Children and Family Programs

We offer a range of fun, imaginative and challenging programs for children and families. Learn and discover together in beautiful and biodiverse Duke Gardens! We welcome all children and are happy to work with you to plan appropriate accommodations for your child in our programs.

Harvest Festival 2024

Sunday, October 20, 2024 1:00-4:00 PM

Celebrate the bounty of autumn with a festival of activities, music, demonstrations and more, led by Duke Gardens and other local groups in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. We'll have free drop-in activities for adults and children together; all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Cost: FREE! No registration required
Location: Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden (D3 on the map)

Upcoming Fall 2024 Programs

 

Children’s Birding for kids 6-10-years old
Do you have a young person in your life interested in birds? Join us for a birding class for kids where we will explore Duke Gardens in search of the birds that call this place home! Kids can be dropped off or accompanied by an adult to learn all about birds, their special adaptations and what kinds of birds live around us. Kids can bring their own binoculars or borrow a pair from us. No prior experience necessary. Participation limit of 1 adult for every child.
Dates:
Saturday September 14,
Saturday October 12,
Saturday November 9
Time: 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $8 per child; 20% discount for family level members with discount code
Location: Meet at the Doris Duke Center
Accessibility: This program is designed to take place outdoors in the Duke Gardens. Participants will travel on some uneven surfaces and on moderate inclines to reach different areas of the gardens. 
Register Here

 

Young Naturalist series for kids 6-10 years old
Explore gardening, how plants grow and learn about which animals may be living in Duke Gardens and using the plants to survive. Each session will have hands on activities and interactive lessons that inspire curiosity and encourage connections with the natural world. Children can be dropped off for the 1.5-hour lesson and will be guided by 2 educators while they explore the Gardens.
Dates:
Saturday September 21: Planting seeds,
Saturday October 26: Fall Harvest
Saturday November 16: Winter and Hibernation
Time: 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $12per child; 20% discount for family level members with discount code
Location: Meet at the Doris Duke Center
Accessibility: This program is designed to take place outdoors in the Duke Gardens. Participants will travel on some uneven surfaces and on moderate inclines to reach different areas of the gardens. 
Register Here

 

Storytime and Discovery Drop-In
Join us for a story time and some self-guided activities at the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden (D3 on the map). Story times will begin at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. each Thursday morning in the story circle in the Discovery Garden. Activities for caregivers to enjoy with their youngsters will be available on the picnic tables in the same garden area. 
Dates: Every Thursday from September 5- October 31
Time: 10 a.m. to noon; stories begin at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m
Cost: FREE; no registration
Location: Meet at the tobacco barn in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.

CANCELED September 19, 2024

español

The following programs are conducted entirely in Spanish.

Hora de cuentos en español
¡La hora de cuentos es un programa diseñado para que jóvenes puedan aprender y disfrutar de los jardines en español! La hora de cuentos ocurre en el círculo de cuentos en el Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden (marcado con “D3” en el mapa). Cada semana leeremos algunos cuentos, pasaremos tiempo disfrutando de las plantas en este jardín, y realizaremos actividades relacionadas a los cuentos.

Fechas: 
Sabadao 7 de septiembre
Sabado 5 de octubre
Sabado 2 de noviembre
Hora: 10-11 a.m.
Costo: Gratis, no se requiere matricularse.
Lugar: Encuéntranos en el círculo de cuentos en el área de Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden

 

More resources

Check out our family activity videos here!

ecoEXPLORE, for children in grades K-8, combines science exploration with kid-friendly technology to foster a fun learning environment for children while encouraging them to explore the outdoors and participate in citizen science. Duke Gardens is an ecoEXPLORE HotSpot!

Feel free to use any of our self-guided visit resources to explore Duke Gardens with your family!

Please see more at-home learning activities, classes and links here.

If you'd like to be added to our email list for program announcements, please email gardenseducation@duke.edu.

Thank you!