changing environments. Investigate how a wetland can protect against weather hazards and serve as a natural pollutant filter.

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email Childed@nybg.org.

PLANT SCIENCE WORKSHOPS AT THE GREENSCHOOL

Children with paper and pads investigating leaves

  • Plant Parts We Eat | Fall & Spring

    Find plant parts to develop understandings about their roles in helping plants survive and grow. Pot up edible plants to grow at home.

    September 30–November 13, 2025; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $170 per class

    March 24–June 5, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register

  • Life in the Rain Forest

    Step into the layers of the rain forest to discover its unique climates, biodiversity, and adaptations. Learn about plants used for food and medicine, then pot up a tropical plant to bring home.

    September 30, 2025–June 5, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register

  • Amazing Plant Adaptations | Fall, Winter, & Spring

    How do plants survive in extreme environments? Compare adaptations in rain forests, deserts, and carnivorous bogs. Pot up your own resilient plant to observe its life cycle.

    September 30–June 5, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register


    Patterns of Plants | Holiday

    Discover symmetry and design in nature. Use plant parts to create beautiful mandalas, blending science, geometry, and art in a hands-on exploration of natural structures.

    November 18, 2025–January 9, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per class

    Register


    Flowers in the Life Cycle | Winter & Spring

    Experience diverse environments that allow plants to grow successfully. Dissect specimens to understand the roles of flowers, fruit, and seeds to reproduction. Pot up experiments to grow at home.

    January 27–March 13, 2025; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    March 24–June 5, 2025; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register


    The Water Cycle | Winter & Spring

    Find and compare elements of the air, water, and terrain of the world’s biomes and develop understandings about the role of plants in the water cycle. Build terrariums to take home.

    January 27–March 13, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    March 24–June 5, 2026; 10–11:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
    $175 per group

    Register


    Van Gogh’s Flowers

    Step into a garden inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant paintings. Observe the composition of textures, colors, and shapes in nature, then create your own masterpiece outdoors.

    September 30–October 24
    $175 per class

    Register


    Flower Power: Observe and Create
    Spring Exhibition

    Celebrate the spirit of the ’60s in a groovy and colorful flower show inspired by hippie culture and its love of nature. Create a botanical tableau of peace, blooms, and flower fun.

    May 26–June 5
    $175 per class

    Register

INDOOR TOURS IN THE ENID A. HAUPT CONSERVATORY

Lowland rainforest gallery in the Conservatory

  • Inside the rain forests and deserts of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, students become detectives—hunting for plants, observing ecosystems, finding adaptations, and investigating biodiversity. Through hands-on exploration, they develop a deeper understanding of plant survival and resilience, connecting their discoveries to global conservation efforts.

    Indoor Guided | Fall, Holiday, Winter, & Spring | Grades Pre-K–8
    September 30–November 13, 2025; 10:15–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
    $150 per class

    November 18, 2025–January 9, 2026; 10:15–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
    $150 per class

    January 27–March 13, 2026; 10:15–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
    $150 per class

    March 24–June 5, 2025; 10:15–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
    $150 per class

    Indoor Self-Guided | Fall, Winter, & Spring | Grades Pre-K–8
    September 23–November 13, 2025; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
    $75 per class

    January 13–June 26, 2026; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
    $75 per class

  • Around the World of Plants | Grades Pre-K–2

    Observe and compare plants, weather, and seasons among rain forests, deserts, and a bog. Use field journals to record discoveries.

    Register

    Ecosystems of the World | Grades 3–5

    Explore and compare rain forests, deserts, and a bog to find characteristics and features that help organisms survive in these environments. Use field journals to record your findings.

    Register

    Climate and Biodiversity | Grades 6–8

    Explore the diversity of species that survive and grow in rain forests, deserts, and a bog. Use field journals as a tool for conservation.

    Register

  • The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle | Grades K–8

    February to April

    Step into abundant orchid displays to discover the secret to their survival across the globe. From rain forests to mountain slopes, explore how these flowers adapt, thrive, and survive!

    Register

    Van Gogh: Painting Nature Tour | Grades K–8

    Until October 24

    Step into a garden inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant paintings. Observe composition of colors, textures, and shapes in nature, then create your own impressions of nature outdoors.

