Children’s Education: Field Trips
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Field trips are offered at both the main campus and Toledo GROWs campus and cover grade level appropriate life and earth science standards through hands-on and inquiry-based activities. While all seasons of the year are beautiful at TBG, spring is certainly the most popular field trip time. We encourage you to reserve your April or May field trip dates during fall of the preceding year. A well kept secret is that September and October are absolutely beautiful times for a field trip and reservations are lighter, so your choice of dates is better.
To register your class for an field trip, please use the form at the bottom of this page.
Early Sprouts
Held at the main campus. Specifically designed for 3-5 year olds, these 90-minute programs are literature-based and include a story, games, and a garden hike.
WAITING FOR WINGS
Games and activities will lead young learners to the wonder and mystery of butterflies as they learn new things about these beautiful friends of the garden! Fall is a beautiful time to see a large variety of butterflies.
NATURE DETECTIVES
What’s different about the leaves, flowers, seeds and fruits of different plants? How can we use the clues left behind to discover what critters are living in the garden? Young detectives will need to use their senses to explore “same and different” as it applies to the world of nature.
THE TINY SEED
Follow the journey of a tiny seed as young artists create a masterpiece that tells a story. They’ll identify plant parts, explore seed dispersal and discover how important plants are to the circle of life.
Growing Science
Held at the main campus. Designed for grades 1-6, these two hour field trips include indoor activities and experiments as well as outdoor explorations.
BEAKS AND BLOOMS
We could have called this Plant Science 101. Using inquiry based games and activities, students will discover the interdependence of plants and animals as they investigate seed dispersal, pollination, and reproduction.
NATURE PROFILER
Students investigative skills will be honed in these explorative activities. As they compare and contrast the characteristics of plants and animals, the participants begin to discover the how’s and why’s of the scientific classification of plants and animals.
POND & BEYOND
The ponds at TBG become the outdoor lab as students collect and test samples. Using simple testing equipment and microscopes, students access the water quality and evaluate the importance of protecting this critical resource.
WORM’S EYE VIEW OF DIRT
This activity starts at the “ground level” of life at TBG. Students get down and dirty collecting soil and insect samples. Budding scientists will then use microscopes to identify decomposers and evaluate the soil quality as they learn an appreciation for the beauty of dirt.
Pioneer Living
Held at the main campus. Designed for grades 1-6, these two hour trips are held at the historic Peter Navarre Cabin at Toledo Botanical Garden.
PIONEER LIFE
Social studies come alive as students journey back in time to experience life in the 1800s. They’ll start with early morning chores using antique tools to haul water, cut wood, churn butter and grind corn. When the work is done, we’ll make a pioneer toy and play pioneer games. Young explorers will use lots of imagination as they spend a few hours living like the early settlers. Be prepared for any weather, as the cabin is authentic and much of time is spent outdoors.
Down on the Farm
Held at Toledo GROWs Campus. Visit Toledo Botanical Garden’s Toledo GROWs program at the Robert J. Anderson Urban Agriculture Center. This 3-acre urban farm is located at 900 Oneida Street, just north of downtown Toledo. All urban farm field trips are 90-minute programs and include a tour of the urban farm (with chickens and beehives), a tour of the greenhouses, a fresh vegetable tasting and an educational activity. Groups may also make advance arrangements to bring your lunch and picnic on site.
FARMER FOR A DAY (Grades K-12)
Students will learn about the plant life cycle and be able to put their plant knowledge to practice on the farm. Students will participate in one of the stages of the plant life cycle, from planting to harvesting, depending upon what’s happening seasonally on the farm.
POLLINATORS ON THE FARM (Grades K-6)
What would we do without bees? Students will learn how bees pollinate certain plants and how without bees, we would not be able to eat many of our favorite foods.
CHICKEN & EGGS (Grades K-6)
Students will discover the food and habitat that is required to allow chickens to complete a happy and healthy life cycle. Students will explore the coop, search for eggs and complete an egg investigation to compare farm raised eggs to store bought eggs.
RENEWING OUR WORLD (Grades 6-12)
Students will learn the importance of renewable energy sources and how critical it is that we take care of our planet. There will be hands on activities involving solar energy, hydro energy and wind energy.
