May–September
ECE–Grade 3

Did you know that frogs use their eyeballs to swallow? Or that they eat their own skin? Discover the answers to these questions and many more as students search for live frogs in their natural habitat. Guided by materials such as binoculars, webbed gloves, and an interpretive model of the frog life cycle, this program imparts important lessons such as life cycles, adaptations, and communication.

Preview the program activity guide

September & October
Pre-K–Grade 3

Students learn why leaves change color and why leaves are important for plants by searching Hudson Gardens for foliage of all shapes, sizes, and colors. This fall journey concludes with a visit to the Straw Bale Maze and Pumpkin Patch!

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May–September
Pre-K–Grade 3

Take your students on a plant adventure! Through hands-on activities, students discover plant diversity at Hudson Gardens, explore a plant’s life cycle from small seed to tasty vegetable, and have opportunities to observe bee pollination in action. This pack includes materials for a seed-growing activity to help you continue your plant investigation in the classroom.

Preview the program activity guide

May–October
Pre-K–K

Using their five senses as a guide, students discover the array of colors, noises, scents, and textures that make up the plant world. From a search for smells to a sound mystery, students strengthen their detection skills and uncover the sensory characteristics associated with several features of Hudson Gardens.

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Year-round
K–Grade 5

Students always love a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt! The Nature Hunt will encourage students to discover the hidden sights, sounds, and scents of the Gardens’ plants and wildlife in every season.

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April–October

K–Grade 4

Examine various animal habitats and adaptations to uncover why wildlife seek refuge and how they survive in the ‘secret spaces’ of an urban habitat.

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April–October

Grades 2 and up

Have you ever wondered what Dr. Seuss had to say about trees? Choose this in’tree’active journey to find out! Exploring real tree specimens and products from trees, your students will discover the basics of tree anatomy and gain an understanding of the important role that trees play in our everyday lives.

Preview the program activity guide

Prior to unloading students, all buses and vans should first go to the loading zone located directly in front of our Welcome Center where a Field Trip Greeter will meet you to assist with checking in, unloading students, and parking.

• When you arrive, please have an assigned adult check in with the Field Trip Greeter prior to unloading students. If the Greeter is not outside waiting for your group when you arrive, the Welcome Center staff can assist you by notifying the Greeter of your arrival.
• Students must remain seated on the buses until a Field Trip Greeter arrives and provides further instructions for unloading and parking.
• Please note that other groups may be scheduled to visit that day. We ask that you arrive at your scheduled time so that our Field Trip Greeters will have ample time to greet and orient your group.
• If your group is running late, please notify us at your earliest convenience.

• Upon meeting your group in front of the Welcome Center, the Field Trip Greeter will guide bus drivers to the ‘student drop off and pick up’ location and the closest available parking.
  • Vans and small buses may use the main parking lots but will be asked to park in designated spaces to help us manage the unloading/loading process while maintaining the safety of the students.
  • If your group must park and unload in order to maintain required ratios, please check in as outlined above, and our Field Trip Greeter will assist you with parking and unloading students.
  • Buses are asked to use the large, gravel south parking lot.
  • Parents and chaperones may park anywhere in the main parking lots.
• Field trip groups should enter and exit the Gardens using the roll gate located just south of the Welcome Center front lawn.
• As your group unloads, we ask that chaperones and students gather on the gravel path located just inside the gate until everyone is accounted for. Once your group is ready, your Field Trip Greeter will guide the group into the Gardens where they will welcome your group, orient you to the Gardens and introduce the day’s activities.

