Programs and Resources

Self-guided and Arboretum educator–led field trips are available! Please read our Group Visit Policy and fill out a Group Visit Inquiry Form. If you are planning to include the children’s garden in your visit, please read the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden Guidelines.

Penn State classes are welcome to visit the Arboretum at any time. Please read our Group Visit Policy and fill out a Group Visit Inquiry Form.

If your plans include collection of plant materials or other research activities, please fill out a Research Inquiry Form.

If your plans include exclusive use of any Arboretum space for a class, performance, or other activity, please contact the Arboretum at arboretum@psu.edu.

Whether you are visiting the Arboretum with a class, with your family, or on your own, you can use these activities and materials to enhance your visit.

Arboretum Tree Walk Book

Discover native trees in the children’s garden with the Arboretum Tree Walk book (PDF).

Artist Profiles

Get to know the artists behind the botanic garden’s permanent art collection. In addition to biographical information about nine artists whose works are in or near the children’s garden, these individual profiles provide insight and inspiration for ways that love of nature can be communicated through art. The Animal Sculpture Scavenger Hunt can be used in conjunction with these profiles of the sculptors to enrich your discovery walk.

• Bob Anderson (PDF)
• Becky Ault (PDF)
• J. Clayton Bright (PDF)
• April Dodson (PDF)
• Phil Hawk (PDF)
• Stacy Levy (PDF)
• Mark Mennin (PDF)
• Jeanne Stevens-Sollman (PDF)
• Christine Stangel (PDF)

Bird Checklist

Find the birds that are commonly seen at the Arboretum with help from the Bird Checklist (PDF).

Creature Features

Meet the animals represented by the sculptures in the children’s garden. These colorful, two-sided documents present both scientific facts and fun facts about thirteen of the animal sculptures in the children’s garden. They also complement the Animal Sculpture Scavenger Hunt because they provide information about the real animals represented by the sculptures.

• American Bison (PDF)
• American Bullfrog (PDF)
• Barred Owl (PDF)
• Big Brown Bat (PDF)
• Black Rat Snake (PDF)
• Eastern Cottontail (PDF)
• Explore Pennsylvania’s Wild Rabbits! (PDF)
• Eastern Hellbender (PDF)
• Eastern Screech Owl (PDF)
• Great Blue Heron (PDF)
• Northern Raccoon (PDF)
• Red Fox (PDF)
• Spotted Salamander (PDF)
• Timber Rattlesnake (PDF)

Resources for Educators

In-depth resources for teachers and budding science and nature enthusiasts.

• Watershed Resources at the Arboretum: A Guide for Educators (PDF)
  This guide for high school students and adults presents resources for teaching about local and regional water issues by using the water-related features in The Arboretum at Penn State. Key concepts are highlighted (page 11). Included are case studies that show the impact of pollution on local waterways. Suggestions for activities to help students understand what they have learned in the Arboretum are provided (pp. 12–13). For more information and educational resources about our watershed, visit The Spring Creek Watershed Atlas, a public outreach and educational service of the The Spring Creek Watershed Commission.
• WeatherSTEM

Scavenger Hunts

Explore the children’s garden using these family-friendly activities.

• Animal Sculpture Scavenger Hunt (PDF) — Find all 16 animal sculptures in our garden.
• Geology Scavenger Hunt (PDF) — Unleash your inner rockhound.

Garden Wonderings Video Series

Watch and learn with our Wonderings series on YouTube!

The Avian Education Program was endowed by an anonymous donor for the purpose of increasing awareness and appreciation of birds and promoting conservation and creation of bird-friendly habitat. The program sponsors bird walks, bird banding surveys, lectures, workshops, and a summer internship. Dates for Avian Education Program events can be found on our Events Calendar.

For more information on the Avian Education Program, contact Julian Avery at jda121@psu.edu.

Download the printable Bird Checklist (PDF).

Bird Banding Reports

• Bird Banding – Fall 2019 (PDF)
• Bird Banding: A Five-Year Summary — 2010–2015 (PDF)

Discover central Pennsylvania’s history, geology, plants, and animals through hands-on learning, craft activities, and nature play experiences designed for children of all ages.

Drop-in programs are scheduled most weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon starting in June and ending in August. All events, programs, and activities are dependent on weather and may be relocated, curtailed, or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. All minors must be accompanied by a parent and/or legal guardian. Plan your school trip or course visit.

Learn about the garden before your visit:

• Children’s Garden Story Map
• Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden Guidelines

The Pollinator and Bird Garden is a place to learn about the diversity of Pennsylvania’s birds and pollinators and the important role they play in gardens and natural ecosystems. Educational programs and events are presented in collaboration with the Center for Pollinator Research and the Insect Biodiversity Center. Dates for programs and events can be found on our Events Calendar.