Boyce Thompson Arboretum

    Teachers and parents: our goal is that you consider the Arboretum an extension of your class rather than just a day-trip destination for the students. In 2004 our guided tours were redesigned to meet a range of Arizona statewide academic standards, and we want to hear from educators as we continue to develop and improve our new school outreach program. Please download the linked Word document and give your candid answers to the five questions, then email the survey to the address listed. We appreciate your help as we seek more ways to help Arizona's educators.

    And we offer a wide range of tours including Edible/Medicinal plants, Plants-of-the-Bible, and Summertime "Learn Your Lizards" walks and guided butterfly tours each month. More detail on all of these can be found below, and you can also read more on the EVENTS page.

    We realize that in this age of accountability a teacher's ability to take their class on field trips is greatly limited. We can help you make your case for a field trip: the linked PDF file shows the correlations between our various high quality theme tours with the ADE Standards. The Arboretum can be far more than a destination for your students, we want to be an extension of your class. Download the PDF to read how we meet specific standards. This year our staff also invites Home School families to gather for our guided tours during Home School Days which are offered four times each year (more information at the end of this page).

• How tall does a Saguaro cactus grow?

• When do their arms begin to appear?

• If you're lost in the desert can you really drink water from a barrel cactus?

• What kind of bird made that nest?

    Thousands of students from Maricopa, Pinal and Gila county schools visit the Arboretum each year, and our volunteer tourguides have plenty of practice answering questions like these. Classes from public and private schools - and home schoolers, too - visit the arboretum nearly every week to enjoy a guided tour of the grounds and lessons in desert ecology from our knowledgeable docents and staff. Teachers: don't miss the opportunity to bring your class for a guided tour. To request one review the tours below and email your request to Education Coordinator Chris Kline ckline@Ag.arizona.edu. Education is our highest priority, and fees are reduced to $1-per-student for groups of at least 20 youths who are affiliated with a public or private school; this subsidized entry fee is also extended to homeschool groups which bring at least 20 youths and pre-arrange a tour in advance. Guided tours are arranged with Education Coordinator Chris Kline. School groups typically arrive between 9-10 a.m. for a tour that lasts about two hours and ends up in the picnic area for lunch. All of our theme tours are aligned with Arizona Department of Education standards. Themes and grade levels for the coming year include: The Arizona Tour for grades 3-8, Plants 101 for children in kindergarten and second grade, The Tree Tour (grades 3-8), Deserts of the World ( grades 7-12), Plants of the Bible (for any grade level, and adult tour groups as well). We also continue to sponsor the Southwest Monarch Butterfly Study which gives students at all grade levles different opportunities to participate in real scientific research.