Field Trip FAQs

We offer field trips year-round for school groups, Scout groups, summer camps, afterschool groups, homeschool groups, and more.

Field Trips programs can be adapted be appropriate for ages 3-18.

Because we value hands-on experiential learning, we try to keep our groups small.  For classes larger than 25 students, we may ask you to divide into smaller groups to maintain small class size, and may ask groups to attend at separate times. Our outdoor learning spaces can accommodate no more than 75 students total at a time.

Field trips are offered Tuesday through Thursday from 9am-2pm during the school year. The Wylde Center’s greenspaces are also open 7 days per week, sunup to sundown if you would like to explore the gardens on your own.

Please send an email to scheduling@wyldecenter.org with the following information:

• Your school name
• The date and time you would like to come, plus 2 backup dates
• The program you are interested in
• The grade level and number of children you would like to bring.

You will receive an invoice as soon as your field trip is confirmed.  Payment is expected before or at the time of your field trip.  We accept check and major credit cards. If you bring more students than projected on your invoice, you will receive an updated invoice at the time of your field trip.

If a teacher or group leader cancels a field trip for reasons other than severe weather (see “What if there is bad weather?”), they must do so at least two weeks prior to their scheduled field trip.  For cancellations with less than two weeks notice, payment of 50% of the field trip cost is required. For less than seven days notice, the cost of the field trip must be paid in full. To cancel, please contact us immediately at scheduling@wyldecenter.org.

Yes! We welcome groups to eat and explore the garden after their field trip. We have ample outdoor space for groups who wish to bring and eat lunch in the garden. Indoor space is limited, and typically only used during inclement weather. There are no vending machines or food sale facilities on site. Please check with the education manager before planning to use the space for eating in order to ensure another group is not using the space.  If you would like to guarantee the garden’s availability and exclusive use before or after your field trip, contact the education program manager to rent the space.

Oakhurst Garden and the Edgewood Garden have ample handwashing stations, but only a single bathroom for students (i.e., if you plan to have students use it, allocate ample time). Hawk Hollow and Mulberry Fields have portable toilets, but we highly suggest that students use the restroom before coming to the garden to limit use. Please encourage students to use the bathroom before leaving school or at the end of the field trip, not during teaching time.

Because we will be actively learning in an outdoor setting, participants and chaperones should wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get a little bit dirty (and wet, if coming for a stream experience).

While we have indoor classrooms available at the Oakhurst and Edgewood Gardens in case of inclement weather, plan on being outdoors for the duration of the field trip.

Students and chaperones should arrive prepared for the weather: long pants, warm jackets, and hats/gloves during cold weather; sunscreen, hats, and water bottles if it is warm and sunny.

The Wylde Center may need to reschedule a field trip due to extreme weather conditions. As soon as a cancellation is decided, the School Programs Manager will contact the primary trip contact to let them know.  In the event of such a cancellation, we will do our best to reschedule your trip for a day and time that works for you. Field trips will continue, rain or shine, provided weather is not severe.

We often take photos to document field trips to the garden. If teachers or parents do not want their students to be photographed, please inform the education program manager and/or environmental educator

Teachers and chaperones are encouraged to participate throughout the field trip and enjoy the visit. While at the Wylde Center, we ask that you

• Maintain a headcount of the students in your group.
• Be alert to the potential hazards of the space and help students avoid them.
• Notify us in advance if students have any allergies that may impact their experience (insects, plants, foods, latex, etc.).
• Facilitate the proper behavior of students.
• Allow students to make discoveries on their own.
• Have fun!