All School Group visits must be booked through our online booking form.Please fill our our booking form here. Note: we are currently booking guided school group tours on Tuesday and Thursdays. Non-profits and school groups of 10 or more qualify for a 15% discount off regular admission to UBC Botanical Garden, Nitobe Memorial Garden and the Greenheart Canopy Walkway.


Click here to be redirected to Group Tours options for adults.

1. Guided Garden Tour

There are four seasonally themed garden tours for school and youth groups. Tours last approximately 1 hour to 1½ hours. Your group can plan for students to bring a snack or lunch to be enjoyed indoors following the tour (depends on availability, please ask when booking). Tours are adapted to the specific age group.

Autumn colours (September to October)
Don't be sad, summer is over, but fall is the season of plenty! During this tour, students learn about the treasures an autumn garden has to offer. They will explore our extensive and fascinating Asian Garden, discover the different edible parts of plants and even taste some of them! Students are also introduced to beautiful autumn foliage and other changes that prepare  plants for winter.

Winter Wonders (November to March)
UBC Botanical Garden is anamazing place in winter. During this tour, students will follow garden trails under towering conifers, observing unique bark textures, fragrant and showy winter flowers, and colourful berry displays. Students will also become detectives and look for evidences of wildlife. Despite apparent appearances, the garden is very much alive! Students will learn about some of the remarkable adaptations that permit plants and animals to survive winter conditions until spring returns.

Spring surprises (March to June)
Spring has sprung, and there are lots of new and exciting marvels growing in the garden. Students are invited to walk through the garden to discover the many beautiful flowers awakened by springtime conditions. They will learn about the surprising tricks plants use to attract insects and the invaluable role of pollinators. A tour for all the senses, with spectacular smells, dazzling colours, stimulating textures and intriguing sounds...

2. Guided Nitobe Memorial Garden Tour

For a unique cultural experience, consider a visit to Nitobe Memorial Garden, an authentic Japanese garden, regarded as among the top five outside of Japan. Students will learn about the Japanese tea ceremony, and a story of life evoked by Garden symbols that conveys much about traditional Japanese culture. This tour takes approximately 45 minutes. We recommend planning your visit for 1½ hoursto ensure that you have adequate time.

3. Canopy Walkway Tour

The canopy walkway is 308 metres long and 17.5 metres tall at its highest point. Groups receive a one-hour fully guided tour during which they learn about BC forests, the environment, first nations, and more, on an exciting aerial adventure. Kids of all ages leave with smiles and interesting new knowledge. . The vocabulary and specific content of the tour can be altered to accommodate any age range. The tour takes approximately 45 minutes; to ensure that you have adequate time, plan your visit for approximately 1.5 hours.

4. Garden and Canopy Walkway Tour

A combination of either Option 1 (Botanical Garden tour) or 2 (Nitobe tour) combined with a canopy tour. Approximately 2.5 Hours. Please note: the post-tour activity and room are only available with standalone option.

5. Custom options

Would you like to bring your group for a visit, but don’t see a tour option that matches your group’s curriculum? Contact us for more information.

Teachers get free admission. Teachers are welcomed to come and visit the garden prior to their date of booking. Just bring an official document showing you are a teacher from a recognized school and you will get free admission for yourself and one guest.