Accessible K–12 Garden Discovery Program

Plan Your Visit

• Educator-Guided Field Trips Fall 2026

  
  

  Field trips are free for school groups with 15 or more students in grades Pre-K through 12 (ages 4–18). We are delighted to make field trips accessible to all, keeping with our mission of bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning.

  Field trips are available Monday, September 14 – Friday, November 6, 2026.
  Field trips are not available on Sundays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, or November 2, 2026.

  We offer two program times per day: 
  AM Program: 10:30–11:30 am 
  PM Program: 12:00-1:00 pm

  
  

• What is Included in a Educator-Guided Field Trip?

  
  

  A minimum of 15 students attending is required to receive free admission and participate in an educator-guided program.

  Groups with 14 students or less may visit by purchasing timed general admission tickets prior to arrival.

  Free admission is provided for: 
  Students in grades Pre-K through 12 (ages 4–18)
  1 adult chaperone (ages 19+) for every 10 students attending the field trip
  School Paraprofessionals and/or Nurses 
  School Bus Drivers

  Educator-Guided Field Trips also include: 
  30-minute lunch reservation in the Café Tent, located inside the Gardens. 
  60–minute guided program of your choice. 
  All-day admission to the Gardens on the day of the field trip.   

  To note: We cannot accommodate children under the age of four to participate in or accompany groups during the 60-minute guided program. 

  
  

• Student Capacity & Student Groups

  
  

  We offer two program times per day:
  AM Program: 10:30–11:30 am 
  PM Program: 12:00-1:00 pm

  Student Capacity 
  Educator-Guided Programs (Grades Pre-K-12; excluding Discovering GIS In the Gardens)

  AM Program: 90 students
  PM Program: 90 students

  Maximum Capacity: 180 students each day

  Groups with more than 90 students must indicate on the field trip request form if they prefer students to be divided between the AM/PM programs on the same date or attend on multiple dates.

  Discovering GIS In the Gardens (Grades 9–12)

  AM Program: 45 students
  PM Program: 45 students

  Maximum Capacity: 90 students each day

  Groups with more than 45 students requesting Discovering GIS In the Gardens program must indicate on the field trip request form if they prefer students to be between the AM/PM programs on the same date or attend on multiple dates. 

  Individual schools may bring up to 360 students per academic year (September 2026-June 2027).

  Student Groups
  School groups will be divided into groups of 15 students for the 60-minute program.

  Each student group will be assigned their own Longwood Educator. All our Longwood Educators are individuals with educational expertise that possess the required clearances.

  Maximum group size is 15 students with three adults, including classroom teachers. School paraprofessionals and nurses are exempt from the adult ratio and may join the student group as required to support students’ needs.

  The number of groups is determined by the final student count and will be confirmed by email a minimum of one week prior to the field trip date. 

  
  

• Choosing an Educator-Guided Program

  
  

  Educator-guided programs are 60-minute inquiry-based programs with a mix of instruction and hands-on activities, designed to meet the educational needs of students within specific grade bands. To view programs by grade band: Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

  For groups with students in more than one grade band in grades 3–12 (ages 8–18), we recommend the Benefits of Nature program.

  The Accessible K–12 Garden Discovery Program can be customized to the unique needs of classrooms that serve students (ages 6-18) that require supportive services, slower-paced instruction or learning accommodations. 

  For additional information or questions about educator-guided programs, contact School & Youth Programs at schoolandyouth@longwoodgardens.org or 610-388-5377.

  
  

• Free Adult Admissions

  
  

  Longwood Gardens provides one free adult chaperone admission for every ten students attending the field trip. 

  Longwood Gardens requires one adult chaperone (19+) for every ten students attending the field trip. 

  The number of free admissions is determined by the final student count.

  School groups will determine how to distribute the free adult admissions they receive. They may be used by any adult attending, including classroom teachers, school staff, and parents/guardians.

  We do not provide additional free admissions for classroom teachers above the 10:1 student to adult ratio. Classroom teachers are considered adults and can be included in the total adult count. 

  
  

• Additional Adults 

  
  

  Additional adults may visit by purchasing timed general admission tickets or making a timed membership reservation prior to arrival. Sell-out is possible.

  
  

• Lunch Options for Educator-Guided School Groups

  
  

  No outside food and/or beverages, including individual bagged lunches, may be carried into the Gardens by individual guests. 
  Longwood Gardens does not provide lunch for field trips. 
  Delivery of food to the Gardens is not permitted. 
  Personal water bottles are permitted.

