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.
- 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
Read more about Curriculum Connections and activities HERE.
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.
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.
The Free K-12 Apple Diversity Hybrid Workshop is back!
Start your 2026/2027 school year with the fresh taste of apple diversity.
Flesh your students’ interest and connection to nature, from UBC Botanical Garden to the Classroom!
What: Through the lens of apple diversity, this free hybrid program invites K–12 teachers and students across Metro Vancouver and B.C. to explore science and nature through an online workshop and classroom-based activities. Students will learn about local and heritage apples while engaging with topics such as plant science, nutrition, sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship.
The program includes curriculum-aligned, teacher-led activities that extend learning in the classroom, including our iNaturalist Apple ID project. Teachers can choose from a variety of activities to support their students’ interests and learning goals, aligned with the B.C. Science Curriculum by grade level.
When: September 22nd, 2026
Where: Online, streamed from UBC Botanical Garden to your classroom
Stream Time: Grades K–7 at 9:10 AM; Grades 8–12 at 10:15 AM
Activities: Teachers will receive downloadable resources to engage students in hands-on learning experiences.
Who: Metro Vancouver schools, Grades K–7 and 8–12
Cost: Free!
Extended Opportunity: Apple season continues in the Garden! Our native apple tree collections and orchard cultivars are fruiting throughout September and October. Bring your class for a 1-hour guided Garden tour, including an Apple Orchard Walk, and deepen your students’ learning through a hands-on exploration of apple diversity.
Use code APPLE2026 to receive 20% off admission for a 1-hour guided Garden tour with an Apple Orchard Walk. Offer available on select dates: September 23, 24; October 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9, 2026.
Learn More Here!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 the upcoming Teachers Professional Development Day, Oct 23rd, 2026. Registrations and more information soon.
Who: Metro Vancouver Teachers, Grades K-7 and 8-12