Arboretum Adventures
Field Trips to Boyce Thompson Arboretum are fun, hands-on, immersive experiences. Learners’ adventures on the trails are full of discovery and connection to the natural world.
Each field trip helps learners improve their science inquiry skills and is tied to Arizona State Science Standards. Plus, they follow the 5 E Instructional Model for deep, high-quality learning.
For more information and to request a booking, please see below.
Guided Field Trips
Learners discover the 4 components of habitat: food, water, shelter, and space.
Stations
- Tag your Habitat: Playing a game of tag, learners will play as birds looking for their habitat components. What happens when there are not enough components to survive?
- AZ Science Standards: 1.L2U2.7, 1.L4U3.11, 2.L2U1.9
- Graph an animal: Learners will conduct a field investigation to count the animals they see around the Arboretum. After, they will make a bar graph to determine which animals they saw most and least.
- AZ Science Standards: 1.L2U2.7, 2.L2U1.9
- Wants vs Needs: In this movement activity, learners will categorize different items into “wants” or “needs.” Then, they will practice academic arguments to explain their position.
- AZ Science Standards: 1.L2U2.7, 2.L2U1.9
Learners will explore the structural adaptations of desert plants that help them survive.
Stations
- Desert Leaves: Learners will take data from real life desert leaves to determine which adaptations they have developed to survive in the harsh desert environment.
- AZ Science Standards: 3.L1U1.5, 4.L4U1.11,5.L4U3.12
- Tree vs Cactus: How are trees and cacti different? How are they the same? Learners will compare and contrast the two and learn their specific adaptations.
- AZ Science Standards: 4.L4U1.11, 5.L4U3.11, 5.L4U3.12
- Seed Dispersal Investigation: By conducting a series of experiments, learners will determine how different seeds disperse.
- AZ Science Standards: 3.L1U1.5, 4.L4U1.11, 5.L4U3.12
Learners explore the concepts of food webs and food chains as they observe and investigate the plants and animals of the Arboretum.
Stations
- Desert Food Web: In this activity, learners will build food chains and food webs from organisms found in the Arboretum.
- AZ Science Standards: 3.E1U1.4, 3.L2U1.7, 3.L2U1.8, 5.L4U3.11, 6.L2U3.11, 6.L2U3.12, 6.L2U1.13, 6.L2U1.14
- Owl Pellet Dissection: Learners will dissect a real owl pellet and determine what the owl ate for dinner.
- AZ Science Standards: 3.L2U1.7, 3.L2U1.8, 5.L4U3.11, 6.L2U3.12, 6.L2U1.13
- Skulls and Teeth Investigation: What can teeth tell us about what an animal eats? Learners will look at three different desert animal skulls and determine what it eats by its teeth alone.
- AZ Science Standards: 3.L1U1.5, 3.L2U1.7
Enjoy a one-hour guided walking tour of the Arboretum to learn about its 100-year history and the fascinating plants within it. Not recommended for younger learners.
Self Guided Field Trips
Explore the Arboretum at your own pace! Enjoy as an entire field trip or as a station on your guided field trip. Bring your own activities or take advantage of ours!
Use pictures and simple words to look high and low for everything on the list!
Explore the Arboretum through the lens of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math concepts. Each garden has a corresponding booklet activity for learners to engage with.
Join us for an Arboretum Adventure.
Homeschool Days
We offer several homeschool specific events throughout the year to take the hassle out of scheduling a field trip. Our Homeschool Days feature curriculum from our high-quality field trips plus extra activities!
Upcoming homeschool days:
Sponsors
Field Trip Pricing
K-12 School (Public, private, charter, etc.
Guided
Learner: $9
Teachers and school staff: $0
Chaperones 1:5 ratio: $0
Extra chaperones: $10
Self-guided
Learner: $7
Teachers and school staff: $0
Chaperones 1:5 ratio: $0
Extra chaperones: $10
*Title One schools may be eligible to receive a discount.
Homeschool/Youth Organization
Scout Groups
Guided
Learner: $9
Chaperones: $10
Self Guided
Learner: $7
Chaperones: $10
Booking Information
- November 12th, 2025 – April 24, 2026, Tuesday through Friday.
- The minimum group size for all field trips is 15 learners. Guided trips can accommodate up to 80 learners. Self-guided trips have a maximum of 150 learners.
