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.

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.

Request an Outreach Program!

Supporting Education in the Copper Corridor

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Happy National Trails Day!

Celebrate by exploring the winding paths, desert beauty, and hidden gems of Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Every trail offers a new perspective and a chance to connect with nature.

#NationalTrailsDay #BoyceThompsonArboretum #HikeArizona #ExploreArizona #SonoranDesert
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June Hours & Admission

Start your summer mornings at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

Open Daily
6:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Admission
$16 Adults

Explore scenic desert trails, blooming landscapes, and the beauty of the Sonoran Desert before the afternoon heat arrives.

Plan your visit today. Link in bio

#BoyceThompsonArboretum #BTA #ArizonaAdventures #Superior #ExploreArizona
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Small but impossible to miss. The Vermilion Flycatcher’s brilliant red plumage makes it one of the most striking birds in the Southwest. Watch for these colorful insect hunters darting through the trees and open spaces of the Arboretum.

#BoyceThompsonArboretum #VermilionFlycatcher #BirdWatching #ArizonaBirds #superior
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Did you know saguaro flowers bloom for only a short time each year?

Take a closer look at Arizona’s iconic cactus and discover the fascinating story behind its stunning white blooms. From their role in the desert ecosystem to why they appear each spring, there’s more to the saguaro flower than meets the eye.

#BoyceThompsonArboretum #Saguaro #SaguaroFlower #ArizonaWildflowers #SonoranDesert
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Join one of our exclusive Golf Cart Tours and experience some of the most scenic areas of Boyce Thompson Arboretum without the extra miles. Guided by our knowledgeable Docents, you`ll enjoy fascinating stories, botanical insights, and access to some of the gardens` best photo opportunities.

Summer Golf Cart Tours
1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays and Saturdays
June–August | 7:30 AM–8:30 AM

$20 per person, plus admission
Limited to just 5 guests per tour

Advance registration is highly recommended. Reserve your seat online or at the Welcome Center Gift Shop.

#ExploreArizona #SuperiorAZ #BoyceThompsonArboretum #GolfCartTour
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June at Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Beat the heat and start your day surrounded by the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

Open Daily: 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Admission: $16

Explore scenic trails, vibrant desert blooms, towering cacti, and peaceful mornings before the midday sun arrives.

Plan your June visit and experience Arizona`s oldest and largest botanical garden.

#BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaAdventures #SonoranDesert #SummerMornings #NatureArizona
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