Bring your class or community group to learn about nature and gardening in the inspiring setting of Milner Gardens & Woodland by booking one of our Shoots with Roots field trips.
Availability
Field trips are available on Thursdays and Fridays from April through August. We can sometimes squeeze you in on other days, but availability is limited. It can't hurt to ask!
Cost:
$200 per group. Maximum group size is one class, or 30 students for community groups.
Our programs offered vary by season. They will be adapted to suit the ages and abilities of your group.
Field trip menu
Nature Observers (All ages)
Naturalists need to be good observers, and not just with their eyes! Your group will engage in a series of fun hands on, sensory activities to sharpen their observation skills before having some guided exploration time in our forest, garden, or natural ponds. Appropriate exploration etiquette to reduce our impact on nature will also be discussed.
Available April through August 2.5 hrs
Birding for Beginners (Grade 3 and up)
Learn the parts of a bird and practice spotting and describing birds with fun interactive activities. Then, your group will become citizen scientists by participating in a group bird count as they explore the garden. Your group's bird list will be uploaded to e-bird following your visit, contributing to real ongoing science!
Available April through August 2.5 hrs
Junior Gardeners (All ages)
Your group will help care for our Food Garden through a variety of seasonally appropriate activities. These may include watering the garden, planting seeds, harvesting or sampling vegetables, digging soil, pulling weeds, learning about compost, or raking leaves. Groups attending in the spring will also have the opportunity to make newspaper pots and plant seeds to take home.
Available April through August 2.5 hrs
Plant Detectives (Grades 3 and up)
Your group will use their senses to learn to identify local trees, learn why a pine cone isn’t always a pine cone, and participate in an energetic plant identification game.
Available April through August 2.5 hrs
Pollinators (All ages)
What is pollen? What do pollinators do? Your group will learn (or review) how plants reproduce, discover the diverse strategies plants use for pollination, and consider why pollinators are important for people. Depending on your group’s age, they will either become pollinators themselves as they explore the garden with paintbrushes, meet some mason bees, or participate in a pollinator count.
Available in April and May only 2.5 hrs
Contact Pam.Murray@viu.ca with questions or to book a field trip.