Grow Your Curiosity With Us!
Student Field Trips
Inspire students with a field trip to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where the harmony of art and nature creates the perfect backdrop for educational exploration! Customize your trip with free resources and experiences that target your student-learning goals.
Field Trips at Meijer gardens
Plan Your Visit
Registration
- Registration is required at least two weeks in advance.
- 10-student minimum required to receive the reduced admission rate.
- One chaperone for every 10 students is required. All field trip students under 18 must be with a chaperone at all times.
- Prepayment is required. Payment is due one week before your visit. Groups will be invoiced based on the final headcount provided at that time. No refunds will be issued if group numbers decrease within the week prior or on the day of the visit.
Admission Costs
- Students: $6.00 per child
- Chaperones: One chaperone for every five students is free. Teachers are counted as chaperones.
- Additional Adults: $16.00 per adult outside of the 1:5 chaperone ratio if included with the group payment. Adults will be charged full admission if they pay separately.*
- School Personnel: One-on-one support personnel receive free admission with their student. Bus drivers receive free admission during your visit.
*Note on memberships: Adults with memberships to Meijer Gardens may show their membership card and ID for admission when accompanying students on a field trip as a chaperone. However, students on field trips may not use family memberships for admission fees.
What to do
Our field trips are designed to be flexible and easy to organize. We invite you to explore our Seasonal Themes as you build the field trip experience that best addresses your learning targets! Create your own itinerary with the elements below. We recommend 2-3 hours for a field trip.
Learning Labs
Plan to visit our Learning Lab while you are here. Our staff-facilitated Learning Lab is provided at no cost to all school groups! The Learning Lab is a drop-in experience, open from 10 am-1 pm daily, from September 1st to the first week of June. Visiting the Learning Lab will take approximately 20-30 minutes.
Exploration Guides
Explore our library of easy-to-follow, chaperone-led Exploration Guides. These one-page, downloadable activity sheets including scavenger hunts, exploration walks, and look/listen/learn guides.
Discovery Stations
Discovery Stations are interactive learning spots designed for all ages. Each station features a brief volunteer-led activity that connects to our seasonal theme, offering a fun and educational experience in just 5-10 minutes. There’s always something new to discover as the activities change with the seasons!
Current Exhibitions
EAting Areas
Pack a lunch to eat during your visit!
The Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavilion
The Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavilion is available for outdoor eating on a first-come first-served basis. This pavilion is conveniently located near parking and restrooms.
Lievense Indoor Eating Area
Lievense Indoor Eating Area is available on a first-come first-served basis and is not reservable. It is located in the lower level of our Welcome Center and has a seating capacity of 110.
Field Trip Maps
Garden Etiquette
Field Trip Manners
- Use your walking feet and inside voices.
- Stay with your adult chaperone and on paths and mowed lawn areas.
- Please don’t touch or climb on the sculptures.
Chaperone expectations
- Stay with your group and keep them together at all times.
- Facilitate the learning experience by helping the students to stay engaged.
- Model and monitor good behavior.
Frequently asked questions
We recommend bringing lunches with you to save time and money!
The James & Shirley Balk Cafe is our onsite restaurant. Outside food and beverages may not be brought into the cafe, and the cafe does not take reservations.
Box lunches may be ordered in advance. Email [email protected] for menu, pricing, and availability.
A covered storage area is available at the drop off location. We recommend that you bring your own wagons or mobile coolers as we have a limited number of wagons/carts. These are available on a first-come first-served basis. You may also go ahead and place your lunches in the area you plan to eat.
One chaperone for every five students is free (this includes teachers). Additional adults outside of this ratio are $16.00 when included with the group payment. Adults have the following options if paying separately:
- General Admission Ticket
- Membership Card
- Museums for All Discounted Ticket (WIC/EBT card holders)
- Library Passes (Kent District Library and Grand Rapids Public Library)
Dress for the weather! Students enjoy a richer educational experience outdoors, exploring our world-class sculpture collection, gorgeous plant displays, and uniquely designed spaces. As an outdoor venue, trips proceed rain or shine, except during severe weather or if Meijer Gardens is closed.
The Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming horticulture exhibition takes place every year in March & April.
The University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition takes place November 26, 2024 – January 5, 2025.
Pre-payment required. Payment is due one week before your visit. Groups will be invoiced based on the final headcount provided at that time. No refunds will be issued if group numbers decrease within the week prior or on the day of the visit.
A full refund is available for cancellations made at least 48 hours before the field trip date. No refunds for cancellations within 48 hours, but the paid balance can be applied to a rescheduled trip within the same school year. Refunds are granted for school closures or severe weather conditions.
Adults with memberships to Meijer Gardens may show their membership card and ID for admission when accompanying students on a field trip as a chaperone. However, students on field trips may not use family memberships for admission fees.
Admission or transportation assistance is available to Title I schools, where 40% or more students qualify for free of reduced meals.
See you soon!
We’re happy to help you plan your field trip or answer any questions that you might have! Please contact our School Programs Assistant Kara Huizinga.
