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: K.L1U1.6. K.L1U1.7, K.L2U1.8, 1. L2U2.7, 1.L2UI.8, 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
- Habitat Scavenger Hunt: Learners will explore the Arboretum while searching for examples of food, water and shelter
- AZ Science Standards: K.L1U1.6. K.L1U1.7, K.L2U1.8, 1. L2U2.7, 1. L2UI.8, 2.L2U1.9, 2.L2U1.10
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
- 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
- Adaptations Scavenger Hunt: Learners will explore the Arboretum in search of plants with unique arid environment adaptations.
- AZ Science Standards: 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
- Owl Pellet Dissection: Learners will dissect a real owl pellet and determine what the owl ate for dinner.
- AZ Science Standards:2.L2U1.9,2.L2U1.10, 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:2.L2U1.9,2.L2U1.10, 3.L1U1.5, 3.L2U1.7,3.L2U1.8
- Food Web Scavenger Hunt: Learners will explore the Arboretum while on the lookout for food web components.
- AZ Science Standards:1.L2U2.7, 1.L2UI.8, 2.L2U1.9,2.L2U1.10,3.L2U1.7, 3.L2U1.8
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 100 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
It doesn`t quite feel like winter at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
The warmer temperatures and rain this winter season have tricked some of our spring blooms into showing up early this year. A reminder that plants don`t follow the calendar.
Take a advantage of the beautiful weather and early blooms. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#SpringBlooms #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Explore century old eucalyptus trees at Arizona`s oldest and largest botanical garden.
Get tickets at btarboretum.org.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Chiricahua Leopard Frogs (Lithobates chiricahuensis) spotted at Ayer Lake.
The Chiricahua Leopard Frog gets its name from the spotted pattern on it back. Native to Arizona and New Mexico, these frogs are found in or near permanent and semi-permanent water sources.
Due to habitat loss, the Chiricahua Leopard Frog is endangered. Water sources like Ayer Lake and our Queen Creek Riparian area are important water sources that give this frog and other native species a home.
Plan your next visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#leopardfrog #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Explore Boyce Thompson Arboretum in a whole new way with guided tours.
Join us every Friday and Saturday for guided tours of the Arboretum. Arboretum Discovery Tours are offered Fridays and Saturdays at 11 am and Saturdays at 1 pm. Wallace Garden Tours are offered every Friday at 1 pm.
Tours are free with admission and registration is first come, first served. Tours are subject to volunteer availability.
Plan your visit and learn about additional walks & tours at btarboretum.org (🔗 in bio).
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
The Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) is a diverse species, native throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Identified by their bright colors and rapid flight style, these butterflies are a great species to keep an eye out for during your trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#butterflies #redadmiral #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Aloes are adding a pop of color to our winter gardens.
Come check out a beautiful array of aloe blooms at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Get tickets at the link in bio.
#aloe #aloebloom #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Have you ever seen a plant sweat?
Transpiration is a process in which unused water evaporates from a plants surface, creating this steam-like effect. This process helps move water through the plant and keep plants cool.
Discover over 20,000 plants at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Plan your visit at the link in bio.
#btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona
Coati are one of the many spectacular wildlife sightings you can find at Boyce Thompson Arboretum tum, and it`s important to keep both these animals and yourself safe during your visit. When watching wild animals, remember these guidelines:
- Keep any food in containers and out of reach from animals
- Maintain a safe distance from any animals you encounter
- Keep dogs leashed at all times
- Always stay on designated trails and respect trail closures
Help us keep the wildlife wild!
#coati #wildlife #btarboretum #boycethompsonarboretum #superiorarizona