• Groups are required to have at least one chaperone per ten students. Additional chaperones are strongly recommended. Hudson Gardens reserves the right to refuse admittance to groups with too few chaperones.
• Assign chaperones to groups of students prior to arriving at Hudson Gardens.
• You are welcome to bring snacks/lunches with you on your visit. Secure lunch storage or indoor lunch facilities are not provided.
• Please bring your own bins or wagons for transporting lunches from your bus and clearly label your bins/lunches with your school and class names.
• Outdoor picnic tables and seating areas are available for group use.
• Hudson Gardens Explorer Packs are guided by the chaperones in your group! To ensure that your students get the most from their experience, it is highly recommended that all chaperones are familiar with the activity guide for your chosen Explorer Pack.
• Become familiar with Hudson Gardens’ map and garden features and share this information with chaperones.
• Please review and share the Educators’ Guide with all chaperones prior to your visit.
• Familiarize yourself with and review the following Field Trip Expectations with your students:
  • Learn something new! Explore, discover, investigate, observe, and ask questions while visiting Hudson Gardens.
  • Be respectful of all living things! Please do not touch, chase, catch, or disturb wildlife such as geese, frogs, and other animals. Feeding birds and other wildlife can be harmful to the animal’s health.
  • Please leave the flowers and plants for the bees, butterflies, and other animals that rely on them for food. Please do not pick flowers and other plant material or walk in flower beds.
• Be safe! Make sure to stay with your group and keep away from dangerous situations and activities.
• Stay dry! Irrigation, pond, and fountain water is all non-potable and unsafe for hands and drinking. Please avoid active sprinklers, hoses, or entering the streams and ponds throughout Hudson Gardens.
• Enjoy the outdoors! Explore and enjoy Hudson Gardens but please refrain from entering the rental areas such as the canopies and buildings.

All school and youth group visits require reservations.

• To book your date and time, please submit a field trip reservation request online.
• The price of a field trip is determined by the activity or program you choose for your visit to Hudson Gardens. Explore your program options here.

You will receive an email confirmation once your reservation request has been processed. Please review your confirmation to ensure that the date and time is correct. *Please note that if we cannot accommodate your preferred or alternative field trip dates, we will contact you to discuss alternatives.

Your confirmation email will also include the Educators’ Guide, which contains detailed information including parking directions, instructions for student drop-off, day of field trip logistics, and garden maps. Please take time prior to your field trip to review and share this information with your students, staff and parents to ensure an excellent visit to Hudson Gardens.

The price of a field trip is determined by the activity or program you choose for your visit to Hudson Gardens. An estimated cost for your visit will be provided with your field trip confirmation.

• Pre-payment is required and is due in full no later than one week prior to the date of program. Please have final attendance counts at that time (students and chaperones); refunds will not be given for reduced attendance or unused Explorer Packs.
• Payment is accepted via check or credit card.
• When paying by check, please make the check payable to Hudson Gardens c/o Community Outreach Department 6115 S Santa Fe Drive Littleton Colorado 80120. Please remember to include a copy of the Field Trip Reservation Confirmation Form with your check.
• To pay by credit card, please call the Community Programs and Outreach Department at 303-797-8565 x306.

• Cancellations up to one week before the program date are fully refundable. Cancellations made less than a week before the program date or failure to show up on your scheduled date are considered donations to Hudson Gardens.
• Field trip programs are held outdoors. Indoor accommodations are not available. In the event of inclement weather, Hudson Gardens will work with the group representative to reschedule the program. If an alternative date cannot be arranged, Hudson Gardens will provide a full refund.

Hudson Gardens is committed to making sure that all schools and organizations have the opportunity to visit. Financial assistance, including program fee, admission discounts, and transportation scholarships are available for qualifying schools and organizations. Transportation scholarships have been generously provided by FirstBank.

• Download the field trip financial assistance program description for details.
• Download the Transportation Scholarship Reimbursement Request Form.

• Groups are required to have at least one chaperone per ten students. Additional chaperones are strongly recommended. Hudson Gardens reserves the right to refuse admittance to groups with too few chaperones.
• You are welcome to bring snacks/lunches with you on your visit. Secure lunch storage and indoor lunch facilities are not provided.
  • We recommend that all students and chaperones carry a backpacks with their personal items, including lunches.
  • If you would prefer, you are welcome to bring your own bins or wagons for transporting lunches from your bus and clearly label your bins/lunches with your school and class name.
  • Outdoor picnic tables and seating areas are available for group use.
• Ample bus parking is available. Please review the Educators’ Guide for detailed instructions on parking locations, checking in upon arrival and field trip expectations.
• Become familiar with Hudson Gardens’ map, and preview the Activity Guide for your Explorer Pack (if applicable) before visiting. Share this information with chaperones.