"Navajo Uses of Native Plants"
Through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The
Arboretum will pilot this new tour designed especially for school groups, with
a cadre of educators who are able to speak some Navajo and introduce children
to the traditional uses of plant materials for food, medicine, utilitarian and
ceremonial purposes. These additional tours will be available by booking
through the Public Programs Department. The ethnobotany tours will also
be available for booking for adult private groups as well.
Children's
Raptor Programs
- In addition to the student admission fee, a $50 contribution is
required to add to a raptor program to your school group visit.
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Trained educators will adapt information especially for
the grade level of your group.
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Environmental Education for School Groups:
The Arboretum at Flagstaff is pleased to present our
grade-specific curriculum in the natural sciences directed towards students in
pre-school through the sixth grade. These on-site programs are designed to create interest in the many intricacies
of nature, as well as provide current information relative to understanding
and appreciating the natural world around us.
Programs follow the Flagstaff Unified School District
and National Research Council Curriculum Standards for science education.
Each program is approximately two hours in length, which may be subject
to change due to inclement weather.
Pre-School and Kindergarten
"The Senses"
This program is designed to introduce children to the
world of herbs through their senses.
When seasonally available, we visit the herb garden where children have hands-on contact with and learn about
how a variety of fresh herbs are used by humans.
We also visit the pond and Nature Trail to compare plant color and
texture gradations.
Grade One
"Seed Dispersal"
The class will identify a variety of seeds and the
different mechanisms through which they are dispersed.
Beginning in the classroom, we match seeds with their parent plants, as well as study seed shapes.
We also visit the greenhouse
and grounds to look for and compare different seed-bearing plants.
Grade Two
"Plant Life Cycles"
Your visit to The Arboretum will include plant life cycle
demonstrations that clarify the predictable changes that occur as a plant
grows from a seed to produce the seed that begins the next generation.
Activities will take place outside, in the classroom and in the
Greenhouse where various life cycle stages are represented.
Grade Three
"Wetland Habitat"
- In this class, activities revolve around The Arboretum
pond where we examine the characteristics of aquatic plant and animal
life. A trip to the Constructed
Wetlands to see how we recycle our wastewater is also included in this class.
When appropriate, backpacks, binoculars and hand lenses will be
provided for a tour
- of the Nature Trail.
Grade Four
"Pollination"
Topics of this program include plant reproduction, the
importance of pollinators and the flowers to which they are attracted, as well
as identifying the basic parts of a flower.
When appropriate, each student will receive a backpack with binoculars and a hand lens to
use while exploring the Nature Trail and other points of interest.
Grade Five
"Forest Ecology"
The class will discuss the value of fire in the ponderosa
pine forest and how it benefits wildlife and plants alike.
Students will learn to recognize indicators of a "healthy" and
"unhealthy" forest, as well as wildlife signs along the Nature Trail.
When appropriate, students will receive a backpack, binoculars and hand lens for this
outdoor class.
Grade Six
"Biodiversity"
Students are introduced to several endangered plants,
learn what causes species to become endangered (or threatened), and discuss the
efforts being made at The Arboretum to help save at-risk species.
When appropriate, backpacks, binoculars and hand lenses will be made available for
a hike
on the Nature Trail.
Students in these grades will be given a general tour of the facility and
may also participate in a restoration activity. Highlights include the Constructed
Wetlands, Horticulture Center, and Herb Garden.
Please direct calls to Rachel Edelstein, Public Programs
Manager, at (928) 774-1442 x 110 to reserve a date for your class. If you leave a message, please include your phone contact, the date and time you would like
to visit, as well as group size and grade level.
Plan to arrive several minutes before the start of the
program to allow for parking, disembarking, and using the restrooms.
Remember to allow for extra travel time on the dirt surface of Woody
Mountain Road.
Before orientation, designate one person to enter the
Visitor Center to make payment while the rest of the group waits outside.
The cost per student is $3.00; chaperones are free.
School Purchase Orders are accepted. Please keep your group together, quiet, and out of the main traffic
pattern. Plan to have at least
one supervising adult for every 8 students.
When appropriate, students grades
three through six may receive a backpack containing binoculars and a hand lens
with which to view the world up closely.
We expect students to be very careful with these objects while in their
possession. Program participants
will want to carry drinking water, especially during the summer months.
Much of our time is spent outdoors so please advise students to dress
appropriately for the weather.
Due to the presence of endangered species on the grounds,
it is important for visitors to stay on the designated pathways.
Picking flowers and other vegetation is not allowed.
