Education
Self-guided Tours
What is the ZMD?
The Garden receives support from property taxes levied through the Zoo-Museum Tax District (ZMD) and can therefore provide free admission to schools within St. Louis County and St. Louis City. For schools outside the ZMD, additional fees apply. To find out if your school is within the ZMD, call (314) 577-5140.
Teachers and their students are welcome to explore the Garden on their own. Areas of special interest are listed below under Garden Highlights and are free with Garden admission. Advanced reservation recommended. The guidelines under “Preparing for Your Visit” apply to all self-guided tours.
For more information please email schoolprograms@mobot.org or call (314) 577-5140.
Required chaperones:
Grades PK–3
1 adult per 5 students
Grades 4–12
1 adult per 8 students
Fees for Self-guided Tours:
Schools within the St. Louis Zoo-Museum Tax District (ZMD):
Students and their required chaperones
free
Extra chaperones
$4 per extra chaperone
Schools outside of the ZMD:
Grades PK–8
free
Grades 9–12
$4 per student
Required chaperones
free
Extra chaperones
$8 per extra chaperone
NEW! Shaw’s Satchels — Available August 1st, 2008.
Enhance your self-guided visit by reserving a Shaw’s Satchel at the time of your reservation. A Shaw’s Satchel includes age appropriate activities which lead students to explore and discover the many plants that are grown in a botanical garden:
- Grades K–2: “In the Garden”
- Grades 3–5: “Plant Diversity”
- Grades 6–8: “The Rainforest”
Shaw’s Satchels are issued to each group upon arrival and collected at departure. One Shaw’s Satchel is issued for every ten students and their accompanying chaperones. Group size maximum is 100 students. FREE, BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.
Garden Highlights
Climatron®
Enrich your students’ knowledge of the tropical rain forest with a walk through the Climatron®. Students are transported to a lush lowland rain forest, complete with waterfalls, tropical birds, and some 1,500 plants.
A brochure is available upon request.
English Woodland Garden
This shady woodland is an ideal place to study a temperate deciduous forest and the interactions of the plants and animals that live there.
Victorian Area
Founded in 1859, the Garden maintains many Victorian elements and structures, including six historic structures designed by renowned architect George I. Barnett. Featured here are Henry Shaw’s mausoleum, an herb garden, a maze, and the Piper Observatory.
A brochure is available upon request.
Kemper Center for Home Gardening
Twenty-three display gardens including a native plant meadow, a prairie, and a garden for birds makes this eight acre site a place of discovery and educational opportunities.
A brochure is available upon request.
Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden
Students can explore waterfalls, a river, an old steam boat, a cave, a 19th century Missouri village, get wet in the Splash area or climb up into a tree house to get a birds-eye view from the boardwalk that winds through the canopy of mature Osage Orange trees. This exciting new attraction is a special place designed for education and adventure. Open daily April 1 through October 31.
Please note: There is an additional $3.00 per child entry fee for the Children’s Garden.
A brochure is available upon request.
Seiwa-En Japanese Garden
Bridges and colorful koi, cherry blossoms or snow—whatever the season, the Japanese garden is always enjoyed by visitors. The garden consists of fourteen acres of beautiful plantings with a central lake.
A brochure is available upon request.
Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden
Experience an authentic Chinese Garden with pavilion, moon gate, traditional stones, and plantings.
A brochure is available upon request.
Scented Garden
Designed for the visually impaired, the raised beds in the Scented Garden provide easy accessibility for hands and noses. Braille signage assists interpretation. Additional features include the Bell Tree where students are invited to ring the bells.
Shoenberg Temperate House
The Temperate House features plants that share a mild “Mediterranean” climate. Included here is a Moorish Garden, Biblical plants, and a popular exhibit of carnivorous plants.
Historical Tours of Tower Grove House For students of any age studying 19th century Missouri or St. Louis history, a tour through Henry Shaw’s 1849 country home will enhance their understanding of life during that time period. The house is located within the Garden’s historic Victorian area which includes features built during the time of Henry Shaw, the Garden’s founder. A Victorian garden, maze, herb garden, and observatory enhance the house’s surroundings.
Hours are:
Open March through December
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. / Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. / Closed Mondays
Self-guided tours during open hours; guided tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. or by appointment.
Tours last approx 40 minutes. Free admission.
A Place to Learn Field Trip Guide
Designed specifically for use at the Missouri Botanical Garden, this activity guide features 21 lessons for grades K–8 on subjects of ecology, plant biology, art, math, and social studies. Maps and reproducible student data sheets accompany each lesson.
To order, call (314) 577-9506. Purchase price is $12. There is a $3 postage charge.
A select number of lessons are available for free download.
Climatron® is a registered servicemark of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Other Climatron® Educational Services include:
- Self-guided tropical rain forest tour
- Plant Studies
- Educational materials regarding the rain forest
- Docent led tours for people of all ages
- Teacher training workshops focusing on the rain forest and comparative ecosystem studies
- Exhibits focusing on the rain forest and related issues
|
