Make Duke Gardens
your outdoor classroom
Translate this page
School & Group Programs
EXPAND THE WALLS OF YOUR CLASSROOM ON A VISIT TO DUKE GARDENS!
We offer guided field trips that extend and enhance school curricula through observation-based walks with multi-sensory experiences. Small groups are led by garden guides, who are skilled at connecting specific age-appropriate content to students’ interests as they explore different garden areas.
Guided programs for Durham Public Schools are free, thanks to the generosity of donors to the Duke Gardens annual fund.
We also welcome self-guided groups. Though self-guided visits are free of charge, we require advance registration to ensure that there are adequate resources and space for your group. Self-guided visit resources are available for your visit.
To request a guided program or self-guided visit, please complete our:
If you are looking for college/university programs, please see our University Programs page here.
If you have questions, please contact us at 919-668-1707 or gardenseducation@duke.edu.
CHOOSE FROM THESE GUIDED PROGRAMS OR MAKE A SPECIAL REQUEST
(view a PDF of our guided programs options)
Preschool & Kindergarten (1 hour instructional time)
Sproutlings in the Gardens: See the flowers, hear the birds, smell the herbs, touch the leaves. We will share with students the joys of nature, and lead them on a path of exploration and understanding of the plants and animals in the garden using direct sensory experiences.
Grades: Kindergarten & first (1.5 hours instructional time)
Wonder Walks: Look up. Look down. Look all around. We encourage exploration, appreciation and understanding of plants, animals, nature and the environment, while nurturing a sense of wonder.
Grades: First & Second (1.5 hours instructional time)
Incredible Invertebrates: Insects, Spiders and Worms: Explore the world of insects, spiders and worms, fostering an understanding of their diversity and ecological roles, and promoting a sense of appreciation and respect for these invertebrates and their habitats.
Grades: Second-Fifth (1.5 hours instructional time)
Double Exposure: Foster an appreciation for the interconnectedness of art and science, promoting creativity, critical thinking and interdisciplinary exploration.
Connecting Science and Art at Duke Gardens and the Nasher Museum of Art.
Students will sharpen observational skills, practice collecting data, discover connections between science and art, and engage in hands-on discovery as they visit both Duke Gardens and Nasher Museum in a single day. This program includes 60-80 minutes of guided tours at each venue, with a lunch break. Students/schools bring their own lunches. Free for DPS students; for all other groups, standard fee applies. To register, contact the Nasher’s education office at elizabeth.a.peters@duke.edu or 919-684-1169.
Grades: Third-Fifth (1.5 hours instructional time)
The Secret Life of Plants: What do desert succulents, tropical water lilies and our state trees have in common? Learn about the different parts of plants and how they work to help themselves thrive in our “museum of plants.” Explore the significance of plants, trees and soils in the ecosystem.
Habitat Explorer: What do plants and animals need to survive? Go on a search for animal homes in the gardens and learn how diverse living things get what they need. Explore habitats, adaptations and food webs, fostering an understanding of the interdependence of organisms and ecosystems
Grades: Third & up (1.5 hours instructional time)
Haiku Trail: Develop literacy skills and practice creative expression on a walk through the gardens. Learn about haiku structure and the poet Basho, then collect words that describe your sensory observations to assemble your own haiku.
Grades: Fifth-Eighth (1.5 hours instructional time)
Water, Water Everywhere: Follow the flow of water through Duke Gardens to explore pond life, understand the significance of ponds as habitats, and promote awareness of water management, conservation and pollution prevention, fostering a sense of responsibility for the well-being of aquatic ecosystems.
Living on the Land: Explore the lifestyles of hunter-gatherer societies and the development of agriculture, fostering an understanding of the historical significance and contributions of both approaches to human food systems and promoting cultural appreciation and respect.
All Grades & Ages (1.5 hours instructional time)
Garden Discovery: Observe seasonal highlights on a guided walk that introduces students to the biodiversity of Duke Gardens. Utilize your sense of touch, smell, sound and sight as you explore the different types of plants and animals living in this “museum of plants.”
Math in the Garden: Measure, multiply and map your way through the garden. Learn about the different kinds of math our garden staff uses to create and maintain our beautiful garden, and solve your own garden math problems. Program content is adjusted to match appropriate grade-level standards.
- Guided School Programs: AVAILABLE
-
Our guided school programs are designed to support Common Core as well as the North Carolina Standard and Extended Course of Study.
Guided school programs are available Tuesday through Friday at the following times, for groups of no more than 90 students. If you wish to bring more than 90 students, please contact us to see if we may be able to accommodate your group.
Program Times PreK & K First-Twelth Grades Self-guided 10-11 a.m. 9:30-11 a.m 9-noon 11-noon 10-11:30 a.m. 1-3 p.m. 1-2 p.m. 10:30-noon 1-2:30 p.m The “Garden Discovery” program is $3 per student with a $30 minimum. All other programs are $5 per student with a $50 minimum. Programs are free for Durham Public Schools.
Accessibility: Duke Gardens works to ensure all students are able to participate fully on all field trips. Please let us know if you have students coming on your field trip who could benefit from modifications or adaptations to the program instruction or navigation in the Gardens to meet their IEP or other needs (e.g. language barriers, instructor for behavioral or social needs, additional visuals, tactile tools, additional instructors, etc.).
