Programs for School Groups

Garden Hours | Program Availability | Classroom Programs | Guided Programs | Self-Guided Programs | Registration | Fees | Parking | Map | Rain Info | Adult Chaperones | Nametags | Your Visit | Lunch Info | Shopping | Restrooms | Tours on Your Own | Guidelines for Behavior

Important information for teachers. Brochures available upon request.

Garden Hours: 8:00am to dusk, every day of the year

Program Availability: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Morning
Mid-March through Mid-November

To Register: All groups must be pre-registered. Please call 668-1708 at least one month in advance of your desired visit to secure a date and program. We schedule programs for one class at a time. If bringing multiple classes special arrangements will be made, either on multiple days, or in our amphitheater. All scheduled groups will receive a free parking pass, confirmation letter, and map of the gardens.

Fees:
- General Tours are free
- Guided Garden Programs, Classroom Programs, and Amphitheater Programs are $25 per class.
- Self-Guided Materials are availabe - fees determined by what program is chosen
- Student Workbooks are $1.50 per copy
- Checks can be made payable to Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Payment can be mailed ahead of time or brought the day of your program.

Parking: All scheduled groups will receive a free parking pass.

Map: Please view our interactive map to help plan your visit.

Rain: In case of rain, a classroom program can take the place of a garden program for one class. If multiple classes are scheduled to visit the program will be canceled and rescheduled if possible.

Adult Chaperones: We require one chaperone for every ten children and suggest more for preschool and kindergarten groups. Teachers and chaperones are expected to supervise the behavior of their group. Younger siblings not allowed to accompany parent chaperones. Please review behavior guidelines with your students.

Nametags: Please have all children wear nametags.

Your Visit: Your group will be greeted by your guide in front of the Doris Duke Center in the parking lot off of Anderson Street. Please allow enough time for travel. Classes arriving late will receive a shortened program. Programs are canceled for groups arriving 20 minutes late.

Lunch: There are no picnic tables in the Gardens for lunch. There are several large lawns where lunch can be eaten. We ask that children do not wear backpacks. Bring bag lunches and they may be kept in our classroom or on your bus until the time you need them.

Shop: Our gift shop will be open when you visit. If you wish to visit shop please mention this when you make your reservations.

Restrooms: Restrooms are located in the Doris Duke Center and in the Italian Terrace Garden.

Tours on Your Own: We welcome school groups to tour the Gardens on their own. Self-Guided materials are available upon request. Call 668-1708.