New for the 2025/2026 school year, UBC Botanical Garden’s Schools Program aims to expand its impact across local school communities by increasing access for children and youth. By partnering with school districts, teachers, and students, the program complements formal learning with engaging, curriculum-connected, nature-based experiences.
At UBC Botanical Garden, we believe that cultivating a connection with nature is essential to the holistic development of children and youth. Through immersive, experiential learning, students in both K–7 and 8–12 can deepen their appreciation for the natural world, strengthen critical thinking and mentorship skills, and develop a lasting sense of environmental responsibility.
check out our Learning resources here!Program Opportunities
Group Tours & Field Trips for K-12 Schools
Designed for elementary and secondary schools, our field trips align with the BC Curriculum and Local to Global frameworks. The Schools Program emphasizes science, sustainability, biodiversity, climate action, and place-based learning, offering ecology and environmental education grounded in scientific inquiry and local context.
Sustainability and biodiversity are woven throughout our programs, introducing students to global frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Biodiversity Framework, while connecting these ideas to local action.
Guided K-12 School Tour at UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden provide immersive, nature-based experiences with interactive activities exploring topics such as native plants, biodiversity, climate change, ecology, botany, and environmental science. All tours are aligned with the K–12 curriculum, and teachers can select hands-on activities and request a topic of focus to complement their classroom learning.
Guided K-12 School Tour on the Greenheart TreeWalk: students will discover the diverse ecosystems that thrive above the forest floor, explore themes of sustainable eco-tourism, identify local tree species, and learn about First Nations’ cultural uses of plants. They’ll also find out how the forest canopy provides habitat for many woodland creatures, including bald eagles, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and owls, and how forest plants have long been used as traditional medicines and food sources. Find out more about HERE
- Cedar Tree and Friends Scavenger Hunt (BC Rainforest or Asian Garden) –available year-round
- Edible Berries Scavenger Hunt (BC Rainforest, Garry Oak Meadow, Food Garden) — available May – July
- Orchard Apple Walk (Asian Garden, Garry Oak Meadow, Food Garden) — available August – October
- Flowers & Pollinators: a secret match (Asian Garden or Food Garden) — available March – August
- Wellbeing and Sensorial Bingo (Nitobe Memorial Garden) — available year-round
Schools Program Bursary
If you are from a low-SES school and require support with admission or transportation costs, please fill out the Subsidy Application Form so we can assess your request and coordinate appropriate support.
Teachers Professional Development Days Sessions
Professional development sessions for teachers and educators, curriculum aligned from local to global frameworks. An opportunity for educators to engage with UBC Botanical Garden team and partners, professionals and other teachers interested in integrating experiential environmental learning to their students.
Join us for this upcoming Teacher Professional Development Day, integrating practical gardening skills and experiential learning with the principles of place- based learning
Who: Metro Vancouver Teachers, Grades K-7 and 8-12
When: Friday, February 13th, 2026, from 8:45 am to 3:15 pm
Where: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC
What: Participants will plan, design, and apply gardening skills grounded in biocultural diversity and place-based sustainability practices from the UBC Garden to your school garden. Through guided exploration of the Medicinal and Food Gardens, teachers will engage in nature journaling, learn approaches to planning and designing a school garden, and take part in a hands-on workshop by Linda Layne, Food Garden horticulturist, focused on planning garden beds and transplanting seedling plants.
Why: During this full day of professional development at the Garden, you will feel equipped with the necessary tools to take concrete actions by holistically integrating the environmental learning principles right into your school gardens. Our goal is to make you confident and ready to implement sustainable, curriculum-connected garden practices in your school.
Learn More Here!K-12 Workshops
Boost your students’ interest and connection to nature and community through our Schools Program Workshops in the Garden—themed, hands-on eco adventures.
Mini Workshop: Bird Watching K-12
Topics Covered: Birds Biodiversity and Conservation, Science
What: Students will explore the world of birds by observing their behaviour, listening to their calls, and watching them in their natural habitat. This hands-on activity introduces students to the practice of birdwatching while developing skills in observation and identification. Along the way, students learn about bird biodiversity, migration, and conservation.
Learning Goals
- Identify local and migratory birds found in the Garden.
- Develop observation and journaling skills through birdwatching.
- Foster a connection to the scientific birding community and environmental stewardship.
Mini-Workshop: Apple Diversity Hybrid Workshop
What: Through the lens of apple diversity, this free hybrid program invites K–7 and 8–12 teachers and students across Metro Vancouver, B.C. to join three online sessions exploring science and nature. The workshop includes curriculum-aligned, teacher-led activities that extend learning in the classroom. Students will discover the diversity of local and heritage apples while engaging with topics such as plant science, nutrition, gardening, sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Teachers can choose from a variety of activities to support their students’ interests and learning goals.
When: October 1st to 15th, 2025
Where: Online sessions: October 1st, October 8th, and October 15th
Stream Time: Grades K-7 at 9:10 am/ Grades 8 -12 at 10:15 am
Activities are provided for classroom teachers to lead on school grounds.
Who: Metro Vancouver Schools, Grades: K-12
Cost: Free!
Learn More Here!