Field Trips

Guided Nature Programs

These programs typically run 45-60 minutes in length and are led by an experienced Gardens staff guide. These programs explore different areas of the Gardens and its surrounding woodlands, and dive into different relevant topics. The price for each program is $25.

Guided Nature Program Topics

Wabanaki Studies at the Gardens (3rd-12th) – Deepen your students’ understanding of Wabanaki values and traditions on a special tour as we visit our Three Sisters Garden and indigenous art exhibits. We will spend some time learning about the significance of the four “R’s” – Reciprocity, Relationship, Respect, and Responsibility – in relation to Wabanaki values. Participants will also learn about the traditional uses of some of our native plants. Programming content and activities will be tailored to participants’ grade levels. 

Teachings of the Trolls (3rd-12th) – The trolls have messages for us. They encourage us to save seeds and trees, reduce and reuse, and connect with the woods around us. While visiting the trolls, students will be guided through writing their own poetry inspired by the teachings of the trolls. For each troll that is visited, students will hear a new teaching and learn a new key element of poetry. Students will leave with a first draft of an original piece of poetry that embodies the trolls’ wise lessons on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Five Senses in the Garden (PreK-3rd) – Students will put all five senses to use as we explore the many features of the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses.

Bees (K-12th) – Students will be introduced to the process of pollination, learn about native versus nonnative bees and how to garden for them, and understand the importance of these pollinators out in the natural world. Checking out the Gardens’ apiary with a staff beekeeper will help students become more comfortable with these amazing creatures.

Sense of Wonder (K-8th) – Students will explore the web of life in our forest ecosystem through the lens of author, marine biologist, conservationist, and seasonal Maine resident, Rachel Carson. This program involves going on our improved trails outside of our main garden area. Teachers who sign up for this program will receive a book about Rachel Carson to share with their class before the field trip. (NGSS)

Maine Woods (3rd-12th) – Students will learn how to identify common Maine trees and be able to distinguish a conifer tree from a deciduous one. Students will also gain an understanding of the ecology and cultural history of our native trees. (NGSS)

Participation in this program includes pre- and post-visit learning materials focused on climate change. 

Birds (K-12th) – Students will learn how to identify birds by sight and sound and gain skills using binoculars for birding. Small binoculars can be provided, but students are welcome to use their own.

Participation in this program includes pre- and post-visit learning materials focused on climate change. 

Apple Cider Pressing (PreK-6th) (fall only) – Students will learn about the botanical and cultural history of apples as they participate in making apple cider with an old-fashion press. (An extra $12 charge per class for apple cider pressing supplies will be applied.)

Field Studies

Hands-on field-study explorations give students the opportunity to observe a variety of living organisms and their life cycles. Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), these fun and stimulating sessions last about an hour. The price for each program is $25.

Field Study Topics

The Life of a Plant (PreK-5th) – What better way to learn about plants than by tasting them? Students will sample their way through the vegetable garden as they explore a plant’s life cycle from seed to fruit, learning about its different parts and how they function. Students will also learn about plant needs, photosynthesis, and some of the unique adaptations of our native plants. Each student will pot up an edible plant to grow at home. (NGSS)

Decomposers (PreK-4th) – Students will investigate life underground, discovering the important role decomposers play in helping our gardens grow. Students will learn to identify these living organisms, learn about the anatomy of a worm, and understand how decomposition works. (NGSS)

The Life of a Butterfly (K-12th) – (June 15-Sept. 20) Come and explore our Native Butterfly and Moth House at the Gardens! Students will be introduced to native butterflies and moths in all stages of their life cycle and learn about their role in the food web. Students will also discover the differences between butterflies and moths and their unique adaptations for survival. (NGSS)

Participation in this program includes pre- and post-visit learning materials focused on climate change. 

Pond Investigations (PreK-8th) – Dip a net into the ponds of the Gardens and find out what aquatic organisms call the place home. Students will learn to identify these aquatic creatures and understand their life cycles, gaining more knowledge about the food web and habitat of the pond in general.

All About Seeds (PreK-3rd) (fall only) – Discover the wonders held within a seed and go on a seed hunt with your students at the Gardens! Students will dissect a bean seed, review the life cycle of a plant, learn about the importance of seeds in nature, and explore how seeds have adapted for survival over time

Intensive Study Units

For teachers looking for a more involved experience to incorporate into an overall curricular unit, our two-hour intensive study units include both classroom and field work as well as pre- and post-visit downloadable activities to reinforce learned concepts. These units are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. The price for each program is $50.

Intensive Study Unit Topics

Birds at the Gardens (K-6th) (spring only) – Students will be introduced to inland and coastal birds of Maine and their adaptations. Students will study bird calls, learn mnemonics to help remember them, and gain experience using binoculars to identify birds. Through exploration and observation of two different habitats, students will be able to make connections between a bird’s habitat and their unique adaptations. (Overview and NGSS)

Participation in this program includes pre- and post-visit learning materials focused on climate change. 

Pollinators (K-6th) – Students will be introduced to our different pollinators and their flower preferences, knowledge reinforced through observations in the garden. Students will have the opportunity to dissect a flower to understand its parts, while also gaining a better understanding of the process of pollination and the critical role pollinators play in a plant’s life cycle. (Overview and NGSS)

Participation in this program includes pre- and post-visit learning materials focused on climate change. 

Wetlands (K-6th) (spring only) – Students will learn what makes wetlands unique ecosystems by investigating the plants and animals that depend on them for survival. Through exploration and observation of two wetland habitats, including a vernal pool, students will gain an understanding of the forest food chain, metamorphosis, and the life cycles of the spotted salamander and wood frog. (Overview and NGSS)

Plant Adaptations (3rd-8th) – Students will gain an understanding of plant adaptions by learning about Earth’s ten biomes. Through in-depth classroom investigations and field explorations, students will be able to identify the physical traits that help plants survive in nature. (Overview and NGSS)

Botany (3rd-8th) – Students will be introduced to a botanist’s method of thinking about the plant world. Students will learn about plant structures and their functions, life cycles, some basic groups of plants and their key characteristics, and how to use a plant identification key. Exploration out in the Gardens will help put their newly-gained botany skills to the test.