FIELD TRIPS AT QBG

AUTUMN SPECIAL

Color Me Autumn* with Pick-a-Pumpkin
3K – 5th grade | Fall

Observe how plants and animals are preparing for winter and discover how the life cycle of a plant ties into seasonal patterns and changes. Includes take-home leaf collage and mini pumpkin picking activities.

Terms:

• Title 1 discount does not apply.
• One pumpkin per student and one for the classroom
• Bring Your Own Bag/Backpack for mini pumpkins! For reference, these pumpkins are called “Wee B Little”.
• Fall 2026 special for school groups, limited availability

Choose from one of the program types below:

Workshops

Duration: 1.5 hours
Capacity: Up to 30 participants and 4 chaperones
Cost: $250 (exception of Desert Dish, $425 and Color Me Autumn)
Led by a QBG instructor, these themed and seasonal workshops guide participants through an exploration of our garden exhibits, which may include a hands-on activity to take home. Most have an outdoor and indoor component.

Themes:

Color Me Autumn book here
3K – 5th grade | Fall
Observe how plants and animals are preparing for winter and discover how the life cycle of a plant ties into seasonal patterns and changes. Includes a leaf collage to take home.

Animal Architecture book here
1st – 6th grade | All Seasons
Discover animal structures and discuss how and why they are created. Use craft and natural materials to create models of animal-made designs and discuss the impact of humans on their habitats.

Art From the Garden book here
1st – 6th grade | Fall & Spring
In a guided stroll through the garden, observe and discuss the shapes, colors, size, patterns, and composition of the plants in our exhibits to inspire a mark making craft using natural pigments.

Bugging Out book here
3K – 6th grade | Fall & Spring
Are all bugs insects? Identify insect body parts using hands-on diagrams, model-making, and live insects in our garden. Participants apply what they’ve learned to create their own insect models to take home.

Buzzworthy book here
1st – 12th grade | Fall & Spring
Discover the relationship of pollinators and flowers through observation of beehives and pollinators in our garden and how humans can help native pollinators thrive. Participants plant pollinator friendly seeds to bring home.

Incredible Compost book here
3rd – 12th grade| All Seasons
What is compost, why is it important, and how do we use it? Explore the Garden to learn how compost is created and used, meet decomposers, and create an investigation tool to take a closer look at organisms that help reduce waste in our city.

Making Scents book here
1st – 8th grade | Fall & Spring
While exploring Garden exhibits, discover why plants are scented and how people use plant scents. Participants examine different botanical potpourri elements and create their own sample.

Our Sustainable Garden book here
4th – 12th grade | All Seasons
Explore solutions to a changing climate and the steps we can take to make NYC greener. Visit our green building and sustainable landscapes to learn about urban water management, ecosystem restoration, energy conservation, and waste management. Culminates with a green roof model seed planting activity.

Plants We Eat book here
3K – 4th grade | All Seasons
Stroll through the garden, meeting our collection of edible plants, exploring the names and functions of different plant parts and the role they play in our diets. Participants plant edible plant seeds.

Water in the City book here
4th – 8th grade | All Seasons
Explore how the garden’s landscapes interact with water and discuss what that means for the water cycle in the city, do hands-on modeling of water interactions, and create a self-watering terrarium.

Trees and Me book here
3K – 5th grade | Spring
Leafing out in spring: Explore our tree collection, pausing to investigate trees, tree parts, and their functions, to inspire a seasonal tree craft.

Desert Dish – $425 book here
3rd – 12th grade | November to March
Discover how plants and their parts have adapted to survive in unique environments. Participants create a succulent dish planting for deeper understanding of a desert ecosystem.

Plant CreativiTEA – $325 book here
Kgn – 8th grade | December to March
Discover the different artistic and edible uses for plants! Warm up with a custom herbal tea, discover how we use greenhouses to care for diverse species, and make a watercolor creation using pigments extracted from botanical materials.

Upgrade with a tea-making kit add-on! (Included for UA schools, available for a fee for non-UA schools). One kit includes enough supplies for 30 participants to make a custom herbal tea sachet. Free for Urban Advantage schools. Kits are available for pickup on the day of your tour, and activity must be completed offsite, after your visit.

Guided Tours

book here

Duration: 1 hour + 15 min for seed planting
Capacity: Up to 30 participants and 4 chaperones
Cost: $200

3K – 12th grade | All Seasons 

Visit the Garden with a guide. Our permanent and seasonal collections showcase a variety of environmental, botanical, and cultural themes. Includes a culminating seed planting activity, led by your guide. Tours are all-outdoors in all seasons.

Self-Guided Tours

Not available on Mondays when we are closed to the public.

book here

Duration: As long as needed – at least one hour is recommended.
Capacity: Up to 30 participants to a group, plus 4 chaperones. If the amount of participants exceeds this limit, please schedule additional tours.
Cost: $65

3K – 12th grade | All Seasons 

Explore Queens Botanical Garden at your own pace and investigate the specific exhibit areas that complement your needs and interests.

Each group receives one QBG tote containing: 15 adventure field guides and 15 pencils for students to work in pairs. Only provided during paid season, April-Dec. If you would like additional adventure guides for all participants, you may purchase for an extra $25 per group.

Upgrade with an optional seed planting kit add-on! One kit includes enough supplies for 30 participants to plant flower or bean seeds. The fee is $25 per group. Kits can be picked up at visitor building and activity must be completed offsite, after your visit.

QBG VISITS YOU

Outreach Workshops

Available in winter for schools.

If you can’t make it to Queens Botanical Garden, we can bring our program to your classroom!

Duration: 45 minutes*
Capacity Per Workshop: 3-K, Pre-K, & Kgn, 25 students. Older ages, 30 students.
Cost for Schools: $350 for 1 workshop. $300 each for multiple workshops scheduled on the same day.
Cost Non-School Groups: Starting at $400 per group of up to 25 participants

Travel Fee:

• 10 miles or over one way: additional $25
• Manhattan or The Bronx: additional $15 toll fee

*3K and Pre-K classes can be shortened.

These workshops are participatory and must take place in a classroom with tables and chairs.

QBG at Your Event

Planning a school or community event? We can enhance it with our expert instructors who can provide a range of engaging tabling activities. Our diverse offerings include botanical craft activities, seed plantings, and much more. Please contact us to discuss how we can tailor our activities for your topics of interest.

Duration: Starting at 2 hr events
Capacity: Starting at 200 people
Cost for Schools: Starting at $500
Cost Non-School Groups: Starting at $600

Fees may increase depending on staffing and material needs.

If interested, please inquire separately via email.

MORE AT QBG!

School Family Engagement Event at QBG

Host your school community event at QBG! Our beautiful outdoor space is an urban oasis perfect for families and communities to learn, laugh and grow together. We offer tailored hands-on activities for kids and families, led by friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Starting at $2000, your event includes:

• 3 hour time frame
• Designated outdoor area
• Free admission to school families (up to 200 people) and access to the entire garden for the day
• Reduced parking fee of $5 per vehicle
• Guided activities by QBG staff
• Self-guided activities, including a Farm scavenger hunt and the chalk walk: use chalk to create art

We request that you schedule these in advance, 2 months prior ideally. If interested, please inquire separately via email.

Health & Safety

Lunch