    Register

    Flower Power Tour | Grades K–8

    Begins May 26

    Observe composition of colors, textures, and shapes in nature, then create your own impressions of nature outdoors.

    Register

    Patterns of Plants Tour | Grades 2–8
    Holiday Combination Only

    Discover symmetry and geometry in nature. Compare natural patterns in plants with the structures featured in the Holiday Train Show®.

    Register

OUTDOOR NATURE WALKS

A line of children walking on a stone path

  • Students get to connect to nature by spending time outside in our beautiful collections. They’ll trek through the Thain Family Forest, meander through the Native Plant Garden, and explore all 250 acres of our landscape. Using field journals to record observations, and discussing ideas with friends, they learn how healthy ecosystems support biodiversity, sustainability, and resilience.

    Outdoor Guided

    $150 per class

    October 1–November 21, 2025; 10:15–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

    November 19, 2025–January 17, 2026; 10:15–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

    March 25–June 6, 2026; 10:15–11:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

    Outdoor Self-Guided

    $65 per class (Free for New York Schools)

    Every Season | All Day

    Register

  • Grades Pre-K–5

    Sensory Walk

    Fall & Spring

    Engage all senses to deepen plant awareness through observation. Build understandings about how plants grow and survive.

    Register

    Grades 2–8

    Native Plant Champions Walk

    Explore a woodland, wetland, and a meadow to learn about the role of native plants in healthy ecosystems and take conservation action.

    Register

    Fall & Spring

    50-Acre Thain Family Forest Walks

    A Walk in the Forest | Grades Pre-K–2

    Observe and compare a deciduous forest across the seasons. Discover the trees, animals, and insects who make their home there.

    Register

    Forest Ecosystem of the Lënapehòking | Grades 3–5

    Hike through native forest trails to discover habitat features that once supported the lives of the Lenape people and the plants, birds, and animals that survive today.

    Register

    A Forest in the Bronx | Grades 6–8

    Explore the diversity of a native forest and discover the challenges of plant survival in an urban environment. Use field journals as a tool for conservation.

    Register

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS

Two children looking at a model train

  • Holiday Train Show®

    Explore a winter wonderland as model trains and trolleys wind their way through miniature New York landmarks—all crafted from natural materials. Students explore the magic of engineering, history, and plants all in one unforgettable self-guided visit.

    November 18, 2025–January 9, 2026; All Day
    $150 per class

    Register

  • Holiday Combination: Holiday Train Show® and Evergreen Adaptations

    Experience both the Holiday Train Show® and the complementary Evergreen Adaptations in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden.

    November 18, 2025–January 9, 2026; All Day
    $265 per class

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email Childed@nybg.org.

    Indoor Lunch Tent
    *Only for combination groups*

    Here for both the Holiday Train Show and Evergreen Hike or Patterns of Plants, we offer an indoor lunch eating area that is warm and clean. It is free of charge. Seats are limited and certain dates are unavailable.

    November 18, 2025–January 9, 2026; 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

    30 minute time slots

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email Childed@nybg.org.

  • Holiday Combination: Holiday Train Show® and Patterns of Plants

    Experience both the Holiday Train Show® and the complementary Patterns of Plants workshop or tour at the GreenSchool in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

    November 18, 2025–January 9, 2026; All Day

    Holiday Train Show and Patterns of Plants Workshop
    $265 per class

    Holiday Train Show and Patterns of Plants Tour
    $225 per class

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email Childed@nybg.org.

    Indoor Lunch Tent
    *Only for combination groups*

    Here for both the Holiday Train Show and Evergreen Hike or Patterns of Plants, we offer an indoor lunch eating area that is warm and clean. It is free of charge. Seats are limited and certain dates are unavailable.

    November 18, 2025–January 9, 2026; 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

    30 minute time slots

    Register by calling our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email Childed@nybg.org.

Contact Us

Pre-K–8: To register your class, email childed@nybg.org or call 718.817.8181.

High School: To register your class, email grouptours@nybg.org or call 718.817.8687.

Teacher Professional Learning: To inquire, email teachered@nybg.org or call 718.817.8140.

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