Bring outdoor learning to your classroom!
Boyce Thompson Arboretum classroom outreach brings outdoor learning to your school through S.T.E.A.M. units offering inquiry-based, engaging lessons that explore the world of plants as well as the phenomena of the Sonoran Desert. All lessons are aligned to Arizona State Science Standards. For more information and to request a booking, please see below.
Outreach Offerings
How Do Plants Grow | 2nd – 4th Grade
AZ Science Standards: 2.L2U1.9, 2.L2U1.10, 3.L1U1.5, 3.L1U1.6, 4.L4U1.11, 4.E1U3.9
Learn how plants grow and what they need to survive in this S.T.E.A.M. workshop. Students will then use their creativity and plant knowledge to grow their own plant from a seed and design their own plant.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: The Parts of a Plant
- Students will study live plants before using their new knowledge to design their own new plant species.
- Activity 2: What Do Plants Need to Grow?
- Students will conduct a scientific investigation and grow their own seeds in different conditions in order to discover what plants need to grow before playing a game of Plant Needs Jenga!
Time Needed: 1 hour
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: $150 per class, FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Amazing Adaptations of the Sonoran Desert | 3rd – 5th Grade
AZ Science Standards: 3.L1U1.5, 3.L2U1.8, 4.L4U1.11, 4.E1U3.9, 5.L4U3.11, 5.L4U3.12
Students will act as junior biologists as they discover how different species are adapted to survive in the Sonoran Desert by studying real native plants and animal biofacts.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: Desert Plant Adaptations
- Students will study live plants and determine how well they are adapted to the Sonoran Desert before designing their own desert plant.
- Activity 2: Desert Animal Adaptations
- Students will study animal biofacts and learn about different species in order to determine how well they are adapted to the Sonoran Desert. They will then put their knowledge to the test with a game of Adaptations Bingo!
Time Needed: 1 hour
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: $150 per class, FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Make a Pollinator Paradise | 1st – 3rd Grade
*Only available to Copper Corridor Schools
AZ Science Standards: 1.L2U2.7, 1.L2U1.8, 2.L2U1.9, 2.L2U1.10, 3.L1U1.5, 3.L2U1.8
In this S.T.E.A.M. lesson, students will let out their inner gardeners by designing and creating their dream school garden! This hands-on workshop will get classrooms started with an above-ground planter that can be used later on for classroom investigations. Classes will also receive supplies for a follow up activity once their garden has had some time to grow.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: How are Plants Pollinated?
- Students will create their own fuzzy bee to model pollination before playing a pollinator/ plant matching game.
- Activity 2: Let’s Get Planting!
- Students will help to design their garden before filling the planter with soil, putting in seeds, planting plants, and putting in different habitat elements for pollinators.
- Activity 3 (Post-activity): Who is Visiting Our Garden?
- Students will keep track of the pollinator species that they see visiting their garden.
Time Needed: 1.5 – 2 hours
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Make a Pollinator Paradise | 4th – 6th Grade
*Only available to Copper Corridor Schools
AZ Science Standards: 4.L4U1.11, 4.E1U3.9, 5.L4U3.11, 6.L2U1.13, 6.L2U1.14
In this S.T.E.A.M. lesson, students will let out their inner gardeners by designing and creating their dream school garden! This hands-on workshop will get classrooms started with an above-ground planter that can be used later on for classroom investigations. Classes will also receive supplies for a follow up activity once their garden has had some time to grow.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: How are Plants Pollinated?
- Students will play a pollinator/ plant matching game before creating their own flower craft complete with adaptions for one of the Arizona pollinator species.
- Activity 2: Let’s Get Planting!
- Students will help to design their garden before filling the planter with soil, putting in seeds, planting plants, and putting in different habitat elements for pollinators.
- Activity 3 (Post-activity): Who is Visiting Our Garden?
- Students will keep track of the pollinator species that they see visiting their garden.
Time Needed: 1.5 – 2 hours
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Schedule a program by clicking below. For questions, contact Boyce Thompson Arboretum Outreach Coordinator Annie Johnson at [email protected] or (520) 689-4689.
#1Arb
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Open today for Memorial Day! Start your morning with a peaceful walk through the Arboretum as the desert comes alive in the early light. Gates open at 6 AM — a perfect time to enjoy cooler temperatures and quiet trails.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #MemorialDay #ArizonaOutdoors #DesertMornings #NatureVisit
The Arboretum is full of fascinating lizards, each with its own behavior, colors, and way of thriving in the desert. From rock dwellers to fast‑moving ground hunters and tree‑climbing species, their variety highlights the richness of the Sonoran ecosystem. Watch closely along warm paths, garden edges, and rocky slopes — there’s always something darting, basking, or blending in.
Plan your visit — link in bio.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #DesertLizards #SonoranWildlife #ArizonaNature #ReptileDiversity #NatureEducation #DesertEcosystems
Cool mornings at the Arboretum are the ideal time to explore. Enjoy comfortable temperatures, soft desert light, and peaceful trails as the day begins. A perfect way to start your morning.
Plan your visit — link in bio.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #CoolMorningWalks #DesertMornings #ArizonaOutdoors #NatureExperience
Sunrise Hikes offer a peaceful early‑morning experience as the Arboretum comes to life with cooler air, soft light, and active wildlife. A perfect way to start your morning and enjoy the desert at its calmest.
Gates open at 6:00 AM for sunrise access.
Link in bio to plan your next visit.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #SunriseHike #ArizonaOutdoors #DesertMornings #NatureExperience #StartYourDayRight
The Karoo Boerbean is a resilient desert tree known for its vivid red blooms and ability to thrive in hot, dry climates. Native to southern Africa, it supports local wildlife with nectar-rich flowers and demonstrates key drought‑tolerant adaptations that make it valuable for arid‑region landscapes.
Plan your visit- link in bio
#boycethompsonarboretum #Karooboerbean #btarboretum #PlantEducation #AridEcosystems
The desert is in bloom! Experience the stunning beauty of Saguaro Bloom, Arizona’s iconic state flower. These short-lived blooms crown the towering saguaros each morning, offering a breathtaking glimpse of desert life at its most vibrant.
Come early to catch them before the heat of the day, and don’t forget your camera!
Plan your visit at : https://btarboretum.org/
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #saguaroblooms #desertbeauty #arizonanature
Members enjoy more this May.
Take 20% off all plants throughout the month as part of our Member Appreciation celebration. It’s the perfect time to expand your garden with desert-adapted favorites and unique finds from our collection.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #MemberAppreciation #PlantSale #DesertGardening #ArizonaPlants #CactusAndSucculents