Please do not disclose personal student information, but let us know if there are tips, tricks, tools or changes we should consider for our program to support learning for all your students.
Chaperones: Adult chaperones are required for all youth groups. We recommend a ratio of 1 chaperone per 15 students, but we cap the number of chaperones at a ratio of 1 chaperone for every 5 students. We cannot accommodate siblings that are not program participants.
Weather: We do take groups out in the rain unless there is threatening weather that includes lightning. In that case, we will reschedule.
Emergency Preparedness: Remember to bring any medications students might need for bee stings and bug bites, asthma attacks, etc.
Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your fee up to a week before the date of your program. Any program canceled by Duke Gardens will result in a complete refund. To request a guided school program, please complete our online request form.
To request a guided school program, please complete our online request form.
- Guided Programs for Homeschool Groups: AVAILABLE
-
Homeschool groups are welcome to choose from our list of guided school programs or request a topic of your choice.
Guided homeschool programs are available Tuesday through Friday at the following times:
Program Times PreK & K First-Twelth Grades Self-guided 10-11 a.m. 9:30-11 a.m 9-noon 11-noon 10-11:30 a.m. 1-3 p.m. 1-2 p.m. 10:30-noon 1-2:30 p.m Each program is 60-90 minutes, depending on the age and grade of participants. Fee of $8 per student per program, with an $80 minimum. Any remaining balance is due one week prior to the date of your program.
Important information for guided trips:
Accessibility: Duke Gardens works to ensure all students are able to participate fully on all field trips. Please let us know if you have students coming on your field trip who could benefit from modifications or adaptations to the program instruction or navigation in the Gardens to meet their IEP or other needs (e.g. language barriers, instructor for behavioral or social needs, additional visuals, tactile tools, additional instructors, etc.).
Please do not disclose personal student information, but let us know if there are tips, tricks, tools or changes we should consider for our program to support learning for all your students.
Chaperones: Adult chaperones are required for all youth groups. We recommend a ratio of 1 chaperone per 15 students, but we cap the number of chaperones at a ratio of 1 chaperone for every 5 students. We cannot accommodate siblings that are not program participants.
Weather: We do take groups out in the rain unless there is threatening weather that includes lightning. In that case, we will reschedule.
Emergency Preparedness: Remember to bring any medications students might need for bee stings and bug bites, asthma attacks, etc.
Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your fee up to a week before the date of your program. Any program canceled by Duke Gardens will result in a complete refund. To request a guided school program, please complete our online request form.
To request a guided school program, please complete our online request form.
- Self-Guided Groups: AVAILABLE
-
Advance registration is required so that we may coordinate your visit with other schedules. We will accommodate your visit on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we reach capacity, those groups without pre-registration may be asked to reschedule their visit.
Registered self-guided visits are free.
Self-guided groups may reserve a visit Monday-Friday either from 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 3 p.m. If you need more time for your visit, please let us know when you submit your request.
Use any of our self-guided visit resources during your visit.
To request a self-guided visit, please complete our online request form.
VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES
Can’t come to Duke Gardens? Watch any of the videos in your own time, or schedule an interactive meeting with Duke Gardens educators.
Request virtual programs by emailing gardenseducation@duke.edu with your school, grade level, number of classes & students, and at least 3 date options.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: CONNECTING SCIENCE AND ART WITH DUKE GARDENS AND THE NASHER MUSEUM
Especially for 2nd grade. Guides from both Duke Gardens and the Nasher Museum of Art lead students through a 30-minute, interactive virtual session. Students will sharpen observational skills; practice collecting data and discover connections between science and art. Teachers receive follow-up activities to reinforce the concepts introduced. Available Tues-Thurs mornings.
DESIGN A PLANT
Especially for 3rd grade, 30 min Review the functions of basic plant parts on a virtual tour of a selection of plants that grow in Duke Gardens. Apply your understanding to design your own plant with adaptations for a Duke Gardens habitat.
ASK THE GARDEN! INTERACTIVE SESSIONS
What can you learn from a garden? Create a list of questions as a class, email it to Duke Gardens educators, and schedule a time to meet virtually with us. We’ll respond to your questions, combine our knowledge with yours, and make discoveries together!
GARDEN VIDEOS, VIRTUAL TOURS AND OTHER RESOURCES
- Tour of the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants
-
Join Duke Gardens’ youth educators to explore the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. What is a native plant? What do living things need to survive and how can they find these needs in a garden? Can a plant be a predator? Which line of latitude goes through Duke Gardens? What does a bullfrog sound like? Learn the answers to these questions and more in these materials.
Video Tour part 1 | Video Tour part 2
Self-Paced Interactive Map Tour
- Field Trip Friday: Buzzing About Duke Gardens
-
Thanks to the Museum of Life and Science for including Duke Gardens in the Field Trip Fridays series for Durham Public Schools! We are super excited to share some of the amazing stories of ecological interdependence happening every day in the Gardens. Plants, animals and many other organisms depend on one another to live and thrive in this urban ecosystem right here in the heart of our city!
- Duke Gardens YouTube Channel
- Collaborative Science Projects listed by grade level: SciStarter
WE ALSO OFFER PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS!
Email GardensEducation@duke.edu to inquire about teacher professional development opportunities.
Attachment:
