***Limited Dates Left for 2025-2026***
The Garden is happy to be part of your teaching curriculum! Fill out the interest form at the bottom of the page to get started with your booking.
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Field trips take place on Wednesdays & Fridays at 10 am from October to December and from February to June.
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Self-guided and guided tours for K-12 can be booked for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 9 am to 3 pm.
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For questions about K-12 field trips, please contact fieldtrips@ucla.edu.
Self-Guided Tour
Offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Bring your students to explore the unique collections of the Botanical Garden with your own self-guided experience. Self-guided tours take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays anytime from 9 am to 3 pm. Please note that you MUST make a reservation to guarantee no conflicts with other schools or events happening in the Garden. Failure to make a reservation can result in being asked to leave.
Guided Garden Tour – 45 min
Explore the wonderful world of plants on a 45-minute guided tour through the UCLA Botanical Garden. During their visit, students will hear fascinating stories about the plants and animals that call our living museum their home. You can book your guided tour for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. Minimum of 15 students required.
Field Trip- 2 hours
Offered Wednesday & Fridays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Students receive a two hour age-appropriate garden tour and participate in one hands-on activity selected by their teachers. The Garden can accommodate up to 60 students and is happy to provide a limited amount of bus reimbursements to Title I schools interested in our field trip experience.
The following is a list of activities we currently offer:
Early California History: Weaving– For thousands of years, Indigenous people have been crafting baskets using traditional methods taught from generation to generation. This activity will help students better appreciate the functional importance of baskets and basket-making through a hands-on yarn weaving activity.
Exploring Plants: Illustration and Dissection – Students create beautiful botanical illustrations inspired by the Garden, then move to the classroom to dissect and explore plant anatomy.
Wild Adventures: Carnivorous Plant Encounter– Students get up close and personal with our carnivorous plants! By the end of this encounter, students will be better able to understand how adaptations help organisms survive.
Master of Disguise: Butterfly Camouflage– Students learn how camouflage is an excellent adaptation for animals like butterflies, who must survive in their environment. In this activity, students color their butterflies to help them blend in our garden and protect them from being eaten by bird predators (aka, our staff!).
BEAKS!: What’s on the Menu? – In this activity, students experiment with various “beaks” to uncover the perfect match for each type of food. Students learn how beak adaptations plays a role in their survival.
Schedule Your Visit!
Please note that it takes 3 to 5 business days to get a response from our staff. For questions about K-12 field trips, please contact fieldtrips@ucla.edu.