  Café Tent 
  The Café Tent is a covered lunch space; the 30-minute Café Tent reservation time is fixed and determined by the educator-guided program time. Bagged lunches are permitted in the Café Tent but must be transported from the bus lot by Longwood staff. Additional instructions about how to prepare your group’s bagged lunches for transport will be provided in your field trip reservation information.
  AM program: Café Tent 12:15-12:45 pm
  PM program: Café Tent 11:30 am-12:00 pm
  Location: Inside the Gardens
  Seating: Limited capacity, advance reservation required. 
  Cost: Free.

  Picnic Area
  The picnic area is located across the street from the Visitor Center parking lot, a two-minute drive for Longwood visitors. Bagged lunches are permitted in the picnic area. The Picnic Area has 70 picnic tables and restrooms but is not covered. Please arrange alternative plans in the event of inclement weather. The area may be used by groups before or after their field trip; re-entry to the Gardens is not permitted. 
  September 14 – October 30, 2026: Picnic area is open. 
  November 4-6, 2026: Picnic area is closed. The area is not available for use by guests during this time. 
  Location: Outside the Gardens.
  Seating: Limited capacity, first-come, first served. 
  Cost: Free.

  The Café
  Food may be purchased from the Café. Purchased food must be eaten in the Café and may not be brought into the Gardens.
  Location: Inside the Gardens.
  Seating: Limited capacity, first-come, first served. 
  Cost: Varies by item. To view current menu: Café

  
  

• Transportation

  
  

  School groups must travel by bus or 15–passenger van.

  
  

• Longwood Grant for Title I Schools

  
  

  A Fall 2026 field trip reservation is required prior to completing an application for the Longwood Grant for Title I Schools. Grants are limited. Eligibility and documentation requirements apply. To apply: Title I Grant Information

  
  

• Request a Longwood Gardens Field Trip

  
  

  Click here to learn more about how to request a field trip and view available student capacity by date.

  
  

• FAQ's

  
  

  What if I have less than 15 students?

  15 students in attendance are required on the date of the field trip to receive free field trip admission. 

  Groups with 14 students or less may visit by purchasing timed general admission tickets prior to arrival. Admission price varies by date. To view general (M-TR) or weekend (F) admission pricing or purchase tickets: Visit Longwood Gardens

  To explore community programs that support reduced or free admission to the Gardens: Community Programs Restrictions apply.

  The educator-guided program times don’t work with our school schedule. What are our options?

  If a flexible schedule is required, consider requesting a Self-Guided Field Trip, which allows groups to choose arrival and departure times.

  Is there a limit to how many adults can accompany the 60-minute educator-guided program?

  Yes. Each student group can have up to 3 adults (19+). 

  School paraprofessionals and/or nurses are exempt from this ratio. 

  Additional adults can accompany the students before and after the guided program.

  Self-Guided Field Trips allow as many adults as the group requires to accompany the students while visiting the Gardens.

  How do I learn more about Self-Guided Field Trips? 

  Visit Plan Your Self-Guided Field Trip and FAQs

  How do I determine how many free adult admissions our group will receive? 
  Divide the number of students by 10. For example, 21 students = 2 free adult admissions.
  55 students = 6 free adult admissions; 110 students = 11 free adult admissions.

  School Paraprofessionals and/or Nurses and School Bus Drivers receive free admission. 

  How can I purchase additional adult admissions? 
  Additional adults attending may purchase timed general admission tickets prior to arrival at the Gardens.

  Admission price varies by date. To view general (M-TR) or weekend (F) admission pricing or purchase tickets: Visit Longwood Gardens 

  Can we explore the Gardens before or after our educator-guided program?

  Yes, field trips include all-day admission to the Gardens on the day of the field trip.

  How do I arrange accommodations for individual students in my group?

  Individual student accommodations may be noted on the field trip request form. 

  For additional student accommodations, contact School & Youth Programs at schoolandyouth@longwoodgardens.org or 610-388-5377 a minimum of 21 days prior to your field trip date. 

  To learn more about our accessible offerings available before and during your field trip: Accessibility

  Do you offer mobility devices?

  Yes. Complimentary wheelchairs are available on a self-service, first-come, first-served basis inside the Visitor Center Lobby.  

  Strollers and electric scooters are available to guests on a first-come, first-served basis at the Rentals area in the Visitor Center. Photo ID is not required, but scooter drivers must be 18 or older.  To learn more, visit: Wheelchair, Scooter, and Stroller Rentals