Educational Programs
The Donald E. Davis Arboretum welcomes school groups, homeschool groups, youth organizations and community groups from across Alabama. Educational visits introduce students to the wonders and complexities of the natural world through hands-on learning in a living museum of native plants.
Programs can be adapted by age group, topic and schedule. Whether your group is exploring plant life cycles, habitats, food webs, classification, native plants or conservation, the Arboretum offers a memorable outdoor setting for discovery.
Guided Arboretum programs are available Monday through Friday and typically last 1 to 1.5 hours, with options to extend or adapt the visit depending on your group’s schedule.
Programs are designed to support classroom learning and can be customized to fit your curriculum. Current programs are especially well suited for upper elementary students, but many activities can be adapted for a variety of grade levels. There is a charge for our guided programs.
Teachers are also welcome to lead their own activities using the Arboretum grounds and facilities. Teacher-led visits are free of charge but require a reservation.
If you need help planning a field trip or adapting activities for your class, please contact Arboretum staff in advance.
The diversity of fall fruit in the Arboretum attracts birds and other wildlife. In this program, students learn how wildlife relies on fruit for food and how plants rely on animals to spread seeds. Students may observe spiny balls, rattling pods, red berries and other examples of fruit diversity.
Best suited for: upper elementary students
Seasonal: yes
Alabama Course of Study Science Standards: Grade 3(7); Grade 4(5); Grade 5(8)
Next Generation Science Standards: 3-LS4-2, 4-LS1-1
Students take on the roles of native wildlife and interact with landscapes planted with native and nonnative species. This activity helps students explore how plant choices affect populations, food chains and food webs.
Best suited for: upper elementary students
Alabama Course of Study Science Standards: Grade 4(5); Grade 5(9)
Next Generation Science Standards: 5-PS3-1, 5-LS2-1
Students practice classification using living things from the Arboretum or a set of activity cards representing a wide range of items. The activity can be adapted for different ages and levels of detail.
Best suited for: K-12 students
Alabama Course of Study Science Standards: Grade 3(7,8); Grade 4(6)
Next Generation Science Standards: NA
Students identify food, shelter and water as essential parts of habitat. Through an interactive activity, they explore carrying capacity, limiting factors, wildlife populations and the ways natural systems change over time.
Best suited for: upper elementary students
Alabama Course of Study Standards: Grade 5(9)
Next Generation Science Standards: 3-LS4-3, 5-LS1-1
Students make detailed observations of a leaf through rubbing, measuring and describing leaf characteristics. Older students may identify leaf types and discuss how plants and animals depend on one another.
Best suited for: upper elementary students
Alabama Course of Study Science Standards: Grade 3(7,8); Grade 4(5)
Next Generation Science Standards: 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1
Students learn about the purpose of bark and examine differences in patterns, colors and textures. This program introduces vocabulary used to describe tree bark and distinguish one tree from another.
Best suited for: upper elementary students
Alabama Course of Study Science Standards: Grade 3(7,8)
Next Generation Science Standards: 4-LS1-1
Students visit the Arboretum’s carnivorous plant bogs and learn about carnivorous plants native to the southeastern United States. Older students may take a closer look at pitcher plants, examine prey capture and discuss the wetland habitats where these plants are found.
Best suited for: upper elementary and older students
Alabama Course of Study Science Standards: Grade 3(7,10,13); Grade 4(5), Grade 5(9)
Next Generation Science Standards: 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1
Students take a guided walk through the Arboretum to look for animal signs, insects, seeds and other signs of forest life, ending with turtle feeding at the pond.
Best suited for: a variety of ages
Seasonal: may vary
Guidelines
To help protect the Arboretum’s living collections and ensure a positive experience for all visitors, please review these guidelines with students before your visit.
- Adult chaperones are required for all youth groups.
- Students should treat the Arboretum as a living museum.
- Students may not pick, climb or pull on plants and trees.
- Students may collect plant material only if it has fallen on the ground or if they are instructed to do so as part of an activity.
- Bathrooms are located on the east side of the pavilion.
- Schools are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to eat in the Arboretum.
- The Arboretum has limited covered shelter. Programs may be canceled because of rain or other inclement weather.
- Groups should bring any medications students may need for bee stings, bug bites, asthma or other health needs.
- Please notify Arboretum staff in advance about mobility needs or other accessibility considerations.
Parking & Arrival
Bus parking is available along Garden Drive, the short road that separates the Arboretum from the President’s Home. The Arboretum can accommodate parking for two buses along Garden Drive.
Groups should review the Arboretum site map before arrival and contact Arboretum staff with questions about parking, drop-off or accessibility.
To schedule a guided program, reserve the Arboretum for a teacher-led visit or ask about adapting a program for your group, please contact Arboretum staff.
