Guided Field Trips
Schedule a class field trip to allow your students to discover the Gardens’ wonders.
Plan a field trip.
Give your students the opportunity to connect with nature and experience hands-on learning by taking part in the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ free Discovery Field Trip series. All field trips extend the life science concepts that you teach in your classroom.
Curriculum based and designed for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, our field trips correlate with the Alabama State Course of Study and Alabama College and Career Ready Standards and align with National Science Education Standards.
Available at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday. You may bring two classes, or up to 50 students. Students spend one hour on the field trip and one hour exploring the Gardens with materials provided.
Field Trip Reservations
Request your Discovery Field Trip and preferred date at least two weeks in advance by calling 205.414.3950, ext. 106, or emailing Ashely Grace Passey at [email protected]. You will be contacted by our staff to confirm your field trip.
Transportation
The Junior League of Birmingham is happy to fund bus transportation for classes from Title I Schools located within Jefferson County, AL, field trips for kindergarten through grade 6.
FALL FIELD TRIPS
Alabama Biodiversity
Step into the Kaul Wildflower Garden and discover the incredible variety of plants and animals that call Alabama home. Students will learn what makes a plant native, explore the meaning of habitat, and see how biodiversity helps ecosystems stay healthy and strong. Together, we’ll think about how our choices impact the environment and what it means to be good stewards of the natural world. The experience includes time in our bird sanctuary, where students can observe wildlife in action. This field trip blends science learning with real-world discovery, helping students connect deeply with Alabama’s natural resources.
Alabama Woodlands
Step into Barber Woodlands and experience the wonder of a vibrant forest ecosystem. Students will explore the unique layers of a healthy forest—the canopy, understory, and forest floor—and discover how each layer plays an important role. Along the way, they’ll learn to identify different trees by their leaves, bark, and shape, and how forests provide food and shelter for countless animals and insects.
With towering trees, shady paths, and abundant life all around, the woodlands serve as both classroom and inspiration. Students will also reflect on how caring for forests today ensures they remain vibrant for generations to come.
Dr. George Washington Carver
Step into the Bruno Vegetable Garden and explore the life and legacy of George Washington Carver, one of Alabama’s most influential scientists and educators. Students will learn how Carver’s discoveries with crops like peanuts, sweet potatoes, and cotton changed agriculture and inspired new ways of thinking about sustainability and stewardship. Through an interactive game, students will discover why nitrogen is so important for healthy soil, and they’ll get hands-on experience harvesting peanuts, sweet potatoes, and cotton to take back to the classroom. This engaging program connects local African American history with science learning, showing how Carver’s work continues to shape our world today.
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What teachers are saying about our Discovery Field Trips
100% of responding teachers say they would recommend our field trips to others!