- Field trips must be booked at least three weeks in advance. Groups that arrive without a confirmed field trip will not be accepted and must pay full admission.
- Cancellations, rescheduling, and/or changes to your final headcount can be made up to 14 days before your scheduled field trip date. No refunds or rainchecks will be given after the 14-day window.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should we bring with us?
Each learner should bring a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, and closed-toe shoes. Groups may also bring sack lunches to eat in our picnic area.
Where do we park?
Buses park in the bus parking area on the north side of the parking lot near the exit gate. All other vehicles park in the main parking lot.
Who will we meet in the parking lot?
You will be greeted by an education staff member when you arrive.
What if we are running late?
If you are running late, please call (520)689-4700 to notify the staff. We reserve the right to adjust your field trip to best fit the scheduled timeline.
How many students are in a group?
Depending on the number of learners attending, you will be divided into groups of 10-15
learners.
Can we go into the gift shop?
Yes! We ask that you send small groups of 3-6 students at a time.
How do we pay for our field trip?
We accept day-of payment or payment by invoice. For day-of payments, we accept cash and card. For payment by invoice, we accept cash, card, or check. Please inform our education staff of your preferred payment type. Payments must be received all in one transaction.
Can extra chaperones pay on the day of the field trip?
No. All extra chaperones must prepay the school prior to the field trip. Otherwise, they will be charged full admission at the admissions booth.
Is the $25 deposit refundable?
No, the deposit is not refundable regardless of when you cancel the field trip. Schools may send a purchase order in lieu of the $25 deposit.
What if it rains during my field trip?
Boyce Thompson Arboretum field trips are rain or shine, but you can cancel if you feel your learners are unequipped for the rain. While we will try our best to reschedule your trip, we cannot guarantee another date will be available.
I am a Title I school. Do you offer scholarships?
Yes! Title I schools are eligible for reduced admission as well as transportation reimbursement. Please contact education staff for more information.
Can I bring my dog on the field trip?
In order to support a conducive learning environment, please leave pets at home. Service animals are always welcome.
Do you have a space to eat lunch?
Yes. You are welcome to eat sack lunches in our picnic area, which seats a maximum of 120 individuals.
I use a wheelchair. What kind of trail conditions can I expect?
Our trails consist of unpaved and uneven dirt paths. Many of these paths are navigable by most mobility devices, though some trails may be challenging to access. Please contact our education staff at [email protected] when booking your visit so we can provide detailed information about trail accessibility and assist with any necessary accommodations.
What happens if I bring less than 15 learners?
You will be charged the minimum of $107 for self-guided trips and $135 for guided trips.
How soon should I book?
We require a minimum of 3 weeks’ notice to book a field trip
What is your cancellation policy?
You can cancel or reschedule your trip up to 14 days before your field trip
Questions? Send us a message.
#1Arb
Tag us on Instagram with
@btarboretum #1Arb
The Arboretum will close at 5PM on Saturday to the general public! Last admission is at 4PM.
For more info and tickets, visit us at btarboretum.org
It’s #BirdWeek at Boyce Thompson Arboretum!
Nov 1–7, spot your favorite feathered friends and tag @btarboretum + #birdweek to share your best shots!
Get tickets at the link in bio.
📸: Tim Lee
Meet the American snout butterfly (Libytheana carinenta), a master of disguise. Snout butterflies have elongated mouthparts and brown wings that help them look like dead leaves to predators.
Come explore the trails and spot these fascinating pollinators in action. Get tickets at the link in bio.
Appreciate nature up close and afar.
From sweeping landscapes to the veins of a Pavonia hastata petal, Boyce Thompson Arboretum has endless sights to see.
Get tickets at the link in bio.
These guests got in the boo-tanical spirit early with their visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. 🎃
Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween!
Please note, we will be closing early on Saturday, November 8th to the general public.
Last entry is at 4PM and gates close at 5PM.
Plan your visit accordingly!
The first signs of fall are here!
Leaves are just starting to change, hints of golden now, with deep reds to come in a few weeks. 🍂
Plan your visit today! Get tickets at the link in bio.
We often get asked what the coatis are eating when they’re spotted in the arboretum. Coatis are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals, and spend much of their day foraging for food. Although they are primarily seen going after fruit and bugs, they can go after larger prey, such as mice, lizards, and small birds.
As a reminder, please do not feed wildlife. It’s best practice to keep food in airtight containers when wildlife may be present.