GARDEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS
FIELD TRIPS
Science Program Reaching OUT (SPROUT) field trips are FONA’s school year field trip program that invites your class to our one-acre demonstration garden. Please sign up for our School Garden Gateway newsletter to receive notification for when fall field trip registrations open.
SPROUT visits to the Washington Youth Garden are 90 minutes long and begin with a brief staff-led orientation. You and your students then have time to explore the garden and Nature Explore Classroom on your own and visit our garden activity stations.
Our staff are there to lead activity stations, offer suggestions, and answer questions, but this is truly a time for your students and chaperones to explore the garden and follow their curiosity (or their taste buds). Picnic tables and a tent are available before or after your visit for snack or lunch time as needed (plan on bringing your own).
Field trips to the Washington Youth Garden typically cost around $300-400 to run, plus the cost of transportation. We are not able to offer transportation scholarships for Title 1 schools this fall. Per trip pricing is as follows:
- 10-25 students: $200
- 26-42 students: $400
Once a trip is confirmed, FONA will send an invoice via Square so you can pay securely online.
You may pay by check to: Friends of the National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002 (please put SPROUT in the memo or invoice).
Email education@fona.org for alternative ways to pay.
We hope to see you in the garden soon!
Public transportation to the U.S. National Arboretum is challenging at the best of times, and the Washington Youth Garden is another ¾ mile from the nearest gate. We strongly recommend you book a bus for your visit. Many field trip cancellations happen because bus transportation was not secured in time, and that often means we cannot rebook that date. As such, we will ask you to finalize your bus reservation no later than one month before your field trip.
We do not offer structured field trips during the summer months, but please reach out to education@fona.org if you have any questions, or are thinking of bringing a group out to the Arboretum or Washington Youth Garden in the summer.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Virtual Farm Field Trips
Join farms and gardens across D.C. to get inspired, learn something new, and get ideas to explore your own garden or neighborhood!
Washington Youth Garden — Garden Tour
Farmer Jake introduces all the spaces in the Washington Youth Garden demonstration garden.
Washington Youth Garden — Starting Seeds
Farmer Emilia gives a tour of our greenhouse at the U.S. National Arboretum.
Washington Youth Garden — Sensory Garden
Follow Farmer Emilia around the WYG sensory garden and explore your senses in our garden and at your home.
Washington Youth Garden — Plant Part Salad
Ms. Allie identifies the 6 essential parts of a plant and uses them to make a salad.
City Blossoms — Super Plants
Ms. Lauren introduces you to the Marion Street Neighborhood Garden while you explore how the parts of a plant help the plant grow.
City Blossoms — Plant ID
Ms. Lauren teachers young gardeners how to identify local families of plants and play a game of “Does it grow here?”
City Blossoms — Herb ID
Ms. Kendra explains how to smell and safely pick garden herbs, before introducing favorite garden herbs.
City Blossoms — Ecosystem Exploration
Explore Marion St. Garden’s ecosystem with Ms. Lauren! Learn about decomposers, producers, and consumers.
Common Good City Farm — Farm Tour
Emily shares about Common Good City Farm and introduces you to the space.
Common Good City Farm — Pollination
Learn about pollination, and what the role of different bees are in the beehive.
Common Good City Farm — Farm Tools
Farmer Bodhi explains commonly used farm tools and how we use them to get our work done.
Common Good City Farm — Orchard Tour
Walk through the orchard and learn about the persimmon, fig, peach, cherry, apple, pear and paw paw trees that grow at Common Good.
Common Good City Farm — Compost
Nate gives a tour of a compost bin system.
Digital Resources
Online garden science and outdoor learning resources for all ages from FONA and other organizations, as well as garden resources to help you start or improve your garden.
FROM FONA
PRE KINDERGARTEN
MY 5 SENSES
A lesson that focuses on using hands-on experiences to introduce the 5 senses.
KINDERGARTEN – 2ND GRADE
PARTS OF A PLANT ACTIVITY
An activity guide to pair with our Parts of a Plant Farm Field Trip video.
POPCORN & SEED SORTING
Use the seed sorting chart to sort through any seeds you have in your house (like that 7 bean soup mix). Then taste test seeds by making homemade popcorn.
COOKING WORKSHOP ACTIVITY GUIDE
Check out a couple of recipes and activities from our Cooking Workshop Curriculum, including veggie stir fry and quick pickles.
FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
COOKING
FOODPRINTS ANYWHERE
FoodPrints activities that build nutrition knowledge, extend science and math education, and help families cook and eat healthy recipes at home.
SLOW FOOD LIVE
A variety of sessions live and recorded to watch and learn at home, including Food & Cooking, Gardening & Animals, Health & Wellness, and Change-Making.
YMCA DC FOOD VIRTUAL KITCHEN
Geared toward adults, watch short videos to learn chef skills and delicious recipes.
FOODCORPS REMOTE LEARNING LESSONS
35 hands-on lessons to do with kids 5-11 years old.
GARDENING
BACK POCKET LEARNING
Easy to do activities that every garden educator or parent should have in their “Back Pocket”. Curated by lifelab.org.
KIDSGARDENING.ORG
10 go-to gardening activities with kids.
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
Simple radish experiments to explore at home and learn about experimentation.
CITY BLOSSOMS
Compiled list of nature-based activities and healthy cooking, adapted for at home use.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
THE ECOLOGY SCHOOL
Nature Nuggets: short snippets to build nature connection near home.
JOURNEY NORTH
Great activities to follow the migration of animal species that pass through your neighborhood.
GREEN SCHOOLYARDS
Great outdoor art, math and exploration activities. Updated in March and April with regular highlights from their curriculum.
OXBOW FARM & CONSERVATION CENTER
We especially love the build a worm bin at home and the nature journaling prompts activity guide!
TINKERGARTEN
Seasonal outdoor activities for all ages.
HOW TO PLANT
WHEN TO PLANT
WHAT TO PLANT
OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Washington Youth Garden is a welcoming and inviting place for the D.C. community to learn and grow together. WYG’s sensory garden, innovative growing techniques, and Nature Explore Classroom encourage visitors of all ages to engage with agriculture, farming, and environmental education.
The Green Ambassador Program provides summer employment and development opportunities for D.C. high school students. Youth enter the program in the Farm Crew and progress to become Crew Leaders, staff, and alumni.
