Request a Field Trip

*By Submitting an online request form you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the group reservation policies and procedures.

*Only Paid orders are finalized. If your group shows up without a group receipt on the day of your visit you will be asked to purchase individual tickets at the regular admission rates at the time of arrival.

– School Field trips are for Pre-K through High School and include Home School groups and Head Start Programs.

– A discounted rate of $5/person is available for school groups of 10-75 people. Groups larger than 75 please request multiple days. If your group is smaller than 10 people please purchase general admission tickets.

-Group orders are nonrefundable, however we can reschedule your field trip if needed.

– All group order inquiries must fill out an online request form. Requests are processed in the order they are received.

– Field Trips are Self-Guided

What Happens on a Field Trip?

After check-in a TBG staff member or volunteer will do a short introduction, and provide you with your supplies (field journals, pencils, and butterfly time cards if applicable). There is no additional charge for the butterfly exhibit, field journals or pencils.

After that you break off into your small groups and stay in them for the duration of the field trip. The ratio requirement is 1 adult chaperone to every 5 students. The chaperones take their group to the butterfly exhibit at the time listed on their butterfly time card provided at check-in. Each group spends about 10 minutes in the exhibit. Nothing else is timed, therefore around the butterfly times each chaperone will take their small group to the other 17 themed gardens and exhibits. There is no additional charge for exhibits. Here is the link to exhibits: https://tucsonbotanical.org/exhibits/.  

You may eat lunch at a time you determine, typically scheduled around the butterfly groups. You’ll receive a list of the butterfly times in your day of visit email after paying/finalizing a group order. We suggest staying in your small groups for lunch as well.

*The Butterfly Exhibit is open Oct 1st – May 31st 9:30am – 3pm. If your field trip is scheduled June 1st – Sept 30th it will not include the butterfly exhibit.

Sack Lunches: If your group is bringing sack lunch there are shady spots throughout the gardens to eat, some benches along trails, and a few picnic tables. Please note that the entry pavilion, exit pavilion, and the café is not available for sack lunch seating. Picnic tables are first come first serve. You can store your coolers in the entry pavilion, and will receive specific instruction upon arrival.

How to Request & Finalize a Field Trip:

-Submit this electronic request form.

-Initial requests are placed in our system as a pending reservation. You will receive a pending reservation email with instructions on how to finalize your reservation. Read through the emailed instructions carefully. Your order number, payment deadline, and payment link are included in this email.

-After you submit payment you will receive a group receipt to present to admissions on the day of your visit, and a finalized order email with day of visit information and instructions. *There are not individual tickets on group orders.

–Pending reservations MAY be held for 3 weeks. This holding period reserves your desired visit date/time for 3 weeks. If your group order has a holding period it will be included in your pending order email. This may not always be necessary depending on our current volume of requests.

– If your order has a holding period: Pending reservations that do not submit a Purchase Order (PO), or make payment within the 3 week holding period will become available for others to reserve. At that time we can no longer guarantee the date/time you initially requested will be available.

– PAYMENT IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO YOUR VISIT-THIS INCLUDES SCHOOL GROUPS UTILIZING PURCHASE ORDERS (PO’s). For those paying with a PO – the PO will reserve your date/time, however payment must be received by the deadline indicated in your pending order email.

-The absolute latest you may finalize a group order is the day prior to your visit by 9am. If your visit falls on a Monday, payment is due the Friday prior to your Monday visit by 9am.

– To be eligible for a group rate, the group must make one lump sum payment. Payment is required to finalize a reservation. Non-payment by the deadline indicated in your pending order email will result in cancellation of the pending order.

– Latecomers, and/or additional attendees joining your group on the day of your visit will purchase individual tickets at the general admissions rate and not the discounted group rate.

-No refunds are offered if fewer people show than initially paid for in your group order.

-When submitting this form please provide the most accurate count possible. Your count may be adjusted up until you pay/finalize your order. After a group order has been paid/finalized it can’t be changed.

– We require 1 chaperone for every 5 children (the ratio requirement is non-negotiable).

– Group visits are not available during the evening or special events.

– Group rates exclude all other discounts: such as, but not limited to; Chase Cards, 2 for 1 coupons, Tucson Passport or hotel rack cards.

-If for any reason your group payment needs to be refunded there is a $5 processing fee that will be charged to you. This typically occurs when an incorrect amount is paid, or a payment amount is made that doesn’t meet the minimum requirement of 10 tickets.

– If your school group has a special circumstance please email education3@tucsonbotanical.org.

*If the reservation process has not been followed, the Gardens will reserve the right to deny admission to the group.