Educators & Schools
Fun for the whole class! The Garden offers a variety of exciting learning adventures for students of all ages. All programs are TEKS-based, active, and age-appropriate, so you can feel confident as an educator in choosing a Garden experience to enrich your class curriculum.
Art and History of Terrariums
Digging into Texas Soil
Family Workshop: Succulent Terrarium
Cactus Basics
The Art of Sushi
The Art of Worms
Canceled | Garden Sound Bath
Explore the Garden’s 39 acres at your own pace. Groups must have 10 or more participants to receive this rate. This discounted rate is available to public schools, private schools, religious schools, home school groups, daycares, preschools, YMCA/YWCA, Boys & Girls Club, after-school programs, Scouts, youth organizations, universities, colleges, and trade schools.
Fee: $5 per child (3 – 17 years), $10 per student (with ID), $11 per adult.
Self-Guided Visits may be scheduled any day of the week during regular operating hours.
Healthy soil is the foundation of thriving ecosystems, clean water, and biodiversity. Through field research and soil testing, students will learn ways in which land, water, and plant natural resources are related. By digging through the layers of the earth, students will uncover the essential role soil plays as part of the ecosystem gaining insights into how land impacts biodiversity and water. This program is designed for groups of up to 60 students in grades 9-12. Program available beginning in September 2025.
This program is available September – May, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 2 pm.
Fee: $7 per student, $11 per adult
Digging Deeper: Soil, Water, and Biodiversity in San Antonio is generously presented by the Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation.
This program must be scheduled two weeks in advance.
San Antonio Botanical Garden’s WaterSaver Community provides an inspiring model of landscape designs that conserve water. Students will learn about real-world solutions and ways to manage our local natural resources of water, land, and plants. As part of this program students will participate in a hands-on land management engineering challenge. This program is designed for groups of up to 60 students in grades 4-8. Program lasts approximately 90 minutes.
This program is available September – May, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 2 pm.
Fee: $7 per student, $11 per adult
Engineering a Healthy Ecosystem in San Antonio is generously presented by the Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation and in partnership with Texas Wildlife Association.
This program must be scheduled two weeks in advance.
Embark on an exciting journey through San Antonio’s unique water system! In this hands-on program, students will explore the Family Adventure Garden, a vibrant living model of our region’s watershed. Guided by interactive activities and observation, they’ll follow water’s incredible journey from surface to underground, uncovering the secrets of the Edwards Aquifer along the way. Dive into flowing streams, investigate aquifer recharge features, and discover how water shapes our environment. This program is designed for groups of up to 75 students in grades 2-12.
Fee: $7 per student, $11 per adult
This program is available September – May, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance.
Aquifer Adventure: Journey Through San Antonio’s Watershed is generously presented by the Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation and in partnership with Texas Wildlife Association.
In this TEKS-based program, students learn about the importance of plants and water in our daily lives and create their own terrarium ecosystem to take home. This program is designed for grades Pre-K – 8.
Fee: $9 per child (3-17 years), $11 per adult
This program is available September – May, Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and must be scheduled at least 6 weeks in advance.
Guided Garden Tours showcase the unique plants and features at the Garden. Participants will learn about the importance of plants and water while visiting different areas which may include the Culinary Garden, Conservatory, Formal Garden and Texas Native Trail.
Fee: $7 per student, $11 per adult
See, taste, do! This garden-to-table experience brings farming and growing food to life for young learners. The program includes a sensory garden tour, tasting a recipe with fresh garden ingredients, and planting something edible. Daily program capacity of up to 80 students in grades PreK – 1. Program lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Fee: $8 per student, $11 per adult
This program is available September – May, Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance.
In this TEKS-based program, students will have the opportunity to prepare and enjoy 3 CHEF recipes. Participants will cook alongside our instructor and gain valuable culinary and nutrition knowledge in the classroom. This program is designed for groups of 10 – 25 children daily in grades Pre-K – 12.
Fee: $12 per student, $11 per adult
This program is available September – May, Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance.
Please submit the online form. Group visits must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance of the desired date. Once the form is submitted, you will receive a confirmation letter via email with more information within 5 – 7 business days (please check your spam folder). Receiving this letter means that your group is officially scheduled for a Garden program. Garden Membership discounts do not apply to school group reservations.
Group visits must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance of the desired date. It is recommended to reserve your preferred date as soon as possible.
Every student deserves the opportunity to attend Garden programming. In pursuit of this goal, financial aid is available to schools and organizations in need. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, until designated funds are depleted. Scholarships are available to cover both program fees and bus reimbursement. You will receive confirmation of registration and notice of any amount due 5 – 7 business days after the application is received.
Students should bring a reusable water bottle and wear good walking shoes. Please have students dressed appropriately for the weather forecast. In the summer, breathable loose attire is best. In the winter, layers are recommended. Hats, sunscreen, and bug spray are highly recommended.
A minimum of 1 adult for every 10 students is required. Students of all ages are required to be with a chaperone at all times.
All buses drop off students at the bus drop-off area located in front of The Betty Kelso Center.
Bus pick-up and parking is on Pinckney Street beside the Culinary Garden. Students will exit through the Culinary Garden gate.
Garden staff will meet your group at the bus drop-off area and lead a quick orientation before you begin your visit to the Garden. One teacher/coordinator must check in at the front admissions kiosk with the final headcount and payment.
Yes, school field trip groups can bring sack lunches to the Garden. The Amphitheater is the best location for a picnic lunch. Wheeled coolers or sack lunches in backpacks are recommended as groups must transport their own lunches to the Amphitheater. Please make sure to clearly mark school lunches. Outside prepared or catered food is not permitted. Please help keep the Garden clean by discarding recyclables and trash in the appropriate receptacles.
Yes, chaperones that are not included in the school payment may purchase admission at the discounted school rate on the day of the field trip. Chaperones must notify the front admission kiosk staff of which group they are with to receive the discount.
Chaperones may wait by the front fountain at the Mays Family Display Garden, which is just past the front admissions kiosk and Garden Gift Shop to the left.
All participants associated with your school qualify for the discounted school rate. School/district checks or credit cards are accepted on the day of your visit. Please make checks payable to San Antonio Botanical Garden Society. Purchase orders are not accepted. Payment can be made in advance with a credit card over the phone. Please see the confirmation letter for more information. Checks mailed in advance must be received at least 1 week before the scheduled visit date.
Public schools, private schools, religious schools, home school groups, daycares, preschools, YMCA/YWCA, Boys & Girls Club, after-school programs, Scouts, youth organizations, universities, colleges, trade schools.
Chaperones with Garden memberships may only apply their discount toward Garden admission for self-guided tours. Member students must be paid for through the school as they are receiving an additional service above and beyond what they would receive on a typical Garden visit.
If your plans change and you must cancel or reschedule your program with the Garden, please contact the Education Programs team at education@sabot.org or 210.536.1425
How to get here and get around the Garden
Directions & Parking
We’re located just NE of Downtown SA with free on-site parking available.
Accessibility
Everyone is welcome here and we strive to provide equal access for all.